The Vortex Vulture HD 15×56 is a high zoom binocular in the low-mid price range. While not cheap in general, it is rather cheap for what it offers. 15x zoom is a powerful tool for any semi-pro hunter or birdwatcher. As opposed to other binoculars in our best cheap binocular list, this one costs about $200 more but also offers a bigger punch.
We found these HD binoculars to be rather awesome for the price so read our full review below to see what kind of features the Vulture 15×56 offers. Maybe it’s your new best friend in the nature.
Technical specifications
The Vulture is a nice entry point to the higher end binoculars. Packed with features, we found these to be the most important:
Firstly, let’s address the elephant in the room. The main feature is of course the 15x zoom. This is enough for a serious outdoorsman. Hunters need a lot of zoom in the forest and the Vortex Vulture 15×56 brings enough to the table. This should satisfy most hunters and birdwatchers as well.
The zoom comes with larger lenses as well. The 56mm lenses are of course multicoated and have no problems in the dusk. Larger lenses mean more visibility in the dark and Vortex lenses do it with a nice and clear image. The multicoating process helps with glare too.
The binoculars are coated with a scratch proof Armortek coating and rubber. This mean they can take quite a beating. As one would expect, they are also waterproof and fog resistant. This is essential to using them in rainy conditions. And as we all know, rainy conditions are always around the corner.
Vortex claims that the twist eyecups offer a comfortable viewing experience whether you wear glasses or not. We don’t quite agree with that but more on that later. The Vortex Vulture HD 15×56 comes in a nice carry box and includes a rainguard and a comfortable neck strap as well. At 2.5lbs the neck strap really comes handy.
How good are the binoculars?
Well if you ask us – they are pretty damn good. We tried them at dawn and the light transmission is superb for this price range. The large lenses really do the trick.
The zoom on the Vortex Vulture HD 15×56 had a clear image and we loved the way it focused. We spotted elk from an impressive distance.
On the downside they feel a bit cheap compared to the Nikon competitors in the same price range. The eyepieces weren’t the best we’ve seen as well.
Customer feedback
Customer feedback for the Vulture looks exceptionally good. With 5 and 4 star reviews only on Amazon, it seems that nobody has any major complaints.
Excellent optics and the clear image receive the most compliments. The coated scratch resistant housing is also something that people like. However, there are some people who are not a fan of the eyecups. This is not a big issue however, as these can be replaced quite easily.
Wrapping up the Vortex Vulture HD 15×56 review
All in all we think the Vortex Vulture HD 15×56 is a very decent set in the low-mid price range. If you are on the market for a high-zoom binoculars to improve your hunting or birdwatching game then this would be a good fit.
The image is great regardless of the 15x zoom and we had a lot of fun with it in dark conditions. The Vortex Vulture 15×56 gave an excellent image in our dawn test and we didn’t find any major issues. The eyecups are a bit worrying but that’s nothing a little upgrade can’t fix. We recommend these binoculars and that’s why you can find it in our list of best cheap binoculars.
Looking to learn more about binoculars and features? Check out our guide on finding the best binoculars where you will learn things like porro vs roof prism, protective features, and much more.
Our Rating: 86/100
- 15x magnification and 56mm objective lenses, the Vulture HD uses high density extra-low dispersion glass and XR fully multi-coated lenses, you get super bright images that are sharp and clear from edge to edge.
- Rugged, rubber armor and ultra-hard, scratch resistant armortek coating on all exterior lenses creates a durable binocular able to withstand any conditions.
- Argon purged and o-ring sealed barrels ensure fogproof and waterproof performance.
- A center diopter allows you to adjust for focal differences between your eyes. Twist eyecups allow for comfortable viewing with or without glasses.
- When glassing in the early or late hours of the day when game is most active, you need to have the right tools which is where the Vulture HD binocular comes in. Field of View: 226 feet/1000 yards|4.3 degrees
