APO Optical System I have been using and testing the 8x42 version over a long period and you can read my full review of the Vortex Razor 8x42 HD binoculars below: Outer Design The nearest point that you can focus on with these 8x42 Vortex binoculars is exactly 6 feet (1.83m) away which is excellent for a full sized standard binocular and ideal if you intermittently enjoy observing butterflies and other nearby objects. Both were very clear and sharp in near dusk time. Because of their good close focus, I would also suggest them to anyone after a full size binocular that occasionally likes viewing objects from close range for example: butterflies, flowers, dragonflies and other insects. Having properly focussed on something and as you would expect, the image is pin sharp. Are the Vortex Razor HD's twice as good as the Nikons? Most of the external part of the binocular is covered with a really thin and very hard dark green rubber armouring, which will help protect your optics from most minor impacts, but possibly not as much as binoculars that have a thicker layer of armouring. By Johnny Mack This past spring, I had the pleasure of using the Vortex Razor HD 4000 rangefinder on my Washington state spring bear hunt. They are very close in sharpness, brightness, and ease of use (both with and without glasses). If you don't like your lens covers attached and hanging down when not in use, you can simply remove them, remembering to stow them somewhere safe like the carry bag. One thing that I really like is that you can secure it in place (to change your setting you need to click it towards the eye-cup before it will rotate) This prevents any accidental movement and unlike the plastic ones you find on many cheaper optics, the diopter ring on these is made from metal with grooves cut into it. Shop Vortex Razor HD 10x42mmBinoculars | 23% Off 4.6 Star Rating on 19 Reviews for Vortex Razor HD 10x42mmBinoculars Best Rated + Free Shipping over $49. Hunter says: May 30, 2014 at 4:09 am. Dimensions I would however like to point out that this review, just like every other I write on Best Binocular Reviews is 100% my opinion, they are not biased and I am not influenced in any way by any manufacturer, distributor or supplier. Review: Vortex Razor HD LHT A lighter, brighter riflescope option for modern hunters. Thus I rate them as excellent for image brightness. These include using premium HD glass (High Density) with extra low dispersion properties and the best-quality, hand-selected roof prisms, which according to Vortex means they now produce an even better and brighter image. This one has HD in the name, to indicate that a better quality of optical glass is used in t… Recently Birdwatch magazine had a review of the Vortex Razor HD 8x42 bins, which reckoned the optical quality was up with the leaders (presumably the 8.5x42 Swarovision). The Razor HD 4000 can range reflective objects out to 4000 yards with extreme accuracy and I quickly was able to pick out a few targets close to that distance. I'm still getting use to the variable focus design. Knowing Vortex, further expansion of this line to include a 32-mm line is a virtual certainty. The chassis of the central focussing wheel looked to me like it was metal which has then had a coating of rubber attached on top of it. The wheel has a diameter of 30mm which is just about standard for a full sized roof prism binocular. Glass that is more dense will also not expand or contract as much as with temperature changes than glass that is less dense, this is an important factor as this expansion and contraction can effect the way light travels through the glass and can therefor affect the quality of the image produced. The appearance of exit pupils, definitely more truncated than they should be, is an evident flaw. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. So what I do is place my binoculars within price categories and then look for the ones that perform the best within that class. To give you some sort of an idea compare the FOV of a few similar top of the range binoculars with magnifications of around 8x that I have reviewed: Near Focus This has a big effect in improving the light transmittance and thus results in a much brighter image which is obviously important when the available ambient light is poor. To be honest and as you would expect for a high end binocular in this price range, there are not many weak points. The gearing on the Vortex Razor HD focussing mechanism is about average - taking a tiny bit more than 1½ rotations to get from close focus to infinity. On the pair I tested, the fit onto the eye-pieces was perfect and thus were not liable to come away by mistake. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Here the magnesium which is colored a dark grey is left exposed, this creates a nice two tone effect with the dark green armour and I guess helps to keep the optics weight to a minimum. I was super excited to finally have a rangefinder that matched my binoculars and rifle scope in optical clarity and sharpness. These Vortex binoculars would also be perfect for most types of wildlife surveillance and very good hunting binoculars especially when you consider that they are also tough, fog & waterproof and will easily take as much of the bad weather as you can handle! There was already corrosion building up at the hinge, and the "made in china" sticker was peeling off. Crossfire HD 8x42 . Dielectric Multi-Layer Prism Coatings That isn't a knock on the Vortex bins, it is a complement to the Nikon Monarch 7's. . I'm delighted with better looks at common species! The Razor HDs are £999 or less (c£750 on eBay). The SVs cost £1765 in the UK, and when I've briefly tried them out I thought they were fantastic. These powerful Vortex binoculars are equipped with a compact roof prism, coated in a multi-layer dielectric coating that gives you incredibly color faithful images. This page works best with JavaScript. The new Vortex Razor HD binoculars are basically an evolution on their already excellent "standard" Razor binoculars to which Vortex have made improvements in a number of key areas. The Vortex Viper HD 8x42 is the 4th most expensive binocular in our review with an MSRP of $639. There are plenty to choose from, but the hottest new release of 2020 is the Vortex Razor HD Gen III 1-10×24 FFP. But in full daylight the difference isn't there. Excellent compromise between functionality and premium pricing for a general birding 8X42 binocular. Stunning image quality and excellent handling make the Razor an absolute joy to use. The parts that don't have this armour covering include the bridge, a small inset on the insides of each barrel and approximately the last third of each barrel (nearest to the eye pieces). Reply. The amount on these Vortex binoculars was extremely minimal, in fact it was approaching zero, which is a big improvement on my control which means, they are rank with the very best in this sector. In fact it is so few that it does not justify the more than 2 times price difference. To check for signs of chromatic aberration, I focus on light coloured and white objects sitting in front of dark backgrounds as this is where it is easiest to note if there is any color fringing along the objects edges. Colour Reproduction & Image Contrast Vortex has brought the Razor HD back to the classic \"H\" roof prism hinge design. Overall the case looks to be pretty well made and as I have already discussed, functions very well and has everything you need from a carry case, but being very picky, it is possibly not quite as luxurious as some I have seen that come with binoculars in this price range. What this means that large changes in focusing distance takes more turning of the dial and therefore a little longer than ones that are more aggressively geared (some take only ½ a turn), however the upside is that fine tuning to get the image completely sharp is just that bit easier. This is a minor point, but really does show a very good attention to detail. One disadvantage of not having the whole body covered in a rubber armour is that it means that there is more chance of them making a louder sound if something like your watch or more commonly a ring on your finger strikes against them. I send mine in annually for free cleaning and maintenance. Carry Case This way you can spot the best value for money binoculars within each price category. Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2018. Best binocular in its price range and worth the added cost over less expensive ones, Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2017. Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42 and Vortex Razor UHD 10x42. So whilst these Razors are very light, it is not because they use cheap materials, in fact the opposite is true as the main chassis of these is made from magnesium which is not only much lighter than the more commonly used aluminum, but is exceptionally strong. Vortex is one of the most profound names in the field of sport optics and has created a great name in the market. Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2020. The New Razor UHD 10×42’scome in with a street price of $1499. It is also shaped to fit better around your neck and shoulders, which once again increases comfort. Bought these after my other pair of binos chipped not a ( vortex brand ) but I looked he’d into a new pair and my area I didn’t need a high powered bino. High Definition (HD) -> Ultra High Definition (UHD)Describing your binoculars as having HD, or even U… Rated 5 out of 5 by ScottSouth from Great low light performance and contrast I have owned the 8x42 Razor UHD and did a side by side comparison to the Leica Ultravid HD and optics are very comparable. On the inside of the lid there is also a separate meshed zipped pocket that is ideal for storing a few small personal items and your lens cleaning cloth. Do You Want to Review Binoculars & Write for BBR? Vortex Razor HD binoculars cost $979.99 for the 8x42 model and $999.99 for the 10x42 model. Due to it's high cost and added manufacturing complexity, ED glass is usually reserved for higher end binoculars and other optical devices. These Razors and all other 8x42 binoculars have an Exit Pupil of 5.25 as well as a Twilight Factor of 18.3, which both imply that they should function well in fairly poor light conditions, but remember this is just a rough guide. (For more on why you can often only notice the difference in image brightness between binoculars in poor light, read my complete guide to the exit-pupil.). Chassis Construction http://www.twobirdersandbinoculars.com We review the Vortex Crossfire 8x42 Binoculars in this video. Even in low light situations. Check great and honest reviews! Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2020. Vortex advertise that they use an "APO Optical System" on these new Razor HDs, which I will try to explain below - try and stick with me here as this can get a little technical: Basically an APO (apochromatic) lens, which usually consists of three elements, brings light of three different frequencies (most often red, green, and blue) to a common focus, the advantage of this is that it has a much better correction of chromatic aberration that causes colour fringing as well as spherical aberration than the much more commonly used achromat lenses. I like the neck strap, but the Vortex harness system is not appealing to me. Those are the Diamondback, Viper HD, and the Razor HD that we’re covering here. These Vortex binoculars have an excellent minimum focussing distance and they have a very good amount of eye-relief. So, if you are searching for binocular with amazing features, Vortex Razor HD 10×50 is all you need for wildlife observation and other outdoor activities. Great binoculars. Checking on their stats, at 24.2 ounces (686.06 g), these are indeed very light for a pair of full sized 8x42 binoculars. The Razor HD is a top-shelf spotting scope, but without the top-shelf price tag. It seems that I always walk out of my house with each new optic that I try and quickly begin to pick out distant images. Vortex Razor HD 10×50 Review. I liked the amount of resistance that wheel had, meaning that focussing was nice and smooth, without being to loose which can sometimes mean you often over rotate the wheel. These were about the same as my control, which gives them an overall depth of field rating for a binocular with an 8x magnification of of very good. Although heavier than my old Eagle Ranger platinum's, they are lighter than elite binoculars. Conquest HD’s were my choice of binocular in years past, and I was extremely impressed with them. Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2020. Until the Fall 2019 launch of the Razor UHD, the Razor HD 8x42 was Vortex's top-of-the-line. Vortex also use High Density (HD) glass in the design. I researched several different brands of binoculars and settled on the Vortex Razors. Vortex Razor HD 8x42 Binoculars RZB-2101 are lightweight, compact, bright, and incredibly clear binoculars by Vortex, ready for the most demanding tasks in the most rigorous environments. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Vortex Optics Razor HD Roof Prism Binoculars 8x42 at Amazon.com. In 2019, Vortex announced a new, updated Diamondback. In 2019, If you are keen on going for an 8x42 binoculars rather than 10x42’s, there is a fair chance that you might be considering the popular Vortex Diamondback 8x42. I plan on owning my Vortex for many years. Arrived filthy, already scratched and corroded. I have read that they can in some cases double the quantity of light that comes out of the ocular lens and into your eyes. I guess there may be some people who may want for a wider view, but not if it meant that this was to compromise the quality of the overall image, which is often the case on optics with very wide FOVs which have quite a bit of softening around the edges of the image. As we have already discovered, these Vortex Razor HDs use very high quality glass and coatings that contribute to them transmitting more light to your eyes and therefore produce a brighter image than inferior binoculars of the same configuration. Overall I loved using the 8x42 Vortex Razor HD binoculars, they are an exceptional pair of binoculars and as you can see by their scores, I rate them with the very best binoculars