Range Finding Binoculars

[PhilSN12]

I have had a set of Khales Helia 10X42 RF's for a couple of years now and love them. They are owned by Swarovski so have swaro glass in them. I have never felt let down by them, I get a lot longer in the evenings than with my last binos and they really are a joy to use.

 

[User00040]

Trouble with rangefinding binos is the ergonomics really are not there vs. equivalent bino's without RF, always heavier and the glass is usually compromised due to the ranging reticle and subsequent display.

Probably not a concern if you don't spend a lot of time behind the binos, but I do.

 

[samdk]

Trouble with rangefinding binos is the ergonomics really are not there vs. equivalent bino's without RF, always heavier and the glass is usually compromised due to the ranging reticle and subsequent display.

Probably not a concern if you don't spend a lot of time behind the binos, but I do.

I completely agree regarding the compromise on the glass, in avoidable as it is.

I found the Leicas great as the don’t have the huge bump under them like the Swaros or Khales which makes them much nicer to hold!

 

[User00040]

I found the Leicas great as the don’t have the huge bump under them like the Swaros or Khales which makes them much nicer to hold!

Agreed, they are the best compromise.

Doubt Swaro will be making an NL Pure RF

 

[ejg]

Somebody at the IWA show told me that Kahles RF binos are made in the same place as Vortex.
I am just too hard on binos and had my first set of Vortex HD already repaired, also have a second set of Vortex 5000. There might be better but then I'd have to look after them.
edi

 

[PhilSN12]

Somebody at the IWA show told me that Kahles RF binos are made in the same place as Vortex.
I am just too hard on binos and had my first set of Vortex HD already repaired, also have a second set of Vortex 5000. There might be better but then I'd have to look after them.
edi

I hear a lot of things at shows too.
I do not know where either of them are made, but Vortex will not be using swaro glass.

 

[Magnificent 7]

Rubbish, I heard og very few people that have used the warranty and even then it was down to their own stupidity (yes the Vortex warranty covers that!!)

He sells plenty of both items so I’d say he possibly isn’t talking rubbish.

 

[samdk]

I hear a lot of things at shows too.
I do not know where either of them are made, but Vortex will not be using swaro glass.

I can confirm the Khales also do not!

 

[Drum123]

Pretty sure all kahles binoculars except the helia s are outsourced to Asia.

 

[samdk]

I’m pretty sure the Helia RF has made in Myanmar printed on the bottom.

 

[Steff]

Somebody at the IWA show told me that Kahles RF binos are made in the same place as Vortex.
I am just too hard on binos and had my first set of Vortex HD already repaired, also have a second set of Vortex 5000. There might be better but then I'd have to look after them.
edi

As @samdk has already said, the current Kahles RF binos are made in Myanmar. The predecessor was made in China. I know as I had/have them both.

 

[PhilSN12]

I did say that I did not know where they were made, but when I first saw them at the shooting show a couple of years ago, the bloke on the Swarovski stand, told me that they had swaro glass in them. He said it was not the same glass as used in the top end Swarovski's, but good quality swaro glass all the same.
I did not see any reason to doubt him as they had not been out long and I felt there was a difference between them and my mates Vortex ones which I was looking to buy until I saw the Kahles.
Now we can go backwards and forwards which I am not interested in doing, all I know is what I was told on the day, the difference I saw between the two and that I am still happy with mine.

 

[samdk]

I did say that I did not know where they were made, but when I first saw them at the shooting show a couple of years ago, the bloke on the Swarovski stand, told me that they had swaro glass in them. He said it was not the same glass as used in the top end Swarovski's, but good quality swaro glass all the same.
I did not see any reason to doubt him as they had not been out long and I felt there was a difference between them and my mates Vortex ones which I was looking to buy until I saw the Kahles.
Now we can go backwards and forwards which I am not interested in doing, all I know is what I was told on the day, the difference I saw between the two and that I am still happy with mine.

I am not entirely sure who makes the glassed used in them but they do have great glass in them!

When I compared them side by side with the Swarovski TA’s there was only a minor difference in optical quality during the day, imo not enough to justify the £1400 difference though.

 

[Steff]

I am not entirely sure who makes the glassed used in them but they do have great glass in them!

When I compared them side by side with the Swarovski TA’s there was only a minor difference in optical quality during the day, imo not enough to justify the £1400 difference though.

