Vortex Viper HD 12x50 specs and field of view
The Viper HD 12x50 has a 288 ft field of view, place 10 of 36 in the 12x50 size, where the median is 277 ft.
- Field of view
- 288 ftat 1,000 yd
- Eye relief
- 16 mm
- Close focus
- 8 ft
- Weight
- 28.8 oz
- Exit pupil
- 4.2 mmcalculated
Why pick it
- 288 ft view, wider than the typical 277 ft
- 28.8 oz, lighter than the typical 29.2 oz
- 16 mm eye relief, enough for glasses
Binocular Chart earns a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases made through these buttons.
Who the Viper HD 12x50 suits
Eye relief of 16 mm gives eyeglass wearers room, and the tripod adaptable body suits long watching sessions. Its exit pupil, calculated, is 4.2 mm.
Close focus of 8 ft is long for near subjects, and 28.8 oz is a load for hand holding.
Viper HD 12x50 is one choice among many, and the top binoculars compared covers the most popular ones. Viper HD 12x50 is one of 36 models in the 12x50 binoculars comparison. Vortex lists it in the $500 to $1,000 price band, alongside the models in best binoculars under $1,000.
Viper HD 12x50 specifications
Viper HD 12x50 figures as Vortex prints them; rows marked * are calculated from the 12x50 size.
| Magnification | 12x |
|---|---|
| Objective lens | 50 mm |
| Field of view | 288 ft at 1,000 yd (96 m at 1,000 m) |
| Angular field of view | 5.5° |
| Apparent field of view | 66° * |
| Eye relief | 16 mm |
| Close focus | 8 ft (2.4 m) |
| Eye spacing range | 59 to 75 mm |
| Weight | 28.8 oz (816 g) |
| Length | 6.5 in (165 mm) |
| Width | 5.2 in (132 mm) |
| Fog-proofing gas | Argon |
| Tripod adaptable | Yes |
| Focus system | Center focus |
| Maker list price | $500 to $1,000 |
| Exit pupil | 4.2 mm * |
| Twilight factor | 24.5 * |
| Relative brightness | 17.4 * |
* Calculated from the size, not printed by the maker.
Viper HD 12x50 against other 12x50 binoculars
Viper HD 12x50 shows 288 ft at 1,000 yd, at or above the 277 ft median of the 36 12x50 models in the chart. At 28.8 oz it is at or under the 29.2 oz median weight for the size.
Viper HD 12x50 and its nearest rivals
Viper 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 Viper HD 12x50 | 288 ft | 16 mm | 8 ft | 28.8 oz | 4.2 mm | $500 to $1,000 | Check price on Amazon |
| Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide HD Gen 2 12x50 | 257 ft | 16 mm | 10 ft | 29.3 oz | 4.2 mm | $500 to $1,000 | |
| Burris Signature HD 12x50 | 251 ft | 13.1 ft | 28.5 oz | 4.2 mm | $500 to $1,000 | ||
| Bushnell R7 12x50 | 290 ft | 18 mm | 7 ft | 32.4 oz | 4.2 mm | $500 to $1,000 | Check price on Amazon |
Other sizes of the Viper HD
Vortex makes the Viper HD in 4 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 Viper HD 12x50 | 12x50 | 288 ft | 16 mm | 8 ft | 28.8 oz | 4.2 mm | Check price on Amazon |
| Vortex Viper HD 8x42 | 8x42 | 409 ft | 18 mm | 6 ft | 24.5 oz | 5.3 mm | Check price on Amazon |
| Vortex Viper HD 10x42 | 10x42 | 341 ft | 17 mm | 6 ft | 24.9 oz | 4.2 mm | Check price on Amazon |
| Vortex Viper HD 10x50 | 10x50 | 346 ft | 16 mm | 8 ft | 28.4 oz | 5 mm | Check price on Amazon |
Vortex binoculars
Viper HD 12x50 questions
Viper HD 12x50: does it work with glasses?
Viper HD 12x50 has 16 mm of eye relief, which meets the 16 mm the RSPB advises for people who wear glasses.
Viper HD 12x50: what does 12x50 mean?
Viper 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.
Viper HD 12x50: how wide is the view?
Viper HD 12x50 shows a view 288 ft wide at 1,000 yd, at or above the 277 ft median of the 36 12x50 models in the chart.
Viper HD 12x50: can it go on a tripod?
Viper HD 12x50 is tripod adaptable according to Vortex, so it accepts a binocular tripod adapter.