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Vortex Viper HD 8x42 Review

This model offers some of the best clarity and brightness you can get from a binocular without a quadruple-digit price tag
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Vortex Viper HD 8x42 Review (Light transmission can make all the difference when cloud cover rolls in, or the sun is about to drop behind the...)
Light transmission can make all the difference when cloud cover rolls in, or the sun is about to drop behind the horizon.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $720 List
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Manufacturer:   Vortex
By Benjamin Hickok and Jessica Riconscente  ⋅  May 3, 2024
73
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#5 of 16
  • Clarity - 35% 7.5
  • Brightness - 20% 8.9
  • Comfort - 15% 5.6
  • Field of View - 10% 9.0
  • Ease of Adjustment - 15% 4.5
  • Close Focus Range - 5% 8.7

Our Verdict

If you're looking for the best binoculars for less than a grand, the Vortex Viper HD 8x42 should be at the top of your shortlist. These binoculars strike a great balance between price and performance. In fact, they aren't that big of a step down in quality from the multi-thousand dollar pairs we tested. With a favorable magnification that produces vivid, bright images and a wide field of view, these bins offer the kind of performance you need for all-day nature walks and birding festivals. If you're serious about birding or wildlife viewing, these binoculars are well worth the money.
REASONS TO BUY
Very clear and bright
Comfortable
High-quality construction
REASONS TO AVOID
A bit heavy for the backcountry
High tension on focus knob
Editor's Note: The Vortex Viper HD 8x42 was retested on December 22nd, 2023, to include updated testing data and product information.

Compare to Similar Products

 
vortex viper hd 8x42
Awards Editors' Choice Award
Best Binoculars for Most People
Editors' Choice Award
Also Great
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Best Buy Award
Best on a Tight Budget
Best Buy Award
Best Travel Binoculars on a Budget
Price $720 List
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$320 List
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line Gets close to the quality of multi-thousand dollar high-end bins at a much lower priceA great pair of binos for its mid-tier price rangeOne of the best overall values on the market, particularly for mid-range price shoppersA great choice for birders on a tight budgetDecent clarity and compactness make these a good budget option for traveling, backpacking and hiking
Rating Categories Vortex Viper HD 8x42 Nikon Monarch M7 10x42 Vortex Diamondback... Celestron Nature DX... Nikon Trailblazer A...
Clarity (35%)
7.5
7.8
6.2
5.8
5.0
Brightness (20%)
8.9
7.2
8.1
7.4
3.5
Comfort (15%)
5.6
5.6
6.6
5.4
7.9
Field of View (10%)
9.0
6.1
8.4
6.8
5.2
Ease of Adjustment (15%)
4.5
8.5
7.1
6.6
4.4
Close Focus Range (5%)
8.7
8.8
8.9
7.5
8.3
Specs Vortex Viper HD 8x42 Nikon Monarch M7 10x42 Vortex Diamondback... Celestron Nature DX... Nikon Trailblazer A...
Measured Weight 25.4 oz 25.5 oz 23.1 oz 22.8 oz 10.5 oz
Measured Interpupillary Distance Range 56mm - 74mm 57mm - 74mm 56mm - 75mm 57mm -74mm 38mm -75mm
Measured Size 5.7" x 4.3" 5.8" x 4.5" 5.7" x 5.1" 5.4" x 4.5" 2.7" x 4.1"
Measured Close Focus 6.0 ft 5.8 ft 5.5 ft 8.0 ft 6.6 ft
Measured Eye Relief 18.0 mm 17.0 mm 18.0 mm 18.0 mm 10.5 mm
Glass Type HD ED HD BAK-4 Eco-Glass
Magnification 8 10 8 8 10
Objective Lens Size 42 42 42 42 25
Claimed Field of View 409 ft 362 ft 393 ft 388 ft 342 ft
Claimed Close Focus 6.0 ft 8.2 ft 5.0 ft 6.5 ft 11.5 ft
Claimed Eye Relief 18 mm 16.5 mm 17 mm 17.5 mm 10 mm
Waterproof/Fog Resistant Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Tripod Adapter Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Measured Lux Reading from Brightness Testing 1288 lux 1064 lux 1163 lux 823 lux 237 lux

Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison


vortex viper hd 8x42 - for those needing a more approachable pair of binos, the vortex...
For those needing a more approachable pair of binos, the Vortex Viper HD deserves everyone's consideration.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Clarity


The Vortex Viper HD 8x42's high-definition glass really shines when it comes to clarity. For this very important metric, we viewed signs and objects through the lens of each pair of binoculars to see how well we could make out the images.


This pair of binos provides a nearly crystal clear view. In fact, the Viper is nearly as good as some of the multi-thousand-dollar models we tested, which is an exceptional benchmark for its tier of optics. Only one other similarly priced model was able to provide almost as clear of a viewing experience.

vortex viper hd 8x42 - great clarity from the vortex vipers.
Great clarity from the Vortex Vipers.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente

Viewing an ISO 1233 chart designed for measuring sharpness, the Vortex Viper HD 8x42's provided exceptional clarity, and in our observations our team only noted very slight chromatic aberration, mostly near the top edge in the form of a magenta hue.

These binos provide a bright and clear viewing experience, even as the the sun begins to set.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Brightness


Our brightness testing is based on observed brightness, measured brightness, and exit pupil size. The Vortex Viper HD 8x42 did exceptionally well in these tests.


