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Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28 Review

An inexpensive, small, and packable model that offers surprisingly good optics
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vortex diamondback hd 8x28 binocular review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Top Pick Award
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Price:  $190 List
Manufacturer:   Vortex
By Benjamin Hickok ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 6, 2022
54
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#12 of 16
  • Clarity - 45% 5.1
  • Brightness - 25% 4.6
  • Comfort - 10% 7.0
  • Field of View - 10% 6.0
  • Ease of Adjustment - 5% 5.5
  • Close Focus Range - 5% 8.0

Our Verdict

If both weight and cost are at a premium, the Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28 offers impressive optical quality in a small, cost-effective package. This makes it a great choice for both hiking adventures and beginning birders alike. The one big sacrifice you make for this inexpensive/lightweight option is brightness. The small lenses and average glass that make these so portable and affordable also struggle to gather enough light in darker scenarios. If early dawn or late dusk nature walks are your thing, these probably aren't the best optics for you, and so we advise checking out our comparative review of the best binoculars. However, if you're looking for some binoculars that you can toss in a backpack for a day or even a multi-day hike, and don't expect too many low-light situations, we doubt you'll find a better pair for the price.
REASONS TO BUY
Good clarity
Small and lightweight
Relatively comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor low-light performance
Editor's Note: We updated this review on December 7th, 2022, with new testing information.

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Pros Good clarity, small and lightweight, relatively comfortableGood clarity and brightness, smooth focus knobInexpensive, good clarity and brightnessGood clarity, compact, lightGreat light transmission, relatively inexpensive
Cons Poor low-light performanceMediocre close focus range, mediocre field of viewAverage construction quality, mediocre low-light performanceBelow average light transmission, eye covers fall off easilyPoor eye cups, minimal ergonomics, large porro-prism design, poor close focus range
Bottom Line An inexpensive, small, and packable model that offers surprisingly good opticsThese perform well for the price, offering a smooth focus knob and decent brightness and clarityThe most budget-friendly option we've found that offers a good introduction to birdwatchingCompact with decent clarity for budget-tier optics, and a good option for backpackersAn affordable pair of binoculars that excels in light transmission
Rating Categories Vortex Diamondback... Nikon Monarch M5 8x42 Celestron Nature DX... Nikon Trailblazer A... Nikon Aculon A211 8x42
Clarity (45%)
5.1
7.1
5.8
5.0
3.3
Brightness (25%)
4.6
8.6
7.7
3.9
7.7
Comfort (10%)
7.0
8.1
5.6
6.4
3.2
Field of View (10%)
6.0
6.0
7.0
6.0
6.0
Ease of Adjustment (5%)
5.5
8.0
7.0
4.9
4.5
Close Focus Range (5%)
8.0
7.0
8.0
8.0
5.0
Specs Vortex Diamondback... Nikon Monarch M5 8x42 Celestron Nature DX... Nikon Trailblazer A... Nikon Aculon A211 8x42
Glass Type HD ED Bak-4 Eco-Glass Eco-Glass
Multi - Coating FMC FMC FMC FMC FMC
Magnification 8 8 8 10 8
Field of View (at 1000 yards) 332 ft 335 ft 388 ft 342 ft 420 ft
Close Focus 6.0 ft 8.2 ft 6.5 ft 11.5 ft 16.4 ft
Eye Relief 18 mm 19.5 mm 17.5 mm 10 mm 12 mm
Prism Roof Roof Roof Roof Porro
Waterproof/Fog Resistant? Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A
Measured Size (Length x Width) 4.6 x 4.5 in 5.7 x 5.1 in 5.3 x 4.9 in 4.1 x 2.9 in 7 x 5.9 in
Measured Weight 14 oz 22 oz 22 oz 12 oz 26 oz
Tripod Adapter Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28 impressed in most of our binocular test metrics, offering great clarity and performance, especially considering the low price and compact size. Just don't expect any miracles if you're using them in low-light situations. Like with pretty much any other 28mm lens on the market, things can start looking dark fast once the sun touches the horizon.

Performance Comparison


vortex diamondback hd 8x28 binocular review - the vortex diamondback hd 8x28 performed well in our close-range...
The Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28 performed well in our close-range focus tests.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Clarity


This is the area where the Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28 scrapes at the performance metrics of regular-sized optics. In good lighting conditions, it offers decent clarity.


In our testing, we could easily make out small identifying features on warblers sitting 30 feet away and could even make out the head plumes on a Great Blue Heron from over 200 feet away. There are only a couple of minor weak points to the Diamondback HD 8x28's clarity, the first being that it presents some distortion and blurriness around the edges of the image. While this doesn't limit your ability to get a clear view of your subject, it makes the image feel less immersive. It will also bring on a feeling of eye strain more quickly than models that boast edge-to-edge clarity.

vortex diamondback hd 8x28 binocular review - vortex updated the glass on this newer version of the diamondback...
Vortex updated the glass on this newer version of the Diamondback 8x28, and it shows.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

The second downside is the fact that the clarity tends to degrade quickly as the light dims. You can't really expect much more from a 28mm objective lens, but keep this in mind if you often find yourself using binoculars in low-light situations.

