Vortex Razor vs Leupold BX-5 vs Maven B.2

[Mathewsoutwest]

Hey all, having trouble deciding between the binos listed above. Has anyone compared these 3? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Mathewsoutwest]

Bump

 

[Nightlight1]

I’m also starting the search for a new set of Binos this season. I’ve spent countless hours behind glass on mountain sides in the northwest but am no expert in judging all aspect of what makes a great set of glass. With that being said one thing I have defiantly learned is that not everyone sees each set the same. Yesterday I was able to compare the BX-5 in a 12x50 and a Razor HD 12x50 and didn’t think very highly of the Bx-5s. However I only was able to glass in a parking lot in optimal light. Personally I like the color contrast of the leicas for having deer stand on the hillside.


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[Stingray]

i read on a birding site that the Maven B1 and Leupold BX-5 are the same except for the armor and eye cups. The exception is the 15x56 where the Maven B4 and Leupold BX5 are the same.

 

[Tahoe1305]

I compared these three a few months back with half dozen others. Link below.

$1000 Bino Comparison

I’m interested in your 10x42. Too new to PM you. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I PM’d you.

www.rokslide.com

 

[ande7824]

i read on a birding site that the Maven B1 and Leupold BX-5 are the same except for the armor and eye cups. The exception is the 15x56 where the Maven B4 and Leupold BX5 are the same.

Which site? Can you post a link? Id be interested in reading

 

[Shakeandbake]

i read on a birding site that the Maven B1 and Leupold BX-5 are the same except for the armor and eye cups. The exception is the 15x56 where the Maven B4 and Leupold BX5 are the same.

What was the exception with the 15x56? Maven better I’m guessing?

 

[AlaskaEd]

The exception was The naming. Maven doesn’t do 15x56 in the B1 so Leupold 15x56 is the same as the B4, not in the quality. According to them anyway.

Makes sense what they say. They are similar specs, and have similar “street” prices. The 15x56s are exactly the same specs other than coatings it seems.

 

[Stingray]

Correct. The Leupold 15x56 are identical to the Maven B4 15x56.

 

[SpookySpectre308]

I see the BX-5 in the larger 10x50 is available for under 1k. I'm looking for input on these. I don't think I can find anything for that price? Maybe used clean Conquest?

 

[SpookySpectre308]

I may have solved my own problem. Looks like I can get discounted Nikon HG through a friend.

 

[Spiral Horn]

I have the Maven B2s in 9x45 - won them at a local SCI Fundraiser. I’m a big fan of 9x - they are a nice glass but a bit big and clunky. To my eyes they are optically about equal to the Razors. Don’t have any experience with the Leupolds. IMO the Nikon HGs are a better glass in virtually every way - edge-to-edge clarity, FOV, depth, and especially ergonomics/handling. They’re nowhere near as rugged as my Leicas or sharp as my Zeiss Victory, but doubt I’d be “painin” for either if I took the HGs on a hunt.

 

[Tahoe1305]

Nikon HGs are legit. Good find. Won’t regret them.

 

[SpookySpectre308]

Nikon HGs are legit. Good find. Won’t regret them.

Just got these. Spent yesterday and today glassing around the tight, densely tree populated neighborhood like a creeper. Dang are these HG's nice. Razor sharp and that focus lock is money. I can focus 'through' the depth of trees. I've not been able to do something like that before. Couldn't be happier.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

I’m also starting the search for a new set of Binos this season. I’ve spent countless hours behind glass on mountain sides in the northwest but am no expert in judging all aspect of what makes a great set of glass. With that being said one thing I have defiantly learned is that not everyone sees each set the same. Yesterday I was able to compare the BX-5 in a 12x50 and a Razor HD 12x50 and didn’t think very highly of the Bx-5s. However I only was able to glass in a parking lot in optimal light. Personally I like the color contrast of the leicas for having deer stand on the hillside.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I haven't had a chance to compare the Razor HD and Leupold BX-5, but sounds like if you can get both for same price you would lean towards Razor HD's?

 

[csrichardson97]

Limited review here...
I own the Razor 10x42. Great Binos, build quality, locking diopter, great clear glass.
I checked out the BX-5s in store, and could tell immediately the glass was lower quality, build quality felt cheap, no locking diopter. They were much lighter than the razors in hand. If you can tell a difference in the store, the real differences will be accentuated in the field.
Really quite shocked how bad the BX-5s were for the price.

Maybe the store model had some issues or defects, who knows...

 

[OneH]

I own or have owned all of them in 10x42 and 9x45 and 11x45 B2s and the Razor HD was the Chinese made version which I no longer own but replaced it with a Filipino Razor HD 8x42 which actually seems superior.

I recently got two brand new BX5 Santiams in 10x42 and 12x50 as warranty replacements for the 4 other defective lower prices BX1 BX2 BX3 and BX4 Leupold's I sent in which were quite honestly pretty crappy IMHO especially the brand spanking new BX4 I sent in still in brand spanking new condition straight to Leupold due to it's supreme suckiness in regards to absolutely terrible image quality and excessive amounts of CA.

You'd be way better off buying a SIG Zulu 9 either in 11x45 or 9x45 even a used one for around $500-$600 than the Maven B2 or Leupold BX5 or Razor HD.

Or if you don't mind buying Chinese then Skyrover Banner Cloud APO in any magnification for $500-$600. I bought all 4 of their models and I'll say based in my own first hand comparing them to hundreds of other binoculars they're utterly fantastic however one of them needed warranty due to a noticeable spec insude the glass and they sent me a FedEx international prepaid return shipping label with a two week total turnaround time from date I dropped them off to my local FedEx to the time they came back. Their ridiculously ultra wide FOVs are notuceably wider than any of my Swarovski NL Pures and clear all the way to their outermost edges while the NL Pures aren't as sharp at their edges and have better overall central sharpness which is where their $3000 price difference comes into play. The SRBC se to actually have similar brightness compared to the NL Pures.

The brand spanking new Leupold BX5 Santiam 12x50 absolutely sucked and sent it right back to Leupold since it was incredibly terrible not even a step up from the very sucky BX4 I sent in and even much worse than the demo Maven B6 I had demoed and the way cheaper SRBC 12x50 literally smoked it in every possible way imagineable.

On the other hand the BX5 10x42 I recently got as a warranty replacement appears to be a real freak of nature opposite of the very sucky 12x50 version. It's notuceably brighter sharper and clearer than my Nikon Monarch HG 10x42 which I had two of that were in fact literally optically identical to each other no sample variance there except one had a very sucky eyepiece which I returned for refund.

Another option instead of a Razor HD is the SIG Zulu 8 10x42 which I used to have but upgraded to 12x50 version which were fantastic better than Razor HD by far for cheaper too $799 MSRP or much cheaper if you call around for cheaper prices over the phone from price negotiable dealers. Even the also Japan made Zulu 7 10x42 which can be bought for around $500 new I like a lot better than the Vortex Razor HDs. I actually prefer the Razor UHDs well over their cheaper HD models.