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Range finding Binos?

A

acks280ack

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Minuteman
Apr 12, 2009
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Iowa
I have a set of 10x42 Leica Geovids. They are about 8 years old and are great to glass with. My problem is I dont think the range finding is that great. Some times it will pick up 800+ meter ranges but most of the time I strugle to get 400-600 meter ranges... In a hunting situation this can be a deal breaker. I am looking for some info and first hand knowedge compairing the Geovids to the Zeiss 10x45 RF binos. I may need to upgrade? If the new Geovids are good I would not mind sticking with Leica either. I just want something that works!
Thanks for your help!
And I have sent them back to Leica twice. They come back better but seam to get worse in time, and I did change the battery.
smile.gif

Nick
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

Nick,

Have you got to use Pat's Vector 21's ? Grin.

I have the same as you and experience the same problem. I have been looking hard at getting a Vectronix PLRRF10 or PLRF05. I would love to have the Vector Iv's, but they are cost prohibitive for me. Thinking I will go back to the bino and separate rangefinder... That is why the Swaro laser guide or PLRF series is what I have been researching.

Scott
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

I have a set of Zeiss 10x45 rf binos. The glass is outstanding. I have not had a chance to use both side by side in the field. I have had returns that were repeated at 1769 yrds. That was in the mountains and conditions were ideal. They have consistantly ranged coyotes at 7-800 yards offhand and moving. The only complaint I have is the readout could be brighter or more defined. I have noticed in bright conditions they are getting picky about how steady I am. I think this is from a battery that has some age on it.
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

Ya, What I need is that Vector it is awesome!! That is a stiff price tag that I can not swing...

7-800 would be great consistantly!! I did notice when I looked through the Zeiss in the store they were hard to see the read out.

2-300 meters is not acceptable. I need to do something???
Thanks for the info!
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

We have used both. My buddy that has the Geovids, just borrowed my 10x45 Ziess RF binos for a Marco Polo hunt. We have found that they always outrange the Geovids, I think the glass is better too.

Early am, later afternoon, not impossible to get 1800 yard readings. High noon, 1200-1300 yards is about all you can expect consistently. Unless you are shooting a mile, you're probably OK there.

Nice thing is, it's one less thing to carry, and slung around your shoulders/neck, always at hand. Your range estimating skills will improve a lot too, if you estimate first, then range.

Ask me what ever you want about these two, we have tried them together a lot.
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

Mikee,
Thanks for the info!! No way I can get 1200+ with mine on the best day and conditions.

1200-1300 would be great. Not just for shooting but judging terain and seeing what time of distance I would have to cover to get into range.

My effective range is about 700 meters in ideal conditions it a real hunting situation anyway.

I was just so frustrated not getting 4-500+ last week I have to change.
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

Doug at cameraland listed a demo pair for 1999.99 they were the Zeiss 8x56 RF.My brother picked them up.I payed 2700.00 for mine
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

I had the Leica 10x42 and moved them out for the same reason.
They would not range consistently out to 4-500 on soft targets and sometimes hard targets were a challenge as close as 700yds. Fresh batteries made no difference.

I now have the Zeiss 10x45BRF and am very pleased. Can range animals out to 1000 yards with boring consistency (maybe further, have not tried it). Have ranged trees and such out past 1300….consistently.

The glass is GREAT as well.

Bad-ass gear, Dude. Bad-ass gear.
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RHutch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I had the Leica 10x42 and moved them out for the same reason.
They would not range consistently out to 4-500 on soft targets and sometimes hard targets were a challenge as close as 700yds. Fresh batteries made no difference.

I now have the Zeiss 10x45BRF and am very pleased. Can range animals out to 1000 yards with boring consistency (maybe further, have not tried it). Have ranged trees and such out past 1300….consistently.

The glass is GREAT as well.

Bad-ass gear, Dude. Bad-ass gear. </div></div>

how are they on smaller targets in large grass fields or low hills ?

thanks Scott
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

Might look into the Bushnell 1600 ARC Fusion as well. They seem to get good reviews and can be had for a fair price.
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

Ive owned the Leica Geovids, and now own the Zeiss Victory 10X's.
No Comparrison... I've checked the Zeiss against 2 different PLRF10's and out to 1488 yards they are within a yard. I have no trouble hitting targets past 1000 yards.
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

I own the Steiner Military Range Finders. They are hands down better than the Leica geovids. The glass quality is awesome and I have ranged all the way out to 2300 yards with them on a good day and it will range in most conditions out to 1700yards. The only downside is they are on the bulky side. But, they work awesome.

steinerlrf01.jpg


They are also expensive but I am happy with them. The glass quality compared to the Geovids in my oppinion are about the same.
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

Yeah, they are around $2800. You can find them cheaper if you look hard enough. There was someone on the hide a few weeks back selling one for $1700
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sendero_man</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RHutch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I had the Leica 10x42 and moved them out for the same reason.
They would not range consistently out to 4-500 on soft targets and sometimes hard targets were a challenge as close as 700yds. Fresh batteries made no difference.

