Is Vortex Viper or Diamondback better?

Last Updated on April 6, 2022 by TheOptics Reviewer

Want to upgrade your binoculars option, but stuck with choosing the right one that fulfills all your requirements but at the same time doesn’t break your bank. Don’t worry because we are here to debrief you about Vortex diamondback vs viper, two sturdy binoculars offered by Vortex. Vortex Optics is an American brand based in Middleton, Wisconsin, that is in this business for more than two decades. They specialize in several optical gadgets from precise and sturdy riflescope to red dots but are best known for their binoculars. By introducing nine different binoculars lines in the market, Vortex has proved that it kept every consumer’s needs in its view. Whether it be an adult or a child, a hunter or a nature lover, an amateur or a pro, whatever category you belong to, Vortex optics has something in its bag for you. Now I won’t keep you waiting for long and jump straight to our main topic, Vortex diamondback vs viper.

Rundown of Vortex Diamondback Binoculars

The company has relaunched the Diamondback binoculars with an upgrade in the original diamondbacks. The new models come with an HD tag with them and provide a clearer and ultra-sharp imaging with edge-to-edge clarity. Another major upgrade is that Vortex has replaced the nitrogen purging with argon purging, increasing its durability. Multi-coated lens and Roof prism adds to the clarity and contrast of the view. Many binoculars of the Diamondback series come with IPD, enabling you to align your interpupillary distance with binoculars. With Vortex diamondback binoculars in hand, you need not worry about drizzle or bad weather because it is waterproof, fog-proof, and scratch-resistant and comes with good quality rubber armoring that provides a non-slip grip.

Rundown of Vortex Viper Binoculars

Vortex Viper HD series presents a relatively pro-level, high-end binoculars. And oh, boy! They are premium pairs of binoculars that are a perfect fit for you. While talking about their construction and assembly, they come with extra-low dispersion (ED) glass and multi-coated lens that guarantees the absence of color fringing and ensures a view with good contrast and saturation in many lighting conditions. Thus, they can prove to be an excellent choice from sunrise to sundown. Being argon purged and O-ring sealed, they are waterproof, fog-proof, and dust-free so that they can withstand extreme weather conditions. Rugged rubber armoring adds to the durability of this model and makes it anti-skid and shock-resistant.

Similarities between Vortex diamondback and viper binoculars

So before we jump straight into the combat of Vortex diamondback vs viper, let’s see some features that both of them have in common.

• Both of the binoculars have fully multi-coated lenses. A fully multi-coated lens has several coatings with different refractive indices. Therefore they brighten the view and make the lens anti-reflective, minimizing the amount of reflected light to its lowest and ensuring impressive low light performance.
• Both of these binoculars come with adjustable eyecups that can be twisted up or down according to your comfort.
• Both Viper and Diamondback series offer binoculars options that come equipped with phase-corrected Roof prisms that are more sleek, small, light-weight, and a bit expensive than the Porro prisms. The phase-corrected roof prisms add to the optical quality by increasing the contrast and resolution of the images.
• Moreover, both these binoculars’ prisms come with a dielectric coating that enhances the view’s clarity and brightness with accurate color reproduction.
• Both of them have a central focusing knob that can adjust both the tubes at the same time.
• Both the Viper and Diamondback binoculars are O-ring sealed that prolong the units’ lives by protecting the binocular’s interior from dust, oil, and scratches.

Battle of Vortex diamondback vs viper binoculars

No doubt, both the units are robust, sturdy, and durable and can prove to be an acquaintance of yours in the next outdoor pursuit of yours. So at this point, you would be asking yourself, “Are there any major specs that distinguish these two binoculars?” To answer this and other queries of yours, we will look in every nook and cranny and leave no stone unturned to give you an unbiased comparison of Vortex diamondback vs viper. So both of the units would be compared and contrasted based on four main parameters:

• Performance
• Size and weight
• Durability
• Price

Let’s board this train that will take you on a fantastic journey to find all the specs these units bring to the table.

