Allbinos review of the Vortex Razor HD 8x42 (1 Viewer)

[yarrellii]

Allbinos has just released a review of the Vortex Razor HD 8x42

Vortex Razor HD 8x42 - binoculars review - AllBinos.com

The best binocular tests on the net. The comprehensive database of binoculars with their parameters and users opinions. Interesting articles and comparisons.

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The result seems quite convincing, it seems a very solid performer with outstanding result in some areas but, just like the 10x42 they analized last year, suffers from truncated exit pupils (the review of the 10x42 is here).

Considering the level of warranty Vortex offers is really a great looking prospect (also taking into account the size and weight). For the EU market it's just a pity that the price is somewhat higher than in the US. I see B&H sells it for 980 $ (around 915 € at current exchange rate) while the price offered in some renowned Spanish shops like Oryx or Óptica Roma is closer to 1200 €.

 

[Elkhornsun]

I bought both the Vortex Razor HD and UHD in 12x50 and the HD is an older design and two-thirds the cost of the UHD. I could see very little difference between the two and actually preferred the imaging of the older HD version. BH Photo Video often has the Vortex at a greatly discounted price that they will send you by email.

 

[eitanaltman]

Just came here to say that this review comports very well with my own experience owning them. The view is very bright and sharp with outstanding color neutrality, very little CA, and a huge sweet spot which somewhat compensates for the below average FOV. Plus of course they are quite light for a "premium" 42mm. A very solid option if you want "sub-alpha" optics in a lighter package than the Conquest HD, and very affordable on the used market given their popularity and the backing of the Vortex warranty.

The Monarch HG is the best option if you want that "sub-alpha" lightweight 8x42 but prefer ultra wide FOV, although I think the "quality" of the view of the Vortex is slightly superior (better color rendition and contrast, less CA). Nice to have good options that can be found well under $1K.

 

[OneH]

I've owned both Razor HD 10x42 and 8x42 and several Razor UHDs 8x32 10x32 8x42 10x42 12x42 and if they're defective or out of perfect collimation you won't notice a night and day difference in clarity between these different tiers of Razors. I even bought multiples of the 12x50 UHDs and one wasn't that great pretty much same as my made in China Razor HD 10x42 in clarity while the other was holy crap awesome with a hell of a lot of POP to it.

I also bought a new current model Filipino Razor HD 8x42 defective straight out of the box image quality wasn't even close to being as clear as any of my $100 ScoopX UHDs. Plus, the Chinese 10x42 Razor HD noticeably clearer than Filipino 8x42 something's definitely not right ya think? Called Vortex and they immediately sent a prepaid return shipping label as usual and roughly 10 days later got it back repaired and wow such a huge night and day difference in clarity and now it's at least clearer than my $100 ScoopX UHD in which I, in fact tend to use to judge all other binoculars in every much higher price category based on sheer optical excellence.

The Razor UHD 12x50 in fact one of the two I bought was in fact a dud and no better than the $100 ScoopX UHD or Chinese Razor HD in regards to optical clarity. Sent in to Vortex and got back within 8 days first time though it was better it was still not as clear as the other Razor UHD twin I had also bought so I sent it right back to Vortex and then they went through it again then I got it back still not as clear as the other UHD third time they tried again still not as clear as my other Razor UHD twin so they just refunded my money which they offered from their end I didn't even ask for a refund instead of sending me a brand new one which they actually did which I had to send back to them.

When I read comments from people stating they cannot see any difference or hardly any between a Razor HD and Razor UHD I already know they have a defective or dud UHD. There's a HUGE night and day difference in sheer optical clarity and brightness and holy crap POP WOW FACTOR between the HDs and UHDs if none are defective or factory duds that cannot be repaired or improved on.

I tend to often buy multiple duplicates of the exact same bins because of this and do notice there's difference some are definitely noticeably better than others. Not limited to only Vortex brand.

Recently bought 4 Bushnell Engage EDX ED Prime 12x50s three were total utter crap with way too much glare white wash while one was fantastic which I kept no glare and was huge night and day eye opening difference.

Previously bought 4 Athlon Cronus UHD G2s same thing only one didn't make me wanna puke as much while looking through it.

There's too many other brands I bought multiple duplicates off to even bother to mention but not all are same even NL Pures some are in fact better than others based on my first hand experience.

I bought many multiples of Nikon Prostaff P7 bins just to hand pick and keep the clearest ones. I think I bought probably close to 20 to keep the best 3 but still the 10x30 have an unacceptable loose hinge even after buying 5 of them.

 

[Canip]

There's a HUGE night and day difference in sheer optical clarity and brightness and holy crap POP WOW FACTOR between the HDs and UHDs…

Perhaps it‘s just me, but the content and language of your post don‘t instill a lot of confidence that you know what you are talking about. As I said, perhaps it‘s just me …

 

[Canip]

I bought probably close to 20 to keep the best 3

????

 

[OneH]

????

I usually buy more than one sample of each to cherry pick the best one to keep. I've had to go through roughly 20 total Nikon Prostaff P7 binoculars in 8x30, 10x30 and 10x42 but still wasn't able to find any perfect 10x30 and 8x30 yet.

Edit to add for clarification purposes
Even the fifth Nikon P7 10x30 I ordered and received and already sent back for refund still had an extremely loose floppy hinge which neither of the multiples of the 10x42s nor 8x30 exhibited such problem. The best out 9 8x30 I tried still have dust look like fuzz inside the lenses but it's the clearest out of the 9 I tried. I also had to go through at least 6 10x42s in order to find the keeper I have.

 

[OneH]

Perhaps it‘s just me, but the content and language of your post don‘t instill a lot of confidence that you know what you are talking about. As I said, perhaps it‘s just me …

I'm currently on eight different medications so please don't mind such straightforward language.

 

[paddyluke]

I usually buy more than one sample of each to cherry pick the best one to keep. I've had to go through roughly 20 total Nikon Prostaff P7 binoculars in 8x30, 10x30 and 10x42 but still wasn't able to find any perfect 10x30 and 8x30 yet.

Edit to add for clarification purposes
Even the fifth Nikon P7 10x30 I ordered and received and already sent back for refund still had an extremely loose floppy hinge which neither of the multiples of the 10x42s nor 8x30 exhibited such problem. The best out 9 8x30 I tried still have dust look like fuzz inside the lenses but it's the clearest out of the 9 I tried. I also had to go through at least 6 10x42s in order to find the keeper I have.

how many Skyrover Banner Cloud APO did you buy before you got a pair that you were happy with???

 

[OneH]

how many Skyrover Banner Cloud APO did you buy before you got a pair that you were happy with???

I started with only one of each but the 12x50 I'm on my second one right now and the second isn't as clear as the first one.

 

[paddyluke]

I started with only one of each but the 12x50 I'm on my second one right now and the second isn't as clear as the first one.

so you were not happy with the first pair?

 

[OneH]

how many Skyrover Banner Cloud APO did you buy before you got a pair that you were happy with???

The second 12x50 SRBC have some noticeable CA compared to the first one having absolutely zero and image quality isn't as sharp either.

 

[paddyluke]

The second 12x50 SRBC have some noticeable CA compared to the first one having absolutely zero and image quality isn't as sharp either.

so why buy the 2nd pair?

 

[OneH]

so you were not happy with the first pair?

The first pair exhibited lots of oil droplets inside the lenses so they sent an international prepaid FedEx return shipping label for me to send it back and the replacement isn't as clear.

 

[paddyluke]

The first pair exhibited lots of oil droplets inside the lenses so they sent an international prepaid FedEx return shipping label for me to send it back and the replacement isn't as clear.

so both examples were poor?

 

[OneH]

so why buy the 2nd pair?

I did complain to them after the fact that the replacement isn't as good as the first one and they told me to just use it and enjoy it and next time I want to send it in for service they'll further look into getting me a superior one as another replacement.

 

[OneH]

so both examples were poor?

First one had incredibly sharp bright perfect CA FREE image quality. But after several weeks lots and lots of tiny oil droplets appeared on all inside lenses in both barrels while the other 3 I have are perfect nothing inside their leses and I simply cannot imagine buying a duplicate that could actually be any clearer than these honestly.

 

[paddyluke]

First one had incredibly sharp bright perfect CA FREE image quality. But after several weeks lots and lots of tiny oil droplets appeared on all inside lenses in both barrels while the other 3 I have are perfect nothing inside their leses and I simply cannot imagine buying a duplicate that could actually be any clearer than these honestly.

but you said this on another thread

The Leupold BX5 Santiam 10x42 is probably the clearest name brand $1000 MSRP binoculars I've owned so far clearer than my MHG with less CA (actually none noticed so far) but it may be a freak of nature due to the sheer lack of CA while the 12x50 BX5 Santiam isn't that good which I also have and it's not even close with rather disappointing optics and very noticeable CA and even my $609 Skyrover Banner Cloud APO 12x50 literally smokes this brand new Leupold BX5 12x50 silly in every possible way. All are brand new.

 

[OneH]

so both examples were poor?

To clarify, none of the SRBC were considered poor. Even with lots of oil droplets inside the lenses of the 12x50 it was still clearer and with far less CA (actually first one had ABSOLUTELY ZERO CA) than the new Leupold BX5 Santiam 12x50. The second SRBC replacement is neck and neck with the Leupold in clarity and noticeable CA so that's how I know it's not as clear as the first one.

 

[OneH]

but you said this on another thread

The Leupold BX5 Santiam 10x42 is probably the clearest name brand $1000 MSRP binoculars I've owned so far clearer than my MHG with less CA (actually none noticed so far) but it may be a freak of nature due to the sheer lack of CA while the 12x50 BX5 Santiam isn't that good which I also have and it's not even close with rather disappointing optics and very noticeable CA and even my $609 Skyrover Banner Cloud APO 12x50 literally smokes this brand new Leupold BX5 12x50 silly in every possible way. All are brand new.

The Leupold 12

but you said this on another thread

The Leupold BX5 Santiam 10x42 is probably the clearest name brand $1000 MSRP binoculars I've owned so far clearer than my MHG with less CA (actually none noticed so far) but it may be a freak of nature due to the sheer lack of CA while the 12x50 BX5 Santiam isn't that good which I also have and it's not even close with rather disappointing optics and very noticeable CA and even my $609 Skyrover Banner Cloud APO 12x50 literally smokes this brand new Leupold BX5 12x50 silly in every possible way. All are brand new.

You're mixing up the 10x42 and 12x50 Leupold's. The 10x42 is superior while the 12x50 not so great. I refer the better of the two SRBC superior to the Leupold 12x50 while the replacement is tied with the Leupold.