Vortex Binos

[NCelkhtr]

I have had a pair of Cabela's Alpha extreme binos for the past 4 years and have been very pleased with them, until I slipped off the hitch haul and landed on them breaking them in the middle making 2 monoluculars with no focus. They have a lifetime MANUFACTURE warranty, that insident made me lean toward the Vortex optics with uncontitional warrenty. My budy has the vortex Dimond Backs and they are some nice optics. I was just wanting some other opinions on the dimondbacks, talons, and the viper. Is the viper worth that much more? when doing the comparison side by side on vortex's site the only difference was a lens coating, and the dimondback had a greater liner and angular field of view, and was lighter. I have personally only looked through the dimondbacks so if anyone has actually had the chance to personally compare the 2 let me know what you think.

[Backcountry]

The diamondback is a great bino at $230. The get into the talon you will jump greatly in price at $480. I have owned the talons and honestly believe that they are simply outdated anymore. They are fairly heavy, clunky, and frankly overpriced compared to other offerings on the market.

The Vipers are one of my favorite pairs out there. Very small in comparison to most of their line. I also like the locking diopter rings. These will set you back $600.

The best advice I can give in glass is to spend at the top of your budget and you will not have regrets. FWIW, I own the razors.

[ElkNut1]

Zach, since I'm a Dealer with Vortex products I have the opportunity to compare all 3 of the optics you've mentioned. The D/Backs are a very good optic for the price but they are a non HD unit, this isn't a huge deal but there is a difference. The Talon is an HD optic, it's a bit better in clarity & resolution over the D/Backs. The Viper HD is the best of the 3 with even clearer crisp edge to edge glass & much better low light capabilities. The Vipers will best the D/Backs by 15 minutes in low light situations & the Talons about half of that. HD will give you brighter viewing & really enhance the different colors you may be looking at as well.

The D/Backs 10X42 & Viper HD 10X42 weigh the same. The field of view at 1000yds is 26' more on the D/Back, you do realize that's 13' more on each side at 1000yds, that's hardly noticeable. Seriously speaking the Viper HD is definitely the better unit of the 3. PM me if you'd like & I will give you an excellent price on any of the 3. Thanks!

ElkNut/Paul

[>>>---WW---->]

I have the Viper 10x42. I wouldn't trade them for any other glass I have looked thru. I did a side by side comparison with Swarovski 10x42s and there was no difference that my old eyes could tell. And definitely not $1500 extra dollars worth!

Give Elknut a call. I'll bet he can make you a good deal on just about any Vortex binocular you choose.

[Z Barebow]

I have the 10x42 Viper HD's and I am very happy with them. Can't comment on other models as I have not looked through them. In optics, you generally get what you pay for. If you spend a little now, be prepared to buy the ones you wanted later.

Elknut and Vortex is a great combo. My credit card company appreciates it also.

[LckyTylr]

I have the Viper HD 10x50, my buddy has the Diamondback 10x50. We did a comparison this past season and Paul's comments are spot on. My Vipers still allowed us to count points on a feeding buck while at the same time, we couldn't tell that the deer had antlers at all with the Diamondbacks. The light gathering seemed about the same (as they both should be equal with 50 mm objectives), but the clarity is what set them apart. The D-backs looked fuzzy in low light. Just our perceptions, but there was a difference.

For what it's worth, I'm VERY happy with my Viper's . . . and my buddy still claims that he wouldn't spend the extra money to buy my Vipers, even though he admits that the quality is much better.

So, it depends on what kind of personality you have. I feel like if I'm ever limited by my equipment . . . I am limited and it nags away at me. My buddy, he has always just made do with what he has. He also doesn't have the extreme burning desire to kill things that I have.