Colors & Contrast Eye-Relief: The extra weight is something that I immediately noticed as I took it out of the box and is confirmed once you take a look at the specifications: As you can see in the table below, at 32.2ozs (913g), this Vortex 10x42 Razor UHD binocular is up there with the heaviest 42mm binoculars currently on the market. The bridge connecting the two cups has a flexible section that enables you to place it onto the eyecups and keep your desired IPD setting, which again is a tiny detail, but something that really annoys me on ones that don't allow you to do this. When comparing the 10x42 UHD to the 12x50 UHD, you get an instant boost of 18.18% in magnification, an increase of 11.42% in weight, a decrease of 18.30% in FOV, but only a 6.45% increase in cost. Weight & Size It is really easy to get carried away with these ultra-impressive stats and optics used on the Vortex Razor UHD and just assume that the resulting image is going to be as equally as good. Branded with the Vortex logo, the ocular lens cover (rain-guard) is typical in its design, but certainly not a simple generic one that I see supplied with many, many binoculars. When it comes to the focus wheel on the Vortex Razor UHD 10x42 binoculars, I would sum it up by stating that it is very good, but not quite at the level that I would describe as being outstanding. As good as this is, I still suggest you invest in an optical lens cleaning kit to ensure that you maintain and properly look after the lenses. Bino Harness / Protective Case However, for most users, the wide view that these 10x42 UHD Razors present you with will be more than sufficient and will be an advantage in many situations, but especially for birding, wildlife, and hunting where it makes it easier for you to quickly locate and then follow your point of interest. One comment I have here is that perhaps the case could have been just a little deeper as once you have extended the eyecups on your binoculars, the lid does sit quite high up. Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42 and Vortex Razor UHD 10x42. Extreme terrain. Below is a link that will take you to a page with online retailers in both the US and UK that sell Vortex 10x42 Razor UHD Binoculars this page makes it easy to compare prices and then to buy from your preferred option: Contact Me | About Best Binoculars | Privacy | Sitemap |    Copyright © 2021 Best Binocular Reviews | Do You Want to Review Binoculars & Write for BBR? The Vortex Razor UHD 10x42 Binoculars are a big step up from their older HD siblings. 8ee9cdad-6733-4f96-9acb-310c44ec5fa0 At this year's Birdfair, Vortex took a big step closer towards the high end of the optics market with the launch of a new model: the Razor UHD. This is not quite as secure as a fully zipped closure, but makes accessing your instrument much easier and quicker and is something that I personally really like. Indeed, it is so good I plan to write its own review! As is the norm, you are also supplied with a 'lens cloth'. I seriously like the included bino harness. Enter the Razor UHD. Single Top Hinge As with the predecessor, the new Vortex Razor UHD binoculars have a very hard and relatively thin rubber coating. Whist this additional piece of glass in each lens is certainly one of the contributors to the instrument being both heavier and longer than average, the advantage is that instead of just two, an APO lens is able to focus three wavelengths of light onto a single point and thus are able to better reduce chromatic and spherical aberrations for a higher definition image. Vortex 10x42 Razor UHD Binoculars Whilst I think Swarovski may have made some very minor changes, the 2020 version is still essentially the same as the pair that I tested and then went on to win the BBR best binocular award back in 2015 which is a good thing as they were and still are excellent: Image Definition, Distortions & Blurring Larger ocular lenses potentially offer a number of advantages to the user, which I go through in this article on ocular lens sizes, but one of the most important is that it makes it easier for you to line up your eyes with them and thus there is less chance of you getting dark rings forming on the edges of the view. On the negative side and one of the main reasons that more binoculars don't use the Abbe Koenig design is that the shape is much longer and the prism is heavier and thus you end up with a longer, less compact instrument, which as we have already spoken about is exactly the case with these. As well as this, the air inside the chassis is replaced with Argon gas which is completely moistureless and thus inhibits internal fogging on the lens surfaces. Inter-Pupillary Distance (IPD) Adjustment Another thing that I instantly noticed and which is once again confirmed by the stats is that this Vortex Razor UHD is a little longer than your average 42mm binocular. If you are like me and often carry your binoculars one-handed without the use of the neck strap or harness, then this seemingly insignificant detail can actually be quite important. On the rear of the case, there are four quick-release clips that you use to fix the harness onto. When I first learned that Vortex was bringing out a newer "improved" version of their Razor, I was a little concerned that the changes would be largely cosmetic