Vortex Talon HD vs Viper HD vs Cabelas Outfitter Series all 10 x42

[DJ_Mack]

Tell me what you guys think.  I am looking between these 3.  My eyes can't tell a difference but my wallet can.  Cabelas are 100$ off right now.  Or should I get something better? in the 600-800 range?

[cbond3318]

I bought the Talons last year, I could tell a difference in the Vipers for sure but didn't seem worth it too me. Never have looked through the Cabelas, if you cant tell a difference between the Talons and Vipers, I would suggest the Talons based on warranty alone.

[DJ_Mack]

The vipers and talons are both vortex and have the same warranty.

[X-Force]

If you cant tell the difference between the two vortex optically go with the talons and get them from elknut! save some coin and support a site sponsor.

[cbond3318]

The vipers and talons are both vortex and have the same warranty.

I understand that. I meant, if you cant tell a difference in vipers and talons, save some coin and get the talons. Buy Vortex for the Warranty.

[Bean Counter]

You will get what you pay for. I've looked through mid range vortex before and was not impressed. Mainly in spotters. Tons of lateral color fringing. Aka chromatic aberrations with a green bias. I would spring for the vipers or better yet: the razors. 

[mountainman]

Go with the Vipers. Less eye fatigue during long glassing sessions. Have hours behind them both. Likewise, not doing long spotting sessions, go with the Talons and save a few bucks. And yes, get them from Elknut!

[pianoman9701]

I have the Talons. I haven't compared them to the others and I love them. Great glass and I can look through them for a long time without eye strain. Get the photo mount adapter to use them on a tripod.

[DJ_Mack]

What about the razor hd? Is it worth the 400 more? Because I had a hard time telling. Granted I was looking in the middle of the day.

[bobcat]

With spotting scopes you should spend as much as you can possibly afford to spend. Get the Razor for sure if you have the money. If not, one thing to keep in mind with Vortex is anything under their Viper line of optics is made in China, if that matters to you. I'm anti-China so when I bought my Vortex bino's last year I got the Vipers. They're made in Japan and so are the Razors. Quality is even more critical when using a spotting scope. The cheap ones are next to worthless. Spend a little more now and next year you won't need to upgrade.

[Bean Counter]

What about the razor hd? Is it worth the 400 more? Because I had a hard time telling. Granted I was looking in the middle of the day.

As you aluded to there is more of a difference as it gets darker. This is usually a result of the coatings applied to the prisms of the binoculars, as well as the external glass... lower level binos will usually have aluminum or silver coated prisms, which will do comparatively better midday. higher end binos will utilize dielectrically coated prisms, which transmit far more light and with higher contrast than will shoddy stuff in the wee hours. IIRC, silver and aluminum can just be slathered on with a paint brush, but dielectric coatings are done in a vacuum chamber under a special process. Does that sound more expensive? Might be a clue as to getting what you pay for.

Further, if cheaper end binos aren't sealed I believe the weather (humidity) can degrade the aluminum and silver coated prisms with time. Dielectric prisms are usually immune to this but at that price level the unit is usually heavily armored and sealed (does that sound more expensive?) anyway as you don't want moisture inside your binos fogging them up. Know that even top shelf stuff by Zeiss, Swaro, Leica, Nikon, etc will still fog up on the outside when its cold and you blow on them. The big bucks can't cheat physics that well.... yet.

Still other reasons why you'll pay more for better include more expensive alloy metals that comprise the body, so your unit is lighter in the hand. Then there's the external coatings to the objective and pupillary lenses. I haven't looked into it recently with binos but I spent $88 on a B+W 77mm protective filter for a camera lens. It has 8 layers of coatings applied and in a recent sunset shot I took with the filter on there was actually LESS sun flare than the second shot I took with it off! Unreal. Then there's paying more for a brand that backs their products up with a  lifetime warranty. Leupold and Nikon have both taken good care of me over the years. I've heard the same of Swaro and Vortex, too 

I've never read of anyone regretting the money they spent on quality optics. If you do, and in a year you feel like you shouldn't have spent as much, you can pick a horses ass avatar and I'll wear it for a month 

[DJ_Mack]

Great advice everyone.  Adding extra hunting time with better glass makes sense in the long run.  Might have to sell some things around the house to get the razors.  Is elknut from Washington? I would love to support local and site sponsor.

I also was talking binos not spotters. Sorry for the confusion.

[Bean Counter]

I believe Paul is over in Idaho. He's the man and worth supporting. Answers PMs like a champ, too 

If I lost everything in life and had to start over, I'd skip a whole hunting season to save gas and tag fees and work at a gas station for some extra cash to buy the optics I want. Life is too short to hunt or photograph with low end stuff.   

[bobcat]

I sure do like my Vortex 10x42 Vipers. The Razors are double the price and for me, I didn't feel it was worth it. Try the Vipers from Elknut in the "demo/open box" unit for $510. If you do decide to upgrade later I bet you could sell them and get most of your money back.


http://stores.elknut.com/vortex-optics-viper-hd-binoculars-10x42-open-box-demo/

[M_ray]

Tell me what you guys think.  I am looking between these 3.  My eyes can't tell a difference but my wallet can.  Cabelas are 100$ off right now.  Or should I get something better? in the 600-800 range?

Your eye will tell a difference at low light ... I would save the money and put it towards Swarovski's