Was looking at buying a new rangefinder and was really considering the g7 br2. but after doing some research, I found out about the rangefinding binoculars that have ballistic calculating solutions as well. Now as far as I understand the new leica's aren't out yet. But I was wondering between the zeiss, leica and Swarovski rangefinding bino's which do you find are the better for the rangefinding part of the bino's?
Rangefinding binoculars
- Thread starter mooger31
- Start date
westcoaster
CGN Regular
- Location
- Central BC
Just been around the horn on this. Started shooting distance, it became really important to know the distance after 300 yards, bought a rangefinder.
- Bought the 1200 or 1500 yard bushnell rangefinder, can't remember the exact model.
- So disappointing I returned it and bought a Swaro rangefinder.
- Swaro glass on the rangefinder was so good I quit using my cheap binoculars, got eyestrain from always peering with one eye.
- Looked at rangefinder binos in Bushnell, Leica, Zeiss, and Swaro. The Bushnell is not in the same class as the other three - not even close.
- For my eyes the Leica was not as sharp in the binos. Go figure because I bought a Leica spotting scope as it was the clearest to my eyes over the Zeiss and Swaro.
- Zeiss was good.
- Swaro, for my eyes was hands down the best. They are so clear at distance it is rediculous. The rangefinder is even better than their excellent rangefinder. And it has a new feature that tells you the actual distance after compensating for the angle.
- Bought the 1200 or 1500 yard bushnell rangefinder, can't remember the exact model.
- So disappointing I returned it and bought a Swaro rangefinder.
- Swaro glass on the rangefinder was so good I quit using my cheap binoculars, got eyestrain from always peering with one eye.
- Looked at rangefinder binos in Bushnell, Leica, Zeiss, and Swaro. The Bushnell is not in the same class as the other three - not even close.
- For my eyes the Leica was not as sharp in the binos. Go figure because I bought a Leica spotting scope as it was the clearest to my eyes over the Zeiss and Swaro.
- Zeiss was good.
- Swaro, for my eyes was hands down the best. They are so clear at distance it is rediculous. The rangefinder is even better than their excellent rangefinder. And it has a new feature that tells you the actual distance after compensating for the angle.
canucklehead
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Leica Geovids. Awesome.
The swaros and the lica bino's cannot hold a candle to the G7 as far as ranging or balistic calculations go. The lica has no calulation as of yet and dosnt even come close on distance. The swaro's calculator is an average of a bunch of cartridges and you have to work out where yours will fall.
If your serious about long range ballistics in a hurry, for the money the G7 is where its at. I think there on sale for about 1800 right now. After that you have to step up to 6k in vectronix.
I have a lot of experience with all three of the products ive mentioned. I will also mention that the G7 is a product that was a joint effort by Night Force, Laser Tech and Gunwerks.
Laser Tech has been building lasers for the U.S military, Police and NASA for 40 years they are truly a leader in laser technology.
Mine works flawlessly in the worst of conditions. I regularly range 2000 yards in snow with ease, And have ranged as far as 3000 off the ferries between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. I have made shots on Iron consistantly out past 1400 yards and have taken game past 700. Im %100 confident taking game at 1000yards with it, although i have never had too.
I will admit that the Lica and especially the swaro's are nice units , however if your looking for a ranging piece with angle compensation,atmospheric compensation and a ballistic computer all in one unit , the G7 is the only unit. If your looking for a range finding bino with angle and a rough guess of your ballistics , the swaro's are real nice.
Good luck with your choice.
Last edited:
plainSight Solutions
Regular
Mooger:
The short answer is this: if you're considering the G7, then the only rangefinding bino that is comparable is the new Geovid HD-B.
