Vortex Crossfire HD 10x42 vs Diamondback HD 10x42

Field of view: Diamondback leads

Diamondback HD 10x42 prints 330 ft at 1,000 yd, or 6.3 degrees. Crossfire HD 10x42 prints 325 ft, or 6.2 degrees.

Both sit under the 336 ft median of the 87 models in the 10x42 size. On field of view, Diamondback places 47th of 87 and Crossfire places 54th of 87.

Brightness at dusk: equal

Both models work out to a 4.2 mm exit pupil, a twilight factor of 20.5 and a relative brightness of 17.6. These are calculated from the 10x42 size, not printed by the maker, so they match by design.

Nikon defines exit pupil as the effective objective diameter divided by magnification, and says a larger one gives a brighter view in dim light. With the same figure on both, dusk use does not separate them. The exit pupil calculator shows the working.

Close focus: Diamondback leads

Close focus is 5 ft on Diamondback and 6 ft on Crossfire. The median close focus for the size is 7.5 ft, so both beat it.

A closer limit helps with butterflies, insects and anything you want to study at arm's length.

Weight and steadiness: Diamondback leads

At 21.3 oz, Diamondback is the lighter body. Crossfire weighs 23 oz. The size median is 24.9 oz, so both come in light for a 10x42.

At 10x, hand shake shows more than at lower powers, and less weight on the neck helps over a long day. Both are tripod adaptable, and both use a center focus wheel.

Eye relief and eye spacing

Eye relief is equal at 15 mm. The RSPB says eyeglass wearers should look for at least 16 mm, and the size median is 16 mm, so neither model meets that mark. Audubon puts birder binoculars at 15 to 20 mm, which includes both. For glasses, see the binoculars for glasses wearers list.

Eye spacing differs. Crossfire adjusts across 58 to 75 mm and Diamondback across 55 to 73 mm. A narrow face fits the Diamondback range, a wide one fits the Crossfire range.

Build and weather sealing

Both models are designed to withstand harsh weather, and both are fogproof by the maker's wording. Crossfire is nitrogen filled and Diamondback is argon filled.

Celestron defines waterproof as sealed and filled with dry inert gas, usually nitrogen. Argon is also an inert gas, so the fill does not set one model apart in use. The waterproof and fogproof binoculars guide covers the terms.

Crossfire HD 10x42 or Diamondback HD 10x42

Diamondback wins three rounds on its figures: view, close focus and weight. Brightness and eye relief are equal, and the list band is $200 to $500 for both. Pick Crossfire only if its 58 to 75 mm eye spacing range suits your face. For other models in the band, see $200 to $500 binoculars, Vortex binoculars and best binoculars compared.