Leica CRF1200 rangefinder

C

Camper Greg

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I'm looking for a decent range finder for use during daylight hours and likely in the rain. From what I've been able to research, the Leica CRF 1200 seems to be the hands down winner on performance. However the cost ! Ay ya yi!

Any comments on field use of this range finder versus others would be much appreciated.
 
I have the 1200 and had the oportunity to test it against a bunch of others. The only one that out performed the Leica was the Swaro and it is slower to give a reading. I have ranged animals to 900+ yards and a hard target to 1300+. Plus the Leica fits in your shirt pocket, great piece of kit.
 
I've got a Leica 1200 and it's ranged individial deer out to 800-odd meters when you can hold it steady enough. I've also ranged treelines and hills at over 1000 meters an dlarge objects even farther (I ranged the water tower in Inuvik from my back porch and, IIRC, it was 1300-odd meters but I'm not sure).

I bought mine from Doug at Cameraland and can't recommend him higher. Great guy to deal with.
 
The one thing I found is the Leicas reticle is smaller than other RF's which is good when trying to range a small object but can be an issue when trying to hand hold especially in the wind. If your shakey you occasionally get a reading from a nearby object but this isn't the RF's problem IMO
 
I spent about a hour comparing the Leica with the Leupold RX1000 TBR, before ultimately purchasing the Leupold. The reasons I chose the Leupold were as follows:

- Leupold has TBR - Leica has nothing
- Leopold has OLED display with adjustable brightness and multiple reticles - Leica nothing
- Leopold was smaller than the Leica, making it easier to carry around
- Both had good glass, so that was a wash

The only thing I could find that was better on the Leica was a slightly longer range. Under 1000 yards, they both gave consistently good readings. Therefore I reasoned that since the Leupold offered more features for $200 less than the Leica, it was the better value.
 
I like my Swarovski. The pic is from the mountains on a rock face. It also ranged another one at 1800 but I was not quick enough to take a pic.

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I ranged a bale stack at 1200. The bale stack I would consider to be non-reflective so that is fairly good in my books. 2 of my buddy’s have the 1200 and they work well also. A little quicker to range but not as much distance. The 1200 is smaller but the Swarovski has a tapped thread for a tripod mount. The Swarovski has 8x mag and the Lieca has 6x but the clarity is a wash, they are about equal in that are. I think you will be happy with either one.
 
I own one and I can range large clumps of trees to 1300+ yards. Round bales out to 1100 yards. Small metal road signs like a stop sign or yield sign out to 700 yards. It's fast and it's pretty accurate...I ranged an object at a known distance of 750 yards and it was very-very close to perfect.
 
jtaylor67 said:
I spent about a hour comparing the Leica with the Leupold RX1000 TBR, before ultimately purchasing the Leupold. The reasons I chose the Leupold were as follows:

- Leupold has TBR - Leica has nothing
- Leopold has OLED display with adjustable brightness and multiple reticles - Leica nothing
- Leopold was smaller than the Leica, making it easier to carry around
- Both had good glass, so that was a wash

The only thing I could find that was better on the Leica was a slightly longer range. Under 1000 yards, they both gave consistently good readings. Therefore I reasoned that since the Leupold offered more features for $200 less than the Leica, it was the better value.
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Call me crazy but I think my Leica adjusts the read-out brightness automatically...or at least it seems to be dimmer at night vs. during the daytime. Can someone else vouch for this......?????
 
If the CRF is too pricey, take a look at a used LRF1200. You can find them in the EE for about $400.

Leica vs. Leupold - there isn't even a comparison. The Leica optics and laser system (in my opinion) are far superior.

Yes, I own an LRF... and a pair of Geovids, so maybe I'm a bit biased.
 
The farthest I've ranged with my CRF 1200 is 1500 yds. I constantly range/shoot 1300 yds with it and get readings beyond that. Light seems to be a factor though - my best readings were in low light conditions (at dusk).
 
popcan said:
My Geovids read out self-adjusts to ambient light so I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the CRF does the same thing.
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Negatory. I have both and the LRF does not auto adjust. The CRF might but the LRF definately does not.

Actually that's the only thng that annoys me about the geovids. I wish it was bright all the time!
 
canucklehead said:
Negatory. I have both and the LRF does not auto adjust. The CRF might but the LRF definately does not.

Actually that's the only thng that annoys me about the geovids. I wish it was bright all the time!
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I think I would rather have the constant display. Sometimes my Swarovski goes too dim in the day and you can barely read the display. It takes a little bit and then it auto adjusts back bright enough to read. But sometimes it takes too long and the yardage reading has already cleared. I'll call that +1 point for the Leica.
 
I have the LRF 900 model and have been thouroughly impressed. In my experience the Leica's and Swarovski are the only models that will meet or exceed their yardage rating. I have used friends Bushnells and Leupolds and have been disappointed by their performance. Yeah they have more bells and whistles but these don't amount to much if you can't get a yardage reading when you need it. I find their yardage ratings very optimistic. A friends Leupold RXII isnt much good past 350 yds (even on highly reflective targets)despite being rated as a 750yd. instrument.
 
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