Vortex Razor HD 27-60×85 Straight Spotting Scope, Green

I bought this little beauty for a DYI Mule deer hunt. I wanted the ability to reach out and Identify the sex and more importantly the size of the deer we were glassing. With This small spotter we were able to eliminate some footwork by glassing at much further distances than our 10×50 binoculars would even think of. I was able to get a clear look at antlers from distances of nearly 1 mile. Pros: spotter is crystal clear and on par with several spotters at 3 times the price. Lightweight, Small and very packable. Cons: The only reason this does not get 5 stars in my opinion is when the temperature dropped (35 degrees) in the mornings I noticed that the magnification dial on the eyepiece got very sluggish and stiff. like the grease inside the dial was subjective to freezing. Once the unit was at 65 degrees ambient temperature things felt smooth and fluid again. I tested this each morning and it would repeat each time.

I use the Razor HD 11-33×50 Angled for birding/nature watching at fairly close distances, usually to get a better look at smaller birds. I am a casual, fair weather birder…I am not using this at 04:00 or in a monsoon. I often bird in wooded areas, so it does need to peek into some heavily shaded areas. I prefer to walk then remain stationary, so size and handling are concerns for me. The first few paragraphs give a little background on my optics journey, feel free to skip down a little for the details on this scope.- – – – – – – – -*Current Binoculars and Past Scopes*For reference, my binoculars are Zeiss Conquest HD 8×32, which I really like and find to have great image quality for the price. I find the Razor HD 11-33×50 to be a similar value. While I am sure both of these would not hold up to Leica or Swarovski optics, to me they hit a sweet spot of cost vs. image quality.I tried two other scopes before this one, each one increasing in cost. The first was purchased a few years ago is no longer made (Alpen 15-45×60). I don’t recall the specifics, but I returned it because the image quality was poor, very dark. It also seemed large at the time, and the build quality was average.The second (Celestron Hummingbird 9-27x56mm ED) was right before purchasing the Razor . At the time this was about half the cost of the Razor HD 11-33×50. While the small size was very easy to carry, the image quality was not even close to the level of my binoculars. While I could see the birds ‘bigger’…the image was dark, esp. when looking into brush. And, the upper range of the magnification was not very clear. The build quality was mostly plastic, but acceptable at the price point. Overall, I did not find the image quality to be worth the cost or the hassle of carrying the scope and tripod.- – – – – – – – -*Razor HD 11-33×50 Review*After much research, I decided to make the investment in the Razor HD 11-33×50. Most of the reviews were from a hunting perspective, and many mentioned that the image quality was about on par with larger scopes they had used…but in a much smaller package that was easier to hike/follow game with.The cost of this scope is very close to the larger, lower-tier Viper. I spoke with a Vortex rep regarding the tradeoffs between size, image quality and cost. He strongly recommended the Razor.*Image Quality*I find the image quality of the Razor to be very similar to my Zeiss Conquest HD 8×32 binoculars. The picture is quite bright and sharp, you can easily see fine feather details. The image quality is pretty consistent across the entire image circle (esp. when compared to the quality drop-off toward the edges found in the Celestron Hummingbird).*Focus*As of 2019, the Razor HD 11-33×50 is still the older style of Vortex scope design with two protruding focus wheels (fast and fine) on the upper body. The newer style offered on the larger scopes is a single focus ring on the lower body (the Celestron Hummingbird has a similar design). While I cannot speak to the newer Razors, comparing the focus function of the 11-33×50 to the Hummingbird I prefer the separate fast and fine focus knobs. It is easy to quickly get a rough focus, and then carefully adjust for fine detail.The Razor HD 11-33×50 also has a very close focus of 6.6 feet (from website). This lets you get a good look at birds on your feeder or insects perched close to you. (attached photo shot through the scope with handheld iPhone 6S, Ebony Jewelwing was about 7-8 feet away.)*Zoom*The zoom range on this scope is 11-33, which is not as close as other (larger) scopes. But as someone who uses this at closer distances I find the smaller size/weight to be more of an advantage.*Scope Bag*The bag is functional, nothing crazy. It fits the scope well, even with a tripod plate attached. It is not heavily padded, I would make sure that the scope when into some other bag/case to protect it if traveling/hunting.*Warranty*While I am very careful with my gear, the Vortex warranty is pretty hard to beat. From their site: “We will repair or replace your Vortex® product in the event it becomes damaged or defective—at no charge to you. If we cannot repair your product, we will replace it with a product in perfect working order of equal or better physical condition.”*You Need a Tripod*To get the most of this scope invest in a sturdy tripod and good head. I am using this with a Manfrotto 190 tripod. I also have a 055 which is sturdier, but the 190 is a bit lighter/easier to carry and is plenty to keep the scope stable. While not traditional for scope use, I am using a Sirui K-40X Ball Head. I already owned it for photography, so I gave it a try. While a little harder to control than a 3-way head, it is also very quick to center and level out. This version has a single knob to set tension and lock the ball. I find that easier to use than separate tension and lock knobs.*Things that could have been better*Overall, I am very pleased with this purchase. There are only two fairly minor things that I can comment on. First, the eyecup is a fold up/down style rather than a twist up. Not a big deal, but as someone who wears glasses I am folding it down for each use (the eyepiece cover only fits when the eyecup is turned up). I expect that this will be a wear point, but, hey…lifetime, no-questions-asked warranty for the win!Second, the loop for front optic cover does not stay on the front of the scope very well. It often comes off when removing the scope from the bag. Not a huge deal, but I usually leave it in the bag to prevent me from losing it. I have Vortex front covers on my Zeiss binoculars that have stayed put for years, so if the band were just a little bit smaller it would have worked better.*Would I Buy Again?*100%. I am very happy that Vortex put their top quality optics in a smaller frame and at a more approachable price point. I expect to get many years of enjoyable use from this scope.

Having just returned from a birdwatching holiday in Spain, I got the idea of digiscoping and decided to buy. a Spotting scope. I had been invited to look through a couples spotting scope and was dismayed to see a lot of chromatic aberration around a bird I was viewing.Having gone into a lot of research on scopes I chose the Vortex. What a scope, pin sharp no discolouration around the edges, you certainly get what you pay for. Highly recommended. Parcel arrived swiftly and well packaged.