Vortex Razor UHD 8X32 and 10X32 Mid Size Binoculars

[Uplandmt]

I find the choosing the CL to compare as quite strange given the huge difference in size, weight and fov. Sure they cost the same but the UHD is meant to compete with the Pures at half the price. Would be more valuable to me to see how close they’ve come to that.

 

[Matt Cashell]

I find the choosing the CL to compare as quite strange given the huge difference in size, weight and fov. Sure they cost the same but the UHD is meant to compete with the Pures at half the price. Would be more valuable to me to see how close they’ve come to that.

I’m sorry you didn’t find the comparison useful.

I thought it was a good comparison in magnification, objective size, and price.

Comparable price is the most important factor for many (most?) hunters considering a binocular purchase. I can’t even tell you how many times someone asked me “What binocular should I get for X dollars?”

I hope you can extrapolate something from the review anyways. I appreciate you reading the review.

 

[Beendare]

Matt,

Another excellent optics review.

I have not seen the 8x or 10x UHD’s……but I have compared the Vortex 18x UHD’s side by side with my Meopta 15’s and Swaro 15x, the difference was enough to have me sell off the Excellent Meoptas.

The color render and flaring in the Meopta is arguably a tad better ( I may be using the wrong terminology) but the resolution plus the extra magnification is a game changer with the Vortex 18x UHD. Excellent glass- nothing like their Chinese lens in their other lines- and a solid build quality.

Then add, I picked up the UHD as a new returned pair at almost 1/2 off which put me a few bucks ahead after selling the Meoptas.

I was skeptical at first on these UHD’s as Vortex, though a very good company has always had less the the best lenses in their products.

All I can say is they changed that with the UHD line. Comparable to my Swaro NL’s? Nope, but very good glass.

 

[JPB3]

As an eye glass wearer one feature that is terribly important is they eye relief on binoculars ?

Would you happen to have those numbers ?

Thanks

 

[jrfred]

Matt, thank you for the great review. Years ago I bought the Nikon Monarch 8x36 and 10x36, and I’m glad I did because they are now discontinued. Quick light and handy, I just use a neoprene Binobib cover on an elastic chest strap to keep it simple. But not in the same quality department as the units you tested. The 8X are great for still hunting in the woods with their deeper “depth” of view without refocusing. I wonder if 36 objective is a target size these days for the big manufacturers?

 

[TJ427]

Thanks for the information and review

 

[ThorM465]

Just about every Vortex optic that I or my friends own has had to be sent back and replaced, usually within the first year or two. Their quality control is non-existent and while their no fault warranty is great, it doesn’t do much good when the optic fails in the middle of a hunt

I've own or owned about a dozen Vortex optics in the Razor and Viper line over the last decade plus. I've never needed to send back a single one. I just recently bought a set of these 8x32 UHDs from market place.

 

[JGRaider]

I've owned probably 30 different binos over the years including several alpha models. The 8x32 UHD's are fantastic, very smooth, and very well built.

 

[Matt Cashell]

As an eye glass wearer one feature that is terribly important is they eye relief on binoculars ?

Would you happen to have those numbers ?

Thanks

The 10X32 model has a listed spec of 17mm. The 8x32 has a 19mm spec.

In practice, I could just see the entire FOV of the 10x32 with glasses contacting the fully collapsed eyecups, while I could see the entire FOV of the 8X32 a little easier with the 8x32 eyecups fully collapsed.

 

[MustangHX]

The edge sharpness is quite a let down for me, esp. when they name it UHD

 

[rayphoto]

Excellent review. Vortex is the only brand stores around me sell so I don’t have good options to compare in person unless I drive 4 hours to a larger city. The comparison to both the CLs and Marvin are helpful.

 

[nagibson1]

Just about every Vortex optic that I or my friends own has had to be sent back and replaced, usually within the first year or two. Their quality control is non-existent and while their no fault warranty is great, it doesn’t do much good when the optic fails in the middle of a hunt

This has not been my experience. I have had several vortex pieces and have only heard of one going back in my group. I did have to take back my sst tripod after 5 years or more and had to deal with them giving me a brand new carbon fiber tripod that has been great. I've had more problems with my other optics personally.

 

[stan_wa]

Vortex customer service is bar none
If they made scopes that help zero and binos they loooked as good as swaro I would never buy anyone else

That said im very interested in these udh binos they have such good fov on paper they rival the nl pure
I hope for some good reviews

 

[stan_wa]

It is an accurate spec.

How is the edge quality
See here is the thing I just don’t wanna spend for the nl pure 8 and these on Paper are very competitive, but irl is that true

 

[Matt Cashell]

How is the edge quality
See here is the thing I just don’t wanna spend for the nl pure 8 and these on Paper are very competitive, but irl is that true

As I noted in the review, the edge performance is good, although there is some resolution fall off and field curvature. The FOV is extremely wide.

The NL series has fantastic edge performance and an even wider FOV than the UHD.

If edge performance is a priority, the NL is the winner … but it comes at a substantial cost.

 

[stan_wa]

As I noted in the review, the edge performance is good, although there is some resolution fall off and field curvature. The FOV is extremely wide.

The NL series has fantastic edge performance and an even wider FOV than the UHD.

If edge performance is a priority, the NL is the winner … but it comes at a substantial cost.

Matt, thanks for your response as I already have an nL 12s and these would be my less used archery elk Bino,. I think the little bit of performance give up is probably OK. Thank you.

 

[mtg]

Thank you for the work and solid information. I’m seriously considering buying these, and wondering how they compare to the maven 8x30? Anyone compared, and/or own both?

 

[mtg]

Any one with input on the maven b3 8x30 ? Thanks

 

[cgw1984]

No experience at all with the UHD series, but over the last few years the Razor HDs I’m familiar with, both binoculars and spotting scopes, have been running a 90% failure rate, including my 10x42 binoculars that have been replaced twice and my 1st Gen. 20-60 x 85 spotter that never worked worked from the day I bought it, went through 3 eye pieces trying to find one that would zoom in cold temps. (But Vortex did admit that those were junk and finally replaced it w a Gen 2) I could go on and on about various friends bad luck but let’s just say I don’t have enough faith to shell out money for UHDs because they put marginally better glass in them.

Care to back up the 90% failure rate claim?