The catch
Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28
The field is narrower, and the eye spacing will not close down past 55 mm.
Side by side
Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28 vs Bantam HD 6.5x32 Compared: Bantam suits narrower eyes, and Diamondback focuses on subjects inside twelve feet
Quick verdict
Subjects from 6 to less than 12 ft away, or eye spacing above 69 and no more than 72 mm, point to the Diamondback HD 8x28. Its full eye-spacing range is 55 to 72 mm. The Bantam HD 6.5x32 suits 51 to 54 mm eye spacing or its wider 400 ft field, provided subjects are at least 12 ft away and eye spacing fits its 51 to 69 mm range. Both need an individual eyecup and glasses fit check.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
The hinge fit depends on the face, and no label settles it
A narrow-spaced user may fit the Bantam’s 51 to 69 mm range where the Diamondback cannot close far enough. A 71 mm user ends up with the reverse. When two people span 52 and 71 mm, neither pair reaches both settings. Go by measured eye spacing and ignore any age you attach to the product.
Where this comes from
Check the adjustment range against the person who will use it. Neither product size nor an age label tells you whether the eye spacing fits.
The catch
Vortex Bantam HD 6.5x32
A closest focus of 12 ft can exclude nearby wildlife, and 6.5x enlarges less.
Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28
- Why pick it
- Focus from 6 to less than 12 ft is a must, along with eye spacing from 55 to 72 mm and a successful glasses-on or bare-eye tryout.
- Eye spacing above 69 and no more than 72 mm is required, with subjects at least 6 ft away and an eyecup fit check that works for your eyes or glasses.
- The catch
- The field is narrower, and the eye spacing will not close down past 55 mm.
Vortex Bantam HD 6.5x32
- Why pick it
- Eye spacing of 51 to 54 mm is required, with subjects at least 12 ft away and a successful glasses-on or bare-eye tryout.
- The wider scene matters more to you than 8x image scale, subjects are at least 12 ft away, your eye spacing fits 51 to 69 mm and the eyecups fit your eyes or glasses.
- The catch
- A closest focus of 12 ft can exclude nearby wildlife, and 6.5x enlarges less.
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What this page compares
Two light Vortex pairs list at least 18 mm of eye relief, and each handles close subjects, eye spacing and field width differently.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Need the eye spacing set to 52 mm
The Bantam reaches 52 mm when the eyecups fit and subjects are at least 12 ft away. The Diamondback does not close far enough for that setting.
- Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28
- Not suitable
- Vortex Bantam HD 6.5x32
- Better fit
Need the eye spacing set to 71 mm
The Diamondback handles 71 mm as long as the eyecups fit and subjects are at least 6 ft away. The Bantam’s adjustment ends at 69 mm.
- Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28
- Better fit
- Vortex Bantam HD 6.5x32
- Not suitable
Viewing a subject from 8 ft away
At 8 ft the Diamondback works, provided its 55 to 72 mm range and eyecups fit. The Bantam lists a closest-focus limit of 12 ft.
- Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28
- Better fit
- Vortex Bantam HD 6.5x32
- Not suitable
Hold the binocular body under 15 oz
Each one passes this stated weight screen.
- Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28
- Similar
- Vortex Bantam HD 6.5x32
- Similar
In practice
Differences you will notice
The hinge fit depends on the face, and no label settles it
A narrow-spaced user may fit the Bantam’s 51 to 69 mm range where the Diamondback cannot close far enough. A 71 mm user ends up with the reverse. When two people span 52 and 71 mm, neither pair reaches both settings. Go by measured eye spacing and ignore any age you attach to the product.
How we worked this out
Check the adjustment range against the person who will use it. Neither product size nor an age label tells you whether the eye spacing fits.
The smaller objective can win for a subject close to the trail
A butterfly or feeder 8 ft away is inside the Diamondback’s listed 6 ft focus limit, but closer than the Bantam’s 12 ft limit allows. Past 12 ft, the decision is whether 8x image scale or the Bantam’s wider field helps you more.
How we worked this out
Which close subjects work depends on the stated focus distances. Magnification and objective size are no stand-in for that distance check.
