Experts recommend Vortex Optics Solo more than Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42
As of 10 Jan 2025, experts prefer Vortex Optics Solo over Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42, but both Monoculars have solid expert endorsements.
As per this month's meta ranking, Vortex Optics Solo received 5 recommendations: from Expert World Travel (10 Feb 2022), Field & Stream (15 Jul 2024) OpticsMag (3 Jan 2024) and 2 others. By contrast, Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42 received only 2 recommendations from Digital Camera World (4 Jan 2025) and Space Exploration and Astronomy (11 Dec 2024).
| Rank | Change | Price | Monocular | T3  | Expert World Travel  | Field & Stream  | Best Binoculars Reviews  | Digital Camera World  | OpticsMag  | Target Tamers  | Space Exploration and Astronomy 
| BestReviews  | Popular Photography  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | - | $129 |  Vortex Optics Solo The Vortex Optics Solo monocular is a compact and lightweight option that offers clear and crisp images, making it a reliable and durable choice for outdoor activities. | - | 2 | 4 | - | - | 4 | 6 | - | 2 | - |
| 4 | - | $159 |  Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42 | - | - | - |
- | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | - |
Curious to see this month's entire Monoculars ranking? It's here
Endorsement summary:
- On 4 Jan 2025 Digital Camera World ranked Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42 as #1
Rank Monocular Comment #1 out of 9 Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42 Best overall... ... ... Source: www.digitalcameraworld.com - On 11 Dec 2024 Space Exploration and Astronomy ranked Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42 as #1
Rank Monocular Comment #1 out of 10 Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42 Best super lightweight model for wide-angles, boasting great specifications for basic astronomy... ... ... Source: www.space.com - On 10 Feb 2022 Expert World Travel ranked Vortex Optics Solo as #2
Rank Monocular ... ... #2 out of 8 Vortex Optics Solo ... ... Source: expertworldtravel.com - On 15 Jul 2024
Field & Stream ranked Vortex Optics Solo as #4
Rank Monocular Comment ... ... ... #4 out of 6 Vortex Optics Solo Best for Hunting... ... ... Source: www.fieldandstream.com - On 3 Jan 2024 OpticsMag ranked Vortex Optics Solo as #4
Rank Monocular ... ... #4 out of 10 Vortex Optics Solo ... ... Source: opticsmag.com - Target Tamers ranked Vortex Optics Solo as #6
Rank Monocular Comment ... ... ... #6 out of 14 Vortex Optics Solo Best Monocular for Hunting... ... ... Source: www.targettamers.com - On 1 Dec 2021 BestReviews ranked Vortex Optics Solo as #2
Rank Monocular Comment ... ... ... #2 out of 5 Vortex Optics Solo Best Bang for the Buck... ... ... Source: bestreviews.com
After counting and adding up the 84 expert endorsements of the January rankings, Vortex Optics Solo outranks Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42. This is not to say that Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42 is a bad option. Like Vortex Optics Solo, it is recommended by experts, but less.
As can be seen below, Vortex Optics Solo outranks Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42 by 1 position. This indicates that, as of 10 Jan 2025, Vortex Optics Solo is more critically acclaimed than Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42.
| Rank | Change | Price | Monocular | T3 | Expert World Travel | Field & Stream | Best Binoculars Reviews | Digital Camera World | OpticsMag | Target Tamers | Space Exploration and Astronomy | BestReviews | Popular Photography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | $190 |  Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Mono The Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Mono monocular is a lightweight and durable device with excellent optical quality, making it perfect for outdoor activities such as birdwatching and wildlife observation. | - | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | - | 4 |
| 2 | - | $579 |  Leica Monovid The Leica Monovid Monocular is a compact and lightweight device with excellent optical quality, making it ideal for outdoor activities such as birdwatching and surveillance. | 4 | 7 | - | - | 2 | 8 | 5 | - | - | 1 |
| 3 | - | $129 | Vortex Optics Solo The Vortex Optics Solo monocular is a compact and lightweight option that offers clear and crisp images, making it a reliable and durable choice for outdoor activities. | - | 2 | 4 | - | - | 4 | 6 | - | 2 | - |
| 4 | - | $159 | Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42 | - | - | - | - |
1 | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| Show all rows | |||||||||||||
Expert reviews [2]
Total expert reviews: 2
- with a score: 1
- without a score: 1
| Highest score by Digital Camera World | 90 |
| Average score based on 2 reviews | 90 |
| Lowest score by Digital Camera World | 90 |
Score distribution:
| 80-100 | |
| 60-80 | |
| 40-60 | |
| 20-40 | |
| 0-20 |
Expert reviews [14]
Total expert reviews: 14
- with a score: 2
- without a score: 12
| Highest score by huntingnote.com | 90 |
| Average score based on 14 reviews | 85 |
| Lowest score by Hunting Optics | 80 |
Score distribution:
| 80-100 | |
| 60-80 | |
| 40-60 | |
| 20-40 | |
| 0-20 |
From Seller:
- High quality roof prism design featuring ED glass objective
- PC phase corrected prism with R-type high light transmission multi-coating
- Nitrogen waterproof construction finished in gloss black
- Wide-angle eyepiece with long eye relief for spectacle wearers
- Read more
From Seller:
- 10x magnification and 36mm objectives lens, the Solo Monocular is a small, lightweight optic with fully multi-coated lenses, increasing the light transmission and resolution giving you the clear, crisp images you want.
- Read more
✅ How To Use Vortex Optics Solo RT 8x36 Monocular Review
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LIVE Ranging Demo/Review of Vortex SOLO R/T 8x36 Monocular | Beginner Tips | Ranging with MRAD
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