Racethesunset
WKR
Since the specs were released on the new Razor lineup a few months back, I have thought that I might want to transition from the Swarovski EL 12x50 to the 2013 Vortex Razor HD 12x50 for weight savings. Well after months of waiting for the latter to arrive, I finally had the chance to compare the two yesterday.
Full disclosure: in the past I have used the Swarovski SLC 15x56, EL 12x50, EL 10x42, and Vortex Viper 15x50 for covering open Arizona mountains and hills, and was interested in the new Razor HD for the weight savings (about 7 oz from my current sweetheart, the EL, over a pound from the previous one, the SLC). I compared both handheld and on an Outdoorsmans tripod with pistol grip looking at lower elevation rock outcroppings, shrubs, hills and other things on a sunny afternoon.
The quick summary is that both sets are fine optical specimens that fill a niche market. They both have twelve power magnification coupled with excellent resolution and image quality. Physically, they are well constructed and well balanced, and a stable hand can hand-hold for short periods, although a tripod is recommended.
Initial impressions are as follows (1-10, 10 best):
On axis resolution
EL - 10/10
Razor HD - 9.5/10 expected this to be high, the 10x42 version is very good
Edge to edge clarity
EL - 10/10 best on the market
Razor HD - 9/10 very close
Chromatic abberation control
EL - 9/10 edges only
Razor HD - 8/10 more noticeable
Coloration
EL - 10/10 neutral
Razor HD - 10/10 cool
Eye cups
EL - 8/10 a bit too firm
Razor HD - 9/10 flexible is good!
Focus wheel
EL - 7/10 grainy, a bit slow for hunting
Razor HD - 9/10 quicker, smooth
FOV
EL - 9/10 feels perfect
Razor HD - 6/10 too constrained
And that last one, my friends, is the rub. IMHO, the narrow Razor HD FOV on the 12x50 platform made for a constrained viewing experience. Transitioning back and forth between the two for an hour straight showed the flaw (I would usually call FOV a design characteristic, but as a hunting bino they messed up here). I planned on keeping them for a few months of testing, but I could not get over it. Coupled with the mild level of CA at the edges, the Razor HD view is rather constricted.
Nevertheless, if I did not already have the ELs, they are a BARGAIN at $1300 in terms of pure optical image quality and a multipurpose tool for longer range glassing.
Happy hunting!
Full disclosure: in the past I have used the Swarovski SLC 15x56, EL 12x50, EL 10x42, and Vortex Viper 15x50 for covering open Arizona mountains and hills, and was interested in the new Razor HD for the weight savings (about 7 oz from my current sweetheart, the EL, over a pound from the previous one, the SLC). I compared both handheld and on an Outdoorsmans tripod with pistol grip looking at lower elevation rock outcroppings, shrubs, hills and other things on a sunny afternoon.
The quick summary is that both sets are fine optical specimens that fill a niche market. They both have twelve power magnification coupled with excellent resolution and image quality. Physically, they are well constructed and well balanced, and a stable hand can hand-hold for short periods, although a tripod is recommended.
Initial impressions are as follows (1-10, 10 best):
On axis resolution
EL - 10/10
Razor HD - 9.5/10 expected this to be high, the 10x42 version is very good
Edge to edge clarity
EL - 10/10 best on the market
Razor HD - 9/10 very close
Chromatic abberation control
EL - 9/10 edges only
Razor HD - 8/10 more noticeable
Coloration
EL - 10/10 neutral
Razor HD - 10/10 cool
Eye cups
EL - 8/10 a bit too firm
Razor HD - 9/10 flexible is good!
Focus wheel
EL - 7/10 grainy, a bit slow for hunting
Razor HD - 9/10 quicker, smooth
FOV
EL - 9/10 feels perfect
Razor HD - 6/10 too constrained
And that last one, my friends, is the rub. IMHO, the narrow Razor HD FOV on the 12x50 platform made for a constrained viewing experience. Transitioning back and forth between the two for an hour straight showed the flaw (I would usually call FOV a design characteristic, but as a hunting bino they messed up here). I planned on keeping them for a few months of testing, but I could not get over it. Coupled with the mild level of CA at the edges, the Razor HD view is rather constricted.
Nevertheless, if I did not already have the ELs, they are a BARGAIN at $1300 in terms of pure optical image quality and a multipurpose tool for longer range glassing.
Happy hunting!