You can get a wide search view without a heavy body
The Bantam covers a 400 ft field at 1,000 yd and weighs 14.4 oz as a body. The Diamondback covers 332 ft at 13.7 oz. With both under a 15 oz body-weight budget, someone watching unpredictable movement can put field width ahead of the small weight gap. Each pair still needs its own glasses fit check.
How we worked this out
The figures here are body weight and field width. Adding a carry setup brings more weight, and neither figure tells you anything about glasses comfort.
Option A
Vortex, Diamondback HD 8x28
Diamondback HD 8x28
Eye relief is 18 mm, near focus is 6 ft and the weight is 13.7 oz. The 28 mm objectives are compact and easy to pack, but they give up geometric exit-pupil size.
- Best for
- Focus from 6 to less than 12 ft is a must, along with eye spacing from 55 to 72 mm and a successful glasses-on or bare-eye tryout.
Facts we checked
- Magnification: 8x
- Eye spacing adjusts from 55 to 72 mm
- Closest focus of 6 ft
- Field of 332 ft at 1,000 yd
Option B
Vortex, Bantam HD 6.5x32
Bantam HD 6.5x32
Consider it if you have measured a narrow eye spacing, because the adjustment range runs 51–69 mm. Close focus of 12 ft may still rule out watching something close in the garden.
- Best for
- Eye spacing of 51 to 54 mm is required, with subjects at least 12 ft away and a successful glasses-on or bare-eye tryout.
Facts we checked
- Magnification: 6.5x
- Eye spacing adjusts from 51 to 69 mm
- Closest focus of 12 ft
- Field of 400 ft at 1,000 yd
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28 | Vortex Bantam HD 6.5x32 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnification | 8x | 6.5x | A distant subject looks bigger through the Diamondback. |
| Eye-spacing adjustment | 55 to 72 mm | 51 to 69 mm | Narrow and wide users may each lean toward a different model. |
| Closest focus | 6 ft | 12 ft | Only the Diamondback covers the range from 6 ft up to under 12 ft. |
| Field at 1,000 yd | 332 ft | 400 ft | Even at lower magnification, the Bantam shows more horizontal scene. |
| Eye relief | 18 mm | 18.7 mm | Try each with your glasses on. Neither figure promises a fit with every frame. |
| Body weight | 13.7 oz | 14.4 oz | Both bodies are light. Eye spacing or close focus matters more than the 0.7 oz gap. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28
- Even its closer focus ends at 6 ft. A butterfly or feeder inside that distance is beyond the listed range of both models.
With Vortex Bantam HD 6.5x32
- The eye-spacing adjustment tops out at 69 mm. Someone who needs 70 to 72 mm falls outside the Bantam range, while the Diamondback does reach those settings.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Focus from 6 to less than 12 ft is a must, along with eye spacing from 55 to 72 mm and a successful glasses-on or bare-eye tryout.
Go with Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28. Down to 6 ft the Diamondback still focuses, and it gives 8x magnification.
Eye spacing of 51 to 54 mm is required, with subjects at least 12 ft away and a successful glasses-on or bare-eye tryout.
Go with Vortex Bantam HD 6.5x32. Eye spacing on the Bantam goes as low as 51 mm, and the Diamondback begins at 55 mm.
The shared pair has to fit 52 mm and 71 mm both, or the fixed subject is nearer than 6 ft
Neither model fits. Neither one meets all of those requirements. Pick around both users and the actual distance.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the binoculars we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28 |
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| Vortex Bantam HD 6.5x32 |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28
Focus from 6 to less than 12 ft is a must, along with eye spacing from 55 to 72 mm and a successful glasses-on or bare-eye tryout.
Eye spacing above 69 and no more than 72 mm is required, with subjects at least 6 ft away and an eyecup fit check that works for your eyes or glasses.
See price & reviews on AmazonVortex Bantam HD 6.5x32
Eye spacing of 51 to 54 mm is required, with subjects at least 12 ft away and a successful glasses-on or bare-eye tryout.
The wider scene matters more to you than 8x image scale, subjects are at least 12 ft away, your eye spacing fits 51 to 69 mm and the eyecups fit your eyes or glasses.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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