and that going from HD (High Definition) to UHD (Ultra High Definition) was just a marketing ploy and the optics would be no different. Also important is the fact that this armor jacket fits very tightly onto the chassis underneath and so there is no chance of it slipping or moving about, which is something that really annoys me on some lesser quality instruments. In fact, before receiving the sample that I used for this review, I did a lot of research into the differences and potential improvements between the Razor HD and these new Razor UHDs, which I go through in detail in my article and video on the 4 Things You Must Know Before You Buy the New Vortex Razor UHD Binoculars. Sometimes when I get to the end of a review, I struggle to fill out this section as some binoculars can feel very "samey" and thus whilst they may be good, they sometimes don't have that something extra that makes them stand out above others. As I have mentioned, the use of Abbe Koenig prisms means that these binoculars do not need mirror coatings on their prisms, but to ensure the highest definition image as possible, they do still require coatings to eliminate something known as phase shift where the individual wavelengths of light step out of phase with each other as the light gets bounced around the prism. The padded section is also slightly curved to better fit the shape of your neck and shoulders and I like that on the underside, the neoprene material has been left exposed as this provides a little extra grip and thus reduces the amount that the strap will slide about around your neck. Enter the Razor UHD. These Vortex 10x42 Razor UHD binoculars are Fully Multi-Coated, meaning all lens surfaces throughout the entire system are multi-layer coated which is what you want to see when choosing which instrument to buy. However, this is not always the case as it still takes a great level of expertise to bring it all together and get the best out of all the components so that they function well as a unit. Whilst I would not recommend it as the primary use, the excellent minimum focus makes them suitable the occasional observation of things like, Focus from Near to Far, focus wheel rotates: 1050°. Right off the bat, and just by looking at it, you can tell that the protective case is well made and that a whole lot of thought has gone into the design. Specifications for Vortex Razor UHD 10x42mm Roof Prism Binoculars: Color: Green: Magnification: 10 x: Objective Lens Diameter: 42 mm: Prism System: Abbe-Koenig: Image Stabilizer: No: Eye Relief: 16.7 mm: Exit Pupil: 4.2 mm: Field of View, Linear: 346 ft at 1000 yds: Field of … Focus Wheel Positioned in the normal spot just below the eyecup on the right eyepiece it turns nice and easily, which on most binoculars would be an issue as once you have set up your binoculars, it is only rarely that you want its position changed and thus accidental movement is undesired. Vortex Razor HD binoculars feature a field of view of 388 feet at 1000 yards on the 8x model and 362 feet on the 10x version. It is well padded and has a zip closure. In the case of the Razor UHD, Vortex Optics decided to aim for the best possible image quality and product robustness with the compromise being added weight. I also like that far from being generic and designed to fit and be used with almost any bino on the market, the ones that you get with this instrument are branded with the Vortex logo, once again making them add to the overall look of the binocular in a more positive way than most. This means that Vortex has been able to place the centers of the objective lenses a little further apart than the centers of the ocular lenses and whilst this amount is not as obvious as that on a typical Porro prism binocular, it still offers a slightly better stereoscopic effect for improved depth perception. Optical Stats Score for a 10x42 binocular: 10/10. Indeed as you can see from the photo below, they are substantially longer than the HD version or the Razor. This remained true even under extremes, like when I studied the edges of a black telephone wire lit up against a bright blue sky in the background. Weight Rain-Guard The advantage of this is that it makes fine tuning the focus to get your image 100% sharp that much easier, which is something I definitely noticed when using these Vortex Razor UHD binoculars. Enter the Razor UHD. Below are similar pairs of Binoculars that you may also want to have a look at: Multipurpose Swarovski binoculars optimized for wildlife observation, the SLC incorporates a more traditional look with state of the art materials... General Price Range: (6/6) Expensive Binoculars. These Vortex 10x42 Razor UHD binoculars are advertised as being fully waterproof. Javascript seems to be disabled in your browser.You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Whether you need to pick apart a densely packed hillside, or observe the finest details at insanely close distances, the Razor UHD can do it all! Watch this space! This new binocular effectively combines the base specifications of the HD (reviewed in Birdwatch 273: 70-71) with an updated design, geared to significantly improve optical … This fine pattern also makes the surface less reflective than a smooth one and thus in a small way adds to the camouflaging, which for some uses where