Are Vortex Razor binoculars really superior to the other Vortex binocular models?

[txdukklr]

Thanks for all the advice here. I think when its all said and done I am going to invest in a pair of the Vortex Viper HD. All feedback I have heard on Vortex is great - but the Viper HD seem to get the most reviews so I know its a popular choice it seems.

Now I just need to decide between 8X42, 10X42 or 10X50 if anyone has any thoughts on that? I box blind hunt only - in mostly open areas with a few trees here and there (that sometimes can be pretty thick woods).

Thanks again!

bow mostly or rifle?

for me 8.42 was the ticket. I wanted to be able to grab my bino's with one hand and be able to look at detail without it jumping.

10's jump too much for me but I bow hunt 95% of the time. When i went elk hunting I'd rather have had more power so ended up carrying a spotting scope.

[stx tomcat]

made U.S.A. great product

[lbbf]

I have the Viper HD's 10X50. I compared them to a pair of Leupolds my dad has and during the day we really couldn't see much difference. The Vipers were a little better around the edges but both were good. Then the sun started to set and the darker it got the better the Vipers were. When you couldn't see much of anything through the leupolds the vipers were still clear and plenty bright.

[Eric Pence]

I bought Vortex 12x50s this last week ..Used them for the first time this weekend..They BLOW my Leupolds away...I have a 500 dollar scope on my gun that I look thru for 30seconds ,I dont think 500+ is much for something I use for hours scouting..

[Arrowsmith]

Here is a good side by side comparison. Click on link.

http://www.vortexoptics.com/compare

I use 8x42 for bowhunting. I use 10x50 for 3D competition. I would use either if I hunted from a box blind. Notice the exit pupil size. The larger the exit pupil the more light transmission. When you decide give me a shout. I will save you $$.

[Ecobeast]

I bought a pair of Diamondbacks 10x42 from Arrowsmith and I absolutely love them.

[Limbwalker]

Vortex makes some good binocs, but their lower-end glass (Diamondbacks) are nothing special.

When optics shopping, just as in bow and rifle shopping, one just needs to set a hard budget $ and then get the best they can for that figure. Otherwise you'll go nuts trying to decide among all the models/options.

For example, if my hard number was $500, I would compare all the $500 glass from one company to the other. It sure makes life simpler that way.

Personally, I'd never spend more than $200 on an optic I've not looked through. There is too much variation between them. One company's $300 optic can often be as good as the next company's $600 optic. I see it all the time.

For my $ the Vortex Viper line is a lot of bang for the buck. Above that, there are better options IMO. I'd never pass over a pair of Meoptas for a pair of Vortex, for example.

John

[Limbwalker]

made U.S.A. great product

Really? Might want to check that.

[SirWraithe]

I have had 12x50, now I have 10x50HD Vipers I hunt along side guys with Leica, Zeiss, Swarovski, mine are just as theirs! I'm sold on Vortex, love them! Have several scopes I've gotten from Aarrowsmith also. Never a complaint! Now looking to my some 10x42? Trying to decide Razors or Vipers. But they will be Vortex!

[JustinJ]

There was a podcast Steven Rinella had the other day with Paul Neese and another guy from Vortex Optics that goes into great detail about the differences in optics and what makes some much more expensive than others.

[RackstackerG5]

I can say this. I have a Razor HD 11-33X50 angled spotting scope and a pair of 8X28 small binos. I love both!
My dad has always been a leupold guy on his rifle scopes. He wouldnt even look at another brand. When I brought the spotting scope home and he looked through it. He immediately asked me if they made scopes. Now will he ever switch, probably not but it was good enough that it made him question it.
I have used it scouting our place. Set up 400-500 yards out and its crystal clear. I don't know much about glass but they are everything I could ask for.

[z7ex]

As previously stated, the coatings are where the money is. Look at swarovski lines. Their SLC model which is $1700 or so is HD glass with a 12ft focus distance. The EL model have the same exact glass but have the coatings which enhance every aspect of viewing as well as a 6ft focus distance. There is a $1000 difference between the 2.

With that said. Yes the Razors are better optics. Very probable that they are the same exact HD glass as the vipers but they have the coatings which make them shine in low light, cloudy days, HOT days. I have used both in the field and can tell you, there is a noticeable difference, but it will take a well trained eye to pick out the better glass. I sell these at cabelas.

Pick a spot that is 20-30 yards away. Pick out every little detail of what you are looking at. When comparing, focus on the same object with every pair you look through. Any minute detail you can make out is an outstanding difference outside of the artificial light.

Buy the best optics you can afford. If vipers are all you can afford, get them and you will be happy. But if you can afford Swarovski, don't buy vipers.

[Limbwalker]

The law of diminishing returns, for binoculars, starts to really kick in around the $500-600 range. IOW, there is far more difference between most $500-600 binoc's and a $200 pair than there is between the $500-600 binocs and a $1K pair.

I was able to pick up some Swaro SLC's recently, at about half their new price, making them about the same cost as a pair of Vortex Razors. I would never trade my Swaro SLC's for Razors. Ever.

If you can save your pennies and buy a good used pair of alpha optics, you'll never regret that decision.

Having said that, if all you can justify on optics is $400-500, then you're in luck, since the optics in that range are as good as those we would have paid 2-3x as much for just 10 or 15 years ago.

[Balcones_Walker]

Love my Talon 10x42s. Wouldn't change a thing.