Help me pick a new rangefinder

Jamie Black R/T

Jamie Black R/T

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
32   0   0
Location
God's Country, AB
Im looking to carry one piece of equipment from now on. So a rangefinder that doubles as a binocular is a must.

I cant afford a pair of geovids just yet so ive been looking at the bushnell fusions, leupold RXB4 or possibly the Zeiss 8x26 BT Rangefinder

i know the zeiss isnt a binocular but will it suffice as a glassing tool as well as a rangefinder?

I have handled them and made a few of my own opinions on these.

The bushnell has a nice focus wheel and great glass...very clear as a binocular but the rangefinder display is so dim its nearly impossible to see in a bright setting.

The leupolds are even more clear than the bushnells. They are lacking a single focus wheel and you have to turn both eye cups independantly to focus which may be cumbersome in the field. But the rangefinder has more options than the bushnells and the display is super bright and easy to read

The zeiss unit i did not get to fondle yet but i will soon

Any real world field experience you guys can share on these three specific units?

Thanks
 
If funds are limited at this time I think you would be best served to buy either a decent rangefinder or bino as seperate units. The new Leica 1600 will be out soon ($850) and I would buy that unit and use it as a limited device for scanning (one lense so you will not have the depth of field of a bino) but well worth the trade off for the time being. The less expensive of the combo bino rangefinders are OK for performance but not outstanding in either field. My preference for most field or range use is a small high perfomance range finder and likewise a smaller, better (8x32 or 8x40) bino at the higher end for performance. I still find the premium combo units a little too big for me and more expensive than I wish to pay for a single combined unit. Phil.
 
I use a Leica 1200 and have round it adequate for some scanning/bino duties. If I am glassing alot, I still prefer using binos, but in a pinch, the Leica is not bad. They can be picked up for relatively cheap (or you can wait for the 1600 like Phil mentioned), and it might serve you well until you can afford the geovids

As a question, why is "only one piece of equipment, all the time" a must ? I do it occasionally because I might be shooting at very short ranges in areas where I do not have any long range visibility, but those places are few and far between in the prairies. I have found myself wishes for binos when viewing a buck at 100-150 yds and wanting to better determine quality of antlers.
 
A combo binocular / rangefinder is a wonderful idea in theory. In practise they aren't very practical. The ones I've handled are heavy and awkward compared to regular binoculars, and most of them are are not as useable, as well as other issues you touched on like focus and clarity.

Since most hunters would use the binoculars most of the time IMO it's still a better idea to have a good quality lightweight pair of binocs and a small handheld monocular rangefinder. The new Leupold rangefinders are excellent and fit in the palm of your hand.
 
i use the leica crf 1200. good rangefinder . small and compact .farthest ive ranged with it is just over 1300 yards .
 
A combo binocular / rangefinder is a wonderful idea in theory. In practise they aren't very practical. The ones I've handled are heavy and awkward compared to regular binoculars, and most of them are are not as useable, as well as other issues you touched on like focus and clarity.
Click to expand...

I don't agree at all,after using a pair of Leica 10x42 Geovid HDs last season,I will never again use separate binoculars and rangefinger.It is far quicker to range an animal as you glass it to estimate it's size,than to put down the binoculars,and then range it with a separate rangefinder.As to clarity and focus,my Geovid HDs are clearer and brighter than the binoculars used by the vast majority of hunters.
 
stubblejumper said:
I don't agree at all,after using a pair of Leica 10x42 Geovid HDs last season,I will never again use separate binoculars and rangefinger.It is far quicker to range an animal as you glass it to estimate it's size,than to put down the binoculars,and then range it with a separate rangefinder.As to clarity and focus,my Geovid HDs are clearer and brighter than the binoculars used by the vast majority of hunters.
Click to expand...

Really

There are Geovids, and then there is everything else. Geovids do carry some extra weight relative to most other quality binos. FS
 
Fassteel said:
Really

There are Geovids, and then there is everything else. Geovids do carry some extra weight relative to most other quality binos. FS
Click to expand...

