Review and Comparison Vortex Razor and Vortex Viper 8x42 2019
Vortex Viper Hard disk 8x42 Review
This model is our starting time choice and offers simply about the best clarity and brightness you tin can get from a binocular without a quadruple-digit cost tag
Toll: $639 Listing | $475.07 at Amazon
Pros: Very articulate and vivid, easy to adjust, comfy, loftier-quality construction
Cons: A bit heavy for the backcountry
Manufacturer: Vortex
By Max Mutter ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ January 11, 2022
Our Editors independently research, examination, and rate the best products. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept gratis products from manufacturers. Learn more
Our Verdict
If you're looking for the best image quality yous tin can get for less than a one thousand, the Vortex Viper HD 8x42 should exist at the top of your shortlist. These binoculars strike a not bad residual between price and performance. In fact, they aren't that big of a pace downward in quality from the multi-thousand dollar pairs we tested. With a supple focus knob and skillful in-hand condolement, these bins offer the kind of functioning you lot need for all-day nature walks and birding festivals. If y'all're serious near birding or wildlife viewing, these binoculars are well worth the money.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on January 11, 2022 with more information on our testing and updated photos. It was previously updated in November 2021 with info on some pocket-size corrective and design changes.
Compare to Similar Products
| This Product | Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 10x42 | Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 | Celestron Nature DX 8x42 | Vortex Diamondback Hard disk drive 8x28 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | | | |
| Cost | $639 List $475.07 at Amazon | Bank check Toll at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $270 List $239.00 at Amazon | $150 List $149.95 at Amazon | $190 Listing $151.25 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Very clear and bright, easy to adapt, comfortable, high-quality construction | High-quality construction, very comfortable to use, great clarity | First-class effulgence, great clarity, comfortable | Inexpensive, skillful clarity and brightness | Good clarity, modest and lightweight, relatively comfortable |
| Cons | A flake heavy for the backcountry | Heavy for backpacking or carrying long distances | Slightly heavy for backpacking | Average construction quality, mediocre low-light performance | Poor low-light performance |
| Lesser Line | This model is our start choice and offers just virtually the best clarity and brightness you can become from a binocular without a quadruple-digit cost tag | Good optical quality, but non the best in the price range | An splendid balance of price and all-around performance with peculiarly impressive brightness | The well-nigh upkeep-friendly option nosotros've found that offers a good introduction to birdwatching | An cheap, small, and packable model that offers surprisingly expert eyes |
| Rating Categories | Vortex Viper HD 8x42 | Nikon Monarch 7 ATB... | Vortex Diamondback... | Celestron Nature DX... | Vortex Diamondback... |
| Clarity (25%) | |||||
| Brightness (xx%) | |||||
| Ease Of Adjustment (15%) | |||||
| Construction Quality (15%) | |||||
| Comfort (10%) | |||||
| Shut Focus Range (7.5%) | |||||
| Field Of View (seven.5%) | |||||
| Specs | Vortex Viper Hard disk drive 8x42 | Nikon Monarch 7 ATB... | Vortex Diamondback... | Celestron Nature DX... | Vortex Diamondback... |
| Glass Blazon | HD | ED | HD | ED | HD |
| Multi - Blanket | FMC | FMC | FMC | FMC | FMC |
| Magnification | 8 | x | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Field of View (at m yards) | 409 ft | 362 ft | 393 ft | 388 ft | 332 ft |
| Close Focus | half dozen.five ft | 8.2 ft | five.0 ft | six.5 ft | half-dozen.0 ft |
| Eye Relief | 18 mm | 16.5 mm | 17 mm | 17.five mm | xviii mm |
| Prism | Roof | Roof | Roof | Roof | Roof |
| Waterproof/Fogproof? | Yes | Yep | Yes | Yes | Yeah |
| Size (Length x Width) | v.eight 10 5.3 in | five.vi ten v.1 in | 5.seven x v.1 in | 5.3 x iv.ix in | 4.6 x 4.5 in |
| Weight | 24.2 oz | 24 oz | 21.eight oz | 22.2 oz | 14.0 oz |
Show total specification details Hide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
Production Update Note — November 2021
At that place accept been some minor cosmetic changes to the outer of the Viper HDs, as well as updated optical systems. The eye relief has also shortened slightly, from 20mm to 18mm (though this should nonetheless exist plenty of relief for those who wearable glasses). Compare the versions below; the model we initially tested is shown on the left, followed by the updated model on the right.
