rangefinding binos - thoughts, opinions, reviews?

popcan

popcan

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 99.4%
173   1   0
Location
N 51.22.803 - W 121.16.257
Help!

I need a new pair of binoculars this year, and was wondering about the RF binoculars. The idea of a rangefinder built in seems a no-brainer, but what is the real world experience with them?

Any brands or models in particular I should be looking at, or are they a waste of time/money?


I am looking at the Victory 8 x 45's.
These have a ballistic program built in, which I don't know if I care about, but it's there.

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/zeiss.pl?page=524516


What other dealers here in canada handle good quality binos?
 
Last edited:
Dude it's Zeiss!
For three grand U.S. I am preaty damm sure this bino's could easly subsitute for a rangefinder/spotting scope. Damm it's even got a built in B.I.S. system.
 
Wow!

looks like the Geovids are a real favorite here based on that thread.....

I have usually used 8x in binos - is 10x that much better, no issues with wobbly picture due to the magnification, etc? the 8x Geovids qualify for the 350$ rebate as well. Not sure about the 10x, as CameraLand is sold out. (Do they even ship to canada?)


So, who else carries the Geovids, and how much are the 10x42 BRF?
 
I've got a Zeiss Victory 8x45RF that Santa brought me at Xmas. It's a fantastic unit - just as clear, if not clearer, than my wife's Swarovski 8.5x42 EL. I've ranged out to 1680 yards so far. No problem getting low reflection targets at 1200 yards+. A lot further than I would want to shoot anyway.
 
Last edited:
CameraLand is very good and they happily ship to Canada whatever they are allowed by U.S.A. export regulations, like the binoculars I bought from them. But I think that excludes riflescopes and may exclude rangefinders. You should ask them.
 
Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski. I dont own any rangefinding ones but would like to. I do own a pair of 10X42EL Swarovski & they changed my opnion about optics. Good glass aint cheap & cheap glass well it's functional!!!!
 
I've got a pair of these (http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-s...ng-binoculars/) and they are great. One of the things that's cool about them is you can hold the rangefinding button down and get a running measurement of distance. I've used many different pairs of binoculars and the glass in these ones are the best I've ever looked through.
Click to expand...

Then you owe it to yourself to look through a pair of Zeiss,Swarovski or Leica binoculars,since the Leupold optics that you linked, are not even in the same class that they are.
 
Someone(Swarovski dealer) told me a while back that the rangefinder/bino combo lens system/internals are inferior to a straight binoc from the same manufacturer, any truth to this? I've been looking at the Leica's, but don't want to give up my 8x50 Ultravids for an inferior product.
I guess my question is if the manufacturers have left something out to accommodate the laser ranging system.
 
I have heard the same thing... and I think it has something to do with introducing an additional lens-to-glass surface for the RF system..... or something like that. The degradation is not rumored to be very much though. I suspect some of us wouldn't notice.

I'm getting sold on the geovid 10x42's.... and I have a line on a couple of dealers. Thanks all for the info.

I'm very comfortable with Leica glass... back in the day I had a pair of Leica M4 S's in consecutive serial numbers.... wonderful cameras, and lenses that nothing could match. I guess the binos are the same.
 
Someone(Swarovski dealer) told me a while back that the rangefinder/bino combo lens system/internals are inferior to a straight binoc from the same manufacturer, any truth to this?
Click to expand...

To my eyes my 10x42 Geovid HDs are optically as good as any Leica binoculars that I have tried.
 
Thanks for all the input guys!

I just ordered a pair of the 10x42 BRF-Y :D:D:D

All indications are that supply is dwindling everywhere, and soon you'll have to go with the newest HD version. Not much of a hardship, really, but probably a bit more $ base price, and no 350.00 rebate on them.

If you want a pair, better move!
 
popcan said:
Thanks for all the input guys!

I just ordered a pair of the 10x42 BRF-Y :D:D:D

All indications are that supply is dwindling everywhere, and soon you'll have to go with the newest HD version. Not much of a hardship, really, but probably a bit more $ base price, and no 350.00 rebate on them.

If you want a pair, better move!
Click to expand...

Good job Popcan :rockOn:

:cool:
 
I have the Zeiss Victory 10 x 45 RF. I choose these over the Geovids following an intensive comparison. The Fluoride glass contained in this unit contributes to an astounding sight picture - beyond 3D is the best way that I can describe it. The colour rendition and detail is astounding. The first time my wife looked through them, her unsolicited reaction was "Holly s**t".

I don't use the Ballistic System as it only ranges to 500m. I used this unit to scout several potential locations for stretching the legs on a 338 Lapua Mag this past weekend. It read consistently to 1400m on a clear day.
 
Last edited:
I don't think I'd use the BIS in the Zeiss either, so I'd be paying extra for no reason.... and the Zeiss is already significantly more than the Leica. No doubt the Victory is incredible - I will just have to settle for "awesome"!
 
popcan said:
I don't think I'd use the BIS in the Zeiss either, so I'd be paying extra for no reason.... and the Zeiss is already significantly more than the Leica. No doubt the Victory is incredible - I will just have to settle for "awesome"!
Click to expand...


Me too!! :D:D

Am phoning to order mine tomorrow. After the reviews I read on my other thread it seems like a no brainer. Who did you order from if you don't mind me asking? Best price I've seen so far is from Travis over at JoBrook. $2170 all in and then the $350 USD rebate on top of that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom