Vortex Diamondback HD 12x50 specs and field of view
Eye relief of 14 mm is the shortest of the Diamondback HD 12x50 in its size, against a 15.5 mm median for the size.
- Field of view
- 271 ftat 1,000 yd
- Eye relief
- 14 mm
- Close focus
- 6 ft
- Weight
- 28.9 oz
- Exit pupil
- 4.2 mmcalculated
Why pick it
- 28.9 oz, lighter than the typical 29.2 oz
- Focuses as close as 6 ft
- Takes a tripod adapter
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Who the Diamondback HD 12x50 suits
Close subjects work from 6 ft, well under the 10 ft median. List price band from the maker is $200 to $500.
Its 271 ft field sits at place 25 of 36, and 28.9 oz with 14 mm of eye relief suits eyeglass wearers poorly.
Diamondback HD 12x50 can be set against the most popular models of every size in the best binoculars list. Diamondback HD 12x50 is one of 36 models in the 12x50 binoculars comparison. Vortex lists it in the $200 to $500 price band, alongside the models in best binoculars under $500.
Diamondback HD 12x50 specifications
Diamondback HD 12x50 figures as Vortex prints them; rows marked * are calculated from the 12x50 size.
| Magnification | 12x |
|---|---|
| Objective lens | 50 mm |
| Field of view | 271 ft at 1,000 yd (90 m at 1,000 m) |
| Angular field of view | 5.2° |
| Apparent field of view | 62° * |
| Eye relief | 14 mm |
| Close focus | 6 ft (1.8 m) |
| Eye spacing range | 60 to 75 mm |
| Weight | 28.9 oz (819 g) |
| Length | 6.4 in (163 mm) |
| Width | 5.3 in (135 mm) |
| Fog-proofing gas | Argon |
| Tripod adaptable | Yes |
| Focus system | Center focus |
| Maker list price | $200 to $500 |
| Exit pupil | 4.2 mm * |
| Twilight factor | 24.5 * |
| Relative brightness | 17.4 * |
* Calculated from the size, not printed by the maker.
Diamondback HD 12x50 against other 12x50 binoculars
Diamondback HD 12x50 shows 271 ft at 1,000 yd, below the 277 ft median of the 36 12x50 models in the chart. At 28.9 oz it is at or under the 29.2 oz median weight for the size.
Diamondback HD 12x50 and its nearest rivals
Diamondback HD 12x50 next to the 12x50 models closest to it in maker list price, with the best figure in each column in bold.
| Model | Field of view | Eye relief | Close focus | Weight | Exit pupil | Maker list price | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vortex Diamondback HD 12x50 | 271 ft | 14 mm | 6 ft | 28.9 oz | 4.2 mm | $200 to $500 | Check price on Amazon |
| Leupold BX-3 Alpine HD 12x50 | 278 ft | 15.5 mm | 7.2 ft | 29.2 oz | 4.2 mm | $200 to $500 | Check price on Amazon |
| Hawke Endurance ED 12x50 | 272 ft | 15 mm | 8.2 ft | 28.4 oz | 4.2 mm | $200 to $500 | Check price on Amazon |
| Nikon Monarch M5 12x50 | 293 ft | 16.4 mm | 14.8 ft | 22.9 oz | 4.2 mm | $200 to $500 |
Other sizes of the Diamondback HD
Vortex makes the Diamondback HD in 9 sizes; a larger front lens adds brightness and weight, and more magnification narrows the view.
| Model | Size | Field of view | Eye relief | Close focus | Weight | Exit pupil | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vortex Diamondback HD 12x50 | 12x50 | 271 ft | 14 mm | 6 ft | 28.9 oz | 4.2 mm | Check price on Amazon |
| Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28 | 8x28 | 332 ft | 18 mm | 6 ft | 13.7 oz | 3.5 mm | Check price on Amazon |
| Vortex Diamondback HD 10x28 | 10x28 | 273 ft | 16 mm | 6 ft | 13.3 oz | 2.8 mm | Check price on Amazon |
| Vortex Diamondback HD 8x32 | 8x32 | 426 ft | 16 mm | 5 ft | 15.9 oz | 4 mm | Check price on Amazon |
| Vortex Diamondback HD 10x32 | 10x32 | 340 ft | 14 mm | 6 ft | 16 oz | 3.2 mm | Check price on Amazon |
| Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 | 8x42 | 393 ft | 17 mm | 5 ft | 21.8 oz | 5.3 mm | Check price on Amazon |
| Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42 | 10x42 | 330 ft | 15 mm | 5 ft | 21.3 oz | 4.2 mm | Check price on Amazon |
| Vortex Diamondback HD 10x50 | 10x50 | 315 ft | 17 mm | 6 ft | 30 oz | 5 mm | Check price on Amazon |
| Vortex Diamondback HD 15x56 | 15x56 | 230 ft | 15.6 mm | 14 ft | 34.8 oz | 3.7 mm | Check price on Amazon |
Vortex binoculars
Diamondback HD 12x50 questions
Diamondback HD 12x50: does it work with glasses?
Diamondback HD 12x50 has 14 mm of eye relief, under the 16 mm the RSPB advises for people who wear glasses, so the edge of the view may be cut off with glasses on.
Diamondback HD 12x50: what does 12x50 mean?
Diamondback HD 12x50 magnifies 12 times through 50 mm front lenses, which works out to an exit pupil of 4.2 mm, the width of the beam of light that reaches each eye.
Diamondback HD 12x50: how wide is the view?
Diamondback HD 12x50 shows a view 271 ft wide at 1,000 yd, below the 277 ft median of the 36 12x50 models in the chart.
Diamondback HD 12x50: can it go on a tripod?
Diamondback HD 12x50 is tripod adaptable according to Vortex, so it accepts a binocular tripod adapter.