Vortex Viper HD 8x32 Binocular

These have really clear optics. It feels really nice and solid in the hands. Very wide field of view and good eye relief. I mainly use these for hiking, wildlife and outdoor events. I also own the viper 8x28, monarch 5 8x42. If you're looking for a really nice mid-priced binocular that's not too big with awesome optics, pick these up!!

I have been spending more time looking at sparrows, chickadees, flickers and other small to medium size birds in the little bit of brush we have in this part of Idaho and I got to wanting a wider field of view. I am addicted to the x32 design and the Viper seemed to fit what I wanted. On my way to this purchase, I looked at the Nikon 8x32 se porro, the Zeiss Conquest HD 8x42 and a friend’s Zeiss Victory 8x32. I am pleased to report that the Viper HD holds its own with this group. The Nikon had better depth of field, the Conquest HD had a bit sharper and brighter view through the center of the field but was hard to get the proper eye placement and the Victory was simply superior but beyond what I wished to spend. Here’s what the little viper offers: a good field of view – 400 feet at 1000 yards, that view is bright and sharp, a locking diopter, the focus wheel is smooth and has just enough tension to it – not too fast, 3 foot close focus – for those who like a detailed view of butterflies and flora, strap attachments that are close to the ocular lens and do not deprive the user of the space needed to get a comfortable grip, adjustable eye pieces and accessories that work. I hunted for chromatic aberration but so far have not been able to identify anything that stands out. Along with the Diamondback, the Viper HD series is a great product by virtue of the sum of its parts. There are some cons – eye placement is finicky but not as troublesome as the Zeiss products. Field is not flat – by that I mean that there is a gradual darkening effect the closer you get the edge of the view. The Viper is not as clear as the Conquest HD and there is a drop off when compared to the Victory. But it is oh so very close. I see the cons as positive points - compared to how close the Viper HD is to the porro prism Nikon (remember the Viper is rain and fog proof), and Zeiss products indicates what a value it is when you see the asking price. My Zeiss 10x32 Victory stays home these days. I can’t think of any higher praise. Four and a half stars.

I am so happy to have found Eagle Optics which has such good information on product and excellent reviewers ~ which led me to buy the VV HD 8x32 ~ perfect for my needs, terrific in my small hands, wonderful instrument.

I purchased a pair of these a few months back as a backup pair to keep in my car. I own Swarovski's as my main birding binoculars. I must say that these have now pretty much become my main binoculars. They are just about as sharp as the Swarovski's, lighter to hold, built better in that the lens covers stay on and they have a better warranty at a quarter of the price. Swarovski just can't seem to understand you need to move the front bridge back a quarter of an inch so the lens caps don't keep falling off which becomes annoying after a while and they are expensive to replace. If you lose a Vortex cap, they will send you one for free! The focus wheel is much faster from end to end. They are a pleasure to use. I only wish Vortex would offer the 8x32 model in the Razor line.

I purchased the Vortex Viper HD 8x32 binoculars for birding and after two weeks of use I am very pleased with them . They have a great feel to them and are extremely well made. love the locking diopter and the focusing wheel is buttery smooth. Brightness, image clarity and detail are superb. I had the good fortune of comparing these against Leica, Zeiss and Swarovski and the difference is slight. The Vipers are darn close in every area and when you consider the price the Vipers are a steal. I own several binoculars with 42 mm objective lens and the 32's with the HD will hold there own in all but VERY low light. I LOVE these binoculars and I thank Eagle Optics for their excellent service and fast shipping...

I bought these for my wife having already bought myself the Vortex Diamondback. The Vipers are slightly, though noticeably, brighter with a corresponding slight increase in resolution, that is to say, I wish they were mine. Are they worth more than twice the price of the Diamondbacks? I think so but, for the budget minded, the Diamondbacks are nearly as good. By the way, the first pair I received had a problem with the focusing knob. Eagle Optics sent me a new pair overnight. I wish all companies had such good service.

I recently purchased a pair of 8x32 Viper HDs. Optically, I found them to be exceptionally clear and bright. In the woods and on cloudy days, image quality is simply luxurious. There is just a bit of flare in bright conditions, but I haven't found a pair that don't flare a little in sunlight. I love the feel of 8x32s, and I haven't found many pairs that fit my long, narrow face like this. I love the locking diopter, and love the fact that it takes more than a full turn from one focus extreme to the other, which allows for easy fine focusing. I can't bring myself to spend four figures on euro-glass, and in my opinion, there is just no need to. They perform as well as the euros to my eye. I exchanged these for a pair of Viper HD 8x42s for a little more versatility, and since I have a decent pair of 8x32s already. I still like to hold the 8x32s better, and if I could justify both Vipers, I'd have kept them.

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.