Vortex Optics Diamondback 10x42 Roof Prism Binocular

It's hard to believe that you can get such a high quality product these days for a price point that rivals competitors at 3-4 times the price. This product does exactly that. Before I purchased these particular binoculars, I did quite a bit of research on many different review sites and forums trying to find the best possible bang for the buck. I had heard of the company named "Vortex" before and I also read that they were a branch of another popular, but much larger optics company. I had never owned a Vortex product and I was definitely weary at first, but after reading hundreds of articles and reviews, I decided that it was time to give them a shot and boy was I extremely satisfied. The product shipped extremely fast and arrived in a very well packaged box. From the moment I opened the box, I knew the product I was holding was of very high quality. The case that they came in was wrapped in a soft black velvet fabric, with a hard shell exterior that felt like it could take a beating without losing any structural integrity or risk damaging your binoculars. The zipper on the case was of high quality and looked like it would take a large amount of force to actually break the pin connectors. Once inside of the case, there was an included neck strap that was made of a stretchy fabric. It was comfortable and hardly noticeable when you were wearing it. The only drawback of the strap itself were the metal connector loops; these connectors were too large to actually fit correctly on the binoculars themselves. This was not a huge deal for me, since I already owned another strap system that was purchased at Cabela's and it fit perfectly. The binoculars themselves were the perfect size and the feel of the texture is awesome. They are grippy, and do not feel like they are going to fall out of your hands. These are the 8x42 size variants, and I feel like these are the perfect size to keep steady and also not have to carry around 10 pound binoculars unnecessarily. The dials on these binos are top quality, and very easy to get accustomed to. When I first dialed my vision to them, it took about 30 seconds to nail it down. The glass is so extremely clear it's incredible and I'm comparing them to a pair of $2000 Swarovski's. They let in more light, they had a better feel, they were lighter, they felt more durable and the warranty on these things is by far the gold standard of what any person with common sense would consider to be the absolute best. This is why I mentioned that you can get an amazing product for such an great price if you just take the time to read the reviews and find the best possible deals. I will be purchasing more of Vortex's products and I am glad that I made this purchase. Very recommended set of binoculars! 5 stars!!!

Excellent clarity. Nice binoculars. If you’re hunting, I would consider these appropriate for a fixed stand. They are a bit big and heavy for stalking. I would personally go with the 10x40 for stalking (I own both the 40 and 50’s).

I hunt for deer, pig, bear and turkey. After using a Bushnell 10 x 50 binocular for several years, I was looking for something more compact, lighter in weight, easier to hold the image, and not as heavy. I researched various manufacturers for several months before selecting the Vortex Diamondback. I just needed to determine whether I wanted the 8x32, 10x42 or 10x50 model. I happened to be at a large catalog retailer store and checked out all three. For me, the 10x42 was exactly what I needed. I couldn't believe the clarity of the optics in the store. But as we all know, the proof comes when you are out in the field. I just returned from pig hunting at Lake Sonoma in California. I put these binoculars through their paces from pre-dawn to dark. I have to say I was able to clearly see movement at distance approximately 45 minutes before sunrise. Throughout the day I was continually amazed at the clarity and ease of use. I was bow hunting, and with my bow in my left hand and the binoculars on a chest harness I was able to effortlessly hold the image still and focus with my right index finger to search under every tree and every clump of manzanita for pigs. I also was able to clearly see detail at distance after sunset, when I could not see detail by eye. In my humble opinion I would say that the low light capability of these binoculars is really good--good enough for this 52 year old hunter that has worn glasses since age 16!!! I was able to comfortably use these binoculars with the eye piece cups in all positions. I tested this just to make sure. I did find that It is easier for me to keep the rubber eye piece and objective lens covers in my day pack, rather than deal with putting them on/taking them off multiple times per day. Once you set the diopter you are good to go, with no further adjustments needed, other than focus for varying distance. These binoculars even have a threaded connection for a tripod, if you need to use one. I had previously asked this question on Amazon and had received several replies saying it didn't have a threaded connection, but when you read the instructions included with the binoculars, you will see that all you have to do is unscrew the cap located below the focus wheel--and there it is. The binoculars come with a very comfortable neck strap, rubber objective and eyepiece covers, and a nice zippered storage case with shoulder strap. The case is large enough to accommodate the binoculars with the chest harness attached. The binoculars are both fog-proof and waterproof. I read another review on Amazon that said these binoculars aren't as good as some $600-$1,500 models. Well, I wouldn't know about that and it might be true, but as a blue collar hunter, I was able to purchase these binoculars for under $200 on Amazon (the vendor had a screamin' deal), and this put me in to a whole new world of hunting! More scanning, less hiking, and more meat on the table! One major reason I decided on the Vortex Diamondback binoculars over other manufacturers is their unconditional lifetime warranty. I saw other manufacturers had a "limited lifetime" warranty. For me, if a manufacturer is willing to stand behind their product 100% unconditionally, I will choose them over the other "limited lifetime" manufacturers--100% of the time. In closing, if you are a hunter or outdoorsman that needs a high quality pair of binoculars at a very reasonable price, I very highly recommend you take the time to evaluate the Vortex Diamondback 10x42 binoculars. You will be pleased you did---year after year, after year, after year!!!!!!!!!! I purchased these for myself for the upcoming Christmas, and I can tell you that after using these binoculars while hunting, this will be a Christmas to remember!! I am serious-if you are a blue collar hunter like me without a lot of money to spend, GET THESE GLASSES---you will be very happy you did!

