If you’re a military observer, hunter, or sightseer, there is one product that should always be in your toolbox. A set of dependable binoculars.
One of my favorite brands of binoculars on the market is the Vortex line. Within the Vortex line, the Viper and Diamondback are at the top of my list for quality, ergonomics, clarity, and affordability. All of the binoculars offered by Vortex feature fully multicoated lenses that allow the most light transmission through to the user’s eye.
When picking up a set of binos, one should always consider the objective lens diameter. The greater the diameter, the more light is gathered, which increases clarity. Generally, they also feature a focus ring that increases the clarity within the lens as distances vary.
Those features are present on the Vortex Viper HD, but these binoculars also feature a locking diopter ring and HD glass. The HD glass eliminates what we call the “ghosting” (chromatic aberration) within the glass. Chromatic aberration is a type of distortion in which there is a failure of the lens to focus all colors to the same convergence point. The HD glass gathers the different wavelengths of light and focuses them at the same point, giving the user great contrast, lighting, and clarity.
If you are looking for a set of binoculars that will stand up and compete against the higher-end, more-expensive models on the market, I would suggest the Vortex line—the Diamondback and Viper products, specifically.
The Vortex Viper HD 12×50 is one of the lightest full-size models on the market, and will completely change your perspective on high-quality glass, especially if you have never used a product of this quality before.
MSRP: $659.00 – The Vortex Viper HD can be purchased here.
To go a few steps smaller, swing by your local Vortex dealer and check out the Diamondback 8×28 roof prism binocular. From the manufacturer:
“With the compact 8×28 Diamondback, small size doesn’t mean small performance! Like its namesake, the Diamondback rattlesnake, this pocket roof prism binocular packs a lot of wallop into a slender package. Featuring fully multi-coated optics, phase correction coatings, argon gas purging, and a unique checkered rubber armoring, the compact Diamondback doesn’t trade performance for small size.”
MSRP: $189.00 – The Diamondback binos can be purchased here.
(Featured image courtesy of hikinginfinland.com)