Brightness


Compact binoculars with 28mm objective lenses are only going to get you so far when it comes to brightness. While the Diamondback HD 8x28 impresses in bright situations, you quickly see deterioration in image quality as the sun goes down.


On sunny days with little to no clouds, you'll likely not even think about the Diamondback HD 8x28's relative lack of brightness. If it gets particularly overcast, you may notice that the image has become significantly duller, but you'll likely still be able to make out most features on whatever you're viewing. Once the sun starts hitting the horizon, or you hit fully gray skies, most subjects will be reduced to little more than silhouettes.

vortex diamondback hd 8x28 binocular review - the smaller objective lenses do make for a dimmer image, but the...
The smaller objective lenses do make for a dimmer image, but the higher quality glass still lets in more light than many other 28mm models.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

While this lack of brightness is noticeable, the weight savings of the smaller lenses when compared to others is equally noticeable. You'll have to weigh (literally) which is more important to you.

Comfort


In our opinion, the Diamondback HD 8x28 is about as comfortable to hold as a compact pair of binoculars can be. At 14 ounces, they are very light — you'll barely notice them hanging around your neck, and you're very unlikely to get arm strain when holding them to your face for long periods.


The 28mm objective lenses make for some small barrels, so you'll have to choose between a dainty pinch grip, or the classic 'full-hand' grip and deal with your thumbs being mashed together and your fingers being intertwined. Neither style is ideal, as the former feels more spacious but makes it harder to adjust the focus knob, and the latter allows for easy focusing but feels quite cramped.

vortex diamondback hd 8x28 binocular review - even toting these bins along on longer hikes we never ran into any...
Even toting these bins along on longer hikes we never ran into any real comfort issues.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Despite the fact that these binoculars feel a bit too small to be ergonomic in most people's hands, all of our testers were able to find a hand position that started to feel natural after a couple of birding sessions. Also, the only real alternative is using larger barreled binoculars, which is a tradeoff because they will inevitably be heavier. In most cases, we find the small sacrifices you make in comfort with the Diamondback HD 8x28 are well worth the weight savings.

vortex diamondback hd 8x28 binocular review - the vortex diamondback hd 8x28 scored a bit below the pack for...
The Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28 scored a bit below the pack for comfort.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Field of View


This binocular had a measured field of view of 324 feet, at 1000 yards, and thus is below average. However, we never felt like the field of view was noticeably narrow, it just doesn't feel particularly spacious.


Ease of Adjustment


For the most part, these binoculars are quite easy to adjust and get into focus. We found the focus knob to move smoothly while also offering enough resistance that it's easy to stop it right where you want it. The hinge between the barrels acts similarly: easily moving when you want it to but generally staying put when you don't. The eyecups offer three settings that are easy to switch between.


We have two complaints about the Diamondback HD 8x28's adjustability. The first is the diopter. It is quite difficult to get moving, but once you get over the initial inertia, it tends to slide quite quickly, making it somewhat challenging to make small and precise adjustments. Adjusting the diopter is a rare chore, so this isn't a dealbreaker. Possibly more significant is the fact that it seems our eyes wanted to be further away from the eyepieces of these binoculars than with other models. For most of our testers, this meant that even when in their longest setting, the eyecups were barely touching their eyebrows. This quickly felt natural and didn't ruin our experience at all, but if you like to bury your eyes in a binocular's eyecups, you may want to look elsewhere.

vortex diamondback hd 8x28 binocular review - we have some minor complaints about the diamond hd 8x28's...
We have some minor complaints about the Diamond HD 8x28's adjustability, but nothing that we'd consider a dealbreaker.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Close Focus Range


Sporting a close focus range of 7.4 feet, you can get pretty much anything in front of you in focus with these bins. A gorgeous butterfly would pretty much have to land on your foot for that close focus range to feel limiting at all.


Should You Buy the Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28?


Most compact binoculars fall at either end of the spectrum. On one end are the models that opt for low-quality materials to deliver enticingly low price points—but also deliver inferior optical quality. On the other end, you have models geared toward binocular enthusiasts that are willing to pay high premiums to milk every last bit of optical quality out of a small pair of binos. The Diamondback HD 8x28 hits a near-perfect and somewhat rare balance between the two, offering good optical quality while keeping the price in a very reasonable range. For everyone from backpackers to beginning birders, we think the Diamondback HD 8x28 offers a great value per dollar.

vortex diamondback hd 8x28 binocular review - the vortex diamondback hd 8x28 is an exceptional pair of compact...
The Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28 is an exceptional pair of compact binos.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

What Other Binoculars Should You Consider?


Combining lightweight construction, good optics, and a relatively low price, the Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28 is a great option for weight and price-conscious backpackers and beginner birders. If you don't necessarily need a super lightweight model but are just looking to save a few bucks, check out the Celestron Nature DX 8x42. For increased brightness and just a bit more cash, the Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 could be the ticket.

Benjamin Hickok
 
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