INITIAL IMPRESSION & COMPARISON
I would like to start off by stating that A: I have never been a big fan of Vortex, and B: I have extensively used both the Athlon Ares gen 2, and the Maven CS1 over the last few years. Uses ranging from 9k feet in the mountains, to prairie land, and everything inbetween.
Both the Athlon and Maven have been good for overall footprint, weight, and optical performance, especially at a budget price - but do they hang with the new Razor?
Objectively, no. They do not.
I do not have quantifiable data, tests, or a spec sheet to support this - but I believe the Razor is flat out better and on a higher tier than both. Picking apart mountains ranging from a few hundred yards to five miles solidified my first impression within an about a minute. This 28.6oz spotter is shockingly crisp, with what I consider great edge to edge clarity - especially considering its price point and comparative to the aforementioned spotters. Color was surprisingly neutral with no noticeable hue. Overall build quality is great with a smooth but slightly squishy focus wheel and good locking eyecup system. Body seems sturdy, and I do not fear this spotter taking a spill on the mountain. I am thoroughly impressed, and quite frankly eating my assumptions prior to receiving the optic.
I believe Vortex knocked the ball out of the park with this package. With a 1299 msrp and a street price of 1000 or less - this is a no brainer for the compact market and those wanting to save weight and money without compromising much performance. I’d confidently put this against the likes of the Kowa 553 and above both the Maven and Athlon. Easily.