Here is a quick breakdown as I see it:
Zeiss BRF rangefinding binos
Magnification options: 8x or 10x
Min ranging distance: 10 yards
Max ranging distance: about 1,300 yards
Angle compensation: No
Atmospheric compensation: No
Ballistic compensation: 5 pre-set ballistic profiles effective to 500 yards
Cost: $2,799
Leica Geovid HD (old version)
Magnification options: 8x or 10x
Min ranging distance: 10 yards
Max ranging distance: about 1,500 yards (specs state 1,300 but I have personally ranged to just under 1,500)
Angle compensation: No
Atmospheric compensation: No
Ballistic compensation: No
Cost: $2,399
Swarovski EL-Range
Magnification options: 8x or 10x
Min ranging distance: 33 yards
Max ranging distance: about 1,500 yards
Angle compensation: Yes out to 999 yards
Atmospheric compensation: No
Ballistic compensation: No
Cost: $2,999
Leica Geovid HD-B
Magnification options: 8x or 10x
Min ranging distance: 10 yards
Max ranging distance: about 2,000 yards
Angle compensation: Yes - adjusts real-time from 100 to 1,000 yards
Atmospheric compensation: Yes - adjusts real-time from 100 to 1,000 yards for air temperature and air pressure
Ballistic compensation: Yes - adjust from 100 to 1,000 yards with multiple pre-prgrammed ballistic profiles and also allows the user to input specific ballistic data for a custom solution, with output available in "hold-over" values of inches/cm, MoA or Mil-Rad click values, or equivalent horizontal range for custom turrets. The ballistic calculator was designed by G7.
Cost: $2,995
G7 BR2
Magnification options: 7x
Min ranging distance: ?? yards
Max ranging distance: about 2,000 yards
Angle compensation: Yes - adjusts real-time from ?? to 1,400 yards
Atmospheric compensation: Yes - adjusts real-time from ?? to 1,400 yards for compass heading, air temperature and air pressure and/or programmable for user specified values
Ballistic compensation: Yes - adjust from ?? to 1,400 yards with user specified data for ballistic coefficient, muzzle velocity, sight height, altitude, and temperature allowing for a custom solution.
Cost: $1,599
At the end of the day, the G7 will provide you with about 400 more yards of ballistically compensated shooting distance, with slightly more refined configurable input options, at lower magnification (7x vs. 8x or 10x) and at roughly half the cost of the Leica HD-B's.
I can put you into any of the above rangefinding binos (at great prices) however for the G7 (if you don't know who the dealer is) PM and I will direct you (they aren't a board sponsor so it isn't prudent to give them space here).
Hope that helps.
The short answer is this: if you're considering the G7, then the only rangefinding bino that is comparable is the new Geovid HD-B.
Here is a quick breakdown as I see it:
Zeiss BRF rangefinding binos
Magnification options: 8x or 10x
Min ranging distance: 10 yards
Max ranging distance: about 1,300 yards
Angle compensation: No
Atmospheric compensation: No
Ballistic compensation: 5 pre-set ballistic profiles effective to 500 yards
Cost: $2,799
Leica Geovid HD (old version)
Magnification options: 8x or 10x
Min ranging distance: 10 yards
Max ranging distance: about 1,500 yards (specs state 1,300 but I have personally ranged to just under 1,500)
Angle compensation: No
Atmospheric compensation: No
Ballistic compensation: No
Cost: $2,399
Swarovski EL-Range
Magnification options: 8x or 10x
Min ranging distance: 33 yards
Max ranging distance: about 1,500 yards
Angle compensation: Yes out to 999 yards
Atmospheric compensation: No
Ballistic compensation: No
Cost: $2,999
Leica Geovid HD-B
Magnification options: 8x or 10x
Min ranging distance: 10 yards
Max ranging distance: about 2,000 yards
Angle compensation: Yes - adjusts real-time from 100 to 1,000 yards
Atmospheric compensation: Yes - adjusts real-time from 100 to 1,000 yards for air temperature and air pressure
Ballistic compensation: Yes - adjust from 100 to 1,000 yards with multiple pre-prgrammed ballistic profiles and also allows the user to input specific ballistic data for a custom solution, with output available in "hold-over" values of inches/cm, MoA or Mil-Rad click values, or equivalent horizontal range for custom turrets. The ballistic calculator was designed by G7.
