I’ve been watching so many reviews and none of them show the side-by-side comparison of clarity actually looking through glass. I appreciate the couple seconds I did see in your video. I believe people would like to see a lot more of that. At least I would for sure.
I really appreciated the analysis from a highly experienced hunter. I use to see a lot of comparisons of very different types of binoculars or different companies. My concerns were details of how the glass performed in comparison. Your videos helped out. I think you answered a big question: “Is more expensive glass worth it?” Yes if you use it often enough and are dependent on it enough.
Thanks! The last quarter of 2021 got NUTS in my world, but I'm back in the saddle and working hard to keep weekly (or semi-weekly) content coming out. Thanks for the support!
I agree with get the best u can afford but comparing an old old pair of non had diamondbacks with UHD Razors is hardly a fair comparison although it absolutely does make your point crystal clear. Scuze the pun😉🏆
I was told going to the Diamondback HDs over the older Diamondbacks was basically a step up in glass quality and performance. The entire current line from Diamondback to Viper improved their glass. So basically going to the Diamondback HDs is like going to the older Vipers. Likely the older glass is being used in the Crossfires now…..maybe.
One time I was taking my gma to the river in the winter just to get her out of the house. Well when we were walking around we found a black object below the fresh snow and my first thought was “oh some jack*** left their garbage”. Well when I picked it up there was a pair of vortex razor hd binos. In perfect shape perfectly protected by the simple case. I pulled them out and looked through them and to my amazement they were crystal clear despite being in the frigid cold under the snow. That’s what turned me onto the expensive glass. I looked at how much they run and nearly shot a brick. I gave them to my dad for his b day and he uses them every opportunity he has
Finally pulled the trigger on the UHDs. Last season standing side by side with my brother as he was pointing out bucks that I could not make out even though I know I was looking right at them made me realize how many animals I have probably scanned right over in the past.
Thanks for the solid advice & love the dogs! What do you think about the HD Razor vs Fury HD 5000 (HD Viper + Rangefinder)? Would it be a better setup to have an all-in-one and sacrifice on quality or have two separate high quality pieces?
@@leewohlgemuth4652 Aww thanks, Lee! I found an outfitter near me that carried all three Vortex products. While I loved the Fury rangefinding bino, I decided to go with a separate Razor bino and a separate Razor rangefinder for hunting applications. I couldn't get the Viper eyepiece to fit comfortably so it seemed like I would get eye fatigue easily. I had no problems with that on the Fury though. With the Razor bino, I felt like I could stare with them all day long! Secondly, the weight of the Fury was lighter than two pieces of equipment, and it would save me money on buying fewer harness accessories. Yet ultimately, I found much more value in the quick and easy deployment of a lighter rangefinder. It felt very cumbersome to lug out a bino just to range a target. Lastly, I do have a bad habit of leaving batteries in equipment and having the battery acid leak all over the electronic after long periods of inactivity. I would feel much better about ruining a rangefinder vs a rangefinding bino! I hope this gives you more perspective to make a confident choice for your personal needs! Good luck!
I'd avoid buying an all in one rangefinder binoculars since all electronics will and do go bad and you're out of two pieces of important equipment when you're sending it in for warranty. I'd recommend the $450 Maven rangefinder which has best 7x glass you'll ever see in a rangefinder and Maven's lifetime warranty even covers the electronics in their rangefinders and best of all, they're currently NOT made in CHINA. Then go and buy a good separate pair binoculars such as at least the sub $300 Athlon Midas UHD G2 or sub $500 Athlon Cronus UHD G2 and if you don't want made in China which these fantastic Athlon's are indeed Chinese made, most of the Maven C series binoculars aren't made in CHINA and they list where they're made. Also the Tract Toric UHD binoculars are made in Japan with Schott glass. If you want the best then the Maven B series with fluorite lenses are near Swarovski excellence at half the price and smokes the Vortex Razor UHD silly in fact even the cheaper Japan made Tract Toric UHD will smoke the Razor.
