Hunting Washington Forum
Equipment & Gear => Scopes and Optics => Topic started by: littlebuf on March 17, 2009, 06:02:34 PM
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does any one make a pair of binoculars with a range finder built in to them? wouldn't this be much simpler? just wondering
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Burris, Bushnell, Leupold and Lieca are all of the ones that I know of.
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Leica does if you have the money. Good stuff, the only problem is the rangefinder button is on the left, if you try to use them one handed ( I usually try to rest the range finder on my bow ) the button is hard to reach with your right hand, left handed no problem.
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I sold two Leupold ones, bought them for me and wife and same thing to complicated to use in the woods. Better with small set of bino's and a range finder in my pocket in my opinion.
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Swaro makes a rangefinder also that would work but it's a mono 8x, little slow but the red LED and glass make up for that, new stuff is way overpriced from what I hear, have not seen or tried any of the new stuff.
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The problem is to figure out what you want most a binocular or a rangefinder. The Leupold, Burris and Bushnell are sort of quasi hybrids which strike me as some of both, but really not a good one of either. They seem more like two rangefinders more or less clumsy, joined at the hip sorts of things which will magnify an image and give a range. The optics usually are pretty mediocre and are not as good as a binocular of the same price. On the other hand, Leica started out with a good BINOCULAR and figured out how to add a decent rangefinder. So instead of an inexpensive jury rigged hybrid that really doesn't really know if it is supposed to be a rangefinder or a binocular, with the Leica, you get good optics that have range finding as an option. So, if you want both capabilities and decent optics, the Leica, and Zeiss also has range finding binoculars, are the way to go. If you can't afford the price, you are a heck of a lot better off with a decent binocular and a decent rangefinder. I've yet to see the inexpensive binocular and rangefinder combo I would want to own. That's my :twocents:, and YMMV.
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I agree Leica Geovids or the Zeiss rangefinding binoculars - but set aside $2500 - 3000. Buy in Oregon to save the tax on this one.
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I own the Swaro rangefinder - and it is the best rangefinder made IMO; however, I would not use it for a binocular. I have thought of the Leica Geovid, but it lacks a little optically and I am not sold on Leica's rangefinders as I have experienced problems with them in the past. It is better to buy the best pair of binos that you can afford and an inexpensive rangefinder. If money is no option and you want the best, buy a pair of EL's and a Swaro rangefinder! I have not held the Zeiss RF bino yet, but it may combine the best of both worlds?
