Are Vortex Razor UHD refurbished the best deal on binoculars?

[eamyrick]

You want to share some deals?

I wish! With that said I have several options I have bought lightly used that are better than anything that can be bought deeply discounted new. I have some EL 8x32s that are a gem and don’t have too much into them. With glass I would buy some nice used alpha glass that works with your eyes and be done with it until robust stabilized options come out.

 

[Maverick1]

How much did what cost?

How much did it cost you to have your items serviced by Swarovski?

 

[JGRaider]

How much did it cost you to have your items serviced by Swarovski?

Nothing. Great service, took about 6 weeks.

 

[Bcoonce117]

just to chime in, I’m pro vortex, I don’t get a headache using my glass. I find more game than my buddies with nicer binos. I saved a bunch of money to buy other things or tags. If you have money to blow then buy more expensive stuff. If you don’t, you can save quite a bit getting vortex.

I’m on the hunt for a used pair of 18x56. Otherwise it would have to be a steal of a deal on new ones

 

[cafemike]

I’m on the hunt for a used pair of 18x56. Otherwise it would have to be a steal of a deal on new ones

Keep an eye out on Dvor. They pop up every couple weeks. The last ones I saw were $1356 plus tax. Great deal for brand new.

 

[Birder1982]

I think yes, Razor UHDs at the refurbished price level are probably the best bargain going. I think a lot of people’s Vortex criticism is centered on the Razor HD and lower product family’s. I think the UHD is a pretty high quality instrument. Is it better or as good as Swarovski NL Pure or Zeiss SF? Probably not. If you’re a western hunter glassing wide open landscapes for hours a day and you want that really sharp edge, those top tier alphas may be your bag. I think the UHD and the big 3 alphas are all good optical instruments and everybody has their own use case. Hence my name- I’m a birder who is trying to catch a blackburnian warbler in an oak canopy and the UHD 8x42 suits my needs. I’m currently saving for a pair of UHD 10x50s for more open landscape birding. If I was hunting antelope out west in big landscapes it might be a pair of NL Pures for me. But that’s not my thing.

Bottom line- we’re blessed with a lot of good options. Last thing I can add is that I am prettt partial to Japanese manufacturing. Seiko watches, Panaracer bike tires, automobiles, and the UHDs…I think generally the Japanese make quality items. So do the Austrians and Germans when we’re talking glass.

 

[cafemike]

Bottom line- we’re blessed with a lot of good options. Last thing I can add is that I am prettt partial to Japanese manufacturing. Seiko watches, Panaracer bike tires, automobiles, and the UHDs…I think generally the Japanese make quality items. So do the Austrians and Germans when we’re talking glass.

Im a bit partial to high end Japanese too. It is really splitting hairs and the law of diminishing return kicks in really hard.
The UHD are produced to a certain $$$ point and for that I am very grateful - they kick ass optically regardless of price and have a great warranty.

 

[cafemike]

just to chime in, I’m pro vortex, I don’t get a headache using my glass. I find more game than my buddies with nicer binos. I saved a bunch of money to buy other things or tags. If you have money to blow then buy more expensive stuff. If you don’t, you can save quite a bit getting vortex.

I’m on the hunt for a used pair of 18x56. Otherwise it would have to be a steal of a deal on new ones

The UHD's are back in stock at DVOR - the 18x56 are $1363 with the newer glass pack pro - the is the best price I have run across to date.

 

[nm.otter]

I am pretty partial to Japanese manufacturing. Seiko watches, Panaracer bike tires, automobiles, and the UHDs…I think generally the Japanese make quality items.

When I was a kid, "Made in Japan" was still used as a pejorative by some of my parents' friends. Dad brought a Nikon rangefinder (with an f/1.2 lens) back from Korea in '55 and bought the first new car in his life in 1979 -- a Honda Accord LX.

 

[FuddRucker]

I wish these weren't on sale right now. Seems like such a good value that it's making it hard to justify going to the ELs..

 

[Bcoonce117]

I wish these weren't on sale right now. Seems like such a good value that it's making it hard to justify going to the ELs..

I just picked up a pair and I think they are extremely good binoculars for what you pay. That’s just my opinion

 

[FuddRucker]

I just picked up a pair and I think they are extremely good binoculars for what you pay. That’s just my opinion

Thanks for that. I've been doing way too much research. I compared the EL and UHD side by side and actually thought they were pretty close minus the edge to edge from the field flattener. Even still I have this lingering feeling that I will have FOMO if I go with the UHD, but the opportunity cost of sinking 2k into binos when the difference could pay for some other gear is hard to swallow.

 

[cafemike]

Even still I have this lingering feeling that I will have FOMO if I go with the UHD, but the opportunity cost of sinking 2k into binos when the difference could pay for some other gear is hard to swallow.

At this point - the law of diminishing returns kicks in really hard to get that extra 10% of performance in some area's.
However, you get bragging rights.
I picked up a couple pairs of UHD's for $2100 - the 18x56 and 8x32. I got lucky on a demo pair at Midway with a 20% coupon.
They are alpha glass, construction, and warranty from an unexpected source. The made in Japan is a huge bonus - great attention to detail and quality.

 

[FuddRucker]

At this point - the law of diminishing returns kicks in really hard to get that extra 10% of performance in some area's.
However, you get bragging rights.
I picked up a couple pairs of UHD's for $2100 - the 18x56 and 8x32. I got lucky on a demo pair at Midway with a 20% coupon.
They are alpha glass, construction, and warranty from an unexpected source. The made in Japan is a huge bonus - great attention to detail and quality.

Great points! More reasons to favor saving my money. Don't really need bragging rights. I have nobody to impress with my gear.

The construction of the UHDs did seem solid when I held them at the store. Not as "refined" as the ELs of course but still quality. They're both pretty big/heavy binos in 10x42 (ELs - 29.5 oz, UHD - 32 oz) so I feel like that's a wash.

 

[cafemike]

The 10x42's are my fave. They are a bit long but these are my go to.
Sierra is your best friend for these.
Managed to pick up 3 pair for a little over $3k (8x32, 10x42, and 18x56). The 18x56 are my new spotter.

 

[HilltopHitman]

I’ve been debating picking up the UHD on sierra or just saving an extra month or two and going Swaro…..