Cost: $2,995
G7 BR2
Magnification options: 7x
Min ranging distance: ?? yards
Max ranging distance: about 2,000 yards
Angle compensation: Yes - adjusts real-time from ?? to 1,400 yards
Atmospheric compensation: Yes - adjusts real-time from ?? to 1,400 yards for compass heading, air temperature and air pressure and/or programmable for user specified values
Ballistic compensation: Yes - adjust from ?? to 1,400 yards with user specified data for ballistic coefficient, muzzle velocity, sight height, altitude, and temperature allowing for a custom solution.
Cost: $1,599
At the end of the day, the G7 will provide you with about 400 more yards of ballistically compensated shooting distance, with slightly more refined configurable input options, at lower magnification (7x vs. 8x or 10x) and at roughly half the cost of the Leica HD-B's.
I can put you into any of the above rangefinding binos (at great prices) however for the G7 (if you don't know who the dealer is) PM and I will direct you (they aren't a board sponsor so it isn't prudent to give them space here).
Hope that helps.
Last edited:
westcoaster
CGN Regular
- Location
- Central BC
Some really good input here Mooger.
I agree with the observation on bullet drop on the Swaros. I don't use it. the function I use is the one that gives true distance in hilly or mountainous terrain. I have an MOA reticle on my primary rifle and accurate ballistic charts for knowing where my bullet is going. All I want to know is the actual distance.
The G7 for pure shooting sounds outstanding. I am not familiar with it so I won't comment.
I guess the best way to put this is I am an avid hunter who practices shooting out to 500 yards a fair amount. For my use, which is hunting and moderate distance, the Swaros ideal.
Depending on your application the G7 may be better suited.
I agree with the observation on bullet drop on the Swaros. I don't use it. the function I use is the one that gives true distance in hilly or mountainous terrain. I have an MOA reticle on my primary rifle and accurate ballistic charts for knowing where my bullet is going. All I want to know is the actual distance.
The G7 for pure shooting sounds outstanding. I am not familiar with it so I won't comment.
I guess the best way to put this is I am an avid hunter who practices shooting out to 500 yards a fair amount. For my use, which is hunting and moderate distance, the Swaros ideal.
Depending on your application the G7 may be better suited.
canucklehead
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
The G7 looks cool but keep in mind its a MONOCULAR - not a set of binos.
My Leica 8x42 Geovids (non-HD) net cost to me was about $1600 USD (they had a mail-in rebate at the time). At the end of the day, they are VERY nice binos with a rangefinder built in. I can't imagine glassing distant hills with a G7 monocular. I'm extremely happy with my choice... I also have a LRF1200 rangefinder that I use most of the time.
Not sure why everyone wants a 'ballistic calculator' built into the optics. I simple get the range, and use a chart (or KAC Bulletflight app..
) to get my firing solution.
My Leica 8x42 Geovids (non-HD) net cost to me was about $1600 USD (they had a mail-in rebate at the time). At the end of the day, they are VERY nice binos with a rangefinder built in. I can't imagine glassing distant hills with a G7 monocular. I'm extremely happy with my choice... I also have a LRF1200 rangefinder that I use most of the time.
Not sure why everyone wants a 'ballistic calculator' built into the optics. I simple get the range, and use a chart (or KAC Bulletflight app..
) to get my firing solution.I didnt know that the HD-B's exsisited , for me they fell short on distance so ill stick with my G7 and wait for the next great thing that comes out in a year or 2. However for 90+% of the hunters out there that are dialing MOA or Mil's and shooting past 500 yards but maybe out too 900 or 1000 yards ... " 900 is as far as I am personally %100 confident to take game with my rifle " ... it sounds like the new HD-B's are the answer.
Jordan Smith
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Are you looking for a binocular with rangefinding capability or a rangefinder with long distance viewing capability? That's the question you need to ask yourself. I've had a bunch of binoculars and rangefinders and currently have the Zeiss RF 8x45. It's the best compromise between great optics and ranging capability of the ones I looked at and can be bought for under $2000.
Zeiss, Swarovski and Leica design their bino/RF for hunting purposes, not long range shooters or tactical applications.
Zeiss, Swarovski and Leica design their bino/RF for hunting purposes, not long range shooters or tactical applications.
