That’s great peace of mind when you invest this much money in something that is quite literally made of glass. If you’re looking for something at that price point I’d compare to a monarch 5 (similar fov) or better yet a vortex diamondback HD (393 vs 341 fov). is a bit cheaper. Even though their street price is about $100 cheaper, I don’t think they’re in the same ballpark as the other two options. The Best Handguns for Big-Game Hunters. How would you compare overall general quality feel of the Mavens vs. the other two? However, that’s the exception, not the rule, so if you’re hard on gear it’s something to factor in. In this video we will compare Vortex, Maven, and Redfield Binoculars. Independent gear reviews & bowhunting advice. Some complaints I have seen with the Mavens were that the eye cups were pretty loose? While the Maven C.1 is about $100 cheaper, I really don’t think that makes up for it’s shortcomings vs the other two options. Joined May 28, 2017 Messages 111 Location New Mexico. There's tons of reviews on the higher end Maven lines, but nothing on the Cs, let alone a comparo to the Viper HDs. You’ll hear that the Mavens are super crisp glass over and over. Meotopa USA Optics is actually not just US based but actually made in the US. I bought the C1's this past holidays when they go on sale for $315, the lowest price of the year. I recently took these Maven binos to compare against a few of the top brands. You can see fur marks if, Two weeks and we’re back in the presence of maje, For me, hunting is about being so deeply engaged w. Just a lady and her fly rod, somewhere in Wyoming. At less than a foot long, Maven CS.1 15-45x65mm Spotting Scope strikes a great balance between quality, price, and utility. Compared to a similarly priced set of 12×50 binos made in Eastern Europe, the Maven 10×42 B.1 binoculars seemed to have slightly more chromatic aberration vs the 12×50 comparison binocular. While ~$450 isn’t cheap, these are in the “buy once, cry once” realm where you won’t feel like you need to upgrade your binos in a few seasons. They’re in the same price range, and I’m curious the comparison between them and the Vipers, I haven’t, but a few buddies have and didn’t think they quite measured up to the Monarch/Viper, which is why we didn’t buy to compare. I haven’t been able to see the build quality of the Maven’s yet, but read good things. Field of view: 388 feet. Well, that’s an entirely different (and very long) post but I’ll sum it up as: larger field of view, brightness, and stability (less shaky). It may not display this or other websites correctly. Finally got a good one and I have no complaints. I have been looking at the Maven’s, the C.3 12×50’s to be exact vs the Leupold Alpine 12×52’s. A slight difference starts to emerge when you look at the “sweet spot” across the lens. You are using an out of date browser. The best $1,000 binocular to be had is the new Maven B2. Well, that’s an entirely different (and very long) post but I’ll sum it up as: larger field of view, brightness, and stability (less shaky). With Tract, Maven, Burris XTR II, Vortex PST Gen 2, Athlon Ares ETR and a few others, the competition in the $900 to $1400 segment is really heating up. Tote a pair of these up and down the elk mountains and you’ll realize just how important weight is. I have not owned any of these binoculars so I have no real world experience, but I want to make the comment that for the picture you showed of the Maven’s vs the Vortex, the Maven’s are zoomed in closer on the tree than the Vortex, which doesn’t seem to be a fair comparison. JavaScript is disabled. No one says that about the Viper. appreciate the demo link as well, maven has had my interest but not being able to actually put my hands on a pair of them has stopped me, might just try out that demo program. Winner: Nikon Monarch 7 and Vortex Viper HD. Sorry for delay Garet! Best Lever Gun Cartridge Showdown: The .300 Savage vs. .30/30 Winchester vs… Background Story: I am upgrading from a pair of Nikon Premiere 10x42 which was the best … Other stats like interpupillary distance (distance between eyes) and near focus are very similar and don’t matter to the majority of hunters. These are $500 binos, and the clarity is amazing. I have access to quite a few different pairs through a friend who works at Cabelas. German product is waterproof too. It’s less shaky than 10X and allows for a little better low light ability not to mention better FOV than 10X. Not trying to fly the US flag but they are exceptional quality for the price and from what I understand carry a transferable warranty. The glass was decent, not quite as good as the viper if you are curious. Recently Maven has expanded their binocular line to include a more budget friendly C1 binocular series. I like their design and I read praise. I don’t believe either are HD but the ED glass is very clear and bright on both. Again, the 250' FOV on the C3 is weirdly small compared to virtually every other 12x50, so not sure what's up with that, but I'm assuming the glass will be better otherwise compared to anything else in a sub-600 category. Lmk if that makes