@@commonsense5709 I've heard great things about Maven, yet I haven't had a chance to try them with outdoor lighting and in low light conditions. I wonder why they're not as popular?
@@BonaFideWildLife People don't know about them. They are direct to consumer so that limits their exposure. They do have a trial before you buy program too.
Nothing from Nikon after they really screwed all of their past loyal customers no longer honoring their lifetime warranty on their scopes. I think they only have a 2 or maybe 7 year warranty on their binoculars now and possibly less on electronics and everything Nikon now needs an original dated proof of purchase receipt or there's zero warranty. I'd personally go with something that has a no questions asked hassle free no receipt required NO BS Lifetime warranty. I'd avoid Bushnell too due to very shady warranty practices even the BBB gave Bushnell an F rating for screwing over way too many of their own customers over not honoring their own lifetime warranty. I'd also avoid SIG brand especially anything with electronics in them. You'll be really sorry.
Great review! We are launching a new monocular and I need some actual down-to-business guys like to take a closer look at it. Can I ship you a unit for a quick review? We should have our first prototypes ready by the end of this month.
I wish Vortex would step up their compact models to the Viper and Razor categories. I prefer the 32 objective lens for the compact size and light weight (16 oz vs. 24 oz.). But Vortex only makes the 8x32 and 10x32 in the Diamondback HD. I love everything about them except the lens issues that come with cutting costs.
Check out Maven 8x32 buy them only when they go on sale. You will be impressed and they even have a try them out program before you buy. Their top of the line rangefinder looks really clear too.
Appreciate you took your time to share your experience on these binoculars, it was an interesting video to watch. But what is the point making a comparison on a ~200-250$ item to a ~1800$ item from the same brand? Likely in any case you do this with you will find that the expensive product drastically outperforms the cheap option.
He would have saved a lot of money if he bought a Maven B series or Tract Toric binoculars which are way better than the $1800 Vortex. He would have been really shocked at the sub $500 Athlon Cronus UHD G2 and how it would compare to the Razor as well. Even the sub $300 Athlon Midas UHD G2 smokes the Diamondback HD.
I have cheap Pursuit 10x42s, and after buying a Viper scope I'm now debating whether to get diamondback hd or vipe hd .... the price of razor or swarovski is just too high for me
Buy Athlons at least Midas UHD G2 or Cronus UHD G2. They are way better than Vortex talking about next level quality. Once you take a look through these you'll switch brands for sure once you see their huge difference in clarity compared to Vortex.
Avoid Bushnell at all costs. Don't give them the opportunity to screw you over when it comes to warranty time. See BBB gave Bushnell an F rating for screwing over way too many of their own customers over not honoring their own warranty.
I'd strongly urge everyone to at least try out these Athlon binoculars and compare them to what you have or what you intend to buy and return the ones you don't like. The sub $300 Athlon Midas UHD G2 and sub $500 Athlon Cronus UHD G2 which are rated best in class. Vortex isn't very good especially when they're compared to these specific Athlon's. The Maven B series and Tract Toric binoculars are hands down way better than the Vortex Razor and are much cheaper too. The markups on Vortex are ridiculously huge as well and they're really worth less than half of what they actually charge IMHO.
Thanks for the info. Looking to get my first pair. It seems like with Vortex, you’re really paying for the warranty. They replace them or fix them multiple times.
Vortex warranty is amazing, they will give you (retail amount credit) if you say I’ve lost faith in this product they will let you use your broken glass as a trade in.
