The store I work for sells Leupold, Vortex, Nikon, and Sig Sauer optics; I sell a lot of Viper models just by placing the scopes side by side. Of the four brands I think that Sig Sauer's Whiskey 3 models are the best quality for the cheapest price. Leupold makes the lightest weight scopes and are obviously very popular because they are good scopes. Vortex makes very versatile versions of scopes and they give you the most tactical options for a relatively cheap price, and their warranty is hard to beat.
The Viper is brighter and clearer than the Diamondback for most shooters, but then it all depends upon the physical dimensions of the shooter's eye and his skill level. The exit pupil is the key, if the size of the scope's exit pupil matches the size of the shooter's exit pupil then the shooter will see the brightest image possible through the scope. The pupil of your eye controls how much light reaches your optical nerve, if the scope's exit pupil is too small then you will not see as bright a picture as is normal for your eye, if the scope's exit pupil is too large then your eye can be flooded with too much light and details can become blurred.
The bottom line is that the Viper models are better scopes than the Diamondbacks, Vortex explains to their sales people that their line of scopes vary in quality with the Crossfires scopes being the lowest quality optics, then the Diamondback, then the Viper, and finally the Razor. Vortex teaches their sales people to recommend;
-The Crossfire scopes for entry level shooters that will be shooting in mostly range type situations.
-The Diamondback scopes for people that want a basic hunting scope that will allow shots out to 300 or 400 yards without any of the higher quality controls that a tactical or competition shooter would want.
-The Viper scopes for those that want the better controls, might shoot out to moderate ranges (400 to 800 yards or so), but don't want to spend top dollar.
-The Razor scopes for the tactical or bench shooter that needs very precise controls, the clearest image, and long range capability.
The Viper is brighter and clearer than the Diamondback for most shooters, but then it all depends upon the physical dimensions of the shooter's eye and his skill level. The exit pupil is the key, if the size of the scope's exit pupil matches the size of the shooter's exit pupil then the shooter will see the brightest image possible through the scope. The pupil of your eye controls how much light reaches your optical nerve, if the scope's exit pupil is too small then you will not see as bright a picture as is normal for your eye, if the scope's exit pupil is too large then your eye can be flooded with too much light and details can become blurred.
The bottom line is that the Viper models are better scopes than the Diamondbacks, Vortex explains to their sales people that their line of scopes vary in quality with the Crossfires scopes being the lowest quality optics, then the Diamondback, then the Viper, and finally the Razor. Vortex teaches their sales people to recommend;
-The Crossfire scopes for entry level shooters that will be shooting in mostly range type situations.
-The Diamondback scopes for people that want a basic hunting scope that will allow shots out to 300 or 400 yards without any of the higher quality controls that a tactical or competition shooter would want.
-The Viper scopes for those that want the better controls, might shoot out to moderate ranges (400 to 800 yards or so), but don't want to spend top dollar.
-The Razor scopes for the tactical or bench shooter that needs very precise controls, the clearest image, and long range capability.
