Vortex Raptor 8.5x32

We needed binoculars that were light because they had to go on the plane and waterproof because we were going to the rainforest. The binoculars helped us see the entire "Borneo Big Five" (and much more) and survived a few heavy rain showers as well.

The Vortex Raptor amazes me in terms of image quality. The edge sharpness is good, image is clear and light; something that amazes me for this purchase price. The points why I still call this viewer an 'entrance level' viewer: The focus wheel is difficult to operate with 1 finger, partly because of the fine structure in the rubber around the wheel, but also because of how stiff the wheel runs (the Crossfire has a much finer and more sensitive focus wheel). In my experience, I cannot use the hand with which I focus to hold the viewer, but must release it to operate the focus wheel. This ensures that when focusing I am not stable enough to keep my object central in the image and you focus a lot when you have a moving object in the frame, such as birdwatching. There is also a big difference in the finish of the viewer compared to its much bigger brother (the diamondback). Some rubber parts do not fit 100 percent and the casting seams with the mold can still be seen in the 'framework'. Has no effect at all on how the viewer is through the binoculars and is only a minor detail when you keep in mind that these binoculars are so cheap.

Finally a pair of binoculars that I like. This was my third order, having previously returned two products (the Barr & Stroud 10x42 and the Bushnell H20 8x42). I sometimes wear glasses, but most of the time I don't. When looking without glasses through the other two binoculars, I quickly suffered from black spots on the side (the so-called kidney bean effect), even with fully extended eyepieces. I had to hold the binoculars further from my eyes, but then you get light from the side. I don't have that problem with the Vortex Raptor. I can look easily with glasses (eyepieces turned in) and without glasses (eyepieces turned out) without being bothered by black spots. The image is clear and the quality feels solid. The binoculars have good protective caps and can withstand rain. In addition, the weight is positive, with less than 500 grams. I'm not quite sure why I can look at the Vortex Raptor so easily compared to the other two. (When you search the internet for "binoculars for people without glasses" only results come up for people with glasses, so that didn't help.) Maybe it's because it's a Porro binoculars instead of a Roof? In any case, the Vortex seems less sensitive to the precise positioning of the eyes, both left and right, and in terms of eye relief. In short, I'm happy to have finally found this one, and at a good price!