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Vortex Raptor 6.5X - Awsome!!

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Acenturian View Drop Down
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    Posted: May/27/2010 at 11:55

Vortex Raptor 6.5x32.….Tested these binoculars out along with the Zen Ray 10x43 Ed2.…while I was impressed with the Zen Ray (see other post) both my friend and I were totally amazed by the little Vortex.

Ok, to test them side by side against the Zen Ray, Swarovski SLC, Swift Audubon’s, Zeiss FL’s and Zeiss Classics (other comparison post) would not be a real fair comparison for starters the others were all 10x (except Swifts 8.5X) compared to the 6.5 all were at least 40mm objective to the 32.

However, we did do a comparison to the 6x30 Leupold Yosemite. Now last year when my friend asked what to get his young son whom just had started hunting with dad, I said the Leupold Yosemite. When the bino came in we were pretty impressed for being under $100.

A complaint to the Leupold is that they are small, actually too small for a full size grown up to handle comfortably. In all defense to the Golden Ring boys the binocular was actually marketed as a quality kids binocular.

The Vortex is a bit taller hand has longer “barrels” to hold on to. They are still plenty small but just long enough for an adult to comfortably hold and hold steady.

Glass…the oh so most important part of the binocular. The Leupold Yosemite is listed as “multi-coated” while the Vortex is “Fully Multi-Coated”. Both my friend and I could really see a difference. Not that the Yosemite is bad but the Vortex is better - considerably. This was very evident when the sun started going down. Maybe the 32mm compared to the 30mm objectives, but the Vortex is .5 power more so I’d think that would off set the objective size to power ratio. I think it’s the fact that the Vortex has better coatings.

I am not about to trade in my full size hunting binoculars to carry a small set of 6.5 Vortex for general hunting applications. Where I hunt is usually steep, big deep canyons , large tall timber with some rolling oaks thrown about. For rifle season where I need to see great distances to put a stalk on deer or whatever I like my 10x Swaro’s BUT for archery season where things get up close and personal the little Vortex are amazing.

We took to looking across the property to some mountain fields approximately ½ mile or more away. While they Vortex are amazing they are no substitute for a good spotting scope or higher powered binocular but I would still say that glass is clear enough that you could make out deer from that far away even those little Blacktails out here. Seeing horns would be a stretch and pushing it at 6.5 x But for what they are designed for = closer ranges they are great.

So in conclusion , yes the Vortex Raptor will be going with me during archery season as well as riding in my truck as just a very handy little binocular with fantastic glass. At the $119.00 price I may even add a pair to my duty bag for work.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/27/2010 at 11:59
Great review.  Thanks
"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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