sense. Not sure why that’s the case, I thought those were taken from the same spot but perhaps not. The B2 is a better glass and won't be pushed off the stage by … To clarify: all binoculars were 8x fixed zoom, so it’s not possible to “zoom in”. Looking through the Maven gave the claustrophobic effect of looking through a narrow tube when you compared it side by side with the others (see photos below). Elk hunting gear: What you actually need and when to buy it, Sometimes it all works out. Vortex has 6.7 degrees field of view. Keep looking. Here’s a quick comparison of the key numbers for each bino so you can take a look at them side by side: I excluded a lot of things from that list that you can take for granted at this price point (all three binos have them): waterproof/fogproof, multicoated lenses, dielectric coatings / phase corrections, rubber armor, adjustable eyecups, and tripod compatibility. That alone disqualifies them since it doesn’t matter how clear glass is if you can’t find animals. That’s a shame since Maven is a great company but I’m sure they’ll have other versions as they continue to grow. Appreciate the comment. Weight: 1.8 pounds. Only 50% of the lens might stay in focus on cheap binos, which obviously isn’t ideal. As for testing binos, I’d always go outside during the last 15 mins of light. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Dimensions: 6.2 x 5.0 inches. The Maven B.1 vs C.1 Short Answer The Maven B.1 (left) and C.1 (right) are designed to compete at two different price points. The Monarch 7 was 1.6 ounces lighter than the Vortex Vipers which might not seem like much. I like your choice of 8x power. Also, Vortex is waterproof and fogproof. True story: we saw, https://www.chuckhawks.com/meopta_meopro-hd_8x42.html, They function, but are not really suitable for hunting (low light) purposes, Standard glass & construction, work fine but have noticeable limitations, HD glass, 80-90% as good as alpha glass for a fraction of the price, Top quality transmission/brightness without edge to edge clarity, The best money can buy. That said, if you’re paying an extra $100 to save that weight on your knife it feels pretty stupid to carry it around in your binos. Just a quick review of the new Maven C.1s and Swarovski SLCs. Cronus 8.5x42 and Ares 8x42, Maven b.1 vs b.3 replacing Vortex Diamondback, Buy Maven C3, or stick with Vortex Viper 12x50, so the ammunition manufacturers are not at fault for the higher prices, A Highcountry Deer Hunt with Justin Crossley, Gunwerks Revic EXO Extreme O-Ring Rear Sight Review. I own both. You’ll really notice the difference in that low light, and on a tripod if you can. Build quality and construction is good. With literally thousands of options from $10-$3500, binos seem pretty confusing to the average hunter. Looking at bumping up my $50 Amazon binos to the next tier I can justify paying. I was able to test them out in low light conditions, along with the Razor, and there was no comparison. Not the 12x you're looking for but there was definitely a concensus online that the Maven's are solid, even among those who ultimately returned them. You can usually leave an ID or credit card and they let you do that. Vortex Optics Crossfire Roof Prism Binoculars. Any opinions on Athlon Binos? Image clarity destroys the Leupolds and Vortex. Anyway it’s up to you but if you need lightweight binocular then Vortex … Maven build quality was good, but honestly all three were fine and there wasn’t enough of a difference to set them apart. Edge to Edge clarity and stunning brightness. Here’s what we found. Seems like a few other reviewers say that the sharpness fall off from the center happens earlier on the Viper HD than the Monarch contrary to your observation. Based on my research they are one of the best buys sub $500. They’re that close to the current Vipers. Constant headaches, dim, sent in for service many times with no resolve. Alright, that’s enough on the overview. This optic binocular is fantastic and comes with the … The vipers are made in Japan and I’ve for a long time respected Japanese products for their quality. All three of those factors will always be better in the same brand 8x bino vs the 10x version. Can you comment on that? There are a ton of binocular specifications floating around but not all of them really matter. Drop them off a cliff, roll over them with your truck, whatever… they’ll get them fixed for you, usually for free. Maven C series vs Vortex Viper HD. But first, why these three binoculars? The Monarch might be $20-30 cheaper but that’s rounding error at this price point. They cost a bit more at around 500 but they have exceptional glass. They have a phenomenal field of view, slightly better edge to edge clarity, are brighter, and have a better warranty than the Nikons (even if they’re slightly heavier). I get it that the published specs are what they are, but based on the photo evidence you provided in this review, it appears that the Maven’s are actually zoomed in closer than the Vortex. Since all three binos have HD glass, it would be hard to tell a difference in their crystal clarity at the center of