Laser Range Finders

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22rimfiredude

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What have been your experiences with LRFs? I am saving up to get a good one and am looking at the following:

1 - Leica CRF 1200 ($689)
2 - Leupold RX-IV ($669)
3 - Nikon Monarch 1200 ($518)

I want one that is accurate, durable and clear/bright. Like to haves would be the ability to use a tripod (for range use) and the ability to take a normal battery. I don't really care about the "TBR" functions.

Furthermore, what about the Bushnell Elite 1500 ($489)? It is alot cheaper compared to the others, but is it comparable?

Any input would be appricated.

S
 
22rimfiredude said:
What have been your experiences with LRFs? I am saving up to get a good one and am looking at the following:

1 - Leica CRF 1200 ($689)
2 - Leupold RX-IV ($669)
3 - Nikon Monarch 1200 ($518)

I want one that is accurate, durable and clear/bright. Like to haves would be the ability to use a tripod (for range use) and the ability to take a normal battery. I don't really care about the "TBR" functions.

Furthermore, what about the Bushnell Elite 1500 ($489)? It is alot cheaper compared to the others, but is it comparable?

Any input would be appricated.

S
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get the bushnell one thats built in the rifle scope, all in one
 
Get the Leica. No question. The Leupold has a crazy cluttered reticle, and the Leica is FAR superior to the Nikon.

Check out www.cameralandny.com for awesome prices on the Leica 1200. Doug is a sponsor here, and with the exchange rate, you'll spend about $450 total (shipped and landed).

The Leica uses a 9V battery, but you can't use a tripod without an adapter. I believe Doug sells those too!

I have the 1200 (as you may have guessed) and it's fantastic. Fast, accurate and simple to use. Plus, it has Leica optics, which to me are second only to Swarovsky.
 
canucklehead said:
Get the Leica. No question. The Leupold has a crazy cluttered reticle, and the Leica is FAR superior to the Nikon.

Check out www.cameralandny.com for awesome prices on the Leica 1200. Doug is a sponsor here, and with the exchange rate, you'll spend about $450 total (shipped and landed).

The Leica uses a 9V battery, but you can't use a tripod without an adapter. I believe Doug sells those too!

I have the 1200 (as you may have guessed) and it's fantastic. Fast, accurate and simple to use. Plus, it has Leica optics, which to me are second only to Swarovsky.
Click to expand...

+1 on the Leica..... I have had better luck consistently ranging long distance targets with the Leica as opposed to other brands....
 
Just a little insight fellas. I am a big fan of the Leicas and my hunting party has used them since they came out. The optics are the best to my eyes and they seem to work great here in AB for most anything. My brother and I went to New Mexico antelope hunting and they didn't work very well at all. There were several guides and other hunters using various rangefinders including brand new Leica Geovids(binocular/rangefinder combo) and none of them worked well picking up antelope out in the flats at long range. The only rangefinder that worked good was that new Swarovski LRF. It worked fantastic! The outfitter said that that was the only one they found that would pick up things like antelope in the flat. All the other ones work fine against a hard prominent backdrop like a barn etc. I'm not running out to sell my Leica because it works fine in AB ranging the things we do at the distances we do. Hope that helps.




Regards
 
I was going to buy a Leupold rangefinder, until I read the horrible reviews about how cluttered it is, and how you have to constantly cycle through it's stupid menu to use it and how cheaply it was constructed, so I thought a higher end Bushnell shouldn't be too bad.

But the more I read, the more the Leica CRFs just blow the other ones out of the water. They are simple: you push a button, you get a range. They don't need all the different rain/snow/flying pigs/blowing dust modes that the other ones do it seems. They just work.

When I eventually need a rangefinder enough to justify the cost of buying one, it will be a Leica I shall get. Puttering around with anything less, it seems, would just be a waste of money.

Just a quick caution: the Leica on sale at www.cameralandny.com for $430 is the older LRF model, so it is slightly bigger. The CRF is the same thing, just in a smaller package, hence more expensive ($620 shipped to Canada according to the shopping cart). Good price compared to Calgary's Wholesale Sports at $680 + GST.
 
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I have the Elite 1500 and its an awesome unit. The only one I like better is the Leica 1200 Rangemaster which is more compact and brighter, clearer optics. Its a couple hundred more $ though and doesnt have the ARC ability
 
Not on your list - #1 Leica Geovid laser binocular

Monoculars

1) Swarovski Guide (8x30) closest thing to a decent binocular in the monoculars. I have a mint set for sale. 1500 yard ranging with Swarovski quality.
2) Leica 1200 CRF - better then their original 1200 but still below the Swarovski.
3)...others..
 
Thanks for the input guys! I will look into the ones from cameraland. I would love a pair of Geovids, but they are well out of my price range. I have always liked the Leica military optics (GLPS,etc), bright and rugged.

I am surpried about the Leupold, though. It makes sense about the clutter, I think they offer about a dozen options.

On the Bushnell Elite, what are your impressions about the TBR feature?

Cheers

S
 
I recently ordered some Leica Binocs from Cameraland and would definitely use them again. Their staff seems very knowledgeable and their service is quick. I placed my order late Friday afternoon (too late to send out that day) and received them the next Friday.

One thing to add if you are comparing prices is that you do have to pay GST on them..... Canada post collects it.
 
And if Revnue Canada opens the item you may be hit with a nasty awakening message called DUTY for euro product. Always a chance....roll the dice....LOL
 
I have a question about the Leicas for those in the know.

In real world terms, what is the difference between the older 1200 model and the new CRF 1200? (Obviously, the new one has a different body and is smaller.)

How much of an improvement is the newer model over the older model?
 
I have used both and I like the smaller version. Its more expensive and more compact. I got the 15x56 Geovid TODAY and they both, CRF 1200 and Geovid measures the same distance. I may sell my CRF 1200 which is only 3 moths old as I don't need it any more.
 
Just received the Leica LRF 1200 from Cameralandny. I must say that I was blown away by the quality of the optics. The picture I get from this unit, even though it is just a 7x monocular, is actually better, clearer, brighter than I have seen from many binoculars.

The ranging is surprisingly accurate, as long as you can hold the unit still. The aiming mark is quite tiny (a good thing) and that can create challenges to hit objects far away (like a stop sign at 500 yards) if you're holding the unit in your hands. Still, it's had no problems ranging bushes and trees at 500+ yards.

I'm looking forward to playing with this baby some more. Perhaps its greatest use is as a teaching aid. It's a humbling experience to look at an object, guesstimate its range and then check it to see how good (or bad) your guess was. I figure if I do this a few thousand more times I might actually begin to develop some range estimating abilities.
 
tried them all, the leupolds need work, 50% go back for repair. Swarovski is good,easier to look through than the Leica. But for the money the elite 1500 is the best buy, great eye relief,rainguard, fast to get a reading, and great longdistance ranging. Tried some of the Cabelas brands but they did not work at a 1sq ft size object past 300 yds.
 
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