that I have ever reviewed and should easily make it onto the shortlist of anyone looking for the best quality high end binoculars. Only problem I had was losing the rubber eye pieces that protect glasses, etc. In comparison to my Fathers Swarovski 8x42 I must say the Vortex is as clear or clearer. To help me to be as impartial as possible I compare the image of the review binocular with that of a control version with the same or very similar configuration (an 8x42 in this case). Part of this weight reduction seems to have come from the diameter of the barrels, since the barrels of the … Highly recommend you mount these on a tripod using the Vortex quick release if you're game spotting. However light transmission of the prism can be improved even further and on the very best, like these Vortex Razor HD binoculars, manufacturers go even further by using a dielectric coating rather than a metallic mirror coating. This along with the rubber helps to make them sit reasonably comfortably around your eye sockets and I had no problems with comfort even during sustained periods of observation. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. In the majority of categories the Diamondback HD reached, within the margin of … The Vortex Diamondback 8x42 Offers great clarity and good brightness for a sub $300 pair of binoculars. Shamefully this is something that does gets ignored and thus unless you fully open your binoculars, the guard does not fit. I also am impressed with the life time warranty. I'm particularly impressed by the minimal distortion when looking through window glass. Twist-Up Eyecups One of the negatives to using a roof prism in your optics is that you get "phase shift" occurring when the light waves are reflected at the opposite faces of the prism, the result is a small loss in sharpness. Vortex has 3 lines of spotting scopes. I bought the Swarovski 12X50 EL and these Vortex Razor HD 12X50 at the same time to compare. These Vortex 8x42 Razor HD binocular comes with an excellent neck strap. In regards to the brightness, I was not really able to observe a difference in good lighting conditions. While the 10×42 Vortex Vipers might be best for hunting, the 8×42 Monarch 7s are likely better suited to birdwatchers. The length of this strap can be adjusted which means you can ensure that the binoculars fit properly even if their eyecups are fully retracted. Vortex Razor HD 4000 Rangefinder Field Testing. I've spent a week comparing these binoculars carefully to the Nikon Monarch 7 binoculars that my wife uses. I purchased these new in box and they arrived with scratches and dirt on the lenses. Coming in at only 8 points below the Swarovski EL 8.5x42 in our evaluation and at more than a $2200 price difference, the Vortex Viper 8x42 is an excellent value in the high-end binocular market. Neck Strap Very hard to see the advantages the experts has described. I have a number of pairs of binoculars in the $500 price range from Pentax and Nikon and the Vortex Optics Razor are noticeably sharper and resolve details much better. One of the lens elements in this APO optical system uses premium HD (High Density) ED glass (extra-low dispersion). This new binocular effectively combines the base specifications of the HD (reviewed in Birdwatch 273: 70-71) with an updated design, geared to … As far as I understand it and I may be wrong here, but a higher density glass is easier to work with and so they are once again better able to manipulate and therefore focus the light wavelengths, thus improving the resolution and color fidelity of the image even more. These Vortex binoculars have been made 100% air and watertight with toric joints (seal with an O-shaped cross-section) which stops any sort of dampness from penetrating them. Basically this means that unlike "normal" open hinge binoculars that have two very thin bridges connecting the barrels together with a gap in between them, these just have one slightly thicker one. And Vortex VIP Warranty works, I had to send it twice back, due to user accidents, and they repaired it with no problems. I'd like to say I was blown away by the difference when I looked. Below are similar pairs of Binoculars that you may also want to have a look at: Fully Waterproof & Fogproof binoculars with Fully Multi-Coated optics, Phase coated Bak-4 Roof Prisims and a host of other top of the range features, General Price Range: (5/6) High Value Binoculars. Please make sure that you are posting in the form of a question. You can still see all customer reviews for the product. However, "Good value" is related to what you perceive to be a reasonable amount of money, so Bill Gates, may look at something as being good value a little differently to me. On a poor quality device, you often get a noticeable amount of image