Which one?

[Evoac05]

I am looking to step up and get a nice set of 10x42 glass. I am looking at the Steiner Predator Xtreme Full-Size binoculars and the Vortex Viper HD binoculars. Cabelas currently has the Predator on sale (I have some Cabelas giftcards I need to spend). Does anyone here have experience with the two? Which do you prefer? How do you like the Color Adjusted Transmission technology of the Predator? I know Vortex has an awesome warranty, but don't know a whole lot about Steiner's warranty? Anyone have experience with their warranty? I am looking in the $500ish range (give or take a couple hundred). Feel free to offer other binocular suggestions, but these are the two I am really leaning towards. Thanks

[BuckHunter23]

Just picked up a pair of the Vipers myself and will be using next week on my spring bear hunt  .  I spent quite a bit of time in Sportsmans Warehouse looking through lots of different binos.  Thanks to the salesguy that took me outside with all of them to get a better feel for how they all performed in real light situations  .  I didn't try the Steiners, but compared the Vipers to a couple different Nikon and Leupold binos and the Vortex Diamondbacks, just to get a sense for the dramatic difference.  I was upgrading from a standard pair of Alpens, so I knew I would be impressed with anything better than what I already had.  Anyway, long story short, after looking through the Vipers and having a similar budget as yours, they were hands down the best ones I looked through.  The clarity and amount of light they let in was amazing.  Others may disagree or have varying opinions, but that was my experience and  .  Hope it helps and hope you find a pair that works for you.

[mountainman]

Definetly the Vortex!

[Roperfive88]

That's a no brain-er Vortex all the way. My cousin has Steiner and they are no where near the glass of vortex. I didn't like looking through them at all there is probably a reason they are on sale all the time. Vortex has a great warranty and are good to deal with.

[mountainman]

Just picked up a pair of the Vipers myself and will be using next week on my spring bear hunt  .  I spent quite a bit of time in Sportsmans Warehouse looking through lots of different binos.  Thanks to the salesguy that took me outside with all of them to get a better feel for how they all performed in real light situations  .  I didn't try the Steiners, but compared the Vipers to a couple different Nikon and Leupold binos and the Vortex Diamondbacks, just to get a sense for the dramatic difference.  I was upgrading from a standard pair of Alpens, so I knew I would be impressed with anything better than what I already had.  Anyway, long story short, after looking through the Vipers and having a similar budget as yours, they were hands down the best ones I looked through.  The clarity and amount of light they let in was amazing.  Others may disagree or have varying opinions, but that was my experience and  .  Hope it helps and hope you find a pair that works for you.

 

[thinkingman]

No experience with the Viper, but I've never been impressed with Steiners.
Personally, I'd go with a used pair of Nikon's upper-end glass, maybe Zeiss Conquest.
Cabelas Euros/Meopta are very good.

[Roperfive88]

No experience with the Viper, but I've never been impressed with Steiners.
Personally, I'd go with a used pair of Nikon's upper-end glass, maybe Zeiss Conquest.
Cabelas Euros/Meopta are very good.

Got to take a look at the vipers if you were impressed with the Steiners. 

[mountainman]

No experience with the Viper, but I've never been impressed with Steiners.
Personally, I'd go with a used pair of Nikon's upper-end glass, maybe Zeiss Conquest.
Cabelas Euros/Meopta are very good.

Got to take a look at the vipers if you were impressed with the Steiners. 

[columbiaman]

Just tried Leupold BX4 Mckinley last weekend. Oh boy, they are good! I cannot clearly see it is better than the Vortex Razor sitting next to it. It is both brighter and sharper.

[wilsongideon]

I have never tried the vortex so I have no idea on them. But what I can tell you is I have had steiners 10x42 predators for ten plus years and they are very nice glass. I have had excellent luck with them and have spent many long days looking through them and they have always been very comfortable.  the rubber eyecups that block the sun make it pretty easy even in direct sunlight to glass. I have spotted deer at long range at all hours of the day and been fortunate to find bucks bedded at several hundred yards. So I think for the price of the predators you would be very pleased. they do only have a ten year warrenty I believe though. I plan on buying some new glasses in the next year or so for my wife and when I do they will be the predators. 

[trophyhunt]

I went to the sportmans warehouse and checked out bino's also, my 2 cents, your half way to a really nice pair. I checked out the vortex razor hd 10x42 and the zeiss hd, both at 1,000. I am buying one of those when I get some more overtime. My only complaint, I love my Steiner auto focus, it's takes a little getting used to focusing bino's after all the years of owning my Steiners. I love my 8x30 predators! Not sure which brand I want to buy yet, I think it will be a win, win situation.

[Bob Williams1]

I have this pair of Steiner 12x40 Predator that we could probably work something out with your gift cards.
Let me know

http://www.authorizedoptics.com/12x40-predator-pro-porro.html?productid=12x40-predator-pro-porro&channelid=FROOG

[Roperfive88]

I have never tried the vortex so I have no idea on them. But what I can tell you is I have had stingers 10x42 predators for ten plus years and they are very nice glass. I have had excellent luck with them and have spent many long days looking through them and they have always been very comfortable.  the rubber eyecups that block the sun make it pretty easy even in direct sunlight to glass. I have spotted deer at long range at all hours of the day and been fortunate to find bucks bedded at several hundred yards. So I think for the price of the predators you would be very pleased. they do only have a ten year warranty I believe though. I plan on buying some new glasses in the next year or so for my wife and when I do they will be the predators.  :Tupi:

The vortex has a lifetime, transferable, no fault warranty. You break it they fix it for nothing.

[MtnMuley]

I have never tried the vortex so I have no idea on them. But what I can tell you is I have had steiners 10x42 predators for ten plus years and they are very nice glass. I have had excellent luck with them and have spent many long days looking through them and they have always been very comfortable.  the rubber eyecups that block the sun make it pretty easy even in direct sunlight to glass. I have spotted deer at long range at all hours of the day and been fortunate to find bucks bedded at several hundred yards. So I think for the price of the predators you would be very pleased. they do only have a ten year warrenty I believe though. I plan on buying some new glasses in the next year or so for my wife and when I do they will be the predators. 

Not to take anything away from the Predators as they are nice glass, but optic technology has come a long ways in the last ten years.  I'd personally look at a few of the newer models before you order.  You might still choose the Steiners, but at least then you'd be able to say you tried the others.

[wilsongideon]

Sounds like the vortex has the better warrenty...like I said I have never used them. steiner just went through and upgraded their predator line to extremes about 4 years ago ,I have the old style...I want the new ones. I also know there is alot of personal preference that goes into buying optics, I personally would buy the new steiners because I trust what I have used for the last 12 years rather then pay for something else and be disappointed. I have heard excellent things about vortex.