the lens. Well, they still had the August sale running on the C3s, so I ordered the 12x50 from Maven. Biggest 5x5 I’ve eve, September Slowdown! As always, YMMV and appreciate you giving it a read Tim! I’ve damaged a pair of Nikons and to their credit they covered it anyway (and repairs didn’t cost that much). Once you've considered these standouts, check out the top picks for five other price categories in our complete Audubon Guide to Binoculars. Looking at bumping up my $50 Amazon binos to the next tier I can justify paying. The Viper HD is an astoundingly good binocular for the price and probably is the best value on the market bar none. Easily could be wrong through, they’re certainly not going to be bad glass given Leupold’s reputation. Question: I am conflicted on purchasing a new pair of 10x42 binoculars. Unfortunately, I won't be able to give an educated opinion on them when they come in, because my only context is the Celestron Outland 10x42. Again, I have not looked through mavens to compare them side by side but this is my take on the vipers for what its worth. Unfortunately this is where we disqualified the Maven C.1 as an option. Maven B1 8x42. To make things confusing, it’s measured across the diameter (or side-to-side) of that circle (for example, 420 feet @ 1000 yards). See which purchase is best for you! Although crisp glass, the C3 10x50 pair I tried also on sale, had too narrow of a FOV for my preference. All three of those factors will always be better in the same brand 8x bino vs the 10x version. Were the pictures taken in the same place? To make things easier, there are roughly five categories of binoculars in my opinion: It’s no surprise that these three binos are so popular since they’re the lowest priced HD glass options on the market. There is a 42 mm series with 8x and 10x models as well as a 28 mm series in 7x and … For what it’s worth I think the Meotopa brand is worth checking out too, especially the Meopro 8X42 HD. Meopta MeoPro HD 8x42 vs Vortex Viper HD 8x42 (2018) Thread starter kesi; Start ... maybe just from Maven. Remember that if your buddy has a pair it might be the old version so it’s not a great comparison (and you you beware of buying used). I love my Maven C1s and they are better than any Vortex I’ve touched. Coatings in each company leave a slightly different tint (ex: Zeiss tends to be more “blue”) that can be individual preference. I did the research and read. Most guys will go for an aftermarket binocular harness but the Vortex Viper HD does come with a basic one in the box. It’s neck and neck for the Monarch 7s and Viper HDs, but when you add everything up the Vortex Viper HD (2018 model) is our winner. That was definitely true with the old version, but I didn’t find it to be true with the new ones (and I own the monarch 7’s, so I’m definitely not biased on that one!). I think Vortex is the winner. Whether that’s a benefit is up to you but it certainly doesn’t hurt. There is nothing more expensive than buying a cheaper option just to go buy the more expensive one later. Both the Monarch 7 and Viper HD had great clarity but the Viper seemed to have a slightly larger sweet spot (and less coma, or distortion) in our opinion. It was pretty easy to eliminate the Maven’s due to a very narrow field of view compared to the other options. I’m heading into the woods w, Mattress in the back and all the gear in bins from, 10 days away from the one year anniversary of this, Wapiti Wallow Wednesday. Remember, it’s a personal choice, and this comparison is specific to archery elk hunting, so your criteria might be different. Drop me a comment below! Optically I have no complaints, view is bright and clear. I normally carry them with one of the chest straps that keep them tight to my chest so they don’t bang around and get in the way but are always right there when I need them. Those photos were taken from the same location, and what you’re seeing is the massive difference in FOV (field of view). I looked at both the Vortex & the Nikons in comparable price ranges and at the time didn’t notice much looking through them in the store. My first better binocular was Nikon HG L … I understand the specs on all the binoculars and maybe my confusion comes from the way the camera took the pictures for both, but when I look at the photos I see the distance between edge to edge (FOV) for the Mavens is smaller, BUT at the same time in the photo I can see an estimation of 50% higher detail (image appears closer) within that FOV vs the Vortex, why is that? Verified Purchase. I really liked the way the Leopold’s fit my face and overall construction of those binoculars. I will run them this year and then decide which one's I prefer. Guns. There's tons of reviews on the higher end Maven … In this video we will compare Maven, Vortex, and Redfield Spotting Scopes. There’s a thread on this I believe. Both deliver excellent price-to-value ratios. You must log in or register to reply here. The spectrum of light (esp color temperatures) are very uniform coming from the LED overhead lighting in the store. Winner: The Monarch might be a few dollars less, but it’s effectively