Originally Posted by
Nomercy448
That's not to say there's anything particularly wrong with the Diamondback, although I think the Vortex fad has nearly ran its course. Nothing makes the VDB any better than many other options in its price class. They used to be a bit cheaper, and they were new, and a lot of guys lied in reviews saying they were as high quality as their Leupolds (maybe on par with the VX-1's or Rifleman's), so a bunch got sold. Check classified listings for optics, you'll find tons of Vortex's on the list. Nothing bad, but there's nothing particularly great either.
I have a Viper and a couple of comparably priced Nikons, and guess what? To my eye, they are very similar. I think Vortex puts out a good product, and I would buy another one in the future. But you're right in that, if they were superior, they'd be worth more and cost more. (actually, I'd give a slight edge to the Viper, but it did cost a little more than the Nikons, as I remember).