Performance

What’s the advantage of using a pair of binoculars that can’t even provide you with a good viewing experience? Or, more precisely, “Why did we get a pair of binoculars in the first place?” Obviously, we got them to get the most out of the view and enhance the beauty of the action taking place at a distance. Therefore the binoculars should have a splendid performance so that they can provide us with excellent imaging. We will first look at different specifications that add to the binoculars’ performance to get the complete essence of combat between Vortex diamondback vs viper series.

Magnification and Objective Lens

Vortex Optics have introduced nine different options ranging from compact to full sizes in their Diamondback line, making it one of the largest series presented by the manufactures. Vortex diamondback binoculars are available in the options of 8X28, 10X28, 8X32, 10X32, 8X42, 10X42, 10X50, 12X50, and 15X56. Thus, they provide you with more diversified options from compact to full-size options so that you have a wide variety to choose from.

Meanwhile, there are four different size options available in the Vortex crossfire series to this date. All of them are full-size options and are available in 8X42, 10X42, 10X50, and 12X50. Thus the Crossfire series has a limited number of options to choose from and doesn’t offer any small-size binocular option.

Low-light Performance

Let me ask you something, “How many of you would opt for a pair of binoculars that would give you splendid view in broad daylight but a meager or poor viewing experience in low light?” No one, Right? All of us want a pair of binoculars that provide bright and sharp imaging from dusk till dawn. So low light performance is something we won’t forget while comparing Vortex diamondback vs viper. The Viper series has a slight edge over their Diamondback counterparts, which undoubtedly provide some decent imaging. But that’s the thing about comparison: we still have to choose better out of the best options that are competing with each other. The Vortex viper binoculars come equipped with Extra-low dispersion (ED) glass, which ensures the absence of color fringing or purple fringing, and ED glass is something diamondbacks lack. Moreover, the low-light-conquering XR anti-reflective coatings enable the Viper series to deliver brighter, crisper, and more explicit images with a stunning resolution even in low light.

Field of View

The field of view is the whole width of the view you can see with your pair of binoculars without moving your head. A wide field of view (FOV) is recommended so that you can get the whole essence of the match without worrying about missing any crucial moment. Here the Viper series outweigh the equivalent varieties of Diamondback binoculars. For instance, Viper 10X42 binoculars provide a field of view of 341 feet at 1000 yards, while Diamondback 10X42 binoculars offer a field of view of 330 feet at 1000 yards.

Eye Relief

Eye relief is the optimum distance between your eyes and the eyepiece of the binoculars. If your eyes are within this distance, then you would be able to have a full view without any constraint. It plays a vital role in the case of eyeglass wearers. Here Vortex diamondback binoculars are at a competitive disadvantage as the Viper series offers a longer eye relief. As in the case of Vortex diamondback vs viper 10X42 binoculars, as the preceding one provides an eye relief of 15 mm while the succeeding one provides 17 mm eye relief.

Close Focus

Close focus is the closest distance that a pair of binoculars can focus on expertly. Thus, the shorter the close focus will be, the more you can focus on the details that the naked eye otherwise can’t fully capture, like observing butterflies or insects on plants. And your boy, Viper binoculars, have a competitive advantage over Diamondback binoculars as all their models have a close focus greater than 5 feet. If we compare the Viper 10X42 with Diamondback 10X42 binoculars, then the former has a close focus of 6 feet while the latter has a close focus of 5 feet.

Size and Weight

Size and weight of a binocular play a significant role as there is a lot of demand for compact and lightweight options that can easily be used when you are out camping, hiking, biking, or hunting. So that’s another parameter on which we will compare vortex diamondback vs viper. All of the binoculars offered by the Viper line are full-size binos, and they weigh a bit more than their Diamondback counterparts like Viper 10X42 binoculars weigh 24.9 oz while Diamondback 10X42 weigh about 21.3 oz. Thus based on being more compact and lighter in weight, the Diamondback series has a slight edge over the Viper series.

