Header banner
Revain logoHome Page
Stephen Chowdary photo
Uzbekistan, Tashkent
1 Level
789 Review
28 Karma

Review on Vortex Optics Razor Prism Binoculars by Stephen Chowdary

Revainrating 1 out of 5

On the plus side, the clarity and brightness were excellent

First of all, on the good side, the clarity and brightness were excellent. I didn't want to have to send them back. Why they were returned: 1. On the first day of VERY CAREFUL use, one of the soft silicone rubber eyecups fell out. I don't know if it was 100 degrees heat or a broken part. I later discovered (by comparing over 20 binoculars at the Audobon store) that these are the only binoculars that have this thin rubber gasket. Probably more comfortable, but I don't want dust and sand getting on my optics. All other binoculars have a solid eyepiece/eyecup. One might think that it would be possible to reinsert the seal, but in the field this is not possible. Maybe at home with very fine instruments. However, this should not be the case with 1K binoculars. And Vortex advertises with "Extreme Landscape. Unimaginable conditions." Nope. This shouldn't be happening at all and I don't think this problem is unique to my binoculars. 2. The right eyepiece retaining ring wasn't an accurate "lock" on your vision. That means you pull the ring out to unlock and then adjust the eyepiece perfectly to your eye, then when you try to push the locking ring back into the ring it may require a very small clockwise or counterclockwise turn to lock it - just like there are teeth that need to snap in. If your vision is such that the tips of the teeth are touching in perfect alignment, the eyepiece should move so that the teeth are positioned where they fit best.Again, I want for a $1,000 pair of binoculars that the eyepiece is set exactly where I want it and not where the mechanic wants it.Any difference is a difference to me and I didn't expect it and didn't want it te it with a high-end binoculars. I would put a friction ring on this design. Now I understand why people pay 3,000 for perfectly manufactured and engineered binoculars. Vortex Razors are almost done. Possibly version IV.

Pros
  • Great for me
Cons
  • Negative