Range finder recommendations
- Thread starter porteous
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nun_hunter
Well-Known Member
I've had the Vortex and Zeiss. The Vortex is much smaller and lighter which is great for carrying but slightly more fiddly to use. The Vortex also has a angle compensator built in, handy for mountain shooting but not a huge bonus in the UK.
The Zeiss is illuminated which is handy as makes it easier to see and the optics are better when it starts getting darker and the eye relief is less fussy.
BUT the Zeiss developed a battery discharge fault after the 2 hear electronic warranty. I sent it off and Zeiss said it was too expensive to repair so I should just buy another unit!!
So I did but the Vortex which has the warranty covering the electronics for the lifetime of the product and it was a much cheaper device for the same functions.
Other owners of a Leica and Swarovski range finder on here have also found out that those top European companies with the "best customer service" also don't cover the electronics past the 2-5 year warranty. This is definitely something to consider when spending a few hundred quid on what could become an expensive paperweight.
The Zeiss is illuminated which is handy as makes it easier to see and the optics are better when it starts getting darker and the eye relief is less fussy.
BUT the Zeiss developed a battery discharge fault after the 2 hear electronic warranty. I sent it off and Zeiss said it was too expensive to repair so I should just buy another unit!!
So I did but the Vortex which has the warranty covering the electronics for the lifetime of the product and it was a much cheaper device for the same functions.
Other owners of a Leica and Swarovski range finder on here have also found out that those top European companies with the "best customer service" also don't cover the electronics past the 2-5 year warranty. This is definitely something to consider when spending a few hundred quid on what could become an expensive paperweight.
Another vote for Vortex - I own the Vortex Ranger 1800 which is a mid range model. I have have tested it in real life against a high end Leica model and it produces the same distance exactly. It is small and light which is handy for carrying but does mean it wobbles when you try and look through it hand held for longer range use, so you need to rest it on something solid (or use a tripod).
+1 Vortex 1800. Very accurate on measured distance, fantastic portability and has been extremely durable and reliable in nearly a year that I have used it.
stephentri
Well-Known Member
Leica
Are you talking binoculars or just rangefinder?
Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
Hmmm. Depends on your shooting and likely distances - you can spend £70 on one which goes out to 7/800 yards or many times more on one that goes out to two or maybe even three times that and with much greater optical quality but what do you actually need from your rangefinder? Anything that gives accurate readings to even +/- 10 yards is more than good enough for pretty much all UK quarry distances as bullet drop difference will be insignificant - so you pays your money…..
Len the dog
Well-Known Member
I was given a cheap Bushnell LRF and was interested to know how accurate it was. Being a surveyor, I took it out on site and compared it to the distances measured by my Leica total station (+/- 1mm+3ppm) at various ranges up to 325m. All measurements were within 0.5m.
I realise that there are other criteria that people look for when buying one of these, but quoted accuracy doesn’t need to be one of them.
I realise that there are other criteria that people look for when buying one of these, but quoted accuracy doesn’t need to be one of them.
We use Vortex for student field courses and they take A LOT of abuse (including being left out for multiple nights in the rain).
I personally use a Leica, and wouldn’t trust it with students!
In terms of accuracy and usability, no difference. But the Vortex is probably the more robust.
I personally use a Leica, and wouldn’t trust it with students!
In terms of accuracy and usability, no difference. But the Vortex is probably the more robust.
No complaints with my Swarovski hand held,8x32, viewer can all so be used as a monocular,Sadly not made any more too many binocular models about these days?
BC.
BC.
Stalker-of-the-deer
Well-Known Member
I like my leopould, small lightweight and accurate.
Just make sure you get one that gives you the true ballistic range and works out the adjacent part of a triangle as that's your actual range.
The cheap ones will just give you the hypotenuse which yes is the "range" as in the distance between you and the target on a hill which will be longer but its not the "true range".
When shooting up or down hill the target is actually closer than you think so your range finder compensates automatically for you.
Just make sure you get one that gives you the true ballistic range and works out the adjacent part of a triangle as that's your actual range.
The cheap ones will just give you the hypotenuse which yes is the "range" as in the distance between you and the target on a hill which will be longer but its not the "true range".
When shooting up or down hill the target is actually closer than you think so your range finder compensates automatically for you.
+1 for Vortex
That is crazy I’m very disappointed to hear that from Zeiss! I thought they were supposed to be one of the best companies out there. Maybe there products still are but sounds like poor service for the price you pay!I've had the Vortex and Zeiss. The Vortex is much smaller and lighter which is great for carrying but slightly more fiddly to use. The Vortex also has a angle compensator built in, handy for mountain shooting but not a huge bonus in the UK.
The Zeiss is illuminated which is handy as makes it easier to see and the optics are better when it starts getting darker and the eye relief is less fussy.
BUT the Zeiss developed a battery discharge fault after the 2 hear electronic warranty. I sent it off and Zeiss said it was too expensive to repair so I should just buy another unit!!
So I did but the Vortex which has the warranty covering the electronics for the lifetime of the product and it was a much cheaper device for the same functions.
Other owners of a Leica and Swarovski range finder on here have also found out that those top European companies with the "best customer service" also don't cover the electronics past the 2-5 year warranty. This is definitely something to consider when spending a few hundred quid on what could become an expensive paperweight.
Thanks for the input I think that’s the one I will likely go for! Just help me get my eye in etc…
Just range finder! Not currently prepared to pay the prices of the inbuilt units.
Thanks for the input there I only need it to get my eye in currently! Not shooting massive distances, getting and idea of things atm.Hmmm. Depends on your shooting and likely distances - you can spend £70 on one which goes out to 7/800 yards or many times more on one that goes out to two or maybe even three times that and with much greater optical quality but what do you actually need from your rangefinder? Anything that gives accurate readings to even +/- 10 yards is more than good enough for pretty much all UK quarry distances as bullet drop difference will be insignificant - so you pays your money…..
That’s interesting! Does the Leica just have more clarity then?
I’ll have to do some more research
Stalker-of-the-deer
Well-Known Member
If you Google them they will call it "horizontal component distance" or "true balistic range" some thing along those lines.
Possibly? Hard to tell.
I only have it because it was what was available when I was buying.
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