Kowa BD II HD 10x42 & Vortex Viper 10x42 (1 Viewer)

[aix123]

I usually use 8x binoculars for birding, but decided to also buy some 10x. I'm an amateur, btw, with relatively little experience compared with many here.

I bought a Viper 10x42 a few weeks ago, which I can still return. I really like it, but was slightly surprised by the pretty firm focus wheel. I asked Vortex about this and whether it can be loosened slightly. They said yes, but the impression I got was that it wouldn't make too much of a difference. Baffled why they've made it so firm. I have a ten-year-old Vortex Crossfire II and the wheel is fairly firm, but nowhere near as firm as the Viper.

So I thought I'd try the Kowa BD II 10x42. I've seen it mentioned quite a lot here (the 8x models too), so thought I'd give it a go. The upshot is that I've decided to stick with the Viper and I think the focus wheel is something I'll get used to. It's bothering me less and less - and it's perhaps a minor negative alongside the superb optical image. Really clear, sharp, fairly flat.

I don't get on with the Kowa, for the following reasons. The image is not as neutral, it's warmer-looking. And at long distances (about 300 yards) I struggle to get things in focus (not because of shake). Or maybe things are in focus, but the image quality is not as good as the Viper. Also, while the eye relief is almost the same as the Viper, the eye-cups on the Kowa are slightly less deep and I occasionally see black areas. The Viper is also of a higher build quality, I think - reflected in the slightly higher price.

The field of view is a little wider on the Kowa, but not much, and I enjoy using the Viper far, far more. (I'm trying them at home. I live overlooking fields, hedgerows and hills.)

But perhaps most disappointingly with the Kowa, for me, considering my expectations and the reason for trying it, is the focus wheel. It's barely any looser than the Viper. It's a nicer wheel in a way because fingers grip more easily to the metal, compared with the Viper. But why Kowa and Viper make the wheels so firm is beyond me. Many don't seem to find the Kowa BD II's wheel too firm, so personal preference plays a part, of course.

 

[Paultricounty]

I usually use 8x binoculars for birding, but decided to also buy some 10x. I'm an amateur, btw, with relatively little experience compared with many here.

I bought a Viper 10x42 a few weeks ago, which I can still return. I really like it, but was slightly surprised by the pretty firm focus wheel. I asked Vortex about this and whether it can be loosened slightly. They said yes, but the impression I got was that it wouldn't make too much of a difference. Baffled why they've made it so firm. I have a ten-year-old Vortex Crossfire II and the wheel is fairly firm, but nowhere near as firm as the Viper.

So I thought I'd try the Kowa BD II 10x42. I've seen it mentioned quite a lot here (the 8x models too), so thought I'd give it a go. The upshot is that I've decided to stick with the Viper and I think the focus wheel is something I'll get used to. It's bothering me less and less - and it's perhaps a minor negative alongside the superb optical image. Really clear, sharp, fairly flat.

I don't get on with the Kowa, for the following reasons. The image is not as neutral, it's warmer-looking. And at long distances (about 300 yards) I struggle to get things in focus (not because of shake). Or maybe things are in focus, but the image quality is not as good as the Viper. Also, while the eye relief is almost the same as the Viper, the eye-cups on the Kowa are slightly less deep and I occasionally see black areas. The Viper is also of a higher build quality, I think - reflected in the slightly higher price.

The field of view is a little wider on the Kowa, but not much, and I enjoy using the Viper far, far more. (I'm trying them at home. I live overlooking fields, hedgerows and hills.)

But perhaps most disappointingly with the Kowa, for me, considering my expectations and the reason for trying it, is the focus wheel. It's barely any looser than the Viper. It's a nicer wheel in a way because fingers grip more easily to the metal, compared with the Viper. But why Kowa and Viper make the wheels so firm is beyond me. Many don't seem to find the Kowa BD II's wheel too firm, so personal preference plays a part, of course.

I’ve used numerous Vortex Vipers, and own two right now. The focusers should not be overly stiff. Send them in to Vortex and let them know the focuser is too stiff. They will either replace them with a better unit or make the needed adjustments. They may even send you a free shipping label.

Good luck

Paul

 

[Trinovid]

I’ve used numerous Vortex Vipers, and own two right now. The focusers should not be overly stiff. Send them in to Vortex and let them know the focuser is too stiff. They will either replace them with a better unit or make the needed adjustments.

Accurate information and also, proper course of action. I only have two Vipers, both with good focusers, and one of them is your same 10x42.

 

[aix123]

I’ve used numerous Vortex Vipers, and own two right now. The focusers should not be overly stiff. Send them in to Vortex and let them know the focuser is too stiff. They will either replace them with a better unit or make the needed adjustments. They may even send you a free shipping label.

Good luck

Paul

It's hard to judge what is overly stiff. I think some people, such as me, think they're too stiff, while others might just think yep stiffer than some binocular focus wheels, but not an issue. I emailed Vortex several weeks ago and it confirmed they are, by design, quite stiff. It even provided me with what unfortunately turned out to be quite an opaque reason as to why the wheel is supposed to be stiff.

It's bothering me less and less and it's such a great binocular overall.

 

[Paultricounty]

It's hard to judge what is overly stiff. I think some people, such as me, think they're too stiff, while others might just think yep stiffer than some binocular focus wheels, but not an issue. I emailed Vortex several weeks ago and it confirmed they are, by design, quite stiff. It even provided me with what unfortunately turned out to be quite an opaque reason as to why the wheel is supposed to be stiff.

It's bothering me less and less and it's such a great binocular overall.