Durability

What’s the point of buying a pair of binoculars that can’t even survive a few falls or can’t handle a drizzle or rain? So durability is a feature we will keep in view while comparing Vortex diamondback vs viper.

Weather Resistance

An optical gadget ought to be waterproof and fog-proof so that its internal assembly can work correctly even if the binoculars come in contact with water by mistake. Both the Vortex diamondback and viper binoculars fulfill these demands. The only difference is that the Viper series always came with argon purging that is the superior type of gas purging. In contrast to the Diamondback, where the original diamondbacks came with nitrogen purging. Still, the new HD models come with Argon purging, making them waterproof and preventing internal fogging at a wide array of temperatures. Thus, this round ends up in a draw.  

Design

After the latest upgrade, the Vortex diamondback binoculars also come equipped with Armortech (polycarbonate rubber armored chassis), a specification previously owned by the Viper series. The rubber armor adds an extra layer of protection that makes them shock-resistant and ensures they can survive a few falls. Both of the units are ergonomically designed for a more comfortable, firm, and secure grip. But for this particular parameter, Viper outshines the Diamondbacks.

Price

We are pitting Vortex diamondback vs viper for you. So when it comes to price, honestly speaking, every one of us wants a pair of binoculars that provide an excellent viewing experience without ruining our pocket, and Vortex Diamondback binoculars just do that for you. They care about your budget and won’t lighten your wallet. They are priced somewhat $250 to $300 less than their Viper counterparts. The diamondback binoculars provide better bang for your buck, so if you are an outdoor enthusiast who wants a reasonably priced option for your next outdoor pursuit, you should surely opt for diamondback binoculars.

Accessories

Vortex diamondback and viper binoculars both are an all-in-one package for you as these sturdy and splendid binoculars come along with accessories so that you don’t have to spend separately on buying these.  They come with objective lens covers, a Rainguard eyepiece cover for the protection of your lens, and a comfortable neck strap that ensures that you can carry the unit for an extended time without worrying about neck strain. Vortex diamondback binoculars have a custom-molded carrying case, while Vortex viper binoculars come with a GlassPak harness that makes the unit a whole lot portable.

Conclusion:

That was a cut-throat competition of Vortex diamondback vs viper binoculars, and we have reached the point where we have to give a final verdict based on all the specs and features both of these units have. Both of the binoculars provide an optical system with a wide array of features that are sure to please. After putting every puzzle piece in its place, we conclude that the decent and contemporary optical performance Vortex Diamondback HD binoculars provide in their compact, light-weight and less-pricey options make them an overall good choice for every outdoor enthusiast. No doubt, Vortex Viper HD binoculars offer superior optical performance, which gives them a slight edge over their Diamondback equivalents, but these specs come along with a large price tag. But if the price isn’t a problem for you and you can’t endure even a bit of a bump when it comes to performance, you should go for the Viper series.

Frequently asked questions regarding Vortex diamondback vs viper:

Q. What is the difference between Vortex Diamondback and Viper?

Ans: No doubt that the Viper series is more expensive than the Diamondback series but they have an edge over their Diamondback counterparts based on their optical performance. The Vortex viper binoculars come equipped with Extra-low dispersion (ED) glass, which ensures the absence of color fringing or purple fringing, and ED glass is something diamondbacks lack. The low-light-conquering XR anti-reflective coatings enable the Viper series to deliver brighter, crisper, and more explicit images with a stunning resolution even in low light. 

Q. Is vortex viper better than diamondback?

Ans: Vortex Viper HD binoculars offer superior optical performance, which gives them an edge over their Diamondback equivalents, but these specs come along with a large price tag. But if the price isn’t a problem for you and you can’t endure even a bit of a bump when it comes to performance, you should go for the Viper series.

Are Vortex Diamondback scopes any good?

Which is better Vortex Diamondback or Crossfire?

Is Vortex Viper or razor better?

Is Leupold better than Vortex?