Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics What's the verdict on ranging bino's

I am a Western hunter and live between GSSP and cummins cowboy, I prefer having two separate units. I love the optics that I have, but I also love my rangefinder. I know I will want to upgrade my rangefinder at some point, dont think I need to upgrade on optics.

Technology in rangefinders is still evolving and getting better every year, optics might get slightly better but a great optic now will still be a great optic in a decade. a great rangefinder now might be a dinosaur or broken in a decade.

I like 2

The biggest advantage is that you pretty much always take one last look with your glasses before you put one in the chamber and get in position to shoot. Just hit the button and you're done. The combo just can't be beat. I won't get another set of plain jane binos again. I bought the original Leica's when they first came out and loved them. I gave them to my guide in '07 as a tip, bought another pair and used them since. Last summer I bought the Swarovski and 2 weeks ago dropped off the Leica's at my local gun shop to sell.

I think hands down the Swarovski are the better ones on the market, and it really isn't close. Boils down to glass and bulk.

Both are decent rangefinders, the least important factor. Both range well over 1200 yds, but so what...it really doesn't matter after 1000 anyway-- you're still hiking. At those ranges you need the best glass possible. Having hunted with both, glassing brown bear on Kodiak at over 2 miles, I'd chunk the Leica in a garbage pail without hesitation.

Leica glass is just not up to par with Swarovski (or Zeiss) and never has been. Good glass, best of the rest, but just not as good. When Leica was the only player you could have made an argument about using better Zeiss or Swarovski glass and a separate rangefinder and I wouldn't disagree with you as it really boiled down to what you felt was more important- convenience or better glass.

I used to look at it this way- I didn't mind compromising and leaving my Swarovski & Zeiss at home because it was worth having the built in rangefinder. Now, that Swarovski is on the market there is no reason to compromise.

Also, the Leica are just pigs........just way too bulky, especially on backpack hunts, they're always in the way.

Regardless, both are quality products and you really can't go wrong with either one you choose, but the Swarovski are hands down better.

PS I understand Zeiss are having some teething issues but if they ever get those sorted out......

Think you are just a bit over the top

I was under the impression that the Lieca RF is about the best, and the glass is of very similar quality.

I've been using rangefinder binoculars of various makes for a few years now, and while the convenience is great, I'm starting to come to the same conclusion as boatanchor. Something is likely to go haywire in the RF eventually, and I also started to miss my Leica 8+12x42 Duovid for glassing. (It may have "inferior" glass, but I notice that hunting with 10x binoculars of other makes my companions often ask to take a look through it, because they can see better with 12x than 10x.)

This fall I tried going back to the Duovid and a separate rangefinder and liked it a lot.

I've been following this thread closely. I think I'm about to buy one of these. For reference I have a pair of Swarovski 8X30 SLC that I bought new in the '90's. I sent them in about 3 years ago for a clean and tweak and they sent them back fully upgraded - new eye cups, body, objective lenses, diopter adjuster and lots of internal parts. I compare everything I look through to them. I use a Leica rangefinder. I also have a pair of Kaibab HD 15X56 tripod binoculars that I rarely use. I'll probably sell all three of these.

I want a bit more magnification and more field of view, plus an integrated range finder. A buddy has an older pair of Leica RF binos that I've tried. I had pretty much decided that I would go with the Leica 10X42 HD-B. I have played with them at the store quite a bit. They are certainly bigger than my 8X30's but when you add the Leica rangefinder around my neck, the two pieces together are about the same weight as the 10X42 HD-B's but are very awkward.

I was coming back in town today about 45 minutes before dark. It was snowing and blowing pretty good. So I swung by the store and brought both the Swarovski and Leica outside and compared them and my Swarovski 8X30's. Both are noticeably better than my 8X30's and they should be! The specs show the Leicas have more field of view than the Swarovskis. That was evident too. I tried both pairs with my gloves on. The Swarovskis were really difficult for me to grip and hit the button with gloves on. I also noted that it would be really hard to hit the button while bow hunting as a right hander. After I got the Swarovski's display adjusted, it was not hard to see. It is noticeably slower to range compared to my older Leica RF and to the new 10X42 HD-B's. The range finding functions on the Leica are great. Very fast. I ranged a piece of brush across the highway at 1139 yards in the snowstorm. The Swarovskis took three tries but got the same reading.

I was hoping that there would be a big difference in the glass. I didn't find it. Granted I am used to an older pair of binos. Both are noticeably brighter, crisper to the edges and require less focusing. I swapped back and forth between the two until after dark. There may be a slight edge towards the Swarovskis, but it was not huge to my eyes.

I enjoy long range shooting all year long. So the rangefinder capabilities are important to me. I nearly bought one of the G7 rangefinders that are on sale now. They are BIG. Especially when combined with a pair of binoculars. Between the two that I'm looking at, the Leica rangefinder performance trumps the minimal (to me) optics advantage of the Swarovskis. I'm about 80% decided on the Leicas but still open to opinions.

I guess I just need to make Shrap an offer on his. Thanks for all of the info.

Bob

bob, your going to be happy. Lots of guys talk about how using a seperate unit is no big deal. The problem is with the puny monocular of a seperate RF unit its not exactly easy to refind the animal alot of times. sometimes this requires extra time and monkeying around. not to mention maybe the animal has moved by the time you dig the unit out of your pocket. if you don't buy shrap's. make sure you call around and ask for the best price with money order or check by phone. I wouldn't pay more than about 2650. if you can't get that price or less keep calling around. if you wear a bino harness you will find the weight will not bother you at all.

I am hoping leica upgrades its 1600 model to include the atmospheric and SD card setup the geovid has, I have a feeling we are going to see them introduce that at shot show this year. as long as they keep it under 1k I will buy one and still carry the EL range as well. and just pull out the leica when I want a firing solution. still I would not go back to a regular binocular.

I looked at the Swaro's again today. I'm just not sure I would be happy with the rangefinder features on them. The size is certainly nicer. Tough call.

Bob

Shrapnel,

Would you please elaborate? Why are they disappointing? Why did you keep the Leica rather than the Swaros?

I got a great quote from Cameraland on the Leicas today. Thanks for the heads up Cummingscowboy. I think I'll go with them. One last check of the Swaros.

Bob