Supreme x Leica Ultravid BR 8×20 Binocular
The original behind the Supreme x Leica Ultravid BR 8×20 Binocular is the Leica Leica Ultravid BR 8×20 Binocular — $769 retail vs Supreme's $898.
Supreme vs. Original
About the original
The Leica Ultravid BR 8x20 is a pocket-sized roof-prism binocular with 8x magnification, 20mm objective lenses, a 341-foot field of view at 1,000 yards, and a compact folding bridge that collapses to 4.2 inches and 8 ounces. The housing is nitrogen-purged and fully waterproof to 5 meters; the outer lens elements use Leica's AquaDura hydrophobic coating to shed water and fingerprints. Ernst Leitz Wetzlar, now Leica Camera AG, began producing binoculars in 1907 and still assembles its optics in Wetzlar, Germany and Portugal. The FW20 Supreme version is a black rubber-armored Ultravid BR 8x20 with the Supreme logo printed on the prism housing, released November 19, 2020 at $898.
About Leica
Leica is a German optics and camera manufacturer founded in 1869 by Ernst Leitz in Wetzlar, Germany, taking over the Optical Institute originally established by Carl Kellner in 1849. Engineer Oskar Barnack built the first 35mm prototype at Leitz in 1913, and Ernst Leitz II greenlit production of the Leica I in 1924, the camera that established 35mm as the standard format for photojournalism. The name combines LEItz and CAmera. Leica returned its headquarters to Wetzlar's Leitz Park campus in 2014 and continues to hand-assemble M-series rangefinders there. Supreme collaborated with Leica on a co-branded D-Lux 7 compact camera.
Price comparison
| Supreme retail | $898 |
|---|---|
| Leica retail | $769 |
| Hype tax | +17% |
Questions
Is the Supreme x Leica Ultravid BR 8×20 Binocular just the regular Leica Ultravid BR 8×20 Binocular?
The Supreme x Leica Ultravid BR 8×20 Binocular, released in Fall/Winter 2020, is based on the Leica Ultravid BR 8×20 Binocular. Supreme collabs sometimes change the colorway or materials; the description on this page covers the original's specs and any notable differences in the Supreme version. If you want the product without the box logo, the Leica Ultravid BR 8×20 Binocular is the one to buy.
How much cheaper is the Leica Ultravid BR 8×20 Binocular than the Supreme version?
Supreme charged $898 for the Supreme x Leica Ultravid BR 8×20 Binocular; the Leica Ultravid BR 8×20 Binocular retails for $769. That's a 17% markup — buying the original saves you $129, or 14% off the Supreme price. Buy the original at retail and you skip the hype tax entirely.
Where can I buy the Leica Ultravid BR 8×20 Binocular?
You can buy the Leica Ultravid BR 8×20 Binocular direct from Leica. Retail price is $769. The buy links on this page go straight to the product listing at each retailer.
