Vortex Optics Viper HD Roof Prism Binoculars 10x42

Product Information

The eyecups are ok, but they don't actually stay in any position other than all the way in or all the way out. If you set them to any of the middle positions then they will eventually migrate to the all the way in position. It all adds up to a fabulous viewing experience that hovers very close to the upper echelons of optical excellence. The view may not be quite on a par with top-end binoculars from leading European manufacturers… but compared side-by-side the Vipers come surprisingly close at a fraction of the price.

Wow, I posted this in another thread. It was buried under a bunch of toxic crap and brand loyalty and brand distrust. Here is my honest review after a couple months of ownership: After comparing them on the scale of different activities, it’s time to evaluate which binocular has better built, design, reliability, and robustness. So, without any further ado, let’s delve into more details. FOV A firm grip, full-size lenses, and bright imagery which doesn’t leave their eyes red. In this category, the winner is Vortex Viper HD. It is a high-end binocular whose multicoated lenses will show you vivid imagery. Again, Vortex Viper has the upper hand in the lens coating category. Its anti-reflective coating produces bright yet clear imagery.

ArmorTek: Exterior lenses are protected by ArmorTek — an ultrahard, scratch-resistant compound that repels oil, dirt and the corrosive salts of fingerprints. When I tested them, I felt the 8x42 version was comfortable to hold and very well balanced and I liked the two small thumb indents on the underside that are there to encourage you to hold them in the correct way and at the right point to get the balance spot on. The overall shape of the the Vortex Viper HD 10x42 binoculars is very typical for that of a modern full-sized roof prism binocular. In general and for the most part this is a good thing as this design is tried and tested. Minimum focal distance on these is advertised as only 5.1ft, which is excellent and makes these an ideal choice if you also like viewing flowers, insects or even birds from closer ranges. Comparisons However, Vortex has already solved this issue by making this argon purged, and O-ring sealed vortex viper binocular. This binocular can survive all the rough-tough conditions. Ocean viewers and wildlife hunters must prefer argon purged binocular.

Depth of field is as described in the quote from the review and is the distance in front of and behind an object that has been critically focused on in which other objects are in focus. But how this distance is perceived varies from person to person because of what is called accommodation of each observer's eyes. The 3D effect of wider spaced objectives of porros and even of Abbe Koenig prism roof prism binos is different. And also lets not forget the foreshortening of perspective of higher magnification. If you have ever seen a pic taken with a long focal length lens, you will have noticed how an object closer to the camera than another object some distance away in fact look quite close together. This works in reverse too so that as you reduce the magnification, the distance between objects seems to increase dramatically. Dropping from 10x to 7x for example, a line of hills stretching away from the observer will appear to have greater distances between them with the 7x than with the 10x. However this is not depth of field, just a different optical effect and it is another reason why the view through 7x binos looks more spacious.If you’re shopping for a quality pair of wildlife watching or birding binoculars that almost rivals the big names for optical performance and build quality at a fraction of the price, then the Viper HD from Vortex needs to be on your short list. This really is an exceptional binocular. There’s a big noticeable jump from a Nikon M7 to a MHG or a Terra to a conquest , not only in optics but also in build quality. That’s not the case between these two Vortex. It’s possible the Viper is just a great little mid level binocular and a sweet spot in the Vortex lineup. There’s so little separating these two. Ive always been one of those people who’s willing pay (reluctantly) the premium for the small but noticeable improvements in optics , but on these two I couldn’t justify it if I can’t see the difference. The Razor UHD is a whole other story, it’s almost like Vortex went from a mid level (viper ) to a premium alpha (UHD) in one jump and left out the upper mid level, imo.

As you can see from the comparison table below, this is good, but not spectacular for a full sized 10x binocular. Those who are sensitive to light or avoid extra brightness, like seeing mild imagery, which is both bright and soothing. Although Nikon binoculars have multicoated lenses, there are chances of chromatic distortion in it. The Vortex Viper 10x42 binocular is o-ring sealed and thus fully waterproof. They are also fog proof which at this price, both of these features is to be expected. The sweet spot in the centre of the Viper’s field of view is large, and extremely sharp and detailed. There is very little fall-off in that detail as you move out towards the edges. Thanks to the HD glass chromatic aberration is very well controlled right across the field of view too. I couldn’t find any evidence of colour fringing unless I really pushed things — focusing on really high-contrast subjects at the very limits of the field of view for example. In normal viewing conditions it wasn’t noticeable at all, even when I was looking for it. Cameras Mirrorless Cameras DSLR Cameras Digital Compact Cameras Video Cameras Lenses Mirrorless Camera Lenses DSLR Lenses Lens Filters Lens AccessoriesThe dust particles present in the way of light rub against the surface of lenses, and with time, the image becomes blurred. But the fully multicoated lenses of vortex viper HD and its XR anti-reflective outer coating minimize the chances of such distortions. As a result, the images are always bright, well-defined, and aberration-free. It takes a lot to improve the very popular and award-winning Vortex Viper HD binoculars but they have made small but effective improvements where it matters with the new 2018 models. With its 351ft wide FOV, hunters can successfully chase and hunt their prey; thanks to its compact design, they won’t lose their grip from the binoculars either.

This way you should get a pretty good understanding of each model making it easier to decide right for you and your needs: Vortex Viper HD 10x42 Binoculars Review Although new in the market, the vortex viper HD binocular is a bit expensive. It’s a mid-priced bino and is going to rightly serve your money. The brilliant features these binocular offers justify the reason behind this price. If you are an enthusiast for binoculars, vortex viper is the way to go.DSLR Lenses Canon Fit Lenses Nikon Fit Lenses Lens Accessories Lens Caps Lens Hoods Lens cloths and cleaning kits Lens Attachments