Vortex Viper HD 8x32 Binocular

I am extremely pleased with my recent purchase of the Vortex Viper HD 8x32s. I previously had the non-HD version and also a set of Zen-Ray ED3 8x43s. I really enjoyed both of those, but ended up selling them to purchase the newer HD version of the Viper 8x32s. Compared to both the Zen-Rays and the non-HD Vipers, the Viper HDs had a noticeably larger sweet spot. I was able to directly compare with the Zens before I sold them, and I could not discern any difference in sharpness or resolution in a brief test (both excellent, to my eyes--breathtaking clarity). I definitely like the small size, light weight, and obvious quality of the Viper HDs. I have found that I prefer the handling of the 8x32 Vipers (both HD and non-HD, since they were identical externally, as far as I could tell) to the much larger Zen-Ray 8x43s. My narrow IPD meant that the double hinge design of the Zens didn't give me room to wrap my hands around the barrels, negating the ergonomic advantage. I am much more likely to pick up a smaller, lighter set of bins and actually take them with me. The 8x32 size seems to be an excellent size compromise--I should also mention that my eyes could not tell a difference in brightness between the Zens and the non-HD Vipers, even in very low light conditions. Thanks also to Eagle Optics for super-fast shipping!

Online they appear almost olive drab in color, but they are more of a forest green. Overall, they're nice binoculars. The image clarity appears true to life. The Vortex warranty is fantastic. There are other excellent binos out there, but these are perfect for my uses. I would definitely buy them again.