I bought a brand new Swarovski rangefinder yesterday... it ranges beautifully indoors, but will not range anything at all outdoors. I have not been able to get even one reading as soon as I step outdoors; it will literally not range the broad side of a barn at 50 yards. I have tried ranging everything at every distance. Anyone else ever have this problem? Am I missing something simple, or is this just another example of the great luck I seem to have?
Odd rangefinder problem
- Thread starter LloydM
- Start date
In earlier morning and later in the afternoon I have finally been able to get a couple of readings at less than 20 yards... but I still can't hit the broad side of the barn at 50. Obviously the lighting has an influence on sensitivity, which also happens to be extremely weak.
Of course I will exchange it, the problem is that I live a long way from where I bought it, and don't know when I will be able to make it back. Next time I will test it on the parking lot before I drive off.
Of course I will exchange it, the problem is that I live a long way from where I bought it, and don't know when I will be able to make it back. Next time I will test it on the parking lot before I drive off.
I had to replace a couple of the Swaros for customers that did something right out of the box similar to what your getting. Talked to Swaro and they said it was a problem with the laser not being focused properly. Took over a month to get them fixed. I sold dozens of Leicas and never had one come back.
Well I finally had it replaced... the staff were skeptical about my claim until they tried it themselves. I walked out the door with a new one and had no trouble ranging a billboard at 1402 yards. I never knew that a laser could be focused, but that sounds like a likely problem. Its funny that some of the units would be focused well, while others were not; maybe they were different lots?
canucklehead
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
That's why Swarovski is garbage....
Sounds dumb, but could it have been the battery? That's odd that it would even make it out of the factory like that!
Sounds dumb, but could it have been the battery? That's odd that it would even make it out of the factory like that!
The sensitivity on the unit was set way to high at the factory, and the unit couldn't discriminate between between it's projection and the ambient light spectrum that exists naturally out of doors.
Hey, I am a army tech geek that hunts.
Hey, I am a army tech geek that hunts.
No it definitely was not the battery, although that is everyones first question. The battery was brand new, well within its expiry date, and we tried different ones at the store to be safe.
This was my first Swarovski product - this first impression sure doesn't give me much confidence... I hope the sensitivity, focus, or whatever won't degrade with time.
This was my first Swarovski product - this first impression sure doesn't give me much confidence... I hope the sensitivity, focus, or whatever won't degrade with time.
I got it at Wholesale Sports in Calgary, but I did not try it out until the day after I bought it. When I found that it was not working I phoned them to let them know I had a problem and ask if there had been any similar problems reported in the past - the problem was an unfamiliar mystery to them too. Before I went back to exchange it I phoned them again and asked them to take one outside and try it on the parking lot to confirm that they had a working model; I phoned back in a few hours, and after assuring me that they had tried it out I had them put my name on the box so there would be one there for me to exchange with. They were a bit hesitant to test it out for me, but they did. I can't blame them with some of the stuff I'm sure customers try to pull on them, and it is unfortunate that I had to make a trip back there just to exchange it, but I don't think I can blame WSS for the problem - as far as customer service goes I was pretty happy with the optics counter. Other areas of the store occasionally leave something to be desired in the way of customer service, but thats the way it goes with chain stores... price vs. service
Anyway double gun, a leica would have been my second choice, so I'm glad to know that Swarovski is not the only company with occasional lemons - from what I hear both companies make excellent rangefinders, hopefully you will get your problem sorted out and neither of us will have any more trouble in future.
Anyway double gun, a leica would have been my second choice, so I'm glad to know that Swarovski is not the only company with occasional lemons - from what I hear both companies make excellent rangefinders, hopefully you will get your problem sorted out and neither of us will have any more trouble in future.
