Vortex UHD / Maven B5 18x56 Novice Comparison.

[FSB12B]

Thanks for the review! Helps me out big time in my decisions for next year. Been thinking of letting the 50mm razor go in favor of a high powered bino and these two were at the top of my budget.

 

[duckhunter175]

Solid review, thanks for taking the time to test and post!

 

[Tahoe1305]

Thanks for the review! Helps me out big time in my decisions for next year. Been thinking of letting the 50mm razor go in favor of a high powered bino and these two were at the top of my budget.

I love my 12xs BUT I got a sweet pair of UHD 18s for sale! You want those .

 

[FSB12B]

I love my 12xs BUT I got a sweet pair of UHD 18s for sale! You want those .

I would definitely be interested!

 

[cdowns]

I'm new to this forum and just found this post today. If you have any experience with the Razor UHD 10x42 and the Maven B2 9x45, could you point me in the direction to go? I've narrowed my choices for new binos to those two and possibly the B1 10x42. Money aside, which is the best all purpose bino?
Thanks

 

[Rooster1017]

Great thread! I was debating Razor UHD vs Maven and ended up with Maven but not by much.

 

[MrGlass]

Folks

Doesn’t seem like too many have had hands on the UHD and Maven 18xs together yet. Had the chance to demo so will give it my best shot at comparing.

That said I will draft a couple initial posts and then encourage folks that have specific questions to reply and I will do my best to get them answered.

Like mentioned in the title I’m not a expert glass-matician. I am lucky enough to have a balcony that can see about as far as the eye over various terrain and have made a few resolution charts I used to compare a bunch of 10x42s last month. So I try and develops “game” like stuff to look at and compare.

My initial impressions with both are they seem very similar. Weight with zero accessories on the Maven was 45.2oz and the UHD 42.0oz. Heights and widths were both roughly the same. I personally didn’t have a problem adjusting either to my eyes and felt the diopter and focus felt good on both. The diopter locks on the vortex and is just very stiff on the Maven. I personally don’t see either of them moving easily out of place.

I did like that the barrels on the UHD left a bit more room between them to snug in a non outdoorsman style tripod adapter (easier to twist). The Maven worked fine too just took a bit more time.

I only got to view them for about 30 min at 1800 or so (roughly sunset here) at a street sign with varying sizes of font at 1200 yds. Both offered a clear resolution advantage over my 10xs. I could read the smallest level of text vs being able to read two levels less with the 10xs.

In the initial peak through I couldn’t say one was “better” than the other. Both appeared to not be perfectly clear edge to edge (at least at lower light), although very close. Both actually seemed very touchy to focus compared to similar models in 10x(B2 Mavens). If anything I’d say the Maven was just a touch easier to get a good view behind. Specs say 18mm eye relief for both but Maven appeared slightly better. I feel the UHDs can get just a few mm closer for inter-pupil range, but it appears specs say they are equal.

Like with other UHDs, really like bino harness that comes with it. Both these are big binos and IF you wanted them in your chest vs your backpack, it’s nice not to have to buy a special harness.

I will break out USAF Resolution chart in coming days and work the low light tests a bit more too.

Just wanted to start the thread, provide initial impressions, and allow folks to provide testing ideas.

This is a great review if your thinking about going for big eyes and are considering the Maven B.5 18x56 binos. I wish he would compare them to the Razor HDs.

 

[Beendare]

I missed this review the first time around, Well done Phil, excellent info.

I now own the UHD 18x. I traded off my Meopta 15s after comparing them side by side in the desert with my buddies UHDs. The 3x is a significant difference. I bought my UHD's as a new return for 60% of new- which made them a no brainer.

 

[MrGlass]

I missed this review the first time around, Well done Phil, excellent info.

I now own the UHD 18x. I traded off my Meopta 15s after comparing them side by side in the desert with my buddies UHDs. The 3x is a significant difference. I bought my UHD's as a new return for 60% of new- which made them a no brainer.

60% off! That is a great price! I would have bought them too!.