Post by: DJ_Mack on May 18, 2015, 11:48:55 AM
Post by: cbond3318 on May 18, 2015, 11:55:52 AM
Post by: DJ_Mack on May 18, 2015, 11:58:42 AM
Post by: X-Force on May 18, 2015, 12:11:17 PM
Post by: cbond3318 on May 18, 2015, 12:14:50 PM
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.
Post by: Bean Counter on May 18, 2015, 12:30:47 PM
Post by: mountainman on May 18, 2015, 01:33:32 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on May 18, 2015, 01:37:06 PM
Post by: DJ_Mack on May 18, 2015, 08:35:59 PM
Post by: bobcat on May 18, 2015, 09:20:32 PM
Post by: Bean Counter on May 18, 2015, 09:32:40 PM
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 $88 on a B+W 77mm protective filter for a camera lens. It has 8 layers of coatings applied and in a recent sunset shot I took with the filter on there was actually LESS sun flare than the second shot I took with it off! Unreal. Then there's paying more for a brand that backs their products up with a lifetime warranty. Leupold and Nikon have both taken good care of me over the years. I've heard the same of Swaro and Vortex, too :tup:
I've never read of anyone regretting the money they spent on quality optics. If you do, and in a year you feel like you shouldn't have spent as much, you can pick a horses ass avatar and I'll wear it for a month ;)
Post by: DJ_Mack on May 18, 2015, 09:47:44 PM
I also was talking binos not spotters. Sorry for the confusion.
Post by: Bean Counter on May 18, 2015, 09:55:17 PM
If I lost everything in life and had to start over, I'd skip a whole hunting season to save gas and tag fees and work at a gas station for some extra cash to buy the optics I want. Life is too short to hunt or photograph with low end stuff. :)
Post by: bobcat on May 18, 2015, 10:05:39 PM
http://stores.elknut.com/vortex-optics-viper-hd-binoculars-10x42-open-box-demo/
Post by: M_ray on May 18, 2015, 10:36:28 PM
Tell me what you guys think. I am looking between these 3. My eyes can't tell a difference but my wallet can. Cabelas are 100$ 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
Post by: DJ_Mack on May 19, 2015, 03:30:01 PM
http://www.opticsreviewer.com/talon-hd-vs-viper-hd.html
It was great for breaking down the differences. I talked with a friend today that said he "downgraded" his glass for the Viper HD binos. He said that if I can't tell the difference between all of them now, it would take a lot of time behind the glass of the razors to make them worth it. My hearing isn't so great but I have great vision. So its hard to make up my mind because I can't tell a difference.
Post by: Bean Counter on May 19, 2015, 03:48:08 PM
Post by: jackelope on May 19, 2015, 05:30:06 PM
Consider your usage, as well. I get PM's a few times a year from various hajj coming down to the deserts of Arizona for their first coues deer hunt. I get follow up from most of them telling me that they spent more time behind their glass than they ever did before. Personally, in some of my honey holes, I've spent 6 hours on top of a mountain several times and 95% of that times was behind my glass. However, on an elk hunt or scouting trip in northern Arizona, I don't bother bringing my spotting scope and wasn't even carrying my binos when I arrowed my bull last year. I just closed my eyes and slammed the trigger :o
What's a hajj?
Post by: Jolten on May 19, 2015, 05:46:46 PM
Post by: jackelope on May 19, 2015, 06:08:02 PM
A hajj is a religious pilgrimage made by Muslims...
Huh...didn't know they hunted Coues deer.
Weird.
Post by: Jolten on May 19, 2015, 06:12:26 PM
Post by: Bean Counter on May 19, 2015, 06:40:58 PM
Post by: DJ_Mack on May 20, 2015, 07:10:05 PM
Post by: bowhuntersd on May 21, 2015, 07:43:27 PM
10x42 Viper HDs. ..... they are awesome.
Post by: Stein on June 05, 2015, 08:25:15 AM
Post by: FLIZZ on August 11, 2015, 11:45:55 AM
Post by: bearhunter99 on August 11, 2015, 12:20:21 PM
Anyways, sorry to make a short story long.... I took them to Cabelas and the guy at the optics counter looked at them, then grabbed a brand new pair and said to take them to customer service for the exchange. I was in and back out in 10 minutes with a brand new pair. The guy said they have a lifetime warranty for anything on their glass. My wife was extremely happy! :tup:
Post by: Stein on August 11, 2015, 01:22:52 PM
Glad you found one you liked. I was wanting the Talons for sometime, finally I was getting them. Then I picked up the Vipers. In the store it was hard to tell the difference. I had the Diamondbacks so I know what crappy glass is like, I wasn't taking any chances.
10x42 Viper HDs. ..... they are awesome.
Same here, I bought the Diamondbacks and returned them for the Talons. I have three seasons behind them and have been very happy.