A Binoculars Question

[Lin Rhea]

Is the HD version of a set of binoculars really noticably better than the standard set? It adds a hundred or two dollars to it and I would like to know if it's worth it in hunting situations?

I'm specifically looking at the Vortex 6X32's.

[Bjorn]

I have not compared the lower priced Leopold 6x32 to the more expensive model that I use; suffice it to say the expensive model works great especially in low light delivering a very clear picture of what's brush and what's fur.

[Orion]

Lin:  I have some 8x32 Leica Ultravid HDs.  Before that, I owned a pair of Leica 8x32 BNs.  The BNs are an excellent glass.  Hard to imagine that the image could be any brighter, clearer, crisper, but the HDs are better yet.  I expect the same to hold true with the Vortex.  It is a matter of degree though.  Vortex makes very good glasses.  The slightly brighter, crisper view you will get with the HDs may or may not be worth it to you.  In fact, you may not even notice it.  The difference shows up best under low light and a side-by-side real time comparison.  Good luck.

[oldgrouch]

I didn't used to think so. Then I looked thru some side by side

I got a good deal on a set of Zeiss Conquest 8x42 HD. That was a noticeable difference for me.

Unless they fail, or I do, they're the last glass I'll buy.

[Marc B.]

Lin,
I bought the Vortex Viper 6x32 when they were closing them out. Mine is not the HD version but are the best bowhunting binocular I've owned.

[Lost Arra]

I've got pre-HD Vortex 6x32 Vipers also.

They work great for all my deer hunting.

[Bladepeek]

Lin, I haven't looked through the Vortex, which are supposed to one of the best buys out there. I did compare Nikon and the Nikon X side-by-side in the store parking lot (had to leave my drivers license and credit card:-) ) and there was a slight but noticeable difference. I pro-rated the $100 over the 10 - 15 years I expect to have left and got the X.

[Shortlongbow]

I just got some HD vortex viper 8x32s. I don't think you can beat them for the price. I haven't compared them to the non HDs but my research indicated they are indeed better.

[Lin Rhea]

Thank you guys. I suspected as much. You're all consistant with your information. I really appreciate your effort to help.

[Nala]

Well I'll throw in my 2 cents.  A while back I went on a Binocular learning binge and tried out every pair I could get my hands on, cheap, middle and REALLY EXPENSIVE (when I went to Bass Pro.)  For the most part what people say is true, you do get what you pay for with binos.  I splurged and bought a set of Pentax DCFHR 10x42 and they are beautiful to my eye and were about $400 or so.  I couldn't afford the Leica's, Nigh end Nikon's, Zeiss, and the others.  I got a cheap set to beat around at football games and such for $40 or so.  You could certainly tell the difference in those and mine, but I knew I would be able to.

FF to a year or so ago.  I got tired of getting out my binos every time we were sitting outside and someone wanted to look at a bird or something so I went to Wally and looked at what they had.  They stocked a set of Bushnell's that were zoom lenses, something like 8X-15X.  I found them online for $20 and bought them.  I was very pleasantly surprised at the quality.

Now I have had to rearrange my thinking on Binos.  This is what I believe now.  There certainly IS a difference in the very expensive binos, no questions about it, but it isn't as big of one as BINO salesmen will have you believe.  If you use them mostly in daylight you won't see that much of a difference in a mid priced bino vs. a HIGH END Bino, unless you are really picky or have a really good eye.  The difference you will readily see and where the HIGH DOLLAR Binos come to the forefront is when the light starts to disappear.  The coatings and lens treatments they have make a whale of a difference in the low light..

I'd love to have a set of leica Binos, but I swear I don't know if I could really tell the difference in those and mine if the light was really bright out when I was using them.

Nalajr

[amar911]

Lin,

The HD Vortex Vipers are distinctly better, and you could tell the difference side by side, but it has more to do with chromatic aberration and edge sharpness than anything else. Basically the area that you can more clearly see expands farther from the center portion of the lenses. So, the non-HD models are good, but you will like the HD versions better. How much is that worth to you? I have the Leica HD Ultravids and love them. My other high-end Leica and Swarovski binos are spectacular too. My non-HD Vipers are good but don't compare to any of the high-end binos. Even the HD Vipers don't compare to my non-HD Leicas and Swarovskis in overall optical quality.

You will be fine with the Viper non-HD binos, but for just one or two hundred more I would suggest the HD model.

Allan

[FerretWYO]

I would not trade my HD Swarovski ELs to have my Ziess back i know that.

[jonsimoneau]

[amar911]

Jon's right. I have the Leica 8x32 binos in both the non-HD and the HD versions. Both blow away anything but the best of binos, and the HD versions are smaller and optically superior. The Viper is a mid-level binocular, no matter which glass is used, but it is a good mid-level.

Allan

[CEO]

My 6 x 32 vipers have lots of distortion and poor edge sharpness. I wish I never bought them.

[Dan Adair]

Also look at the Zeiss 8x32's at that price point.  Zeiss (Schott) glass in the non ED version still kicks anything that Vortex makes ass.

Which brings me to my next point, ED and HD have become a marketing thing more than anything else.  Unless you get into the top tier glass like Leica, Zeiss, Kowa, and Swaro.

Either way, go find a local shop and test drive all the bino's you can at the budget you got.  There's a lot to bino's besides glass quality (or I would've bought Leica 8x32 EDs instead of the Zeiss glass)  Ergonomics matter too...  So does a smooth focus wheel, and diopter adjustments that STAY PUT.

[Lost Arra]

Dan: what Zeiss 8x32 is at the Vortex Viper HD 6x32 or 8x32 price point?