Optics are on the short list of most important pieces of equipment for the hunter. The most useful of these optics is the binocular. Vortex Optics has a wide range of hunting binoculars which is organizes by various product lines. Their Diamondback line is touted as being adequate quality for serious hunters while remaining affordable for the everyman. The most popular iteration of their Diamondback binocular is the 10×42 model. Having hunted with the Vortex Diamondback 10×42 for four seasons, I decided to write this article to share my thoughts on the optic.
Optical Quality
When it comes to the world of optics, binoculars are similar to cars. Prices range from affordable to absurd. Just the same as a $400,000 dollar Lamborghini doesn’t offer fourteen times the performance as a Honda Civic, optics also follow the law of diminishing returns. That is to say that a $5000 dollar binocular is not necessarily twice as good at a $2500 dollar pair. Thus, the focus of analyzing the optical clarity of a binocular is whether or not there is a significant increase in effectiveness by moving up in price.
I found the clarity of the Vortex Diamondback to be acceptable in real world use. I was able to spot mountain goats from several kilometers away up in the alpine, and to make out the tiny antlers on this small spike in a clear cut through wet glass from 200 yards. While glass clarity is not comparable to a higher end Zeiss, Leica, or Swarovski, it is good enough for most wooded whitetail country. Compared to some of the entry level offerings from Bushnell or Tasco, the Diamondback 10×42 are infinitely more useful in anything less than ideal conditions.
However, one area the Vortex Diamondback did not do very well was eye strain. Looking through an optic for long periods of time can cause one’s eyes to fatigue. Typically, as glass quality increases the amount of strain on one’s eyes decreases. Unlike with my Zeiss Conquest HD, I found that it was very difficult to stay behind my binoculars on long, hour plus glassing sessions. Eventually, my eyes would fatigue and even if I forced myself to keep glassing for game I would begin missing animals that I normally would spot.
Build Quality
Another aspect of an optic that is important is the build quality. I found the Diamondbacks to be very durable. After dropping them, throwing them in a pack, and exposing them to water countless times, my binocular never failed. The binocular held up and the glass did not scratch or crack. However, after several years of use I did have the rubber straps that hold the objective lenses covers wear out from use. Additionally, the joint between the two ocular tubes began to become less stiff with time. This made it so that the binocular would slowly fold closed while I was glassing off of a tripod, forcing me to stop and re-adjust them from time to time.
In terms of exterior finish, the coating Vortex uses on the optical housing is remarkably tough. Throughout years of heavy use it did not chip, bubble, crack, or otherwise deteriorate. When I eventually handed down the binocular the exterior looked virtually identical to the day I received them.
Warranty
Finally, when talking about Vortex products it bears mentioning the warranty. Vortex has possibly the best warranty in the optics world. Fortunately, I have only had to use the warranty once, and it wasn’t through any fault of Vortex. I had lost the bikini cover to my Vortex Razor LHT while on a scouting trip for mountain goat. I emailed Vortex asking if they could provide a replacement. Vortex replied to my email the same day and I received a replacement cover the same week. This is confidence inspiring in case any of their products were to fail down the road.
Closing Thoughts
In conclusion, the Vortex Diamondback 10×42 binocular is a solid binocular. For open country hunting, where entire days are spent staring through glass, the Diamondback fails to make par. However, the durability, decent optics, and value-oriented price make it a great choice for a few different use cases. Firstly, the Diamondback is an excellent option to get affordably outfitted for your first hunting season. Also, for most coastal or eastern deer hunting, the Diamondback 10×42 is a solid choice. These less open-style hunts focus on glassing in the timber, over clear cuts and in crop fields. For those uses the Diamondback has plenty of optical chops.
If you’re looking at a pair of Diamondback 10×42’s, support Northern Rifle by using the button below to purchase them. There is no cost to you and we get a small percentage of the sale to keep the site running.