Bushnell Fusion vs Vortex Viper?

[Darren Best]

Has anyone looked through the Bushnell Fusion 1 mile 10x42 and also the Vortex Viper 10x42 HD?

Were they comparable?

 

[JJHACK]

Run from the Bushnell fusion!

I have had three pairs in the last 5 weeks, every pair was bad, a friend of mine that is a very well known outdoor writer got his pair direct from Bushnell for review, returned them and was sent a replacement. All five pairs that I have just accounted for were bad in different ways.

The QC and construction materials are absolute rubbish! Five for five non functional and four came straight from Bushnell's inventory here in the USA. One was from a major optics outlet in NYC.

The optical quality if the prior fusion version was odd, bluish tint and just second rate. But they actually worked as a rangefinder and bino's. The new 1mile is a complete disaster!

 

[Darren Best]

Thanks JJ, that was exactly what I wanted to find out. I heard about the bluish tint in the Fusion 1600's and it was rumored that was supposed to be fixed in the 1 mile, apparently not.

 

[JJHACK]

The bluish tint was in fact gone, but the ability to range proper was missing, the display was bad, the diopter ring was bad, the display focus was bad, the view of display was crooked, one set had blurry optics that could not be focused, one diopter would not turn, another had a diopter that would spin and not do anything.

There were so many problems when I spoke to bushnell they had a very quiet, horrified series of replies. I was left with the feeling these guys are getting beat up routinely by really disappointed customers.

An odd thing about this too. I returned one set to them with a serial number about 650 it would not measure well at all. They sent me a replacement set. Mine were brand new about 2-3 days out of the box. They replaced them with a set serial number about 300? These were visibly used and well broken in! What the heck, they shipped me old ones when I sent them brand new?

These were bad right out of the package too! So either they don't check, don't care, or can't possibly keep up with the amount of returns and replacements they process.

 

[aron]

I haven't had the bad luck that JJ has experienced. I used them all last season with no real complaints. The glass quality isn't outstanding but it is decent and gets the job done especially for a third the price as some of the other combos. No blue tint in the fusion miles. The range finder has given me zero issues and have been pleased with its capabilities. I have ranged 1800+ yds multiple times. Angle comp and minimum range also make it very usable for bow hunting. I do agree on the read out being twisted when the eye pieces are adjusted together. I also had one rubber eye piece fall off here lately but glued it back on and its good now.

 

[hunting1]

I think the Bushnell are a great pair of binos and the rangefinder works well. I am very happy with mine and would recommend them.

 

[JJHACK]

For about the same price you can get Leica geovid demo or refurbished

That is what I did, the Leica's are so far superior in ever aspect of quality that the Bushnells seem like a child's toy by comparison.

I bought the 10x geovid refurb for 1300 bucks. Alpha glass perfection, with a rangefinder that measures 1000-1300 yards flawless.

Just holding them in your hands and seeing all machined metal quality, no glued rubber diopters, no weird glued on eye cups, no cockeyed image. It's a no brainer at this price point!

 

[Ryan Avery]

Had the Bushnell's for about two weeks. Very disappointed in there quality.

 

[justin davis]

Out of those two..I would go with the Vortex!

 

[boom]

For about the same price you can get Leica geovid demo or refurbished

That is what I did, the Leica's are so far superior in ever aspect of quality that the Bushnells seem like a child's toy by comparison.

I bought the 10x geovid refurb for 1300 bucks. Alpha glass perfection, with a rangefinder that measures 1000-1300 yards flawless.

Just holding them in your hands and seeing all machined metal quality, no glued rubber diopters, no weird glued on eye cups, no cockeyed image. It's a no brainer at this price point!

where can you buy refurbed Leicas?

 

[JJHACK]

Most of the big discount optics stores, and of course eBay

Optics plant, eagle optics, B&H photo, camera land, there are more then this.

They come in from Germany and get spread around to all these stores. Gotta be quick, or maybe even get on a list they may have? They usually sell for 1300-1500 bucks plus or minus. They are like brand new and have a warranty.

 

[JJHACK]

One bad design flaw with the geovids. If your a bow hunter and shoot right handed, the Leica's are a pain to use because they must be used with your left hand. So you constantly have to put your bow down or figure out some way to manipulate them while trying to hold your bow. It's a real pain while spot and stalk hunting.

They should have put the controls on the right side!

Unless of course you're a lefty then they are perfect

 

[MesaHorseCo.]

Out of those two I'd definetly rock the vortex.