tied with the Viper. Winner: Nikon Monarch 7, but only by 1.6 oz. Both Vortex and Maven have great warranties. the blogs, … Remember, it’s a personal choice, and this comparison is specific to archery elk hunting, so your criteria might be different. Oct 13, 2017 … Have a different experience or want more info? Let me save you some time. Just all round a terrible experience. Winner: Viper HD, but the monarch was close. I'm still curious about the much smaller FoV on the Maven, but it seems that the C series glass is still very well thought of and generally considered a step above the Viper HD glass. I assumed the Nikon’s were made in Japan as well but a closer look revealed mine are made in China but the quality is there for the price and they are very light in weight. When hunting season ended my sister in law was raving about her C1's. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I would take a hard look at the Vortex … Learn more here: Your email address will not be published. The Maven C.1 binoculars deliver an … It’s time to take a look at these binos side by side and see which is best: To me, this is the single most important comparison between binoculars assuming everything else (clarity, brightness, etc) is similar. Show them to almost anyone and you’re guaranteed to get a “wow, that’s clear”. Haven’t compare the 2 and maybe a little different but I had a pair of the 15x50 made in Japan vipers and they were hands down the worst piece of equipment I’ve ever bought. Look at a Kowa for … Nikon’s warranty only covers manufacturing defects so if it’s your fault, you’ll have to pay. Thank you for taking the time to respond. Much better than the $50 bushnell's I grew up using. Practically speaking, the extra care used to make those lenses also means you’ll get a much crisper and clearer image. https://www.chuckhawks.com/meopta_meopro-hd_8x42.html. National Geographic is the product of German manufacturer Bresser and has Field of view 6.5 degrees. 4.0 out of 5 stars Optics are as good as Maven C1 8x42 VS Vortex Vipers HD 8x42. If you find a good used pair of the Monarch 7s (or a great deal on a new pair), grab them! Oh, and I keep looking to the left because people keep walking down the trail towards me. Maven … The Nikons are fantastic binos which is even more impressive considering they’ve been on the market since 2012. The Vortex Vipers are of course pretty small and on the plus side very handy and get used the most. That is my only complaint. They are both 10 by 42's. Thread starter Justin_the_EDG; Start date Sep 2, 2019; Sep 2, 2019 #1 Justin_the_EDG Senior Member. Starting from the center of the lens, all binos (other than $3000 “field flattener” binos) will have a point at which the focus starts to blur along the edges. I ran the Viper's for 3 years and had no problem spotting game with it. Your email address will not be published. Is it just the way the camera took the picture? They are made in China. HD/ED glass is a fancy marketing term for “extra low dispersion” glass which is usually made with a high concentration of fluorite. Required fields are marked *. After searching for C3 v Viper, I switched my search to just Maven C vs Viper and came across more. The Nikon Monarch 7 used to dominate FOV but the 2018 version of the Vortex Viper HD is almost identical now (420 vs 409 feet). It would appear that the Maven’s magnification is superior…, Hi Garet! We found the locking diopter ring on the Vortex to be really nice to “set and forget” once you get them adjusted to your eyes. It doesn’t matter if you have a great field of view if most of it is blurry or unclear. We tested against Leupold BX-4, vortex viper, Swarovski EL’s, Zeiss conquest, all against the Mavens. Guns. I have a set of 8X42 Nikon Monarch 511’s and a pair of Vortex Viper 8X28. My first quality binocular was a Nikon Monarch 7 since at the time they were far better than the old version Vipers. These supposedly have the same HD glass as the Razor, but the rest of the binocular (housing, eye cups, etc.) Remember, FOV is measured in diameter, so a 400ft+ wide bino has almost twice the viewing area of a standard bino in the low 300s (think pie R squared), which is a massive difference. Hi, I'm Baxter Bowman. I went with the vipers as the field of view is great for a 12x50 at 288 yards. That’s not a huge difference but it’s there. That said I’m not sure if there is areal distinction as they do have ED quality glass and for sure they are clear and sharp to the eye. Maven C.1 is disqualified. I came here to read what you had to say about the Maven’s but after you commented on the FOV being smaller, they weren’t really discussed or compared to the others after that which was disappointing. Josh ended up spending his own hard earned money on the Vipers after comparing the three options for a long time. The C1's glass was a much higher quality than anything from Vortex. One option is to go down to a 32mm objective binocular but I’ve found those never have quite enough light for my liking (and the vast majority of hunters agree with me on this one). Some CA is noticeable, more so on the edges but in the