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Vortex Razor new release |
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muleymaddness
Optics Apprentice Joined: May/04/2008 Status: Offline Points: 119 |
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Posted: July/30/2016 at 07:43 |
Does anyone have any info on the new release of the Vortex Razor HD spotting scope? I see that they've now updated their website, and beside a color change and heli focus, I wonder what the differences are performance wise? I also noticed the 65mm is 56 ounces compared to the prior model of 49 ounces.
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3_tens
Optics Jedi Master Joined: January/08/2007 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 7853 |
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A guess would be that since Vortex discontinued all of the eyepieces for the old Razor there will be a change in the eyepiece mounting to the point where the old eyepiece will no longer fit. The Razor design allowed the Swarovski eyepiece to fit on the Razor bayonet . There could have been a design infringement complaint from Swarovski. Just a WAG.
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Folks ain't got a sense of humor no more. They don't laugh they just get sore.
Need to follow the rules. Just hard to determine which set of rules to follow Now the rules have changed again. |
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Peddler
Optics God Joined: July/04/2012 Location: Oswego,NY Status: Offline Points: 13526 |
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Probably right on Lile!
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When you are dead, you don't know you are dead.It is difficult only for others.
It is the same when you are stupid. |
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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Wait, I can use Swaro eyepieces on my Razor HD spotter?
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Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn. Equality is something you whine about not being given. |
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SafariDreaming
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/18/2016 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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Not sure if the loss in magnification range is good though - its gone from a 20-60x (3x zoom) to a 27-60x.... If the new eyepiece is a Wide angle, that could be good but otherwise eyepiece wise, the new magnification doesn't appear as useful as the previous one... cheers Jeelan |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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The new eyepiece is indeed wide angle.
I'll have one here on Monday, so I'll know more at that point. ILya |
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SafariDreaming
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/18/2016 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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Ilya,
I'm interested in reading your comments on this one..... Incidentally, for anyone who cares, Zeiss have also brought out a new Spotter - Zeiss Conquest Gavia. Meant to be sit in a lower price brackets to the Victory Diascope range so it might go head to head in terms of price with the Vortex. Historically, Vortex's big advantage has been its price compared with the big 3 European houses and Nikon... If the new Conquest spotter is priced competitively to the Vortex Razor, it'll be interesting to see if this impacts Razor sales. cheers Jeelan |
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JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
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Don't forget the newish meopta meopro spotters. They are fantastic as well, and also in this "getting crowded" $1500 price range. Lot's of good choices nowadays for quality optics.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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The new Vortex spotter dies not have any markings on the country of origin other Thanh saying Assembled in the US.
I took a brief look yesterday and it seems like any exceptionally nice eyepiece. My first impressions of the image are very positive. ILya |
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SafariDreaming
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/18/2016 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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"assembled in the US" is be a big change for Vortex.
Their early Razor scopes (and Razor lineup in general) had a "made in Japan" label which was replaced by "made in china". The latter is what my 85mm Razor has on the foot. cheers Jeelan |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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I asked and the new spotters have components sourced from Japan with assembly done in the US.
My best guess is that the US assembly allows them to have more control of alignment tolerances and other QC factors. ILya
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elkcrazedfrk
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/03/2016 Location: Wyoming Status: Offline Points: 1 |
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Hey. Brand new to the forum. Can anyone say if there is any change to the actual optics between last years model and the brand new model?? I'm looking at getting the 65mm but cant see paying the extra bills for the new design unless there is a change in viewing quality.. thanks a bunch for the input.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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It is a completely new design.
Everything is different. How much better it is, I can not yet say with any certainty, but it looks pretty impressive based on a brief look I have had. I like the new eyepiece. ILya
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m1911
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/05/2016 Location: Maine Status: Offline Points: 48 |
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Earlier this year I bought a Viper Spotting Scope, then sold it to a friend because I don't like the angled style and wanted straight.
I ordered a straight version of the Razor and during shipment found out about the new version. I immediately swapped it out and sent it back the day it arrived. I'm now waiting on this one and looking forward to it..... (I also upgraded to the Carbon-Summit Tripod which is really nice!) |
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m1911
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/05/2016 Location: Maine Status: Offline Points: 48 |
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As a follow up.....and in the sake of full disclosure.....
I don't know much about glass.....but I just purchased a set of Razor Binoculars and think they are really great.....INCLUDING the look & feel. (Kind of wanted them to match ) Plus I have 3 Razor Gen-II Rifle Scopes in 1~6 and 3~18..... |
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m1911
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/05/2016 Location: Maine Status: Offline Points: 48 |
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And another thing....
Despite the fact I bought the new/straight 27~60x85, I really wanted to buy the slimmer, less powerful model in 22~48x65..... Very cool and portable and will cover 90% of my shooting......but got nervous at the last second and bought the larger one. THIS is COOOOOL! |
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m1911
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/05/2016 Location: Maine Status: Offline Points: 48 |
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I pulled the trigger today on the medium Razor 22~48x65 today.....
It was driving me crazy, but I actually think I'll use it more than the larger one. I also bought this car-window mount..... |
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Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
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I know a guy who uses one of those, with a v-yoke gun mount, to shoot coyotes from his truck.
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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.
There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living |
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muleymaddness
Optics Apprentice Joined: May/04/2008 Status: Offline Points: 119 |
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Any updates on reviews on this spotter? Other than weight, it looks pretty good. 56.8 ounces for a 65mm is a bit heavy for hunting applications.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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I have been playing with it for a little bit now and I do not like the soft case that comes with it. It is difficult to use with the helicoid focus wheel. Aside from that, the spotter is absolutely superb. Image quality is outstanding for this price range and the new eyepiece is very well designed. Most wide angle eyepieces out there are of the 35x to 50x variety. This one is a 22x to 48x and while it does not sound like much difference, I like having a little less magnification on the low end. I have a lot of experience with Pentax 65mm spotters and with the original 65mm Razor HD. The new Razor is noticeably better. It goes head to head with 1st tier spotters and, I think, hangs with them pretty well. I have spent a lto of time with Leica APO Televid 65mm with the 25-50x eyepiece. I think the Leica is a bit better above 40x, but below 40x, the Vortex can easily hang with the Leica. I'll be doing a few more comparisons over the next month or two, but for now I am extremely impressed. So much so, that barring something unexpected in a couple of future tests I have planned, I fully expect to buy this spotter from Vortex when I am done. ILya
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