Cabela's Bino's Intensity HD 12x50

[silverbullet6oh]

Good Evening Everyone,

I wanted to give a little review on the binoculars I just picked up.

I went to Cabela's and tested out some Bino's. I looked at the Vortex Crossfire, Vortex Diamondback, Vortex Viper, Bushnell Monarch 5, Bushnell Monarch 7, Bushnell Forge, Nikon Prostaff 7, Ziess Terra, and Cabela's Intensity HD.

After looking through all these my biggest surprise came at the end when I compared the Vortex Viper's and Cabela's Intensity.

I was able to look through these in low light settings as the sun was going down outside. But then again, nothing is like using these bino's in the field.

--The clarity of the Intensity HD is amazing and IMO was on par with the Viper's. No fuzzing on the sides of the glass.
--The focus adjustment dial is easy to turn, and large.
--The ergonomics of the bino's are nice for handling.
--The exterior coating is nice for gripping.
--The eye cups are nice the way they seem to lock in place and don't move.
--The case that comes with the bino's is rugged and will do well in protecting the bino's.
--Under low light these bino's are amazing, that's all I can say, just blew me away.

-- The Intensity HD's are a little heavier than others, but the weight doesn't seem to bother me.
-- The warranty for these bino's are lifetime against manufacture defects under normal wear and tear.

I know that they don't carry the same warranty as Vortex.

I am sure I will get some flack for saying they are on par with Vortex Vipers. I was ready to spend the money on the Viper's, but I just couldn't do it after trying out the Intensity's.

I will be using these this weekend. I will see how they do on antler counting while out in the field. This will be the ultimate and final test.

- P

[Bob33]

The best judge of what optics are best for you are your eyes.

[silverbullet6oh]

The best judge of what optics are best for you are your eyes.

Thanks, that is so true.

I was so stuck on wanting the Viper's though. I have come to understand my "want" for the Viper's was because it was going to be a respected brand in field among other hunters, and the warranty. But I also have come to the point of, I don't care what they think.  Although I am not discounting the Vortex at all. Those Viper's are very nice.

If these Intensity's don't work out then I will be looking at the Vortex Razor's or back to the Viper's.

- P

[yakimanoob]

The best judge of what optics are best for you are your eyes.

Don't let anyone give you grief.  Our eyes and brains are wonderfully complex and unique, and I would always recommend testing a bunch and buying your favorite.  Good job. 

That said, I do find the lack of a Leupold bino on your list to be a little curious?  Did Cabelas just not have any of theirs or had you already decided you didn't want one? 

I ask only because I did basically the same thing you did with the 10x42 class and walked away with the new Leupold BX-4s.  Something about them just "fit" my eyes.  Anyway good luck finding critters with the new glass!   

[silverbullet6oh]

Don't let anyone give you grief.  Our eyes and brains are wonderfully complex and unique, and I would always recommend testing a bunch and buying your favorite.  Good job. 

That said, I do find the lack of a Leupold bino on your list to be a little curious?  Did Cabelas just not have any of theirs or had you already decided you didn't want one? 

I ask only because I did basically the same thing you did with the 10x42 class and walked away with the new Leupold BX-4s.  Something about them just "fit" my eyes.  Anyway good luck finding critters with the new glass!   

I think that is something I just skipped over. No particular reason. But I will be keeping those in mind if I need to go back and return these Intensity's.  Thanks for the hint on Leupolds!

[silverbullet6oh]

After the last weekend of modern deer and using these bino's, I decided to keep them. They worked well, and I was able to spot bucks out past a mile. Plus, the low light performance was great.

Just wanted to do a quick and finally follow up. If anything negative comes up with these bino's over the course of owning them, I will post a reply in this thread.

- P