Vortex Viper HD 8x42 specs and field of view
Field of view reads 409 ft (7.8 degrees) on the Viper HD 8x42, place 25 of 75 among 8x42 models. Eye relief is 18 mm.
- Field of view
- 409 ftat 1,000 yd
- Eye relief
- 18 mm
- Close focus
- 6 ft
- Weight
- 24.5 oz
- Exit pupil
- 5.3 mmcalculated
Why pick it
- 409 ft view, wider than the typical 393 ft
- 18 mm eye relief, enough for glasses
- Focuses as close as 6 ft
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Who the Viper HD 8x42 suits
The 18 mm eye relief suits eyeglass wearers, and the calculated 5.3 mm exit pupil suits dusk. Close focus is 6 ft.
At 24.5 oz it is heavier than the 24.2 oz median for 8x42, and the maker list band is $500 to $1,000.
Viper HD 8x42 or another model: the best binoculars by maker figures shows how the popular ones differ. Viper HD 8x42 is one of 75 models in the 8x42 binoculars comparison. Vortex lists it in the $500 to $1,000 price band, alongside the models in best binoculars under $1,000.
Viper HD 8x42 specifications
Viper HD 8x42 figures as Vortex prints them; rows marked * are calculated from the 8x42 size.
| Magnification | 8x |
|---|---|
| Objective lens | 42 mm |
| Field of view | 409 ft at 1,000 yd (136 m at 1,000 m) |
| Angular field of view | 7.8° |
| Apparent field of view | 62° * |
| Eye relief | 18 mm |
| Close focus | 6 ft (1.8 m) |
| Eye spacing range | 55 to 74 mm |
| Weight | 24.5 oz (695 g) |
| Length | 5.6 in (142 mm) |
| Width | 4.9 in (124 mm) |
| Fog-proofing gas | Argon |
| Tripod adaptable | Yes |
| Focus system | Center focus |
| Maker list price | $500 to $1,000 |
| Exit pupil | 5.3 mm * |
| Twilight factor | 18.3 * |
| Relative brightness | 27.6 * |
* Calculated from the size, not printed by the maker.
Viper HD 8x42 against other 8x42 binoculars
Viper HD 8x42 shows 409 ft at 1,000 yd, at or above the 393 ft median of the 75 8x42 models in the chart. At 24.5 oz it is heavier than the 24.2 oz median for the size.
Viper HD 8x42 and its nearest rivals
Viper HD 8x42 next to the 8x42 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 8x42 | 409 ft | 18 mm | 6 ft | 24.5 oz | 5.3 mm | $500 to $1,000 | Check price on Amazon |
| Steiner Predator 8x42 | 375 ft | 17.3 mm | 6.6 ft | 26.6 oz | 5.3 mm | $500 to $1,000 | |
| Burris Signature HD 8x42 | 330 ft | 8.2 ft | 23.2 oz | 5.3 mm | $500 to $1,000 | Check price on Amazon | |
| GPO Passion ED 8x42 | 426 ft | 18 mm | 6.6 ft | 26 oz | 5.3 mm | $500 to $1,000 |
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 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 Viper HD 12x50 | 12x50 | 288 ft | 16 mm | 8 ft | 28.8 oz | 4.2 mm | Check price on Amazon |
Lists that include the Viper HD 8x42
Vortex binoculars
Viper HD 8x42 questions
Viper HD 8x42: does it work with glasses?
Viper HD 8x42 has 18 mm of eye relief, which meets the 16 mm the RSPB advises for people who wear glasses.
Viper HD 8x42: what does 8x42 mean?
Viper HD 8x42 magnifies 8 times through 42 mm front lenses, which works out to an exit pupil of 5.3 mm, the width of the beam of light that reaches each eye.
Viper HD 8x42: how wide is the view?
Viper HD 8x42 shows a view 409 ft wide at 1,000 yd, at or above the 393 ft median of the 75 8x42 models in the chart.
Viper HD 8x42: can it go on a tripod?
Viper HD 8x42 is tripod adaptable according to Vortex, so it accepts a binocular tripod adapter.