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REVIEW: Vortex Viper HD 8x42
African Birdlife
|July/August 2023
Binoculars are indispensable to birdwatching and a good pair even more so if you want to make out fine detail
Typically the best ones come with a high price tag, but luckily there are some great alternatives that are easier on the wallet. One such brand is Vortex, and over the past few months I have field tested its mid-range Viper HD 8x42 extensively. When reviewing any binoculars for birding, I usually ask these key questions:
Is there enough field of view?
I enjoyed the Viper’s wide field of view (7.8 degrees), which allows you to be immersed in the scene rather than giving you a tunnel effect as many entry-level binoculars do, and I could scan for, locate and track birds comfortably. Although I bird with spectacles, with the eyecups dialled in for maximum eye relief, the Viper still gives me a good field of view.
How are the ergonomics?
This story is from the July/August 2023 edition of African Birdlife.
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