Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 Review (2024)

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By Benjamin Hickok and Jessica Riconscente ⋅ Dec 23, 2023

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• Clarity - 35%6.1

• Brightness - 20%7.3

• Comfort - 15%3.2

• Field of View - 10%4.7

• Ease of Adjustment - 15%5.4

  See Also

  Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 ReviewVortex optics copperhead 4-12×44 Review - Binoculars GuruVortex Copperhead 4-12X44 Review – 2022 Guide - Gun MannVortex Copperhead Vs. Crossfire Binoculars: Which Is Better?

• Close Focus Range - 5%8.2

The Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 offers good clarity and brightness for its affordable price. With a design, materials, and features common to Vortex's whole line of binoculars, you get entry-level performance with the refinement of a product that comes from time spent designing and building more premium optics. While we thought the optical performance of this model was impressive for an affordable tier of binoculars, its field of view could be better, and when considering the price point, it might be worth budgeting just a little more for the next step up in Vortex's lineup. See our review of the best binoculars for better options.

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Performance Comparison

Clarity

The Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 offers good clarity for its mid-tier price, approaching the clarity that is generally only achievable from much more premium models we've tested. In our testing, we did experience a yellow fringing on all objects, like a subtle glowing shadow, and a magenta hue on objects at the top edge of the lens. We also observed slight distortion at the top and bottom edges. All in all, this model provides the best-in-class clarity among several comparable products in our test lineup.

Our clarity tests with the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50.

Brightness

We factored exit pupil size, observed brightness, and measured brightness in our brightness testing. In our observed brightness test, objects were easily seen and distinguished, whereas they disappeared with other models in fading light more quickly. The large 50 mm lenses do a great job of transmitting observable light, which was also validated by objective measurements.

In our testing, the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 transmitted 1020 Lux, whereas the smaller Diamondback HD 8x42 measured closer to 1200 Lux despite being disadvantaged by a lens that is 8 mm smaller. However, the Diamondback comes from the next tier up in Vortex's product lineup and more than likely uses higher-quality glass and coatings. Overall, good brightness is another win from this affordable model.

Comfort

The Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars are hefty, weighing in at 31.2 ounces. Unfortunately, the weight can be felt while in use due to the model's front-heavy, badly balanced mass. We found the strap to be pretty standard — it gets the job done of resting the binos around your neck with adequate comfort, but you can still feel the heft of this model.

Field of View

In our field of view testing, we used an upright wooden fence to measure the field of view at a set distance. We were only able to observe 49 fence boards, whereas more than 60 were seen clearly with a few of the top models tested. This is a below-average result and a setback to otherwise good optical performance from the Vortex Crossfire HDs.

Ease of Adjustment

The Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 does not have a locking diopter, which is only present on the most premium models. However, the focus knob is more exposed on this model, which allows for more rotation with a single press of the finger, than is possible with many other models. Fortunately, for those who wear glasses, you won't have an issue achieving a good focus using this pair of binos, which isn't true of all models we tested. We also measured the eye relief at 18 mm, which is a hair better than the manufacturer's stated specifications.

Across our ease of adjustment testing, the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 proved to be straightforward to operate, about what we might expect at the price point and from more entry-level pairs of binos, but it still left a little to be desired.

Close Focus Range

The Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 has an impressive close focus range that we measured at 6.8 feet, which is a number that is closer to the measurements taken on top-tier models than it is an entry-level optic.

Should You Buy the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50?

While the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 is a good pair of binos, at the multi-hundred-dollar price point, we feel that it is reasonable to budget just a little more for a step up in performance. Therefore, we'd suggest passing on these and looking at other top-ranked binoculars.

What Other Binoculars Should You Consider?

For a little more money, we recommend the Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 over the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50. It costs a bit more but offers greater clarity, brightness, field of view, close-range focus, and ease of use, and is also more comfortable to handle. If you're looking for a compact pair of binoculars at an even lower price to take to your kid's soccer games or the zoo, we recommend the Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof 10x25. These offer just the right amount of clarity without spending hundreds of dollars. You can find other affordable options in our review of the best binoculars.