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Vortex Diamondback HD 20-60x85 vs Celestron Regal M2 20-60x80mm ED

 Vortex Diamondback HD 20-60x85 (Angled)Celestron Regal M2 20-60x80mm ED (Angled)
Price$699.99MSRP$879.95MSRP
Angle Of View2.1-1.1 degrees2.1-1 degrees
Close Focus Ft24.621.3
Eye Relief Mm18.3-20.320
Field Of View108-60 ft @ 1000 yds110-52 ft @ 1000 yds
Fogprooftruetrue
Length In1619.1
Magnification20-60x20-60x
Objective Lens Mm8580
Waterprooftruetrue
Weight Oz60.966.6
Pros
  • 85mm objective gathers more light than the compact 65mm Diamondback HD variant — a real advantage in low light
  • Built-in sunshade is a genuine field-use convenience, not just a spec-sheet feature
  • Included T-mount adapter is a real, usable extra for digiscoping — not every competitor bundles this
  • 20mm eye relief at 20x is comfortable for extended glassing sessions
Cons
  • 60.9 oz is heavy for anything but tripod use — this is not a scope you hand-hold for long
  • 24.6 ft close focus means it's not useful for anything nearby; it's built for distance
  • 66.6 oz (with eyepiece) is heavier than the Vortex Diamondback HD 20-60x85 (60.9 oz) despite a smaller 80mm objective
  • At $879.95 MSRP, it costs more than the larger-objective Vortex Diamondback HD 20-60x85

MSRP is the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, not a live price — check the retailer link for current pricing.

Verdict

Same zoom range (20-60x) on both, but the Vortex has the larger 85mm objective and costs less at MSRP ($699.99 vs $879.95) — on pure specs, it's the stronger pick for light-gathering per dollar. The Celestron's real counter-argument is the included T-mount digiscoping adapter and its lighter-weight-per-unit-objective-size magnesium body construction, plus whatever preference exists for Celestron's specific ED glass and XLT coating over Vortex's HD optical system. Neither brand's optical performance claims have been independently verified here — this is a specs-and-price comparison, not a resolution/brightness test.

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