sweetspot you have to really look for it. The game cam says it’s almost game time... just, 25 days. The good news is that the relative differences between these three binoculars would be identical i… Like brightness, look and feel is subjective but there are some differences between the two finalists. Winner: Vortex Viper HD with locking diopter, slightly better eyecups, and a free harness. If you are asking if this is at the top of the "scope world" then no it is not. The eyecups were also slightly better quality and made the lenses easier to clean on the Viper as well. Best Lever Gun Cartridge Showdown: The .300 Savage vs. .30/30 Winchester vs. .45/70 . Thanks to my friend Josh, we were able to do a deep dive comparison of the Vortex Viper HD vs Nikon Monarch 7 vs Maven C.1 so you don’t have to wonder which is the best any longer. The only issue I have with the C1's is the eye cups aren't as comfortable as the Vipers. My wife uses the Monarch 7 now and loves them, even compared to my fancier glass. That's usually a good thing for the … I want to comment that the Maven’s really were not reviewed and shouldn’t have been apart of this article. See which fit is best for you! Use: I use them mainly for birding. Vortex didn’t change the name (or the price) of the binocular so it’s easy to confuse the two versions. I suppose if I have issues with the eye cups, I can look at warranty-ing as Maven has a similar policy to Vortex. I don’t really carry rain gear during S, Sometimes I’m so amped for September I forget ju, Don’t forget to reset your slider sight... and y, Refletched some options for the lady... thoughts o, Monday morning elk inspiration. I got it replaced under warranty as it wasn't focusing well. This past season I finally got a decent set for myself in the form of the Viper HDs from Vortex. The good news is that the relative differences between these three binoculars would be identical if you compared all three of the 10x versions, so read on. I went back and forth with this question for about a week and ended up pulling the trigger on some Maven C1's yesterday. As to the Nikon 7’s, Nikon doesn’t advertise the Nikon 7 as a HD binocular. Field of view means what it says: it’s how much area can you see in the “circle” of the bino. Attractive … If you are set on a Vortex then get the Razor HD as it is a much finer scope than the Viper HD. Check out this review: Vortex made a very significant update to the Viper HD binos in 2018 that increased the FOV, reduced the physical size, and boosted the quality across the board. That's because the Vortex Vipers, which took best in class, are so light in comparison to many of the other contenders. When it comes to HD quality hunting binoculars three names come up time and time again. ATN Corp. Night and low-light vision optics, when the gadget enthusiasts hear these terms, the first … However they don’t have the field of view of the Monarch 7’s. I shed hunted and scouted with them. Reviewed in Canada on July 3, 2020. First I want to say, thank you for the review. Eye cups work well (which is a complaint you hear about with Mavens eye cups not staying up). Even the $2800 binos use fluorite “HD” glass, so you’re getting stuff that’s in the same ballpark for a fraction of the price. Either way they definitely are true to what it feels like to look through them. About Maven Outdoor Equipment Company Maven is an American company based in Lander, Wyoming who design and create high end binoculars and spotting scopes as well as a good selection of related … To keep it (very) simple, as you magnify light it tends to disperse, or come apart, across the spectrum. Tell me all about the Zeiss, Vortex, and Meopta at that similar range. On the negative side, they don’t have best low light capability with the 28 mm objectives. That leads to chromatic aberration which is that funky multicolor outline you see around things in low quality binos. We thought the Monarchs felt best in hand but that was clearly personal preference. Seems the quality control is hit and miss with the new models. Interestingly, despite the very similar exit pupil and outstanding glass and construction in both sets of binoculars, the Maven … With a price of just $650, this is a lot of scope for the money, especially with Maven… With a FOV of 341 feet @ 1000 yds, it was really clear it wasn’t in the same league as the others. Make sure they’re comparing the current Viper HP (2019+) to the Monarch 7 (not HG). While the Nikon Monarch 7s and Vortex Viper HDs have a different MSRP their real world price tends to be very close. I'm just as obsessed about bowhunting elk as you are. Field of view is so critical for hunting because it greatly increases the area for you to locate animals, which is the main use of binoculars. The blue and green “popped” much … There are tons of reviews on the Maven and they’re all sterling. If we had to put numbers on it, I’d say 75% for the Monarch and 85% for the Vortex. Just make sure to get the 2018 version since the old version is very different! I have not looked through the Mavens but I do own a 12x50 viper - the latest one that is now made in China.