Vortex Optics

[eatsleephunt]

Anybody had any experience with Vortex/Vortec, etc... How do they compare to Swarovskis of the same caliber?

[edooley]

I own a pair of the Sidewinders 10x42...I compared them to a friends pair of 10x42 Zeiss and honestly I liked my Sidewinders MUCH better. Greater F.O.V. and much brighter. Too boot about $600 cheaper... I highly recommend Vortex Binos.

[Cossack17]

With the Swarovski they have the only one thing in common-green color, so I do not understand why this two products shoud be compared. 10x40 Saidwinders retailed for about $190.00. They cannot be competing with the big three (Leica, Swarovski and Zeiss). Docter (former Zeiss Jena) and high end Nikons might be getting closer to the Swarovski , but not quite yet

[PABowhntr]

In some sense I tend to agree with Cossack17. The binoculars from each manufacturer are geared towards entirely different price brackets. All of Vortex products are in the mid to low price range while you will not find a new Swarovski for less than $1000 (full to mid sized bin). Vortex makes some very fine binoculars for their respective price ranges. It would be foolish not to consider one of their models if you are looking for a bin under $700. I have owned both their Vipers and their Razors and both offered excellent quality...optically and mechanically...for the price. I would compare the Razors directly with other bins in their price class....Meopta Meostars, Zeiss Conquest ABK, Pentax ED, etc....

[Cossack17]

Also it is important to know that Razors glass (possible Stoke's glass too) is made in ***an, while the rest of Vortex optic is manufactured in China. That is why there is such a price gap in Vortex binos of the same caliber(Crossfire 8x42-$140.00 vs Stokes 8x42-$750.00). I can not recall of anything from big three with such a price gap (400%) on the same caliber of glass