ZEN RAY Prime HD vs Vortex Viper HD

[MUDDYCRICK]

Anybody have experience with BOTH of these binos? I have read countless reviews on both individually, but not very many side by side comparison. Both are about the same price and both have the same warranty. Just shoot me some opinions. I don't have the ability to compare myself. Thanks

 

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I just went through this exact same dilemma, with $600 in my PayPal account dedicated to binoculars. Originally, my mind was set on getting the Vipers, and hadn't even heard of Zen Ray. I bought a Vortex riflescope last fall that is incredible. Then I started reading into the Viper even further, and saw some complaints about a narrow field of view, and some people described it as looking through a tunnel. That got me considering some other options.

In reviews the Zen Ray ED3 seemed to hold its own against the Viper, and even win out in many of them. The ED3 runs around $400. Then I started looking at Prime comparisons to the ED3 and many of the users said it was an incredible jump up. Boom! Mind made up.

I was blown away at the difference between my old Nikon Monarchs. Honestly, they worked very well for me, and I was hoping I wouldn't even like the Zen Rays so I could send them back. After a two hour comparison, there was no comparison.

There is one caveat that has me a bit concerned, but will likely never be an issue. 99.9% of customer service reviews on Vortex are incredible. I don't know that I've found a bad one. If you look, you can find some about Zen Ray. Not horrible, but things like unreturned phone calls and such. In that respect, I feel like I took a bit of a gamble, but it will very likely not matter.

Best of luck. Hopefully I didn't offend an Vortex guys, as I'm sure those are great as well.

 

[MUDDYCRICK]

Went with the primes. Will post a side by side comparison when received.

 

[tipsntails7]

I have no experience with the zen's but I personally dont like the vipers. I actually like the talons much better by vortex In Basically the same price range. To me the optics were the same between both and the talons had a much better view in my opinion.

Personally if your looking at these options save for another month or 2 and get the razors from cameraland. To me the extra cash is worth it my talons are lone out bins now.

 

[WRO]

If your going to save your money for better get a set of conquest hds or used SLCHDs.

 

[flyinsquirel]

Zen customer service & warranty has been very good in my experience. I dropped my spotter eyepiece and knocked loose a spec that somehow stuck on one of the lenses inside. Called Zen and explained it to them, told them out right that I dropped it. Within 10 days I had a new one and they didn't even want the old one back.

 

[StrutNut]

Wished I had a side by side I could do for ya but I got the Zen Rays and like them. I havent had to use Customer Service on them. Way better than the Nikons I replaced with them. By the way, Nikon has excellent customer service, I know, I had to use it about every year. You think hunting big game is tough, try using your binos for hunting ducks out of a boat! The spray from the dog alone will put them through a test.

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

I bought a pair of the ED3's just to check them out. I think they are better than the vipers myself. Got them for $330 bucks and Im happy with them for sure.
I bet the primes are great.

 

[KHNC]

If your going to save your money for better get a set of conquest hds or used SLCHDs.

I have put conquest HD and razor HD side by side many times. In my opinion conquest is NOT better than the Razor HD. just because its zeiss, doesn't make It better. I even had the swaro rep say the razor was just as good as the SLC as well.

 

[WRO]

I have put conquest HD and razor HD side by side many times. In my opinion conquest is NOT better than the Razor HD. just because its zeiss, doesn't make It better. I even had the swaro rep say the razor was just as good as the SLC as well.

Really, that's a great story. . Was it a factory rep, a field tech, or a fired rep from a rep group?

In my opinion, the conquests are a little brighter. The razors may be close to the non HD swaros, but not in the same league as the either of the SLCHD models.

The razors have a lot of edge distortion in comparison to the slc hds, and do neither color or detail as well.

Another piece of glass to look at in the 1k price range is the meopta meostar hds (cabelas euros) for the money they imho are better than both the zeiss and the vortex optically.

 

[MUDDYCRICK]

Ok I received my primes in the mail tonight. It was dark by the time I got to them, so optically all I can say so far is the moon is bright. However, I can speak on the binos feel and build quality compared to the vortex vipers.

First thing I notice about the primes is that they are HEAVY. Not necessarily a bad thing, but for you ultralight guys you may find it an issue. The weight felt very comparable to some Cabelas Euros I held the other day.

The build quality of these binos looks and feels superior. I know when I held the vipers they felt like good quality as well, but something about these primes just feel higher end to me. The out rubber armor is made of a harder material than the rubber feeling of the vipers. Grip and feel in the hand are great on both binos.

Now one area the primes had me disappointed was the eye cups. When extending the eye ups it feel like the same cheap feeling my Nikon monarch 3s had. It wasn't a crisp extension like the vipers had. This may not be an issue for me since I may not ever extend the cups anyways. Still though it was a slight disappointment

Overall, I'm happy with my decision so far on picking the primes. I feel like I may have gotten a heck of a deal on some great glass. I can't wait till tomorrow to check low light conditions and other optical comparisons to the vipers.

 

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

After reading a few hundred reviews I was prepared for the eye cups. I am an optics novice, so I guess I don't see an issue with them. You are right though, they are pretty similar to the Nikon Monarch in feel.

It took me awhile to see the difference between the Monarchs and the Primes. But again, I'm a novice so I wasn't sure what to really look for. After an hour or two of comparing the details and getting used to the Primes, the difference is incredible. Very happy with my purchase.

 

[Tauntohawk]

The eye cups aren't bad but they are just different.

When I was searching I set a budget of $5-600, but I tried to get my hands on every major brand pair from 300-1200 so I could get a good feel for the different feel, features, and optical clarity.

Vortex is well known for a great warranty, but I found zen ray to have superior glass. I had to step up to razors to find similar optical clarity to the primes at double the cost.

I love my primes, my father likes his vipers but almost everyone the does a side by side can tell the difference when glassing at long range in how crisp everything is all the way to the edge.

 

[KHNC]

Really, that's a great story. . Was it a factory rep, a field tech, or a fired rep from a rep group?

In my opinion, the conquests are a little brighter. The razors may be close to the non HD swaros, but not in the same league as the either of the SLCHD models.

The razors have a lot of edge distortion in comparison to the slc hds, and do neither color or detail as well.

Another piece of glass to look at in the 1k price range is the meopta meostar hds (cabelas euros) for the money they imho are better than both the zeiss and the vortex optically.

YES, it IS a great story. (sarcasm noted). He is a factory Swaro rep for the last 14 years. He travels the US and Europe representing Swaro as his full time occupation. I guarantee he has more optics knowledge than any of us on this forum, as well as good guy. I am a part time rep for Vortex thru select Cabela`s locations but I don't claim to know nearly what a lot do. I do value the mans opinion especially after spending 8 hours at the optics counter with him last year at the Greenville SC grand opening.

I would agree with anyone who said that the Swaro EL is better than most out there. One of the best pieces of glass available IMO.

 

[WRO]

Yeah I can probably guess who that is.

Anyways everyone is entitled to their opinion.

 

[rileybassman]

So after a week or so, how are you feeling about the Zen Rays?
I'm in the same boat and have been watching your thread to see your impression