Vortex says that with the Viper Hard disk drive with (High Density) actress-depression dispersion glass, 1 look is all you lot'll need to appreciate its quality and performance. Add XR fully multi-coated lenses and yous accept a bino that delivers bright, crisp details with impressive resolution and color fidelity. It's no mystery why the Viper Hard disk drive is an accolade-winner in our binocular test.
Functioning Comparison
The bright and clear Vortex Viper is one of our all-time favorite binoculars.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Clarity
The Vortex Viper HD 8x42's high-definition glass really shines when it comes to clarity. This pair provides a corking clear view. The Viper is near as good as some of the multi-grand dollar models we tested. On the ISO 12233 chart test, the ten zone was seen clear throughout the centre. The clarity fades effectually the edge a flake, merely only a minor corporeality. The horizontal and vertical lines all looked crisp and clear.
Brightness
The Vortex Viper HD 8x42 has high-density drinking glass, and the lenses are multi-coated with what Vortex calls their XR anti-cogitating coating, which helps to reduce the scattering of light inside the binoculars. Combined, these features brand for a brilliant view. Only the multi-thousand dollar models and those with huge objective lenses were able to gather more calorie-free.
Ease of Aligning
The Vortex Viper Hard disk 8x42 has 1 big central hinge to adjust the interpupillary distance. The hinge moves smoothly and easily like on other height-scoring binoculars.
The diopter on the Vortex Viper HD is located on the right lens and is operated by pulling upward on the diopter to adjust it. While in the downward position, the diopter is locked in place. The diopter was piece of cake to adjust the first time with no stiffness.
The Viper'due south cervix strap is quite comfortable.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Construction Quality
The Vortex Viper 8x42 feels solid in manus. All the hinges and joints movement smoothly, so y'all can tell the tolerances are tight in the manufacturing process.
Everything only works smoothly and feels comfortable, and nosotros've been impressed by Vortex's products as a whole.
The Viper tucked abroad in their included carrying example.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Comfort
The neck strap has a soft, stretchy rubber department that goes around your neck and distributes the weight nicely. Indentations for your thumbs and a rubberized blanket on the barrels get in easy to hold onto.
The thumb indents and slightly rubberized barrels make for easy gripping and comfortable holding.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
20mm of heart relief made the Viper comfortable to look through for long periods of time and fabricated it easy for those with glasses.
Field of View and Close Focus Range
The field of view is 409 feet at 1000 yards for the Viper Vortex Hd 8x42. This put it towards the top of the field of view nautical chart for the 8x models we tested.
The close focus range is vi.5 anxiety, which is slightly on the better side of boilerplate. In day-to-day employ, it'due south very unlikely you're going to want to focus on anything closer than 6.v anxiety unless you're lucky enough to accept a butterfly land on your shoe.
Should Yous Buy the Vortex Viper HD 8x42?
You tin can easily spend multiple paychecks on a premium pair of binoculars, and they'll likely wait fantastic. The Vortex Viper Hard disk 8x42 earned an Editors' Choice laurels for offering an experience similar to those loftily priced models at a fraction of the price. Yes, that fraction is still a relatively large number, but if you're looking for high-quality optics, we think these binoculars are both likely to delight and offer one of the best values available.
Nosotros appreciate the solid construction of this pair.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
What Other Binoculars Should You Consider?
Though we dearest the Vortex Viper, nosotros understand that information technology's still outside of some folks' budgets. For a less expensive but however impressive pair, check out the Vortex Diamondback Hd 8x42, which uses Vortex's Hard disk drinking glass merely costs less than one-half the price of the Viper. Another even more affordable pair is the Celestron Nature DX 8x42, which doesn't stand up up to the quality of the top-tier products just is a great bones pair of binoculars that won't break the depository financial institution.
On the other mitt, if money is no object and you want the best pair possible, we'd point y'all in the direction of the Swarovski EL 8.5x42. These surpass all other models in our review with their top-of-the-line operation and accept family heirloom written all over them.
— Max Mutter
Source: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/binoculars/vortex-viper-hd-8x42
0 Response to "Review and Comparison Vortex Razor and Vortex Viper 8x42 2019"
Post a Comment