Budget Spotting Scope vs. High-End: Vortex Diamondback, Viper, and Razor Head-to-Head Comparison

In this video we compare the Vortex Diamondback, Viper, and Razor 85mm spotting scopes. The majority of this video is digiscope comparison footage to let you see the difference with your own eyes. These tests are not perfect, but they do get pretty close to what it is like to actually look through these scopes.
Purchase Here!
Diamondback: www.gearfool.com/products/vor...
Viper: www.gearfool.com/products/vor...
Razor: www.gearfool.com/products/vor...
Shop at GearFool.com!
Phone Number: [phone]
Use the code GEARFOOL10 to get 10% off select products (exclusions apply). While supplies last!
=== Like and Subscribe! ===
=== Follow us on social @gearfool_official ===

[@RV-ik2gy]

This is exactly the review I was looking for

[@YahorKaraban]

Great comparison, helpful 🤝❤️👍🏻

[@craigrobertson6082]

Great comparisons, fellas. I needed this, as I am just branching out into that need for a spotting scope.

[@gearfool]

Right on, give us a call when you’re ready to purchase and we can help you out!

[@JonLykinsPhoto]

Great job guys!!!!!

[@north61]

Honestly one of the best comparisons I have ever seen on youtube.

[@gearfool]

We appreciate your taking the time to say that!

[@MasterTheHunt23]

I think for the money, the Viper is hard to beat. That being said, I have loved my razor and it’s held its own decently well against higher end spotters

[@richwc1]

100%. I’ve had all 3. Now own a razor. Id tell most to save some money and get a viper.

[@gearfool]

Glad to hear others are coming to the same conclusion as us!

[@jamesvatter5729]

Really good comparison. I guess there is no need to ever consider the Vortex Crossfire version.

[@teegank6193]

Compare Athlon to vortex?

[@courtcarver1008]

You guys should do this with the 10x42 or 10x50 binos from vortex also! Great review btw

[@gearfool]

That is in the plans! Probably this fall.

[@zachsowersfilmandphoto6659]

​@gearfool I'd love this as well, I'm signed up for a long range course with bruiser industries and was hoping to pick up a pair before then!

[@hugovaldez9301]

What is the mounting adapter? Does it work on straight scopes?

[@SamHanson14]

This comparison was top notch. Would love to see something similar done comparing the high end spotting scopes from all of the biggest brands (Vortex, Swaro, Leupold, Leica, Zeiss, Sig, etc.) to see what kind of differences are unveiled. Is the most expensive glass truly worth the extra cost? Or do the most expensive brands just have the largest marketing budgets?

[@gearfool]

We will likely do that video in the future!

[@johnnythevis9486]

This makes me feel a lot better about buying a Viper and not splurging on a Razor for my first spotter! And also reinforces the idea that if I ever want to upgrade, I should probably skip over a Razor (because it's not actually that big of an upgrade, relative to the price difference), and just go straight to Swarovski.

[@gearfool]

Glad we could help! We also sell Swaro so when the day comes that you are ready to upgrade, give us a call 😎

[@xforce708]

I’d love to have saw bullet holes in paper at distances too. 😳 Good comparison video. I’m wanting a spotting scope and it’ll be used for looking at hits on targets more so than long range scouting. Any suggestions on the three, because I’d like to spend as little as possible?

[@gearfool]

I would definitely recommend the Viper over the Diamondback for paper targets. Whites will promote chromatic aberration, and the viper will handle that much better than the diamondback. Reach out to us directly at gearfool.com and let us know that you want to make a purchase based on this video, we can likely give you a pretty good deal.

[@xforce708]

@@gearfool I went to website and sent email.

[@gearfool]

@@xforce708 Reply sent!

[@sapperROSS]

Best way to tell the differences is low light and when theres snow.

[@firstimeshooter6590]

Feel the viper is lacking in big open areas. Like it didn’t know what to focus on. But I’m sold on the viper.

[@gearfool]

Happy to hear that our comparison here may have assisted you in your decision making. Give us a call at [phone] when you have a moment!

[@Galarid87]

I own the diamondback, and it's performed great for me. I met a hunter that spotted and killed a great buck on a cabelas budget spotter. I think knowing we're to look and experience outweigh the differences in the spotters.

[@gearfool]

I couldn’t agree more. We’ve spent time in Mexico with guides using glass that was hardly visible and they found more bucks than all of us with swaro and Leica glass. Experience makes up for optics 9 times out of 10! -Brady

[@redacted2618]

True, but better to be inexperienced with nicer optics than inexperienced with lower quality ones.

[@alexzalk9860]

I feel obliged to stop and Thank you. now I know which one is for me. And now they have crossfire tier you might want to include. and Razor is much lighter so if carrying on long distance it does make a significant difference.

[@michaelthompson7570]

Looking through 74 year old eyes with issues,,,,,they all look fine…..

[@firstimeshooter6590]

😅

[@ElCuete808]

Sounds like all you’ve ever done is look through them at a store.

[@DA-jw6nm]

your review was excellent in concept...above the crowd. However, your analysis is not strictly consistent. i.e. the color in the razor showed up at the start, but your comment came much later. this much color shift must be explained considering only one of the 3 stood out AND it is the most cost. Sharpness is tricky because you can't focus each scope every time exactly at the point of maximum sharpness. in one comparison (about 5:49) the viper and diamondback edge qualities were shown but I wonder if the zoom on each was identical. nit picks but your approach is so goo I thought it deserved it

[@gearfool]

Thank you! You are correct, there is always going to be variables that are imperfect, especially when you're not in a controlled environment. However, I can assure you that the "zoom" was identical enough to prove a point that stood out clear when you had your hands on either of these scopes. Although the footage itself was not perfect, I did my best to rely on my actual experience, and let the footage prove what I had found when using my eye with each scope. Thanks for the in-depth comment!

[@aliasICE]

Great job! instant Subscrition from me.

[@gearfool]

Thank you! We'll have more content like this coming!

[@samsam-mf5um]

$500 good not big different

[@greghertzberg5914]

Versus Swarovski???? 🤣

[@gearfool]

What exactly are you saying here? Let us know, thanks!

[@zaynemikita6897]

You guys didn't give any distances. If this is at 1200 yds then hey cool but I personally don't need a spitting scope that fits what you're comparing. Obviously the more you spend the better it should be. So Obviously why do a review that only proves what the price tag proves.

[@gearfool]

You must have missed the messaging throughout the video concerning the Viper HD series in comparison to the Razor HD.