Vortex Diamondback hd 8 x 42 (1 Viewer)

[Wobby]

Morning so I've tried 10×50 10× 42 and now I am trying out the above Diamondback 8x42.
I really like them but not had much chance to test them only on the patio.
They were only €219 from Amazon warehouse Anyway the fov is great and I really like the 5ft close zoom distance. Basically my question is for €219 am I going to get anything better with that fov and close zoom distance. Many thanks

 

[Paultricounty]

Morning so I've tried 10×50 10× 42 and now I am trying out the above Diamondback 8x42.
I really like them but not had much chance to test them only on the patio.
They were only €219 from Amazon warehouse but the only thing is with that should I need to use the warrenty I'd have to ship them from Germany to the UK as they aren't purchased through a authorized dealer. Anyway the fov is great and I really like the 5ft close zoom distance. Basically my question is for €219 am I going to get anything better with that fov and close zoom distance. Many thanks

Probably not. At that price point there really isn’t much difference.

 

[Binocollector]

I have the 12x50 DB. A bit much CA for my taste but great ergonomics. I like the shape of the tubes and the focuser. Comparable would be the Svbony SV202. Or a Nikon P7 which I didn't have a good experience with however. And it's more plastic than the Vortex DB.
Another one in the price range is the Meopta Optika - as I understand it, made by a Chinese OEM for Meopta. But I have only read good things about it.
I have a Meopta Meopro HD 8x32, the old "assembled in the USA" version. Got mine used for 270€ - beats the Vortex DB by quite a bit in optical quality. But new it costs twice the price of a DB.
So for the budget, if you don't wanna buy used, can't go wrong with the DB I guess.

 

[Paultricounty]

I have the 12x50 DB. A bit much CA for my taste but great ergonomics. I like the shape of the tubes and the focuser. Comparable would be the Svbony SV202. Or a Nikon P7 which I didn't have a good experience with however. And it's more plastic than the Vortex DB.
Another one in the price range is the Meopta Optika - as I understand it, made by a Chinese OEM for Meopta. But I have only read good things about it.
I have a Meopta Meopro HD 8x32, the old "assembled in the USA" version. Got mine used for 270€ - beats the Vortex DB by quite a bit in optical quality. But new it costs twice the price of a DB.
So for the budget, if you don't wanna buy used, can't go wrong with the DB I guess.

I don’t buy made in Chyna. The Meopro should be better than the DB, better all around glass.

 

[Binocollector]

I don’t buy made in Chyna. The Meopro should be better than the DB, better all around glass.

Don't I remember correctly that you own the Oberwerk "SE"?
And you're preaching to the choir. I stopped buying Chinese glass a while ago. Eben before the inflated hype around the Oberwerk "SE" copycat bino.
Besides, didn't someone else start this thread? So I'm not sure Wobby is much interested in what you buy or don't.
Non-MiC binos start at around 4 times the price of a Vortex DB if someone doesn't wanna buy Russian binos. Unless buying used that is, which I myself do most of the time. (Are there still new "Made in the Philippines" Kenkos? I read here they closed up shop and moved production completely to China. And Vanguard claimed that they make their own binos - not sure that's true. Kite "Fitis" is also supposedly made in Japan but never found any proper review on it.)
But yes, the Meopro is much better. It almost reaches the performance of my Fujinon HC (Fuji is brighter, more color neutral and has less distortion towards the edge). I'd love to have a look through a Meostar however...

 

[Paultricounty]

Don't I remember correctly that you own the Oberwerk "SE"?
And you're preaching to the choir. I stopped buying Chinese glass a while ago. Eben before the inflated hype around the Oberwerk "SE" copycat bino.
Besides, didn't someone else start this thread? So I'm not sure Wobby is much interested in what you buy or don't.

no, don’t own Oberwerks 🤪. I didn’t know there was a choir here on Birdforum, if you would be so kind as to post the link to that sub form I’ll shoot over there 🤪. And how would you know who is interested in what I buy or I don’t, are you the arbiter of who wants to know what I buy or not? 🤔

Non-MiC binos start at around 4 times the price of a Vortex DB if someone doesn't wanna buy Russian binos. Unless buying used that is, which I myself do most of the time. (Are there still new "Made in the Philippines" Kenkos? I read here they closed up shop and moved production completely to China. And Vanguard claimed that they make their own binos - not sure that's true. Kite "Fitis" is also supposedly made in Japan but never found any proper review on it.)

And why would anybody want to buy a Russian binos😵‍💫. Wobbly could always look at new E2’s or even some nice used clean MIJ that pops up all the time here.

But yes, the Meopro is much better. It almost reaches the performance of my Fujinon HC (Fuji is brighter, more color neutral and has less distortion towards the edge). I'd love to have a look through a Meostar however...

I think you should buy one.

 

[Binocollector]

no, don’t own Oberwerks 🤪. I didn’t know there was a choir here on Birdforum, if you would be so kind as to post the link to that sub form I’ll shoot over there 🤪. And how would you know who is interested in what I buy or I don’t, are you the arbiter of who wants to know what I buy or not? 🤔

You addressed me and made it sound like I suggested to you to buy Chinese. While I tried to answer the initial question.
And I'm pretty sure you know what "preaching to the choir" means .

And why would anybody want to buy a Russian binos😵‍💫. Wobbly could always look at new E2’s or even some nice used clean MIJ that pops up all the time here.

I guess Wobby is in Europe since he quoted the price in € so he'd have to add around 50€ shipping, 20% taxes and maybe custom fees.

I think you should buy one.

Maybe but the reports about problems with the focuser made me think twice.

 

[Paultricounty]

You addressed me and made it sound like I suggested to you to buy Chinese. While I tried to answer the initial question.
And I'm pretty sure you know what "preaching to the choir" means .

I guess Wobby is in Europe since he quoted the price in € so he'd have to add around 50€ shipping, 20% taxes and maybe custom fees.

Maybe but the reports about problems with the focuser made me think twice.

Ooops, never mind 🙃. I thought I was replying to wobby. I know your as OCD as me about buying MIC.

And yes I know what a choir is, I actually conduct the choir in my local church of the Latter Day Saints. We worked on Elvis‘s blue suede shoes last Sunday 😛😝✌🏼.

I thought the focusers on the meostars were good. im lucky to have a few retailers that I could try one out. But I think I’d prefer to buy one used considering the discount on the Meopta’s.

 

[Paultricounty]

You addressed me and made it sound like I suggested to you to buy Chinese. While I tried to answer the initial question.
And I'm pretty sure you know what "preaching to the choir" means .

I guess Wobby is in Europe since he quoted the price in € so he'd have to add around 50€ shipping, 20% taxes and maybe custom fees.

Maybe but the reports about problems with the focuser made me think twice.

Hey Phillip, just heads up, nice B1 8x42 on cloudy , sweet price. Could ask seller about focuser.