Range finder as clear as binos?

tommy88

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I haven't bought a rangefinder or binos for quite a few years so please excuse my ignorance on this topic.

I'm looking for a range finder that can be used for glassing like binos. I know a few years ago youd have to pay big money for a combo like that made in Europe. Has technology caught up yet?

Could a guy pay 200-400 bucks and have something that can do both?
 
I don’t find my rangefinder is good for glassing long distance, I think it’s only 6x21 power and the ocular lens is on the smaller side. You can get range finding binos but be prepared for some sticker shock, they are bloody expensive...
 
Your budget is about half what you need for a decent rangefinder with clear glass. Even with a good one the mag range is usually under 10x. Works ok but won't be the same as binos.
 
Just like scopes, quality is everything when it comes to clear optics.

I had a Leica 6x20 objective lens with a 7mm ocular lens, it was sharp enough to pick out small spikes on a White Tail out to 200 yards. It was very difficult to see well during that last fifteen minutes of shooting light. Because the ocular lens was so small, it was very difficult to center the laser on the target.

Now, I use a Swarovski, 7X30 with a 15mm ocular lens. It works very well during legal light conditions. Clear and sharp, with good light transmission. The light transmission is every bit as good as on my better scopes, such as IOR Valdada/Zeiss/Leupold or my Zeiss binos. Not as good as the Swarovski spotting scope.

The one thing they all seem to do is share similar technology for their laser projectors, receptors.

A couple of friends and I got together to compare different range finders for accuracy at known distances. We used Bushnell, Zeiss, Swarovski and Leupold types.

They were all with a yard or two of each other, right out to 500 yards.

The Bushnell was only regulated for 600 yds but wasn't accurate after 500 yards.

The Leupold performed better, it was regulated for 950 yards but wasn't accurate beyond 800 yds. Likely due to the small ocular/objective lens

The Zeiss, wasn't plagued by small lenses, 8x25 with a 15mm ocular. Its rangefinder worked well on Deer sized logs, out to the 1000 yds it was regulated for.

The Swarovski (15 years old) outperformed the new Zeiss, with supposedly enhanced technology, right out to 1350 yards. It was supposedly regulated for 1500 yds, which was achievable, if you were setting the laser on a building. It really depends on the reflective quality of the object/animal you're distancing.

Each of these units gave readings within a yard or two of each other right out to their dependable distances.

Only the Zeiss gave accurate readings all the way out to its stated regulated distance.


Now, there are all sorts of things that can effect the reading or lack of on any rangefinder. Mist, rain, mirage, density of the object you set the unit indicator on. I've heard some folks complain about low light, but I've never experienced that. Same goes for very bright light, again, unless there is mirage being created, I haven't had any issues with it and some days are very bright, in the middle of January over a snow covered field.

Basically, you get what you pay for.

I didn't get to try out a Nikon, which have some pretty good reviews.
 
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I haven't bought a rangefinder or binos for quite a few years so please excuse my ignorance on this topic.

I'm looking for a range finder that can be used for glassing like binos. I know a few years ago youd have to pay big money for a combo like that made in Europe. Has technology caught up yet?

Could a guy pay 200-400 bucks and have something that can do both?

If you talk to people that really spend a lot of time behind glass and know their #### when it comes to explaining it you get the truth about glass. Rangfinding binoculars do not have the clarity or colour resolution that plain binoculars have. And I'm talking about Leica and Swaro in the $3-$4K range. $200-$400 won't even buy you decent binos, or a decent rangefinder, let alone both.
 
I've seen the awd Zeiss in the upper end of yer budgitt.
But you need to parewse the EE steadily.
You may even git to the stage of grey hair oar loss of it.

WTB in the EE?
 
Great performing binos.. Nikon monarch 5s... I like the 8X

for a nice performing mid range rangefinder, Sig Kilo - don't remember model but a small unit. You will not be glassing with this but you can see not bad. The RF parts works very nicely inside 600m.

Swaro rangefinder has very nice optics BUT way above your price range.

I have looked through the Leica rangefinder/bino and they were very nice for my eyes BUT heavy, and bulkier then I would want for a pure bino. Assume this is for hunting?

What I saw from Bushnell did not impress

Jerry
 
Why is it that 200-400 can buy you a solid used scope, but not binos or a rangefinder?

Supply and demand? Lots of good scopes have been made for years. Good rangefinders have not been around for very long. Just not as many out there.

Lots of folks have several guns and scopes which may come and go, but I'd bet few have even one rangefinder

You should be able to find a Leica 1600 for around $450.
 
If you talk to people that really spend a lot of time behind glass and know their #### when it comes to explaining it you get the truth about glass. Rangfinding binoculars do not have the clarity or colour resolution that plain binoculars have. And I'm talking about Leica and Swaro in the $3-$4K range. $200-$400 won't even buy you decent binos, or a decent rangefinder, let alone both.

I've had Zeiss, Leica and Swarovski rangefinding binos, and kept the Swarovski. The Zeiss was noticeably poorer than standard Zeiss Victory binos. Leica was close, but the Swarovski EL Range is pretty much as clear as the EL binos, at least to my eyes.
The EL Range has its electronics in a belly hump on the barrels, so maybe that's why it doesn't impede light gathering as much as the others.

Anyhow, back to the OP, using a monocular ( $200-400 rangefinder) for viewing will never replace even a cheap binocular.
 
For that money I would suggest the Bushnell prime 1700 rangefinder. Ellwood Epps has it for a bit over $200. They have done everything I've needed them to do for hunting and playing with them at the lake this summer I had no issues ranging the far shoreline trees @ around 1500-1600 yards which was "google maps accurate"
 
Why is it that 200-400 can buy you a solid used scope, but not binos or a rangefinder?

We buy more scopes, almost one per gun, and then decide to try a different scope on some of the guns. So there are more scopes sold used than binoculars or rangefinders.
 
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