Vortex Diamondback 8x28 Binocular
Almost a Pocket Binocular
Agreeably portable
The 28mm Diamonbacks weigh only 14 ounces, so they never feel like a burden. This is a small binocular that you can tuck in a pocket and forget about until you need it. It's less than 5 inches long. But it's big enough, and rugged enough, that you know you have something in your hands. No fingertip operation needed here!
Although it's larger than most of the binoculars we call pockets, it is small enough and good enough we wanted to include it.
Nice optics
You get a nice clear image with this binocular. Remarkably good, we think, for such an inexpensive instrument.
Close focus
You can't get everything in any one binocular — compactness, light weight, good eye relief, wide field of view, and low price. Something has got to give. It's just physics and economics.
What you sacrifice in getting the 8x28 Diamondback is the ability to focus super close. You can't see anything closer than 13 feet with it, and many binocualrs will let you see much, much closer.
But if your purpose is not for closeup work at your bird feeders, then you might not care if you can't see something at arm's length away. This binocular is great for scenery and for birding at normal bird distances.
Field of view
The field of view is 360 feet at 1000 yards. Not bad for a small binocular. We can live with that. Lots of expensive binoculars don't do any better on this score.
Objective lens covers
The Nikon's objective lens cover is a plastic snap-in design. Vortex's is a flexible rubber cover that is attached by a rubber ring that you can remove completely if you wish.
The advantage of the Vortex design is that it can stay attached while the scope is in use. The Nikon design requires that you stow it in a pocket. We've lost lots of lens caps that way.
Other choices
It's also available in 10-power version. Compare the specifications below.
Specs:
| Specifications |
Diamondback 8x28 |
Diamondback 10x28 |
|
