I have been considering purchasing some Vortex Vipers and have carefully culled through this forum, reading quite a few discussions on them. Very helpful I must say to find people who actually know the brand and use them!! There is a gentleman here in Arlington who I spoke with who is willing to let me try his 8x42 & 10x42 Vipers. He also has an 8.5x50. He is quoting me $410 for the 8x, $420 for the 10x and $475 for the 8.5x. He also has a new pair of Stokes DLS (10x42, I think) that he quoted me $550 for. I know Eagle Optics has the Stokes for much less. Based on the discussions I have read in the forums, I feel buying the Vipers will be a good choice. I am currently using Eagle Ranger SRT's 8x42 and am looking for an upgrade in quality, but want to stay under $700. His prices beat what I see on line, especially when I look at the Vortex site. If I purchase from him, he says he will order a pair for me. Has anyone tried the 8.5's and for the quoted prices, which would you get? I plan to pick them up tomorrow and use them over the next couple of days in comparison with mine. Any advice appreciated!!
Google up Camera land NY and then go to their used/demo page. The binoculars from that list will look like new. Vortex Warranty goes with the instrument, not the original owner and there is no registration card. Their warranty is VIP, just as it says. Doug's prices all are all much better than those you have been quoted. CameralandNY is a top customer service outfit and you won't get any hassle from them.
Actually if you want a serious upgrade from the Ranger, get a Promaster Infinity Elite ELX ED frrom CameralandNY. They are a dealer. Search this forum for Mystery Binocular, Promaster ELX ED and Hawke Frontier ED. The Promaster/Hawke has been extensively reviewed and commented on here.
Thanks Steve, I will take your advice. The prices were for new bins though, not used. He was going to let me use his just so I could compare them to mine in the "real birding world". I got this guy's number off the Vortex site when I was looking up local dealers that might have the Vipers in stock, so they would be from Vortex with full warranty, etc., brand new. I was wondering about the Promasters after reading through the forum, but they are a brand I am unfamiliar with so I was a little unsure.
Thanks!
Did take a look and the prices are actually higher than the new I could get through the dealer here, for the Vipers. For the 8x Cameraland is $499 (vs $410 here), the 8.5x is $829new & 699 used (vs $475 here), and the 10x is $509 new/$449 used (vs $420 here). The Promaster Infinity Elites ED 8x was $499 and the 10x was $509. What makes the Promasters such a better deal over the Vipers? I did read the forums & I remember the discussions saying that the Promasters seemed relatively new.