Geovids are great no doubt but the Zeiss is definitely a big step up in optical quality. From what I've seen the rangefinder is superior as well. I wish the companies would publish the cone angle of the actual laser beam but I've yet to see a range finder that will shoot through such small areas without ranging the closest object. I've ranged in excess of 1,600 yards with them but it's the ability to shoot through cracks in the rocks and trees that really impresses me. Plus it's hard to beat the optical quality of Zeiss binos.

When worn on a bino harness, the extra weight and bulk seems non existent.

As for the OP, of all the stand alone rangefinders I've used and it's been a lot, I'm not sure there's one that would double as a set of binos. Objective lens size is so small that light is an issue and even optical quality isn't great, at least when doubling as binos.
 
Last edited:
Geovids are great no doubt but the Zeiss is definitely a big step up in optical quality.
Click to expand...

I do find the Zeiss optics very slightly better than my Geovid HDs,but it certainly isn't a big difference to my eyes.I chose the Geovid HDs because at the time I was able to cash in on a Leica rebate and buy the Geovid HDs for about $1200 less than the Zeiss product.
 
stubblejumper said:
I do find the Zeiss optics very slightly better than my Geovid HDs,but it certainly isn't a big difference to my eyes.I chose the Geovid HDs because at the time I was able to cash in on a Leica rebate and buy the Geovid HDs for about $1200 less than the Zeiss product.
Click to expand...

To my eyes the difference is very noticeable. I'd compare the Leicas to the Conquest line of Zeiss optics. I'm sure if Zeiss puts a rangefinder in the Conquest binos, it will take a big bite out of the Geovid market. The cone angle on the Geovids seems considerably bigger but darn, I can't get any info on cone angles from anyone so I'm just going on personal experience. Right now, you need someone pretty serious about glass to pay for the Victorys. The Geovids are unquestionably a great bino/rangefinder combo in their class and well worth the money. It just depends on the type of hunting you do.....
 
To my eyes the difference is very noticeable.
Click to expand...

Everyone's eyes are different.I find the Geovid HDs a small step up from the regular Geovids,and the Zeiss unit,a small step up from the Geovid HDs.If you compare the Regular Geovids to the Zeiss units,then yes,the difference is much more noticeable.

As for the cone angle,that is one thing that I hated about my Bushnell rangefinder.The Leicas have a much narrower beam,but you have to hold them steadier to get a reading.Some people actually prefer the Bushnells because of that,but I agree with you,that narrower is better.
 
Yup, no doubt that different eyes see optic quality differently. I think the number of hours you look through them in a day is a factor as well. The requirements of a sheep hunting bino are far different than that of a deer hunting set. I was worried about the narrow cone angle on the Zeiss and needing to be super steady when ranging but the laser is so fast that it really doesn't seem to matter even at extreme ranges. I noticed that with their stand alone rangefinder as well though. Not sure I've seen a faster unit...perhaps the Swaro is as fast but nothing else I've tried comes close. I guess the fast speed makes up for the shake....not sure.
 
stubblejumper said:
Some more opinions of the Geovid VS Zeiss RF.Apparently these people see very little difference if any in optical quality.Some even prefer the Geovids.

http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-7581.html
Click to expand...

As I said, the requirements of a deer hunter (even roe deer) are far different than that of a sheep hunter. I'm sure opinions vary wildly....I just know what my eyes said.....I'm sure others think differently...like some of those you posted in the U.K.
 
As I said, the requirements of a deer hunter (even roe deer) are far different than that of a sheep hunter.
Click to expand...

Regardless of what they hunt,they can still give an objective opinion of optics quality.Actually those people can likely be more objective than someone who has Zeiss as a sponsor for their television show.;)
 
I had the normal Geovids for a little while, until an Argentinian outfitter offered me a lot more than they are worth and insisted. I came home and bought the HDs, and turned a profit on the deal.:D The HDs are better, no doubt about that. They're also better than my Zeiss and Swarovski binos, but I guess that's beside the point.
I find it a huge advantage to have the rangefinder and binos in one unit. Now, if they would only put my ballistic program and Kestrel in there we'd really be getting somewhere.:D
 
stubblejumper said:
Regardless of what they hunt,they can still give an objective opinion of optics quality.Actually those people can likely be more objective than someone who has Zeiss as a sponsor for their television show.;)
Click to expand...

Just talking about what I'm intimately familiar with, not what I read on the internet.....:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom