Vortex Razor UHD and Sightron SV. Is it a identical clone binocular? Comparison in 8x42 format. (1 Viewer)

[jackjack]

I have been using Sightron SV. the flagship bino of Sightron which is part of Kenko tokina production.

nowadays, Sightron is selling bino that highly resembles of Kenko ones.
seems like Kenko is now selling their past bino in Sightron.


in Sightron website, they insist that they made SV in their factory.

SV 842/1042 ED | 株式会社サイトロンジャパン - 双眼鏡

株式会社サイトロンジャパン双眼鏡「SV 842／1042 ED」の製品情報ページです。サイトロンが長年の双眼鏡開発で培った技術を結集して極上の見え味を実現した双眼鏡「SV 842／1042 ED」の価格や詳細をご紹介いたします。

www.sightron.co.jp

as Kenko also does some OEM jobs of westersn brands, I also think they will be sold under different brand name same as some of the opinions in this thread poster a year ago.

Thread 'Sightron SV ED anyone?' Sightron SV ED anyone?

shape and similarities of optic specs such as using Abee prism, having 8 degrew FOV...make it obvious to think they are both from same Japanese factory.

Vortex Razor UHD is introduced in 2019 with MSRP around 2400$ (can be found around 1800$)
and Sightron SV is introduced at 2020 with MSRP around 100$ (can be found around 850)

As far as I know, There a only 2 users of Sightron SV 8x42 (including me) and obly 1 user of Vortex razor UHD 8x42 (whom I didn't know in person)
there is a vortex distributor in Korea, but it doesn't have a sample of Razor series.

so I have no chance to check the optical diffrence unless I spend thousands to buy one.

but few month ago, I found a second handed UHD 8x42 in a really bargain. so I can't resist myself of buying one and having a comparison.

Now, finally I can get rid about constant curiosity of these binos.

photo of 8x42 Vortax UHD / Sightron SV


vortex have bit more contured body for firmer grip

hinge design of Vortex UHD is better for easier girp.



Vortex is considerably shorter,

and lighter

shortness of UHD came from
shorter tubes that covers objective lenses so other optical length is practically identical


UHD / SV


ocular lens is more deeplu possessed in vortex uhd. leading to bit less usuable ER

Vortex UHD features tripod thread while Sightron SV doesn't


Eyecup and focuser is bigger in Sightron

and Vortex only have two click stops whlie Sightron feachers three stops.

rubber coating of Sightron sv is much smoother then SV feels similer to meopta meostar HD+
I prefer rubber of vortex because Sightron's rubber is easy to get scratched and bit sticky at hot days


Vortex accessories feel luxurious conoared to Sightron SV
(you can see the design of strap is identical)



but Vortex UHD's pouch is too short for the size.

that bino only can't fit pergectly even with it's eyecup fully sided down


light leakage is simiar shaped but bit better on Sightron


An important part.

lens coating is significantly diffrent.

Objective

UHD / SV


Sightron shows more blue and Vortex uhd shows purple coating

Oculars

UHD / SV


Vortex UHD shows more red and Sightron shows more blue.

so. at the upcoming thread. You will know the optical diffrence of two binos

 

[jackjack]

First big difference : Colors

Color hue check by the view througn objective

Vortex UHD / Sightron SV


there is a hint of yellowish hue in Sightron SV compared to Vortex UHD

UHD

SV

UHD / HD

UHD

SV

UHD / SV


Yes Sightron SV DOES has a bit more yellowish hue.

Vortex UHD excels Sightron SV in color fidelity and

contrast between dark and bright.

UHD / SV

So there is an acknowledgeable amout of coating improvement in Vortex UHD that leads to color fidelity, contrast and brightness
not huge, but enough to see the diffrence in comparison.

Second big difference : Magnification

this is a photo of two binos
above is vortes UHD / below is Sightron SV

not only you can see color difference but also you can see magnification difference.

both zoomed by x3


Sightron SV has bigger magnification then other 8 power. (around 8.05~08) so UHD's downsized magnification made it closer to stated magnification

Thrid big difference

it is not as big as above two but improved coating in razor UHD seems to leads to better
brightness

Digiscoped comparison that is taken at same time with same camera settings


Vortex UHD is tad brighter bot only because of it's improved coating but also because of extended exit pupil (lower magnification)

minor diffrence

CA at center
UHD / SV


CA at edge

UHD / SV

Vortex UHD shows bit more CA then SV

Sightron SV have additional magnification but additional brightness of Vortex UHD possibly leads to more CA

and like as second photo, they have different CA spectrum.

Vortex tends to show yellowish green -and purple while Sightron SV tends to show bluish grees and purple that is closer to red

Other minor diffrence.

Close focus

Vortex UHD have 1.2 ~ 1.3m close focus while Sightron SV features 1.4 ~ 1.5 they both have short close focus for 8x42 but UHD is significantly shorter.

Focus rotation difference.

total rotation amout of focuser is
aprox 2.7 turns by Vortex uhd and 1.3 for Sightron SV

more then twice differ made Vortex focus slower then Sightron.

Vortex has bit lighter focuser with more even tension. but it is smaller and have slipperly and spongy rubber coating on focus wheel compared to metal focuser of Sightron.

I experienced my finger slipping against Vortex UHD's focuser when my hands or it's focuser is wet

so ease of focuser operation is quite similar.


Gosting and Glare

is little bit better in Sightron.
they both are one of the best bino in this category exceelimg some big 3 such as Leica UV abd Zeiss SF


Central, Edge sharpness, AFOV, Distortion is enough similar to considered even.



Conculsion.

My opinion is

They HAVE came from same foctory but bit improvement in Razor UHD.

Razor UHD is introduced before Sightron SV (2019 / 2020)
So I think Sightron SV is the base formet of the series and extra mony leads to additional coating upgrad and little bit of adjustment of magnification to match the stats.

So. Does it Justifies the aprox 500$ difference?

It depends...

Vortex give bit more optical improvement (but there are still at the similar level.)

lighter and better made hardware, better accessories except for too small bino pouch,
and best of all Vortex warranty.

price - value of optics is lower on Vortex. but it can give other advantage.
it is the individual's job to think whether it's other advantage is enough to cover up the prics diffrence.

 

[jackjack]

On the upcoming post. (Or maybe on the different thread)
I will check how high the the flagship of Vortex compete

competition one.

between Nikon EDG 8x42 and Swaro EL 8x32



Competiton two

against best 42mm AK prism. Zeiss Victory HT 8x42

 

[jackjack]

Digiscoped photo taken by Sightron SV 8x42


(don't have Vortex Razor UHD's photo. yet.)
1. Varied tit

x3 Zoom using my phone (24mag)


2. Coal tit

x3 Zoom using my phone


3. Marsh tit

x3


4.Goldcrest

x3


5. Red flanked blue tail

x3


6. Grey heron

x3


7. Black crowned night heron

x3


8. Squirrel
x3


9. Stray cat

x3


10. Big metal bird

x3