Can't beat Vortex customer service. Your Diamondbacks were that bad? I bought mine (non-HD) years ago as backups to my $2000 Swarovski 10x42 ELs. The Dbacks suffer from curvature of field, so it's not sharp across the entire field (bins aren't photographic lenses, taking a photo we expect to be sharp from edge to edge - with bins we always center our subjects in the field of view, so lack of sharpness around the perimeter is not a real problem with bins), but otherwise they compared favorably to the ELs for sharpness, contrast, and color. The ELs were stolen about a year ago, and because I already had the Dbacks, I didn't feel the need to replace the ELs. And if your Dbacks were that bad and gave you headaches, I suspect there was something wrong with them from the start (decentered elements, misaligned barrels, or?). Never such a problem with either my Dbacks or my ELs. I'm 66 and have worn glasses since the 2nd grade. I take my optics seriously (having relied on them all my life to be able to see well) and always buy the best I can afford, but that doesn't always mean the most expensive. I tested the ELs against Zeiss and Leica (and high-end Nikons) bins, and though the ELs the best. I don't recall if the Leica or Zeiss bins cost more, but cost didn't enter the final equation. (In particular, I remember being surprised that the Leicas exhibited a distinct yellow color cast.)
I like better binos because I think they are less fatiguing. Colors are better, less distortion, and no weird chromatic aberration. Let's see what kinda review you give and if I'll be upset. Edit: You win. I figured you were going to poo all over expensive optics. Thanks for not.
Your theory about binoculars and prices is flawed. Athlon Midas G2s in all flavors offer very near Razor performance for Diamondback prices. What makes these binoculars so good is the magenta biased coatings that give superior perceived sharpness, contrast, and color saturation in low and contra light. The Athlons have a no questions lifetime warranty. They are pin sharp and wide.
I just ordered the Athlons cronus g2 uhd 10x42 off Amazon for $361 and they retail at $500 and on the athlon site they are $623.00 i can't wait since these are their top of the line bins. These new models only cronus products are made in Japan. All other models are made in china. Cheers!
I have a set of the Athlon Midas G2 8x42 and they are exceptional for the price. I lucked out and found a set on Amazon for $230. The Razor UHD's are better but not $1000 better. When it comes to higher end optics these days, you could pay a lot more for a little more improvement, but why since there are so many good quality affordable Asian made optics available.
@@mountain_grizzly2732 The only current Japan made products in the Athlon Cronus line are their riflescopes. Their new G2 Cronus UHD binoculars are made in China and so are their top of the line G2 Cronus UHD spotting scopes. They're hands down the best China has to offer way better than other brands selling Chinese made binoculars and spotters including Vortex. Athlon literally spanks Vortex.
You should really try the Cronus UHD G2 for around $400 or less from price negotiable dealers over the phone. Next level up compared to the Midas UHD and comparable to the Razor.
Maven B series with fluorite lenses way superior glass compared to the Razor UHD. Even the Tract Toric UHD is better than the Razor and they're way cheaper too. Even the sub $500 Chinese Athlon Cronus UHD G2 is a better choice than the Razor.
I’ve been watching so many reviews and none of them show the side-by-side comparison of clarity actually looking through glass. I appreciate the couple seconds I did see in your video. I believe people would like to see a lot more of that. At least I would for sure.
I would just like to say that the diamondbacks will work just fine for the majority of people
Thank you so much for this video. You explained a practical question that bothered me so well and saved me time. Good job!
Honestly this is great info! I have crossfire and diamondbacks and have really been considering higher quality vortex. You answered all my questions
I really appreciated the analysis from a highly experienced hunter. I use to see a lot of comparisons of very different types of binoculars or different companies. My concerns were details of how the glass performed in comparison. Your videos helped out. I think you answered a big question: “Is more expensive glass worth it?” Yes if you use it often enough and are dependent on it enough.
Solid video. Really appreciate the practical experience.
Perfectly as described!
Been a while...glad to see you posting again!
Thanks! The last quarter of 2021 got NUTS in my world, but I'm back in the saddle and working hard to keep weekly (or semi-weekly) content coming out. Thanks for the support!
This is great buddy!
thanks man!
Eric, what rangefinder do you use, Sir?
Spot on!
I agree with get the best u can afford but comparing an old old pair of non had diamondbacks with UHD Razors is hardly a fair comparison although it absolutely does make your point crystal clear. Scuze the pun😉🏆
Not even a best in class sub $500 Athlon Cronus UHD G2 to go head to head vs the Razor UHD either.
