Upland Optics vs Vortex Review – Optics showdown!

Upland Optics offers premium products for hunters that are durable and powerful, but how do they compare to Vortex’s products? Are you really getting the most for you money, and which products offer the best bang for your buck when it comes to durability and features?

In this article, we’ll be comparing upland optics vs vortex to see which one really offers the best bang for you buck. We’ll compare several different products that they offer including binoculars, rangefinders and spotting scopes. Let’s get started.

What to know before buying binoculars

One of the most important things to look out for when shopping for binoculars is the magnification and objective lens diameter. These binoculars are 10×42 mm, wherein the numbers mean magnification x objective lens diameter.

vortex vs upland optics
The Venator is made with intense field conditions in mind.

This means that the Upland Venator (as shown above) will allow you to view objects in the distance ten times larger than if you were looking at them with the naked eye. As an example, if you were viewing a deer from 500 yards away, it would appear as being just 50 yards away in these binoculars.

The size of lens is also important, as it means that the binoculars will be able to collect more light, resulting in a bright image. In the example above, 10 is the magnification, while the 42 means that the objective lens diameter is 42 millimeters.

Lens objective size is very important too, as larger lenses collect more light than smaller lenses. This means that objects will appear brighter in binoculars that have larger lenses. Furthermore, the size of the objective lens will greatly affect the field of view you will have, which we will discuss next.

vortex diamondback vs upland venator

So, is there any reason that you’d go for less in a pair of binoculars? Absolutely. There is a such thing as overkill, and if you need something more compact and lightweight, then going for something with a smaller range almost always will give that to you.

You might also be interested to know that images can actually be sharper with less magnification. This is particularly true if you decide to go with a cheaper pair of binoculars. Many of them will start to show imperfections above a certain magnification threshold, so be sure to keep that in mind.

Alright, now that we know what to look out for, let’s start our comparison of these two great products. For the purposes of this review, we’ll be comparing the Upland Venator to the Vortex Viper HD model.

Vortex Viper HD binoculars

viper hd vs upland optics venator

The Vortex has several varieties of these particular binoculars available. While they do have a 10×42 that is exactly the same as the Upland Optics Venator, they also sell 12×50, which offers you slightly more power, and for less money. Point to Vortex on this one I’m afraid.

Not only will the Vortex Viper offer superior magnification, but its larger lenses can also take in more light, giving it an edge over Upland’s Venator, while saving you a good chunk of change.

However, before you make your decision based on price alone, you may want to consider the durability factor, because the Venators are tough as nails, and they feature a lens quality which is unmatched thanks to their ED glass.

While the Vortex has less in the way of construction durability, they do have some primo features. Like adjustable eye cups, which makes them comfortable if you wear glasses.

PROS

  • Waterproof
  • Fog proof
  • Lifetime Warranty
  • Sometimes cheaper than Upland
  • Adjustable eye cups

CONS

  • Not quite as durable
  • Doesn’t have ED glass
  • Lower field of view

Upland Optics Venator binoculars

upland optics venator review

While the Venator commands a higher price tag, it does offer some features which are missing in the Vortex Viper. One of the most impressive is their usage of Extra-Low Dispersion glass. This high-quality material gives an ultra sharp image when using them.

I won’t go into the lengthy explanation of how this works, but the important bit is that ED glass reduces chromatic aberration and color fringing, which gives you an amazingly sharp image.

Most manufacturers don’t use this type of glass because it’s more expensive to do so, and it’s tricky to construct them, but Upland Optics is dedicated to using only the highest quality parts in their binoculars.

In addition, if you compare the field of view, which is how wide of an area the binoculars can take in, then Upland comes out on top here as well. When compared to the Vortex Viper 12×50, Upland wins, with a 114m field of view per 1,000 meters, verses the Vortex’s mere 87 meters.

The Vortex 10×42 option does a bit better, but it still comes up short in comparison at 103 meters, a large difference when compared to Upland’s 114 meters.

These binoculars also feature durable construction which features an all over rubber coating to help them survive bumps and bruises while you’re on the trail of big game. The aluminum chassis also allows for more light transmission, making them excellent for low light hunting environments.

PROS

  • High-quality ED glass
  • Better field of view
  • Durable rubber coating
  • Waterproof
  • Fog proof
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Great in low light conditions

CONS

  • A bit pricier
  • Less options

Winner: Upland Optics Venator

If you want to save a bit of money, then you can get a pretty good deal on the Vortex Viper HD on Amazon. However, if you want the best possible performance and durability, then the Upland Venator is the way to go.