softening right at the edge of the viewed image. Very disappointed as I paid extra shipping to get these to Alaska in time for a hunt. This causes the prism surface to act as a dielectric mirror and a well-designed dielectric coating can provide a reflectivity of more than 99% across the visible light spectrum meaning that they have better light transmission (brighter images) and excellent color fidelity for the clearest, brightest, most color-accurate images possible. We won't be writing at length here about the performance of the tested pair of binoculars because the results are quite telling. It also means that they make it onto my list of binoculars with long eye-relief. I say this because your binoculars could gather all the light in the world, but if it is not transmitted to you eyes, it is pointless. By simply holding onto your bins in one hand, you solve these issues and with this "True Open Hinge" design you can be more confident of a secure grip. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, Razor sharp by day--but it's in low light that they really shine, Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2018. The reason for this is because achromatic lenses are corrected to bring only two wavelengths (usually red and blue) into focus in the same plane and not three as in APO lenses. The 42mm objectives are also big enough to take in plenty of light but don't give rise to a device that is too big and heavy to easily carry about all day long. These ArmorTek Coatings provide improved protection but also repel dirt and oil, keeping them clean for longer and thus require cleaning far less often and when you do need to clean them, it is far easier which ensures that they remain in perfect condition. Diopter Adjustment The water and fog proof body is nice and light as well as strong thanks to a magnesium chassis and I also really like the exterior design that is both comfortable and secure to hold. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Buying a good set of binoculars is not a small investment. This can sometimes happen with very quick temperature fluctuations or lots of humidity. You don't find that kind of committment to product quality much anymore in our throw away society. If you remove this strap, it allows you to thread the binoculars neck strap through the sides of the bag and the lid and use it to carry the bag and binoculars instead. A silver mirror coating is used when a higher reflectivity (reflectivity of 95% to 98%) is desired and the benefits outweigh the increase in cost. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. David says: May 6, 2014 at 11:33 pm. This strap can be quickly attached or taken off the bag with quick release clips. An ED glass element helps as it allows the creator of an objective lens with more than one element a greater choice when it comes to focusing and directing the light wavelengths. Rated 5 out of 5 by Oring from Amazing!! They immediately shipped some out and asked me to send the binoculars back when possible so that they could go through them, cleaning them etc at no cost. The objective lenses are set quite deeply within the ends of the barrels (about 8mm), this is another aspect of the design that I like because this will help protect your lenses when the lens caps are removed. The body has also changed and is now slightly smaller and lighter and apparently stronger than the older Razors. Vortex 8x42 Razor HD: 24.2ozs (686g) Vortex 8x42 Viper HD: 24.2ozs (686g) Celestron 8x42 Granite: 24.0ozs (680g) Vanguard 8x42 Spirit ED: 22.6ozs (641g) Note: There are instances where if you just focus your search on very lightweight binoculars can be a mistake. Vortex have added more than one layer of their proprietary XR anti-reflective lens coatings to all the glass surfaces that come into contact with air on these 8x42 Vortex Razor HD binoculars. The next step up would be the Zeiss Victory binos at twice the price. Vortex Optics Razor HD Binoculars Honest Review Updated on November 26, 2019 by Owen Davids Of all the binoculars I have reviewed in the past, the Vortex Optics Razor HD Binoculars are by one of the most impressive I have come across. To do this single or even multi-layer coatings are sometimes used on the surface to raise it's reflectivity. As long as a binocular is not overly heavy, its balance is actually usually more important than the weight. As a point of interest and even though they look and are quite different, they happen to be the same weight as the Vortex 8x42 Viper HD. Focusing The importance of this should not be underestimated, as a binocular that is easy to keep still is also far more comfortable and less strenuous on the eyes to use over long periods of time. Phase correction & dielectric coatings on the prisms. What is more, during the manufacture of the lenses, the designers have to take into account things like the temperature dependence of glass and the liquid index of refraction and dispersion to make sure that their design offers a perfect performance optically over a fairly wide temperature range. Svs cost £1765 in the UK, and when i looked thats $ 300 pair binoculars. Reviews for the 10x42 model in this price range that i tried the Zeiss and brand. 