Review on Vortex Optics Razor Binoculars 18X56 by Dennis Long

I was in the market to replace my 16 year old Audubon Birder Bausch & Lomb 8x36 binoculars which I used all the time for bird watching. I wanted "the last bird watching binoculars you will ever need in your life" so I decided to really give it a try. IMHO the icing on the cake is the Swarovski EL 8.5x42 which usually sells for >$2500 which I couldn't justify so I started looking for good binoculars in the $1200-$1500 price range. Did a lot of research and finally decided on the Vortex Razor UHD in 8x42. I have experience with Vortex scopes, which are definitely and deservedly at the forefront of scopes, which is why I focused on Vortex optics, but looked at them from an ornithologist *not* hunter's perspective, as each binocular's requirements are different. I was surprised to learn that a veteran bird watcher across the country purchased Vortex Viper goggles many years ago and gave them a high rating. so I had to choose between HD and newer UHD binoculars. Both have pros and cons but I decided to go with UHD after a week and I do NOT regret paying. Firstly, I think that the optics are in no way inferior to the Swarovski EL. The hype I read about these glasses turned out to be no hype. You really are that good! Amazing detail in low light. Sharp contrasts, no color errors. holy moth. They were SO GOOD! They feel good in the hand. Surprisingly long eye relief and did I mention crystal clear vision? However, I think these goggles are definitely for hunters and not bird watchers, but I don't think they're a deal breaker at this price point. Let me explain the pros and cons to you from an ornithologist's point of view. Pros: 1. The quality of the optics is on par with the much more expensive Swarovski EL. They definitely compete with other high end optics manufacturers like Leicca and Zeiss. They weigh a few ounces more than the EL, but it's not that noticeable. The optics make these *perfect* bird watching binoculars in this price range. zeiss Swarovski? Whirlwind shot across your bow.!2. Argo-blown, waterproof. Anti-fog, rubber armor. Everything a poultry farmer needs for a long day in the field.3. Comes with a chest strap for all day use. It's well made and comfortable, but the jury's still out for me on this one.4. The "slow" focus wheel makes it easy to fine-tune focus without overshooting.5. Large eye relief and "fixation" of dioptres. Perfect for wearing glasses! 6. The 8x goggles have a field of view of 420 feet at 1000 yards. This is pretty amazing and makes it easy to find and aim in the bird's movement. close! (<5 feet)8. Vortex Guarantee. It's as good as it gets. Covers everything except theft and loss. Vortex Optics also has an excellent reputation for customer service. Disadvantages: These glasses really have few disadvantages. I only mention them here because the poultry farmer should take this into account. Some of their "advantages" may actually be "disadvantages" for the poultry farmer1. Weight. They are 32 ounces. They're a few grams heavier than the EL, but they're heavy to wear around your neck all day, and other high-end goggles don't weigh as much. I don't think I would have taken them on day trips if bird watching wasn't my main goal. I've even seen it a little embarrassing for the hunters when they've been walking all day. learn it However, the weight is partly due to the Abbe-König prisms used. Long optical path, heavier, but the advantage is excellent low-light performance and crystal clear optical paths. It also comes with a chest strap for carrying, making up for the lack of weight. "Slow" focus. One of slow focus's strengths can make it difficult to move quickly from one distance to another. This requires >2 complete rotations, and if you look closely, then suddenly there is a fast-flying bird floating in the sky? You can skip this due to the number of focus turns required. Fast, near and far focusing is important for an ornithologist and MUCH less so for a hunter. Let's see if this can be mitigated by how I use them in the field. Slow focusing makes it easy to focus sharply on tiny changes in distance without overshoot. Hopefully this will help another breeder make a purchasing decision. At 1500+ they are excellent. *great* points for the money. Optics at the level of "paradigmatic" glasses worth more than $800. A comment for the hunters (and I was one of them). I think you should choose the 10X model. The ability of these binoculars to gather light is amazing and the 10x magazine provides the optimal magnification required for this activity.