The Vortex Viper HD 8x42 has high-density glass, and the lenses are multi-coated with what Vortex calls their XR anti-reflective coating, which helps to reduce the scattering of light inside the binoculars. Vortex also incorporates a phase correction coating on the roof prism in combination with a dielectric coating. The result is a bright and clear viewing experience with great color accuracy and contrast. Only two multi-thousand dollar models with the same size objective lenses were able to gather and transmit more light than the Vipers.

We observed and measured brightness to confirm just how great the light transmission is with this pair of binoculars.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The exceptional light transmission achieved by this model should help hunters watch their quarry as they bed down in the evening light, and help acquire targets in the early morning light. Or it will give the nature watcher, or birder, the edge to achieve a more enjoyable viewing experience as the sun rises and sets without spending thousands.

Comfort


Eye strain, shaking hands, and poor ergonomics can really detract from field use and nature viewing enjoyment, so we scored comfort across a few different features of each model in our product lineup. We specifically took a look at the ergonomic grip of each model, as well as eye cup comfort, and an included neck strap.


Across the board, Vortex binos are about average with regard to comfort, but this is due to the fact that we are comparing them to other compact and travel binoculars that are so light they're hard to compete alongside. In the land of full-size products, the Vipers behave similarly to other aspects of our testing, where they sit between the low-quality and higher-priced pairs in our lineup. They come in at a measured weight of 25.4 ounces, which doesn't help escape the ergonomics of viewing, but aren't as heavy as other serious contenders. It does have a great feel in hand, aided by a texturized rubber coating, ensuring you'll never lose your grip.

vortex viper hd 8x42 - vortex offers some of the most comfortable optics we've tested...
Vortex offers some of the most comfortable optics we've tested, including ergonomic neck straps.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Soft and flexible rubber eyecups make it easy to maintain the measured 18 millimeters of eye relief and make the Viper a comfortable pair of binos to look through for long periods. We also recognized how easy and comfortable this model is to use for those with glasses.

The included neck strap has a soft, stretchy rubber section that goes around your neck and distributes the weight nicely, and makes resting the binos on your neck while not in use much more tolerable than most other models.

Field of View


We measured the field of view using a standard vertical fence with boards at a fixed distance in order to create a realistic, tangible, and repeatable test, as different manufacturers seem to play by their own rules, and our endeavor at GearLab is to capture objective test data and present honest metrics to our readers.


The Viper Vortex HD 8x42 surpassed the competition, including other more expensive models. We were able to clearly see and count 64.5 fence boards, which is nearly twenty percent better than the average for the test group of 54.1 fence boards. Our team really enjoyed the wide field of view on this model, as it makes finding objects an easier task. Hunters, bird-watchers, and nature lovers of all kinds will also appreciate how easy it is to spot game on the move as it creeps in and out of the brush and shadows of a tree line or a bird in the densely obstructed canopy of a tree top.

vortex viper hd 8x42 - testing the vortex viper hd 8x42 against binoculars over four times...
Testing the Vortex Viper HD 8x42 against binoculars over four times its retail price.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Adjustment


The Vortex Viper HD 8x42 has one large central hinge to adjust the interpupillary distance. The hinge moves smoothly and easily, like on other top-scoring binoculars.


The diopter on the Vortex Viper HD is located on the right lens and is operated by pulling up on the diopter to adjust it. While in the down position, the diopter is locked in place. It was easy to adjust the first time with no stiffness. The locking diopter is not present on all of the binoculars we tested, especially cheaper ones, so it's nice to see it executed well in a relatively approachable pair.

A great full-sized pair of binoculars at a price point that won't have you spending thousands.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Close Focus Range


We tested the close focus range of the Viper at 6 feet, which is spot on with the manufacturer's claimed focus range but also on the better side of the average recorded for the entire test group. In day-to-day use, it's very unlikely you're going to want to focus on anything closer than a few arm lengths unless you're lucky enough to have a butterfly land on your shoe or a hummingbird hover near you.


The Vipers earned a great deal of respect amongst our testers.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Should You Buy the Vortex Viper HD 8x42?


You can easily spend multiple paychecks on a premium pair of binoculars, and they'll likely look fantastic. However, the Vortex Viper HD 8x42 earned a top spot for offering an experience similar to those very high-priced models at a fraction of the price. Yes, that fraction is still a relatively large number, but if you're looking for high-quality optics, we think you will not only be very pleased but recognize, as we have, that the Viper HD offers buyers one of the best values available on the market today.

vortex viper hd 8x42 - the viper hd is worth your consideration before spending thousands...
The Viper HD is worth your consideration before spending thousands on a more premium pair.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

What Other Binoculars Should You Consider?


Though we love the Vortex Viper, we understand that it's still outside of some budgets. For a slightly less expensive but still impressive pair of binoculars, check out the Nikon Monarch M7 10x42. These are nearly equal in overall performance and have exceptional ease of adjustment at an approachable price. At around half a grand, the Monarch M7s may not be for the budget user. For that, Vortex offers its next tier down from the Vipers in the Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42, which also uses Vortex's HD glass but costs less than half the price of the Viper. If you like the superior ergonomics of the Vortex line of products we tested, then the Diamondback HD deserves your serious consideration.

Benjamin Hickok and Jessica Riconscente