Razor Gen 1 vs Gen 3

[Idahohuntguy]

I have a vortex razor hd 16-48x65 Gen 1 spotting scope. I'm wanting to know is there much of a difference between the gen 1 and the newer generation spotters?

 

[ohiodope16]

I've been wondering the same. All the gen 1 options have been on sale for cheap recently.

 

[nobody]

Newer ones are better. From my experience, the older Razor's that places like Sportsman's are selling for +/- $800 are optically comparable to the modern Viper HD spotter.

That said, if I was buying a vortex spotter today on a budget, and I had about $800-$1k, I would be buying that Razor instead of the Viper. Even if they're optically identical, the upside to buying vortex is the warranty. If that Gen 1 Razor breaks, they send you a new gen Razor, which currently retails for like $1800. The $800 investment goes further when the time to warranty comes.

 

[Banded_spooney]

Newer ones are better. From my experience, the older Razor's that places like Sportsman's are selling for +/- $800 are optically comparable to the modern Viper HD spotter.

That said, if I was buying a vortex spotter today on a budget, and I had about $800-$1k, I would be buying that Razor instead of the Viper. Even if they're optically identical, the upside to buying vortex is the warranty. If that Gen 1 Razor breaks, they send you a new gen Razor, which currently retails for like $1800. The $800 investment goes further when the time to warranty comes.

I disagree big time. I didn’t even know there is a 3rd Gen but I have ran my Gen 1 next to my buddies Gen 2 and the only difference is the fine focus knob which is love.

I have also run my Gen 1 next to my older viper hd and it wasn’t close. I never even bothered to use my viper because I hated it. I use my razor a ton.

Oddly enough I’ve used both the razor hd binos in the field for a day and viper hd binos for a season and I think they are way too close optically for the price difference. But, I’ll stick with my SLCs

 

[Brownrice]

From what I understand is the older models had superior Japanese glass compared to the current Chinese glass? My old razor 10x42 were great until they fell and cracked a lens. I sent them in and they were obviously cloudy on the outer edges more then what they were before.

Beats me though, maybe my eye sights going.

 

[Highlands Hunter]

Gen 1 is way better due to the fine focus knob! Optically they are no different.

 

[Pdzoller]

Picked up my gen 1 for $600 something during a sale at sportsmans. I don’t think I can get a better spotter for that price. As previously stated, the fine focus is money.