I‘ve never tried the Swaro TA‘s so I cannot compare. What is noticeable with the Kahles though is a definitive greenish tint in the right hand tube which is obviously a result of the laser and/or display located there.
This is the same with the old and the new one.
The reason I have the new version in my hands is that the electronics in the old model failed and Kahles couldn‘t repair them.
So they gave me the new model for a surcharge of EUR 100 which I considered a fair deal. I might add that the old ones were out of the two year warranty on the electronics.

 

[monarman]

Fwiw.... I handled and tried a set of minox xrange recently ..... if you want a compact rangefinding bino these are the way to go... I was pleasantly surprised how good they are and I'm currently the owner of leica geovids... which I got at a good price as a cancelled order... (sent the swaro el range back as I didn't like the extra 1k price tag for less quality optics than normal el ).... had I of had chance to try the minox before buying the leicas I would of.

 

[Big Si]

I have the Vortex Fury AB and can’t fault them for what they cost, as said before you may nick an extra 5 mins of vision at either end of the day but to be honest my eyesight is letting me down by then anyway

 

[PhilSN12]

I have the Vortex Fury AB and can’t fault them for what they cost, as said before you may nick an extra 5 mins of vision at either end of the day but to be honest my eyesight is letting me down by then anyway

I know that feeling

 

[MarinePMI]

Trouble with rangefinding binos is the ergonomics really are not there vs. equivalent bino's without RF, always heavier and the glass is usually compromised due to the ranging reticle and subsequent display.

Probably not a concern if you don't spend a lot of time behind the binos, but I do.

Normally, your statement is correct. But with the higher end LRF binos, the glass isn't as compromised as you'd think. I have a set of the Leica Geovids (2800's). I have to tell you, I was surprised at how clear and bright they were for LRF's, not to mention how fast they respond, when I first used them. Compared to budget LRF's like Vortex and Burris, these seemed to respond MUCH quicker and without that darkened, blue tint found on a lot of the lower end LRF binos.

As to the weight, just add an RRS bino adapter. I use them on a RRS tripod with that adapter (ARCA), for longer periods of glassing.

 

[User00040]

Normally, your statement is correct. But with the higher end LRF binos, the glass isn't as compromised as you'd think. I have a set of the Leica Geovids (2800's). I have to tell you, I was surprised at how clear and bright they were for LRF's, not to mention how fast they respond, when I first used them. Compared to budget LRF's like Vortex and Burris, these seemed to respond MUCH quicker and without that darkened, blue tint found on a lot of the lower end LRF binos.

Meh, agree to disagree there. Have a set of the Leica Geovid HD-R 2700's for work and my old 'been round the world' EL SV 10x42 Swaro bins stomp them for size, weight, clarity and light transmission (the Swaro are on the large size for 42's already!)





That being said, with the advancements they are making, I'm sure they are getting better with every release, but the price threshold does not outweigh certain percieved advantages (such as speed) for my kind of work (shots usually 350m and under, most often under 100m, spot and stalk stuff).

I'm sure a 'Western Hunting' scenario could change my mind!

As to the weight, just add an RRS bino adapter. I use them on a RRS tripod with that adapter (ARCA), for longer periods of glassing.

Now that is a gear flex well beyond my means

 

[MarinePMI]

A

Meh, agree to disagree there. Have a set of the Leica Geovid HD-R 2700's for work and my old 'been round the world' EL SV 10x42 Swaro bins stomp them for size, weight, clarity and light transmission (the Swaro are on the large size for 42's already!)

View attachment 260016

View attachment 260015

That being said, with the advancements they are making, I'm sure they are getting better with every release, but the price threshold does not outweigh certain percieved advantages (such as speed) for my kind of work (shots usually 350m and under, most often under 100m, spot and stalk stuff).

I'm sure a 'Western Hunting' scenario could change my mind!



Now that is a gear flex well beyond my means

Actually, tripod aside, the bino adapter is now made in a plastic version that is very reasonable. While the metal (Cinch-LR Elite) one is still north of a hundred quid by quite a bit, the standard one (Cinch-LR) is somewhere around $40-$50. A worthwhile attachment for mounting binos to a tripod IMHO (without some bulky or spindly arm sticking out)...

ETA: Oh, and I mis-spoke earlier. My Leicas are the 3200 series, so a couple generations beyond the 2700 series.