Vortex’s new lineup of spotting scopes has firmly placed it among the best outdoor optics brands in the industry. While the company offers a wide variety of different rifle scopes and binoculars, there are only three main spotting scope models that are aimed at meeting the needs of the modern outdoorsman.
The company placed few limits on the amount of quality it would offer with its top-of-the-line Vortex Razor HD and managed to produce an outstanding spotting scope with the Viper HD as well.
But the Vortex Diamondback HD is quite possibly the highest value offering from the brand as it hits a demographic of hunters, as well as outdoorsmen and women who are a bit more budget-minded going into 2021.
The Diamondback HD offers a variety of the same excellent features that the brand has become known for and can be purchased for roughly $500 at most stores and online retailers. Taking a closer look at this model reveals why it is quickly becoming one of the most popular spotting scopes on the market.
Vortex Diamondback HD Spotting Scope Review
In this post I’ll be going over everything you need to know before purchasing the Vortex Diamondback HD spotting scope.
- Excels in low light conditions
- Comfortable viewing experience
- Durable
- Pricey
Diamondback HD Overview
Vortex offers the Diamondback HD in a straight or angled scope model with magnifications of 20-60×85 or 16-48×65. The higher magnification version can be purchased for approximately $600 while the 16-48×65 version is typically offered at around $500.
This spotting scope is perfect for hunters who want to get a better visual on game animals and other wildlife in the rugged western United States and anywhere else in the world where it’s important to get a better look at your target from a distance whenever you can.
Many whitetail deer hunters consider the Vortex Diamondback HD to be an excellent choice as it offers exceptional quality for medium to long ranges, which allow them to identify and scout deer from a reasonable distance while not being too intrusive to the sensitive animals’ habitat.
As with most spotting scopes, the angled model seems to be the more popular of the two since it is considerably more comfortable for users who might spend a few hours at a time glassing hillsides and valleys in search of trophy game animals.
The straight version, however, is quite popular with whitetail hunters who prefer a scope that allows for quick acquisition of their targets.
Lens Quality
The Vortex Diamondback HD operates using exceptional high quality glass to offer high definition quality that is second to none—especially for spotting scopes that are priced at similar levels.
The high-quality lenses help to eliminate chromatic aberration that typically causes blurred sight picture quality, especially when the scope is extended out to its maximum magnification level.
Like the other scopes in the Vortex lineup, the Diamondback HD offers lenses that help to provide outstanding sharpness and light transmission so that users can have optimal clarity, even in low light conditions at dusk or dawn when there is no time to compromise with lesser-quality scopes.
This scope is also crafted with fully multi-coated lenses that are designed to increase light transmission with multiple anti-reflective coatings.
Vortex Diamondback vs Diamondback HD Updated Version
It’s widely known that Vortex has updated each of its spotting scope models, including the Vortex Diamondback HD.
The new changes and additions are all a result of the company listening to the feedback from dealers, as well as users in certain areas that can be improved to offer a better, longer-lasting product.
The new design features an oversized focus wheel that is a rubberized collar that wraps around the scope and is much easier to adjust on the fly than the small knob that was on previous models of the Diamondback HD.
The knob had a tendency to be frustrating for users to adjust and also could get snagged on various parts of a user’s gear or anything else. Needless to say, the newer, sleeker design is getting rave reviews from nearly everyone who has experience with the old version.
The new version can also be quick-mounted to a tripod without the need for an adaptor plate, which is one less piece of frustrating equipment that a user has to deal with.
While the new version of the Diamondback HD is quite a bit heavier, the manufacturers feel that the added elements that protect the scope and increase the overall clarity to the sight picture are worth the added weight.
Related: Vortex Viper HD Spotting Scope Review
Scope Body and Construction
The Diamondback HD is billed as being waterproof, fog proof, and dust-proof thanks to its superior construction and design. A sealed o-ring is able to lock out moisture and water that might potentially seep in and cause damage to the internal components of the scope.
The argon gas-purged scope body is designed to successfully prevent internal fogging throughout a wide range of extreme temperatures, which is quite common when considering that most users will employ the use of these spotting scopes when trekking over miles of rugged, mountainous terrain.
The rubberized outer layer of the Diamondback HD provides a tough, non-slip protective skin that is easy for a user to grip while also providing plenty of protection to the scope’s fragile inner components.
The Diamondback HD scope is made with hydrophobic ArmorTek coatings, which protects against the potential for dirt and grime accumulation on the exterior of each lens. The ArmorTek coating also guards against the effects of humidity and other elements that might leave a scratch on the crystal clear lens surface.
- Excels in low light conditions
- Comfortable viewing experience
- Durable
- Pricey
Related: Best Spotting Scope for Hunting
Conclusion
There is no denying that this scope is among the best spotting scopes on the market in 2021 and gives users plenty of outstanding qualities when compared to other brands.
The Diamondback HD epitomizes everything that Vortex has become known for in a scope that features exceptional qualities and features while its price tag is significantly lower than some of the other premium brands available.
This scope offers adjustable eyecups, built-in sun shades, and fast-helical focus to give users everything they need to have a great experience in the field, or on the shooting range.
