when i was out on the hill today i had a thought that it might be a good idea to have binos with a range finder function aswell. what makes are good but arent going to cost an arm and a leg? or is it better to just fork out and get a decent set?
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when i was out on the hill today i had a thought that it might be a good idea to have binos with a range finder function aswell. what makes are good but arent going to cost an arm and a leg? or is it better to just fork out and get a decent set?
When I looked into this 18months ago I came to the conclusion that to get a unit that did both jobs well was going to cost a arm and a leg.
Probably not helped by the thought that if I was going to spend $ I wanted to improve on the function of what I already have a separate units- both middle of the road price wise.
I didn't end up doing it, but I will one day when I have the $ to buy a top of line unit.
If you don't already have functional separate items it would be a lot easier to justify.
I've got leica hd model find them fantastic great glass great ranging (this is the model without ballistic read out and angle of shot) I compared bushnel And decided the glass on the hds was better aleast to my eyes and forked out extra money for them ,in saying that the bushnel fusion unit had more functions so In short I bort leica for the glass quality
leica end of story.Best after sales there is.It is a one of purchase for the rest of your life.
Been very happy with the s/hand Bushnells I got off R93 a few years ago. A little on the heavy side but they didn't cost an arm and a leg either.
Buy once cry once.
Looked into it also. Options:
1. Cut off arm and leg + lug a ton of weight around (none of the good ones are light).
2. Cut off arm only and buy a good rangefinder + still carry some decent bino's. Weight can still be less than option 1 except you've got 2 pieces of kit (annoying).
3. Cut off arm only and buy a good rangefinder - ditch the bino's. Very light and one piece of kit but not as good for glassing.
I went with option 3, and the Leica's are pretty damn good for glassing so I leave the bino's at home or in the car now. I like having them around my neck and then zipped in my breast pocket. Those ranging bino's are so enormous and heavy it put me off more than the cost.
I personally just use the one eye piece Swaro rangefinder as a spotter when weight is an issue. When it isn't, I tend to borrow my old mans Ziess bino-rangefinders.. The glass on those things man! That as well as scanning with two eyes open as to one eye makes a hell of a difference over a long period of time..
yeah wouldn't mind a pair of those swaro bino/rangefinders or having a look through the new leicas with same compatibility.
I thought the leica rangefinders binos only had a warranty of 2yrs, and the Swaro EL range of 5yrs.
Bushnell fushions ate the best value for money combo. Decent glass ranges better then the leica I've seen with my own eyes. But the euro glass is far Superior.
To put it simply i own the zeiss rfb but advise people to buy the bushnell.Quote:
Originally Posted by deepsouthaussie
Why you ask? Yes the glass is superior but the zeiss ballistic engine is next to useless as has a very basic program for drop with out the angle support and as far as the range finder goes the bushnell was marginally better but both read out past 1600.
As far as last light quality goes the zeiss edged them out but only by two minutes on dark.
my mates and myself have side by side compared the swaro the latest leica and old model along with my zeiss with the first model bushnell thrown in.
The concensus was that the more expensive glass was better but not by much.
I have used the latest bushys and they have lost the blue tint and have a better ballistic engine than the first model for a
Approx a third the price from our local man.
It all boils down to the money you want and can afford to spend but the reality is the bushys do the job well.
That bushy blue tint was terrible, glad its mostly gone
What are people paying for the bushnells now without the blue tint?
I spent a day behind the new bushies looking for sika in high country tussock, was so glad to leave them with the farmer at the end of the day
Leica all the way for me ---for countless reasons
I'm looking at either Swaro El Ranges or Leica HD-B options at the moment (10x). Anybody used both and have strong opinions about what way to go and why?
Nether get the Zeiss RF, cheaper and better.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sidney
And yes I've had the others the Lecia HD-B are nice to hold but the glass still lacking.
Everyone eyes see it different, but all that look throught the Zeiss are amazed.
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had already discounted the Zeiss... angle compensation distance restrictions, less range finding performance... glass OK but not noticeably better according to most... and higher error rate range finding...
They need to be cheaper don't they?
I range out 1800 with mine and the other pairs I've used did the same, I'm unsure why you'd want to range further?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sidney
I only use my binos to spot and range deer, the rest if at range I use my phone, so Im happy to settle for Ziess's pathetic ballistic thingy.
The Glass is Cleary ahead at deer times, at midday you may not notice any difference.
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I am pretty keen on horizontal range equiv.. apparently the zeiss don't do that after 500... it it was 800 it probably wouldn't be a problem...
I have had bushnell fusions 1600 and sold them and bought some leica geovids noticed a bit bitter glass 6 months later i sold them and went back to the bushnells and put $1000 back in my pocket
I now have the bushnell fusion 1 mile model and these don't have the tint of the old ones and to be honest when i put them next to the leicas on dark there was not much in it at all.
At $1100 landed that is a whole heap cheaper than the leicas.
I rate the bushnells for what they are. and i can range out to 1850 yards
Love my EL 8 x 42's for their weight, ability to change between meters or yards and the true ballistic range function, using the built in inclinometer.
By once cry once.... Yeah right, I've been sobbing my heart out for the last five years.
B