These binoculars offer superior clarity, thanks to their Extra-low dispersion glass, they have a rugged housing that can take everything you can throw at it, and they have a lifetime warranty to back it up.

A good pair of binoculars is likely something that you will have for years to come, and we’d prefer to spend a bit more to get a superior product with a great field of view and crisp image rather than save a few dollars. Check these binoculars out here.

Upland Optics Perception vs Vortex Diamondback

Binoculars are an important part of your hunting gear, but you should also have a great spotting scope to go with them. Your binoculars are great for doing wide sweeps of an area to detect movement from game, but a spotting scope really helps you to zero in.

These devices are bulky, so you don’t want to just have them out for everything, hence the need for binoculars, but they do offer superior magnification. That means if you see game over a ridge you can use your spotting scope to decide whether it’s worth the long hike over there.

This advantage is particularly useful in open terrain when hunting game like pronghorns, bears and caribou. So, we’ll also be comparing the Upland Optics Perception scope to the Vortex Diamondback, one of their nearest comparable models.

What’s most important in a spotting scope?

So, what do we need to know in order to choose a great spotting scope? The terminology for spotting scopes is similar to what we’ve previously talked about for binoculars, but spotting scopes can also have a “variable” option available.

A scope which allows you to adjust the magnification level in this manner allows you to see potential trophies up close, but it also gives you the ability to zoom out and get a larger field of view.

In most cases, the scopes lens will be better if it’s larger. That’s because it gives you a larger field of view and the scope can take in more light, giving you an edge in low light conditions. However, you should also make sure that you purchase a scope with a quality lens.

Spotting scope lens will come with different coatings on them and lower quality scopes will utilize less of this. Those that are fully multi-coated will offer the best performance but will also be the most expensive option.

In case you’re wondering, it’s never a great idea to cheap out on optics. Okay, on to the comparison of our two given scopes!

Vortex Diamondback Spotting Scope

First up is the Vortex Diamondback Spotting scope. Immediately you’ll see that the Diamondback has many more options available, including both a straight and angled variant. For many hunters, this option is confusing, and it is a matter of preference really.

vortex diamondback vs upland perception

Straight scopes are the easiest to use and hunters who are inexperienced with scopes may want to pick this option. However, angled scopes can also be useful in specific circumstances. Particularly when viewing from a seated position or in tree stands.

The Diamondback not only allows for both options, but they also have a variety of magnification options available. Both Upland and Vortex offer a 20-60 adjustable magnification option, but if you’d prefer a larger field of view, then the Vortex also has an 80mm lens option available.

While the Vortex boasts a durable rubber coating to protect the scope from bumps and scrapes, some people have complained that other parts of the scope like the knob are flimsy.

PROS

  • 80mm lens size available
  • Multiple magnification options
  • Fully coated multi-lens
  • Waterproof
  • Fogproof
  • Straight or angled option
  • Adjustable eye cup
  • Retractable sun shade
  • Lifetime warranty

CONS

  • More expensive
  • Heavier than Upland
  • Smaller field of view
  • Cheap focus knob

Upland Optics Perception Spotting Scope

Okay, so what about the Upland Perception spotting scope? While this scope is a little lacking in features, it does have a slightly more attractive price tag, and it has a couple of its own tricks.

For starters, it’s smaller and much lighter than the Vortex scope is. While this might not seem like a big deal, if you’re out in the deep wilderness and you can only take what you can carry on your back, every pound counts. So, this scope might be a better choice for the ultra light hunter.

Upland also uses what is called extra low dispersion glass. This offers the scope exceptional quality and clarity, and many hunters say this is the best scope that they’ve ever owned.

Like all of their products, this scope is also extremely durable. It’s waterproof, and it can take a beating in the field if need be. Upland’s scope also offers a much larger field of view, topping out at 43 meters vs the Vortex’s 34, even if you do opt for the bigger lens.

PROS

  • More affordable
  • Larger field of view
  • High-quality ED lens
  • Lightweight
  • Durable
  • Waterproof
  • Fogproof
  • Lifetime warranty

CONS

  • Only one lens option
  • Only one magnification option
  • No straight scope available

Winner: Vortex Diamondback

Thanks to its great number of options and easy of use, we actually prefer the Diamondback over the Upland Optics spotting scope in this category. While it does have a smaller field of view, we love the options.

Upland Optic’s offering seems a little lack luster in comparison to be honest. However, those features cost money, and that means that the Vortex scope comes in at a little higher price tag than the Upland scope if you’ve got a strict budget for your hunting gear.