I’m just trying give you my opinion and relay my experiences that Ive had with many in the Viper line, as well as few other Vortex offerings, and none had an overly stiff focuser. Overly stiff to me is a Swarovski Habicht or a Kowa Genesis. It’s very possible that the rep on the phone might have a different idea than you of what stiff is. I wouldn’t call the focusers light, but certainly not overly stiff in any of the ones I used. But if it’s not bothering you, then there’s nothing to worry about, but if you wanna get them right, my advice, send them in and let them fix it.

 

[Binocollector]

Interesting -- the Kowa BDII 6.5x32 I own has a very smooth focuser. I think the 6.5x32 is probably also the most interesting model of the BDII-line.

 

[OneH]

I avoided buying the 10x42 BDII XD due to excessive amounts of chromatic aberration reported by end users while I personally have the 8x32 BDII XD and don't like it one bit since I think the glass isn't that great. The much cheaper Athlon Midas ED UHD 8x42 looked way sharper.

For the price range between $400-$500 I'd personally recommend the Philippines made Scheel's Vortex Rage HD 10x42 currently on sale for $399 before Scheel's club discount is applied. I recently purchased one and it's almost as clear as my previous Chinese Razor HD 10x42 and little clearer than my Chinese Viper HD 10x50 and Japanese Viper HD 10x42 and also clearer than my Nikon Monarch M7 8x42.

The other option is the Japan made SIG Zulu 7 10x42 that can be purchased for around $500 new if not cheaper if you search carefully. They are ridiculously easy to get behind and have an almost Nikon Monarch HG-like view. The good news is if they ever fail you would get a brand spanking new ney released model Japan made Zulu 8 10x42 as a replacement that's $799 and SIG even sends you a prepaid FedEx return shipping label if and when you ever need to use their warranty with roughly a two week or less total turnaround time including counting the total number of round trip shipping days.

I had previously owned a Chinese Vortex Razor HD 10x42 that I had to send in several times for warranty and IMHO wasn't quite right since even my $100 ScoopX UHD 10x42s were just as clear while several hand picked ones out of 80+ ScoopX I personally compared them to were even clearer than that Razor HD with a select few even rivaling my Nikon Monarch HG 10x42. I then recently purchased a new Filipino Razor HD 8x42 current model which needed warranty immediately straight out of the box which Vortex went through and made it better than new now that's way better and more representative of a Razor HD. It's almost as good as my new Razor UHD 8x32.

 

[OneH]

I usually use 8x binoculars for birding, but decided to also buy some 10x. I'm an amateur, btw, with relatively little experience compared with many here.

I bought a Viper 10x42 a few weeks ago, which I can still return. I really like it, but was slightly surprised by the pretty firm focus wheel. I asked Vortex about this and whether it can be loosened slightly. They said yes, but the impression I got was that it wouldn't make too much of a difference. Baffled why they've made it so firm. I have a ten-year-old Vortex Crossfire II and the wheel is fairly firm, but nowhere near as firm as the Viper.

So I thought I'd try the Kowa BD II 10x42. I've seen it mentioned quite a lot here (the 8x models too), so thought I'd give it a go. The upshot is that I've decided to stick with the Viper and I think the focus wheel is something I'll get used to. It's bothering me less and less - and it's perhaps a minor negative alongside the superb optical image. Really clear, sharp, fairly flat.

I don't get on with the Kowa, for the following reasons. The image is not as neutral, it's warmer-looking. And at long distances (about 300 yards) I struggle to get things in focus (not because of shake). Or maybe things are in focus, but the image quality is not as good as the Viper. Also, while the eye relief is almost the same as the Viper, the eye-cups on the Kowa are slightly less deep and I occasionally see black areas. The Viper is also of a higher build quality, I think - reflected in the slightly higher price.

The field of view is a little wider on the Kowa, but not much, and I enjoy using the Viper far, far more. (I'm trying them at home. I live overlooking fields, hedgerows and hills.)

But perhaps most disappointingly with the Kowa, for me, considering my expectations and the reason for trying it, is the focus wheel. It's barely any looser than the Viper. It's a nicer wheel in a way because fingers grip more easily to the metal, compared with the Viper. But why Kowa and Viper make the wheels so firm is beyond me. Many don't seem to find the Kowa BD II's wheel too firm, so personal preference plays a part, of course.

Hmmm it sounds like you want a buttery smooth focus wheel and a massively wide FOV in a 10x42 with excellent image quality comparable to Kowa BDII XD and Viper HD.

I purchased two of the Skyoptikst 10x42s ED 7° from eBay ordered each separately on different dates with the plan to keep the clearer one and return the other for refund but both were equally clear and I couldn't decide which one to return because they both had the slickest ficus knobs I've ever felt in any binoculars I've ever bought regardless of price. Their focus knobs are by far, the slickest, smoothest lightest knobs I've ever felt in any binoculars which are nearly effortless to focus. I used to tend to overshoot the focus since they're too smooth which actually took some time to get used to. I'd say they're a couple steps above the Nikon Prostaff P7 and are actually worth what they charge $169 to $179 typical price varies shipped straight from China which takes between 3 weeks to a month to arrive.

If you're interested in trying I'll give you a deal on one of the two I have since I only need one for my collection.

I also just ordered another Nikon Prostaff P7 10x42 on sale I could send along with the Skyoptikst for you to pick the one you like better and send the other back or offer my new 7S Prostaff 10x42 but it has a 6.3° but same clarity as the P7 but little sturdier built IMHO.

Since you are a well known member I could even front them to you first.