I actually came to ask about this. I wonder if there is much less of a difference between Diamondback HD compared to the UHD razor.
I was told going to the Diamondback HDs over the older Diamondbacks was basically a step up in glass quality and performance. The entire current line from Diamondback to Viper improved their glass. So basically going to the Diamondback HDs is like going to the older Vipers. Likely the older glass is being used in the Crossfires now…..maybe.
My Diamondback HD 10x42 are very nice, and about the same as my Nikon Prostaff in quality. Vortex is a cooler brand though, and feel nice in the hand.
Hello, what do you recommend Vortex Viper HD 8x42 or Nikon monarch m7 8x42?
My favorite thing I've ever bought from Amazon
One time I was taking my gma to the river in the winter just to get her out of the house. Well when we were walking around we found a black object below the fresh snow and my first thought was “oh some jack*** left their garbage”. Well when I picked it up there was a pair of vortex razor hd binos. In perfect shape perfectly protected by the simple case. I pulled them out and looked through them and to my amazement they were crystal clear despite being in the frigid cold under the snow. That’s what turned me onto the expensive glass. I looked at how much they run and nearly shot a brick. I gave them to my dad for his b day and he uses them every opportunity he has
Finally pulled the trigger on the UHDs. Last season standing side by side with my brother as he was pointing out bucks that I could not make out even though I know I was looking right at them made me realize how many animals I have probably scanned right over in the past.
Thanks for the solid advice & love the dogs! What do you think about the HD Razor vs Fury HD 5000 (HD Viper + Rangefinder)? Would it be a better setup to have an all-in-one and sacrifice on quality or have two separate high quality pieces?
Really wish these CZcamsrs would actually reply to good questions.
@@leewohlgemuth4652 Aww thanks, Lee! I found an outfitter near me that carried all three Vortex products. While I loved the Fury rangefinding bino, I decided to go with a separate Razor bino and a separate Razor rangefinder for hunting applications.
I couldn't get the Viper eyepiece to fit comfortably so it seemed like I would get eye fatigue easily. I had no problems with that on the Fury though. With the Razor bino, I felt like I could stare with them all day long!
Secondly, the weight of the Fury was lighter than two pieces of equipment, and it would save me money on buying fewer harness accessories. Yet ultimately, I found much more value in the quick and easy deployment of a lighter rangefinder. It felt very cumbersome to lug out a bino just to range a target.
Lastly, I do have a bad habit of leaving batteries in equipment and having the battery acid leak all over the electronic after long periods of inactivity. I would feel much better about ruining a rangefinder vs a rangefinding bino!
I hope this gives you more perspective to make a confident choice for your personal needs! Good luck!
I'd avoid buying an all in one rangefinder binoculars since all electronics will and do go bad and you're out of two pieces of important equipment when you're sending it in for warranty. I'd recommend the $450 Maven rangefinder which has best 7x glass you'll ever see in a rangefinder and Maven's lifetime warranty even covers the electronics in their rangefinders and best of all, they're currently NOT made in CHINA. Then go and buy a good separate pair binoculars such as at least the sub $300 Athlon Midas UHD G2 or sub $500 Athlon Cronus UHD G2 and if you don't want made in China which these fantastic Athlon's are indeed Chinese made, most of the Maven C series binoculars aren't made in CHINA and they list where they're made. Also the Tract Toric UHD binoculars are made in Japan with Schott glass. If you want the best then the Maven B series with fluorite lenses are near Swarovski excellence at half the price and smokes the Vortex Razor UHD silly in fact even the cheaper Japan made Tract Toric UHD will smoke the Razor.
@@commonsense5709 I've heard great things about Maven, yet I haven't had a chance to try them with outdoor lighting and in low light conditions. I wonder why they're not as popular?
@@BonaFideWildLife People don't know about them. They are direct to consumer so that limits their exposure. They do have a trial before you buy program too.
Wouldn’t Sig zulus be a better choice?