Great product. Perfect for bird watchching. Easy to adjust. Great price.

Excellent optics. No color distortion. Lightweight for the lens size. Easy to adjust for focus, clarity. The objective lens covers are kinda loose and need to be tightened up with silicon glue dots or lines on the inside edge of the cover. Also, the cover anchors slip off the barrel of the lens tube, so they have to be attached with silicon glue or rubber cement. Use black permanent marker on the blazing white Vortex emblem on the strap and you have a really nice tactical field glass for not too much money. Nothing rattles or makes any noise. Small enough to fit into a decent size pouch on your MOLLE pack.

These vortex binoculars works very well. The magnification is great, the view is clear. I consider this product to be of good quality. I also like the color and weight.

Clear and wide angle image. Eye relief, high definition, robustness, and hard case, just to mention some highlights. Roof prism make it compact. I recommend it.

This review is for the second binocular I received, the first one having been purchased from OpticsPlanet and this one a replacement for the original coming directly from Vortex. The first binocular was bad, real bad, as confirmed by Vortex. Hey, it happens. Anything mass produced is bound to have a lemon once in a while. I just happened to get one. In addition I will go so far as to say I suspect the original binocular was a return to OpticsPlanet which of course was subsequently resold. Certainly I can't prove that, but given all the other trouble I had with OpticsPlanet I would strongly advise anyone to avoid purchasing through them. There is very good news to report about the replacement from Vortex; this is one damn fine binocular! I was pleasantly shocked when I finally had a chance to give this thing a workout, as it were. The first thing I noticed was how sensitive the focus is. I consider this to be a good thing; I hardly mind having to readjust the focus as often as I did and got used to it quickly. The diopter setting was a cinch to dial in and I did not have to readjust once done. Image clarity is excellent, with only the slightest chromatic aberration. You practically have to be looking for it; I first tried this binocular late in the afternoon, looking at mountains perhaps 2 miles away. Between the light at that time of day and the colors of the mountains (mostly medium to dark brown) a lesser binocular would have shown its true colors, pun more or less intended. I expect you make out a rabbit bounding through the brush at well over a mile with this. I like the size of this binocular; it's fairly compact. The crosshatch in the rubber skin makes it easy to grip. Overall the binocular feels good in the hands. The neck strap is comfortable and should be plenty sturdy. I also appreciate that it comes with thick rubber covers for both the ocular and objective lenses. You can loop the neck strap through the ocular lens cover; one side of the cover has a break in the loop, making it easy to get it out of the way. The carrying case is nice, if a bit on the large side. You won't have any trouble putting the binocular back in its case and won't have to stuff the neck strap into a tight fit. I found the performance of this binocular to be superior. Clarity, color accuracy, focus...it has everything for which one could ask or expect, certainly at this price point. Best of luck finding anything that compares without rapidly moving toward 4 figures. One other thing absolutely must be stated: the customer service I received from Vortex is as good as I've ever seen. The only thing they could have done to make it better would have been to hop on a plane and hand deliver my replacement unit. The CSR I dealt with was exceptionally helpful and quite prompt in replying to me each time I wrote. If you have a problem with a Vortex product, do not hesitate to contact them directly. Unfortunately Vortex cannot sell directly to the end user at this time. If they did I would in the future buy from them with no regard to any discount off MSRP I might get on Amazon. Even so, I stress again that if you have problems or questions, contact them. This binocular will remain my favorite for a long time to come. Highest praise for Vortex, and boo-hiss for OpticsPlanet.