you need to remain hidden like hunting and security purposes can be important. I would also add that the image on my sample was nice and flat, remained sharp and in focus from the center, all the way to the edge of the view and lacked any sort of unwanted curvature or distortions. Indeed, even after visiting the Vortex Optics website and taking a close look at the features and specifications, I was even more worried as they were very vague about what UHD actually meant. (for more: How To Use Binoculars With Glasses: Eye-relief & Eye-cups Explained). However should you need even more personalization in getting the eye-relief exactly right for your needs, I found that there was just about enough resistance of movement to enable me to position the cups at any point along the helicoidal pathway and have them stay there even after firmly pressing them against my face. However, for the majority of users, this will be a non-issue as those who don't use glasses will usually have them in the fully extended position, whilst eyeglass users will probably have them completely twisted down. Indeed the elasticated lid ensures that all movement is kept to a minimum. © 2020 commercebuild. Every pair of these Binoculars developed by Vortex is crafted with a rugged yet lightweight magnesium chassis complete with an O-ring seal and Argon gas purging for a complete waterproof and fogproof experience. Body Stats Score (for a 42mm binocular): 7/10. It may seem a little strange to some to describe a binocular at this price level as being good value, but If you are looking for an alpha level binocular, then when compared to many of their direct competitors, I do feel that in this context, these Vortex Razor UHD 10x42 Binoculars offer good value for money. Thats $300 less than the SLC’s at $1799. Vortex Razor UHD Binoculars $ 2,199.00 – $ 2,379.00. Close Focus Indeed it is as good as many standalone versions that cost a whole lot of money to buy as an extra. These are described as being multi-coated or fully coated and whilst better than nothing, at this level, it would be unacceptable. New for 2019 the Vortex Razor UHD Binoculars are Vortex’s entry into the elite glass arena. Making it one of the widest views I have ever used on a 10x42 binocular and this is something that you can appreciate when you compare them against an average alternative and even competes with some 8x42 binoculars. There are also details on how to attach the accessories as well as cleaning the instrument. Therefore, in terms of image brightness, I rate this Vortex Razor UHD as superb and in my opinion as good as it gets for a 10x42 binocular. To help me with my assessments and to be as consistent as possible, I tested these against my mid and very high-level benchmark 10x42 binoculars on a number of occasions in varying levels: Image Brightness Although here a little more resistance would have been better. When you compare that to prices in the Western Europe or in the USA it might seem a kind of a bargain – in these countries the Razor UHD 10x42 costs you about 2000 USD (equivalent of about 8000-9000 PLN). FREE SHIPPING on Over 250,000 Products. I say this his is because as well as the usual assortment of lens covers, cleaning cloth and neck strap, the protective case comes with a strap that converts it to a fully covered bino harness. This amount of turning is far more than what I need to do on the majority of binoculars I test (average is about 1½ turns). Before receiving them, I was in no doubt that any binocular designed to supersede the Razor HD (one of my all-time favorites) was going to be something a little special, but I did have my reservations and did wonder if they were just going to be on the same level and that these 'improvements' were more about marketing hype than actual real-world improvements. Considering the level of brightness, I also found that contrast between dark and light areas in the image to also be excellent. Metal is not only more robust, but certainly is part of the reason why the twisting mechanism on my sample so smooth and lacked any free play or looseness. All rights reserved. Shop Vortex Razor UHD 10x42mm Roof Prism Binoculars | 30% Off 5 Star Rating on 1 Review for Vortex Razor UHD 10x42mm Roof Prism Binoculars + Free Shipping over $49. Vortex Razor UHD 10x42 Binoculars VT-RZB-3102. Another small, but nice feature/advantage of Abbe Koenig roof prisms is unlike Schmidt Pechan prisms where the light exits exactly in-line with the entry path, it is possible to have the light exit offset slightly to the path of entry. Speaking of which, this Vortex Razor UHD 10x42 binocular has an IPD (Inter-Pupillary Distance) range of 5.6cm, up to 7.6cm with the hinge fully open, which is pretty conventional for a 42mm roof prism binocular. Note: To see exactly how these performed, take a look at the Image Quality Section Below. This is not a big deal, but it does to me look like it may have been designed for a more conventional 42mm binocular that is a little shorter than the Razor UHD. Colors & Contrast Whilst these Vortex binoculars deliver an extremely bright image, it is not at all washed out which can sometimes be the case. The Vortex Razor HD series was launched on the market in 2012 and not so long ago it represented the high-end, flagship line of that American producer.