I'm hoping to upgrade my binoculars this off season and am considering getting a pair of rangefinding binoculars. For those that have used a pair what is your opinion? I'm considering all options right now. Ideally I want something that has angle compensation, will range close (10 yds or so), and to 1000 yds on non reflective objects.
Rangefinding Binoculars
- Thread starter Work2hunt
- Start date
Retterath
Veteran member
the new swaro's dont start ranging till 30 yards. I want a combo pair that ranges from 10 yards to 1600 with also angle comp and they dont make them yet!!!
Slugz
Veteran member
I dont have the coin for these but admit when I looked in a buddy's......I was astonished and amazed......I'm ex military and have some experience on laser rangefinding...good optics....and generally blowing stuff up......that being said when in looked in these things I thought I was in my plane again. Clarity was unbelieveable during different light conditions and not once did I have an issue lasing anything out to 900 or so yards. The model I had in my hand had a blue tint like filter on the lenses or maybe they came that way. Zeiss is at the top of my xmas list......just got to get the kids all out of the house first. !!!
That is the same conclusion I came too on the Swaro's too. Also, I did not like the strap that came with them. I like the shoulder style harnesses and with there new strap system I could not figure out how to connect the shoulder straps to the binos.the new swaro's dont start ranging till 30 yards. I want a combo pair that ranges from 10 yards to 1600 with also angle comp and they dont make them yet!!!
What was the closest and farthest distances you were able to range? How about angle compensation?
Hilltop
Veteran member
Just curious guys- Why do you need to range anything closer than 30 yards? With todays bows, 0-25 is pretty much the same pin (0-35 on my setup).
Dark Mavis
Active Member
I was thinking the same thing hilltop. If a critter is that close, it's time to put the gadgets down and go into kill mode.
mntnguide
Very Active Member
I have had Zeiss RF's for 4 years or so now...They are great binos. They bring up ranges immediately. I have ranged out to 1700 yards...Cant really tell ya how close though, 15ish or so. In all honesty, for bow hunting, I have a Leupold handheld for single hand use that i pack with me along with my zeiss binos. It is a lot easier to have a small one handed use RF for close bow hunting scenarios that using the binos. . The only negative I have with my zeiss, is im not to big a fan how they designed the eye cups, which may have been redesigned by now, and they are hefty, so you want to make sure to have a good bino carrying system. The zeiss dont have a true Angle compensation feature, you can program 5 different ballistic profiles into them that correlate to the majority of common rifle calibers, and then up to 600 yards it will tell you the exact drop of the bullets. . If you are dead set on angle comp, you will probably have to go with swaros, but when it comes to shooting long distance at angle, you just need to know your ballistic profile and how your rifle shoots, and remember to hold for less yardage.
Retterath
Veteran member
the ten yard isnt the biggest deal its most of them dont start angle comp till 100 yards thats why i havent bought a pair yet. If im gonna spend that much money i want angle comp to work way before 100 yards so i can use them for archery also.
I like to be precise. You are correct in most new bows are fine 0-30 with 1 pin. But I like to be as precise as I can be.
geargrinder
Member
I use the Bushnell ARC binoculars. Mine are the old 1600 model, second year they came out. I'm still using the original battery.
Regularly ranges out to 2000 yards. Shows angle. Gives shooting solutions with some canned ballistics. I got them for about $650 back then.
They've been a great investment.
Regularly ranges out to 2000 yards. Shows angle. Gives shooting solutions with some canned ballistics. I got them for about $650 back then.
They've been a great investment.
stevevan
Active Member
Well I'm the odd ball as I had a pair of Zeiss RF binos and sold them. They were excellent in optical quality and range finding capabilities. However, the negative to me was the bulk and weight. They were too uncomfortable for me using a harness and hanging on my chest. My solution was to replace them with a lightweight pair of Swaro 10x32 EL's and a Leica 1600-B RF. Works better for me. Also while the RF binos are convenient and found they were not necessary. I'm a rifle hunter with flat shooting rifles and if a target is so distant I need to take range reading then there is always the time to do so before a shot. One more item to consider is that even the top RF Binos have a limited time. generally 2 years warranty, on the electronics of the binos. Just my opinion and what works for me after owning and using both systems.
I have the Leica 10x42 Geovid HD-B rangefinding binos and love them. I just rifle hunt so don't know about the real short ranging capability but they will hit trees at 1500yds reliably, have hit reflective target (window on a deer blind) at over 2k. The glass is excellent also.
Shooter09
New Member
The Leica Geovid HD-R will range 10-2000 yards and have angle compensation from 10-600 yards. I used the Swarovski EL Range for several years and loved them. The EL Range has angle compensation from 33-1600 but the button is on the left side and I didn't like that they wouldn't range less than 33 yards because I primarily bowhunt. I hear quite a few people say that anything inside 33 yards it shouldn't matter, but for treestand or ground blind hunting it is nice to know exact yardages.
I used the Geovid HD-R this season and loved them. Leica also has the Geovid HD-B which will range from 10-2000 but only has angle compensation from 100-600 so if you bow hunt you won't get to use the angle compensation. Depending on whether you archery or gun hunt and whether you are right or left handed either the EL Range or Geovid HD-R would be my choice.
The Zeiss RF binoculars are bulkier than the EL Range and the Geovid and they don't have angle compensation at all. They do have an extremely fast rangefinder though. After using range finding binoculars I can't go back to using a hand held because of the simplicity.
I used the Geovid HD-R this season and loved them. Leica also has the Geovid HD-B which will range from 10-2000 but only has angle compensation from 100-600 so if you bow hunt you won't get to use the angle compensation. Depending on whether you archery or gun hunt and whether you are right or left handed either the EL Range or Geovid HD-R would be my choice.
The Zeiss RF binoculars are bulkier than the EL Range and the Geovid and they don't have angle compensation at all. They do have an extremely fast rangefinder though. After using range finding binoculars I can't go back to using a hand held because of the simplicity.