What do you think of using the Nikon P1000 instead of binoculars. It has insane zoom and it's about $1k. Just needs batteries.
Nothing from Nikon after they really screwed all of their past loyal customers no longer honoring their lifetime warranty on their scopes. I think they only have a 2 or maybe 7 year warranty on their binoculars now and possibly less on electronics and everything Nikon now needs an original dated proof of purchase receipt or there's zero warranty. I'd personally go with something that has a no questions asked hassle free no receipt required NO BS Lifetime warranty. I'd avoid Bushnell too due to very shady warranty practices even the BBB gave Bushnell an F rating for screwing over way too many of their own customers over not honoring their own lifetime warranty. I'd also avoid SIG brand especially anything with electronics in them. You'll be really sorry.
Sold! Great video
Great review! We are launching a new monocular and I need some actual down-to-business guys like to take a closer look at it. Can I ship you a unit for a quick review? We should have our first prototypes ready by the end of this month.
I wish Vortex would step up their compact models to the Viper and Razor categories. I prefer the 32 objective lens for the compact size and light weight (16 oz vs. 24 oz.). But Vortex only makes the 8x32 and 10x32 in the Diamondback HD. I love everything about them except the lens issues that come with cutting costs.
Check out Maven 8x32 buy them only when they go on sale. You will be impressed and they even have a try them out program before you buy. Their top of the line rangefinder looks really clear too.
Good, thx
Appreciate you took your time to share your experience on these binoculars, it was an interesting video to watch.
But what is the point making a comparison on a ~200-250$ item to a ~1800$ item from the same brand? Likely in any case you do this with you will find that the expensive product drastically outperforms the cheap option.
He would have saved a lot of money if he bought a Maven B series or Tract Toric binoculars which are way better than the $1800 Vortex. He would have been really shocked at the sub $500 Athlon Cronus UHD G2 and how it would compare to the Razor as well. Even the sub $300 Athlon Midas UHD G2 smokes the Diamondback HD.
I have cheap Pursuit 10x42s, and after buying a Viper scope I'm now debating whether to get diamondback hd or vipe hd .... the price of razor or swarovski is just too high for me
I debated as well and went for the Vipers. So far so good!
The razor scope is amazing. It's worth the price tag.
Buy Athlons at least Midas UHD G2 or Cronus UHD G2. They are way better than Vortex talking about next level quality. Once you take a look through these you'll switch brands for sure once you see their huge difference in clarity compared to Vortex.
@@Texas_G_Longhorns The Viper HD 10x50's on sale at Cabela's for $299 was a really good deal.
This diamantback vs bushnell legend l?
Avoid Bushnell at all costs. Don't give them the opportunity to screw you over when it comes to warranty time. See BBB gave Bushnell an F rating for screwing over way too many of their own customers over not honoring their own warranty.
Athlon Midas UHD G2 or even the cheaper G1 literally blows away the Bushnell and Vortex.
Better comparison is vs the Viper HD 10x50's that were on sale for $299 at Cabela's.
Vortex razor 8 x 42
Bingo! You can't put your finger on "why", but they're just better.
Relaxing. Comfortable. Easy.
I'd strongly urge everyone to at least try out these Athlon binoculars and compare them to what you have or what you intend to buy and return the ones you don't like. The sub $300 Athlon Midas UHD G2 and sub $500 Athlon Cronus UHD G2 which are rated best in class. Vortex isn't very good especially when they're compared to these specific Athlon's. The Maven B series and Tract Toric binoculars are hands down way better than the Vortex Razor and are much cheaper too. The markups on Vortex are ridiculously huge as well and they're really worth less than half of what they actually charge IMHO.
Thanks for the info. Looking to get my first pair. It seems like with Vortex, you’re really paying for the warranty. They replace them or fix them multiple times.
Vortex warranty is amazing, they will give you (retail amount credit) if you say I’ve lost faith in this product they will let you use your broken glass as a trade in.
I personally have a lot of broken Vortex glass and all of them are made in China.
