Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Rangefinder bino 's reliability

Soooo.... I've been saving credit card points and I'm sitting on about $2K that I can spend on something I wouldn't normally buy. I've been toying around with buying some alpha glass from Zeiss, Leica or Swaro to upgrade from the set of 8 x 40 Minox HG that I've owned since 2008. No complaints with the Minox, just thinking I might want some 10 x 42 for these aging eyes and I have some free cash to blow.

I've been looking at what's out there and have a few questions. Are the rangefinding bino's reliable? Strikes me that they wouldn't be. I'm kind of leaning to non-rangefinder, but thought I'd ask.

I'll try all the bino's at the DSC show.

Have owned Leica Geovid and Zeiss Victory RF binos and never had an issue with reliability

I have the leica geovid HD b binos. The glass is excellent the rangefinder is among the best I have ever tried, and the ballistic functions are awesome. I have had them almost 3 years and probably use them about 200 days a year. No issues what so ever.Thumbs up.

I personally know of 2 Geovids that had problems (one with focus the other with the rangefinder) and Jorge here on the 'fire had his go-round with Leica.......

I can't think of any optical instrument where warranty would be more important given the investment--go with Swaro.........

After having used binoculars and a rangefinder separately, I'll never go back from an RF binocular and am very pleased with my Leica Geovids.

I wrestled with this RF bino combo vs separate equipment several times, and I decided to keep them separate. My thinking was that none of the RF combo units can hang optically with a Swaro SV, and none of the combo units have a RF as good as the Sig Kilo. Why handicap yourself? YMMV.

I've had a bunch of them and currently use the now discontinued geovid HD-R 10x42's and have been happy with with them. I have worried myself to death about potential problems but at the end of the day this is my 3rd generation of geovids in addition to the 1st gen El Range, and none of them have ever given me an issue. I used the heck out of current geovids this year and they never disappointed. BTW I also have Swaro 8.5x42 SV's and think their view is top of the heap, but i can't say the geovids are lacking in view at all. I've no regrets.

I ended up in the same place....

If I were in your shoes I'd be calling Doug and ordering the demo Leica Geovids HD-B's he has listed right now for $1,099.99. That's less than half the cost of new and a no-brainer to me.

Been using the Zeiss Victory RF binos since 2011, no issues whatsoever.

GW,

That's a pretty good deal, but they don't show to be selling now for that price. It might be me. I can't hardly find anything there since he changed the site.

OP,

I've kept it separate so far, (Ziess PRF and 8X42 binos) but if I could find a reliable system that had a good warranty, It would be tempting.

We have been working closely with our web builder to fine tune the search feature on the site.

The Geovid deals that we have been offering from $999.99 - $1499.99 (depending on model) keep popping up and selling out rapidly. Please give me or Neil a call and we will take your name and # and when the next batch arrives we will call you before posting it out of the forums

Heck, I have a set, but at those prices have been considering buying another just 'cuz.