I now have the Zeiss 10x45BRF and am very pleased. Can range animals out to 1000 yards with boring consistency (maybe further, have not tried it). Have ranged trees and such out past 1300….consistently.

The glass is GREAT as well.

Bad-ass gear, Dude. Bad-ass gear. </div></div>

how are they on smaller targets in large grass fields or low hills ?

thanks Scott </div></div>

Have not played with them enough to be able to determine that. Don't remember ranging anything smaller than a waist high bush.
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

I ordered my Swaro Rangers through Alex at Euro optic still waiting for them to come into the states. Last update I got was they should be here sometime this week or next. Have to wait and see!

I have always used Swaro binos love the glass, Hoping the Ranger is the same. Ill get back with a report once they are in hand!
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

Have a pair of Zeiss Victory RF 8x45 and they are superb. Handled a pair of the new Swaros the other day in Scotland and they were equally as good. The Victories are a little bulkier than the Swaro and I liked the Swaro reading display more than mine.

My Zeiss are very accurate and fast; the Swaos should be too. What goes furthest and which is best I don't know but both are the best there is. Try them and see what works for you.

Lastly, the additional software to help you with your ballistics is to me of no real use. I have other ways to do it. Also in the extreme mist/rain as we found in Scotland at times neither could get a reading, but then no:1 eyeball was down to 150m if that too.
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

I don't know the full specs of the Swaro but the weight/size, laser fire button and the focus wheel, plus the bright reading and the cosine indicator?? might have swung me when I was looking. However, they weren't around a year ago; and I'm not buying again... and you would hate me if you knew what I paid.

However, the Zeiss really does work well at dawn dusk; heck with a full moon its as good as a night vision device.

All these are a huge investment but the bino/rangefinder combination is the way to go. You'll use them a whole lot more than having separates as the rangefinder always end up left in the pocket. The readings are very accurate so long as you work with the system by being sensible (I take some bracket readings and then a careful one; the systems are fast so its easy to double check). Lastly, Swaro have the best after service you could ever want, and Zeiss have upped their game to match it (but so they bl....y well should be for the price).

Have a pinging good time!
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

I have the Leica Geovids non-HD and haven't had any problems wit them at all. I think the longest range its read is around 1380-ish and they say they are good to 1300yds.
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

They say the Swaro ranges from 33-1500 yards

Tough lightweight magnesium housing 32 oz.

They also have the swaro aim which gives you corrected ballistic trajectory for angle shots

I am def excited about having a range finder in a binno less to carry and easier to use then two separate items

Also Alex from Euro optic is GTG and was very helpful
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

Ya, my buddy has a pair of those Bushnell's... Very impressive ranging. I just cant stand to look through that glass, it is too coated or off in color. I really like my leica glass and want to stay at that quality or better.
impressive though for the money!
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

hrm ... bushnell fusion 1600 ... so you get binos + range at a price that you get have to look for a rangefinder-only device. guess i'll have to visit my gunsmith and see whether he happens to have those around for testing against zeiss/swaro
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

I recently bought the Bushnell Fusion 1600. Got it for around $650 on Ebay. For the ranging performance the price can't be beat. Don't expect top-notch glass. It's ok, but definitely can't compare to my Leicas. My biggest complaint is the readout is in red so it's hard to see on a sunny day. Very annoying. My older Bushnell Elite 1500 had black numbering and was easy to read. Why they made the 1600 have red numbering is beyond me. Still a good deal though if you're a cheap bastage like me.
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

why red and not black numbers? because for most people its hard to read black letters at dawn/dusk on a darkish background. red will work there.
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

I've also pegged ranges beyond 1800 yds...IIRC the farthest I hit in yds was 1881 and it was on a grassy hill side but I have hit 1869 meters before, I think off a steel building. REMARKABLE for a unit that was less than $700.
I've pegged black cows beyond 1300yds, hit the tops of telephone poles beyond 1400yds and just for shits and giggles I was ranging a black bird in flight beyond 200m. Holding down the range button gives rapid readouts that is pretty sweet on moving targets.

There are like 4-5 brightness levels on the Fusion 1600 ARCs and it comes in VERY handy. On an ultra bright snow covered day...the brightest level is easy to pick up but towards dusk its WAY to bright...and so knocking it down to level 1 or level 2 keeps the red glow from washing out your view.

I love my Fusion 1600's. The only thing I wish I had was the 12x50s instead of the 10-42s
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

Ok, this is an older post I put up to see what you all thought about the "best" rang finding binos. Thanks for the input!

Now how about the Swarovski EL range finding binoculars? How do they compare to the Zeiss RFB?

Thanks for the info.

Nick
 
Re: Range finding Binos?

I have the Geovids and the Bushnell 1600 Fusions. The Fusions RF is significantly stronger.
 
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