I really appreciate the fact that you used a Phineas And Ferb Graphic in the first 10s of the video.
Can't beat Vortex customer service.
Your Diamondbacks were that bad? I bought mine (non-HD) years ago as backups to my $2000 Swarovski 10x42 ELs. The Dbacks suffer from curvature of field, so it's not sharp across the entire field (bins aren't photographic lenses, taking a photo we expect to be sharp from edge to edge - with bins we always center our subjects in the field of view, so lack of sharpness around the perimeter is not a real problem with bins), but otherwise they compared favorably to the ELs for sharpness, contrast, and color. The ELs were stolen about a year ago, and because I already had the Dbacks, I didn't feel the need to replace the ELs. And if your Dbacks were that bad and gave you headaches, I suspect there was something wrong with them from the start (decentered elements, misaligned barrels, or?). Never such a problem with either my Dbacks or my ELs. I'm 66 and have worn glasses since the 2nd grade. I take my optics seriously (having relied on them all my life to be able to see well) and always buy the best I can afford, but that doesn't always mean the most expensive. I tested the ELs against Zeiss and Leica (and high-end Nikons) bins, and though the ELs the best. I don't recall if the Leica or Zeiss bins cost more, but cost didn't enter the final equation. (In particular, I remember being surprised that the Leicas exhibited a distinct yellow color cast.)
I like better binos because I think they are less fatiguing. Colors are better, less distortion, and no weird chromatic aberration.
Let's see what kinda review you give and if I'll be upset.
Edit: You win. I figured you were going to poo all over expensive optics. Thanks for not.
so for ten years you had no clue how to proper use a biniculair, what tells me that you do now overnight.. sounds more like commercial time to me.
I really want to buy some used kaibabs cause I’m super broke and this just kind of pushed me over. Oh boy is my wife gonna kill me.😊
Your theory about binoculars and prices is flawed. Athlon Midas G2s in all flavors offer very near Razor performance for Diamondback prices. What makes these binoculars so good is the magenta biased coatings that give superior perceived sharpness, contrast, and color saturation in low and contra light. The Athlons have a no questions lifetime warranty. They are pin sharp and wide.
I just ordered the Athlons cronus g2 uhd 10x42 off Amazon for $361 and they retail at $500 and on the athlon site they are $623.00 i can't wait since these are their top of the line bins. These new models only cronus products are made in Japan. All other models are made in china. Cheers!
I have a set of the Athlon Midas G2 8x42 and they are exceptional for the price. I lucked out and found a set on Amazon for $230. The Razor UHD's are better but not $1000 better. When it comes to higher end optics these days, you could pay a lot more for a little more improvement, but why since there are so many good quality affordable Asian made optics available.
@@mountain_grizzly2732 The only current Japan made products in the Athlon Cronus line are their riflescopes. Their new G2 Cronus UHD binoculars are made in China and so are their top of the line G2 Cronus UHD spotting scopes. They're hands down the best China has to offer way better than other brands selling Chinese made binoculars and spotters including Vortex. Athlon literally spanks Vortex.
You should really try the Cronus UHD G2 for around $400 or less from price negotiable dealers over the phone. Next level up compared to the Midas UHD and comparable to the Razor.
If I screw up a product its on me I wont make a warranty claim. If its a product defect yes I will. I just am not making a claim on my stupidity.
The video starts at 3:56 smh - recommend speeding up audio
Super not cheap glass? MMMMMk
To much drama
Horrible introductory music. Please don't play music when you are talking, it's distracting
Vortex is not good glass, not even the razor. Vortex is what you buy when you can't afford good glass.
Maven B series with fluorite lenses way superior glass compared to the Razor UHD. Even the Tract Toric UHD is better than the Razor and they're way cheaper too. Even the sub $500 Chinese Athlon Cronus UHD G2 is a better choice than the Razor.
This is a joke right?
@@T410ce Don’t feel bad.
The Viper HD 10x50 on sale at Cabela's for $299 very hard to beat for the price and very close to Razor level of clarity.