VortexOptics Diamondback HD 8x42 Binoculars - HD Optical System, Non-slip Grip, Waterproof, Fogproof, Shockproof, Included GlassPak - Unlimited, Unconditional Warranty

Why did you pick this product vs others?:Product is great! Good quality.

Fast delivery, well packaged and great binoculars. Light weight, clarity is excellent - very pleased with this purchase!

Cannot say enough great things about these binoculars. We bought the 8x42 and 10x42 in anticipation of a safari we booked. The trip was amazing and the glasses performed flawlessly. We also appreciated being able to field test the difference between the two different models.What was really impressive, though, was the follow up service. When we got back from Tanzania, the glasses were understandably dusty. I contacted Vortex to inquire whether I could pay to have them cleaned by their techs. I couldn’t believe what they said - yes, send them in, it’s covered under warranty. Including shipping. I said, no, they aren’t broken, just dirty. They said we will inspect them, repair what need repairing, replace what needs replacing and clean them, under warranty. It will take 2-3 weeks.Just got them back, and sure enough, they are like new. You just don’t find that kind of customer care these days. I wish I needed more, I’d be buying from them!!

These binoculars are great! They are easy to use, and very clear. I did not need the extrras that came with them. It was kind of confusing but we worked it out and love them. We used them in the Dakota and Mintana badlands and plan to use them in Tanzania.

Great set of binocs for the $

Update 9/3/22 I just bought my fourth pair of Vortex Binoculars. This time, a second pair of 8x32 DiamondBack HD. I know, I know I praised their binoculars below. But these 8x32s are as close to perfect as you can get for bird watching when you are in shrubbery and tree habitats. I have never had binoculars that cost a thoudsand dollars or even hundreds, but I cannot figure any way they could improve on these Vortex for this purpose.We have been bird watchers for decades and used primarily 10x42 binoculars in the mid-price range. I know I am a slow learner because I just this year decided to move from 10x to 8x, which apparently every birdwatcher knows is the better choice. To make up for my lapse, I have bought seven new binoculars in the last year. All have again been mid tier. I have purchased binoculars from Carson, Nikon and Vortex. The only differences is that they vary from 8X25 to 8X42.Over the years, all binoculars have improved dramatically and in the mid-tier have settled on a set characteristics. All the ones I bought this year have more or less the same specs.: BAK4 prism, water and fog proof, gas purged, fully multi coated lenses, spin-up eyepieces and center wheel focus. In addition, they all have more less comparable specs in other more esoteric categories like eye-relief, field of view and two or three other popular specs. Not surprisingly then, this means that when you are looking through all of these binoculars, they are excellent. What this means, if you handed me any one of these binoculars set up for me and focused at the right distance, I would not have a preferred choice.The big differences turn out to be almost always, mechanical. Some of the spin up eye pieces are loose and you have to mess with them. You almost always have to move the binoculars on the center hinge to make sure your eyes are lined up with the lenses and if the hinge is not really tight, you have to keep messing with that issue. You always have to spin the center wheel to focus and some have the problem of that process varies throughout the range. When you are bird watching, speed is almost more important than any other facet. Having to change a setting while you are out is always a major fail.The standout choice among the binoculars we bought this year are the Vortex. The model we got was the DiamondBack HD. We have them in 8X 25, 32, 42.The center hinge resists being jostled, and thus you never have to mess with that. There are two spin-up stops on the eyepieces and they lock at each setting. The focus wheel is smooth to turn throughout its range and, for us at least, has just the right tension.When I started my search to replace our old binoculars, it never entered my mind that the mechanical workings would have so much impact on what I thought made a good binocular.After several email exchanges with tech support at Vortex, I recognized the person I dealt with was truly tech support and not someone just answering email. Several of the technical specifications were reviewed with me as well as experiments suggested with the binoculars relative to eye-relief. The thoroughness of the guidance was unbelievable.My highest recommendation is any Vortex DiamondBack HD binocular you want to buy.

Got a killer price on the 8x42 Vortex Diamondback so I pulled the trigger. It is my second binocular after my year-old 8x42 Celestron Nature DX, which is another popular entry-level binocular and generally $50-70 cheaper. Here are my first impressions compared to the Celestron.The Vortex is longer/taller but is actually more lightweight and less bulky than the Celestron due to its narrower barrels, making it feel much more comfortable and natural in the hands. I do one-handed holding a lot and the Vortex feels very comfortable, whereas the Celestron does not.The Vortex has wider ocular lenses and an appreciably wider FOV.From my limited use so far I have not found the Vortex to be appreciably sharper than the Celestron, but it has the edge in color rendition, which is much more natural, whereas the Celestron's is quite warm, perhaps excessively so in comparison.The Celestron is known to suffer from build quality issues. Within 3 months of purchase the eyecups on mine started going. It remains to be seen how the Vortex will stand up to daily use but it does feel very solid in the hands. And of course one can rest easy knowing Vortex's unconditional warranty.The included neck strap is all right, pretty comfortable. The GlassPak harness is a nice extra and feels well-made; I don't imagine I'll use it much but it's nice to have as an option.The only thing I hate about the Vortex so far are the stay-on lens caps, which are flimsy and don't stay on well. I imagine they'll wear out pretty quickly. But this is a minor issue.The Celestron Nature DX is a great binocular for the price and popular for a reason, but spend a little more money and in my opinion you get a nicer all-around binocular in the Diamondback.