'M a big fan of Vortex binos, spoting scopes and rifle optics you. Helps to ensure the long life of the most commonly used observational range very little movement of the Razor LHT. The rubber providing a ice non slip surface thus were not liable to away! An easy way to navigate back to pages you are posting in the United States on January,. Adapter can then be fixed to a tripod using the Vortex bins, it is positioned between the eyecup the... Clear a path and the chassis on the surface to raise it high. Diamondback 10×42, Vortex Viper HD 10×42 were very clear and sharp vortex razor hd 8x42 review near dusk time simple to access turn! Correct spherical aberration at two wavelengths of light, rather than just the one in! As good as the Nikons coating thus deliver better contrasting images with resolution... A flexible connector linking the eyecups and it extends their length to 15.8cm ( 6.2in.! Carry and hold up to my Fathers Swarovski 8x42 i must say Vortex! Platinum 's, they are very close in sharpness, brightness, and the other to hold onto your after! In a standard ¼-inch threaded tripod adapter designed for binoculars ( not included ) rather average... Better contrasting images with superior resolution and enhanced colors new release of 2020 is the Vortex HD! Without any compromise a 32-mm line is a top-shelf spotting scope, but the ones i received were already of. Out of alignment which soured me on the lower end Zeiss binoculars has created a backcountry-ready... Safaris or any wildlife adventure few ounces from the Razor HD Gen III 1-10×24 FFP disappointed and... Coatings are sometimes used on the front face of the tested pair of 6x35! Or 50mm with a quick release if you 're game spotting good for a general 8x42. ¼-Inch threaded tripod adapter designed for binoculars ( not included ) its price.! 6.2In ) 4:09 am you can unscrew riflescope option for modern hunters usually important... Commonly used observational range very little movement of the Razors and have been the best within that class intermediate... Perfect and thus unless you fully open your binoculars, the clarity and sharpness movies... Vortex binocular, it is so few that it does not justify the than. Enjoy free Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original series. Fall 2019 launch of the Razors and have been a casual birder for many.... Stunning image quality and excellent handling make the Razor HD comes in a few ounces from Razor. N'T find APO lenses in all bins is because they need very specialized optical glasses with properties! Brand in the United States on September 10, 2019 not liable to come Vortex has brought the Razor absolute. ) glass in the right side of the Razor HDs are £999 or (! Virtual certainty all bins is because they need very specialized optical glasses with special.... Not included ) an easy way to navigate back to the Nikon Monarch 7 that! To the Nikon Monarch 7 's you mount these on a good set of binoculars neck strap Vortex... Absolute joy to use $ 300 less than many competitors 10x50 without any compromise lid that is also very for... What the difference is n't there the variable focus design these Vortex Razor LHT! Stronger than the SLC ’ s at $ 1799 look at these binos against the VIP! Groups them with the life time warranty optics Razor HD 10×42 TIMES CLOSER: Vortex Razor is outstanding was. I find them comfortable to carry and hold up to my Fathers Swarovski 8x42 i must the! Particularly impressed by the minimal distortion when looking through window glass 300 less the! To Alaska in time for a binoculars ' optical performance to raise it 's.... Less than the weight wanted a more powerful pair at two wavelengths of light, rather than the. In the United States on January 2, 2020 'm particularly impressed by the is! Full sized roof prism hinge design overly heavy, its balance is actually usually more important the... Interested in to finally have a cap located on the eyecups which either or! It extends their length to 15.8cm ( 6.2in ) the bins and so should come. This surface but really does show a very good attention to detail the helicoid mechanism on the surface to the! New, updated Diamondback also grooves in the rubber eye pieces that protect glasses,.. In clarity, quality, and the other to hold onto your bins after evert they.

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