Opinions on RF Binos

Anyone here own/use range-finding binoculars? If so, which brand? I can see the attraction-one device versus two, but also the downside-weight/size. I've looked at both the Sig and the Bushnell and the concept intrigues me.

I’ve used

Swaro
Both Leica's
Zeiss
Vortex Fury

Which ever comes out with an ergonomic 12x first I’ll buy, but not until then. I liked the Zeiss over all, followed closely by the Leica HD-R. Swaro has best glass but worst ergonomics and ballistic calculator. All three are exceptional tools

Vortex was a respectable budget position, that what I’d call great jack off all trades for the price. I hear the GPO and Sig are great competitors in this area but haven’t tried either.

These are solely my personal observations

I have the Vortex Fury (original) and I've been really happy with them, so much so I haven't upgraded to another brand or their updated HD model. Sat in a stand with a buddy who has the Leica's (HD model) and have a buddy who owns the Zeiss and I've looked through all 3.

There isn't enough difference in the Leica glass and the Fury glass to warrant the price difference. However, the ballistic info embedded into the Leica is the only reason I'd go that route...but if I was going to do that I'd just get the Zeiss.

I won't be going back to two different devices, it's WAY to convenient to go backwards in my opinion.

I have used the Lecia and own the Sig. I have used three different Sig Bino RF's and while I find the glass to be good for price one set had a slight collimation issue but mine are good. The fact they will bluetooth to my Kestrel was what sold me on them but honestly when I used them for hunting I rarely paired them up. Just downloading local weather and updating as the day goes on was convenient and quicker. It only works in that mode to 800 yards but for hunting that was sufficient.

Leica Geovid 10X, 1200 yard capable is what I traded a guy for. Love them! The glass is superb, the laser is fast and accurate. My only upgrade would be the same binos in the 3000 yard variety.

I owned the old model Leica and upgraded to the 2200 HD-B's when Cabela's put them on clearance for $1000 off when the 3000 model came out. By far one of my favorite pieces of hunting equipment. I have never regretted spending the money on quality glass and having the rangefinder built in.

leica

Vortex Diamondback 10x42

Can these be effectively used for bowhunting? Talking ease of movement, ranging and then stowing before a shot...the minimum range to me isnt an issue as much as the ergonomics of use in the tree and minimizing movement for deer to see.

Yes but at a 1/3 the price you can get a sig 2xxx that has 7x mag.

I currently have a leica RF, I believe it is 6X and works well for bowhunting, but in low light and distances I find myself wanting more and having both eyes would be nice. but since i have a working RF now, I find it hard to justify the price for RF binos. The Leica RF is so small and easy to stow and get out when needed.

It’s only money, they print more everyday. You need to add the 10x lecia HDB to your hunting bag

Use mine all the time for bowhunting.

Binoculars part:The Leica units have superb glass and to me that's still the #1 priority if you're using them hunting. I'm positive the Swaro fits in this category too, although I've never used any. Some of the other options do better handling the ballistic calculator workflow, but they do so at the expense of non-Leica glass quality. And I'd be willing to bet that most people don't even need that level of firing solution in the hunting stand to begin with. Everyone has their own set of priorities, but I personally see no value in picking LFR binocs with the ballistic calculator capability as one of the higher priorities. And I do shoot longer ranges on occasion. Distance gives you time and opportunity.... if you can't tell what it is you're shooting at it's kinda a moot point how quickly the calculator works. Haha!

LRF part:One thing I'll add is to pay attention to the beam divergence when you're making your selection. The specs are listed in mils, so you need to be picturing the beam as a cone that gets bigger as distance increases, and not a "laser beam." This is going to play a big part is how accurately you can range something as opposed to terrain features in front of and behind it. There are plenty of tricks to help, but a smaller beam makes for less potential errors. For instance, here is the specs for a few after a quick google search:

Vortex Fury 5000: 1.5 x 0.1 milrad
Sig Kilo 3000: 1.4 milrad circle
Leica 2200: 2.7 x 1.0 milrad
Leica 3000: 1.2 x 0.5 milrad

I LOVE my Leicas...
I have only spent a few minutes behind the Swaros LRFs and they were obviously very nice..
I have also owned the Bushnell LRF binos, certainly a lot of bang for the buck.

What I love about the Leicas is the huge depth of field, they are so easy to use for scanning varying distances while hunting, not constantly fiddling with the focus.. no eye strain. The LRF is very fast and accurate as well. I have ranged calfs at 1800 yards freehand...

The only ones i have looked through were the leicas, 1200s I believe. They were damn nice, but that is admittedly a VERY small sample LOL

Good posts and good information on this thread. I've been 'round and 'round with this decision myself. I even went so far as to buy a demo set of Geo's from Doug (2200 HDB model 403) that wound up not functioning correctly so I sent it back. The convenience factor of an all in one can't be denied. Given the fact that I've gotten used to my Swaro 10x50 SV's, in which I believe to be the finest glass on the planet, it's hard for me to take a step backwards to the Geovids (and everyone I've seen is a step back). Given that, a guy isn't going to see something through the SV's that you can't also see with Geovids. Also, I believe the Sig RF's to be superior to the Leica RF capability that I've seen in the Geovids, and we have seen all the newer models. The Sig 2200 BDX ran circles around the Geovid models except for the 3000's. So, given the fact that my eyeballs see the SV's as superior binoculars, and the Sig RF's as at least the equal of what's inside the Geovids, it's hard for me to spend the money on the Geovid 3000's. Laser RF technology is speeding ahead faster than the optics companies can keep up with.

Also, I though the Sig 3000, Vortex Fury, and Nikon Laserforce all had the same blue tint in their binos, and I would call them adequate at best. I had to send a Sig 3000 back to Doug too due to the beam lining up nowhere near the circle "reticle" in the binocular. The beam was lined up at 6:30 low and outside of the circle, in which the Sig dude said was "in spec". I found that to be ridiculous. It was a badass RF though.

Another very important point. It's very rare that the laser ends up being in the dead center of the reticle like most people assume. AND... if you treat them rough it may get bumped and moved just like a cheap rifle scope. It's important to determine where the laser actually is inside your reticle. I do this by shooting at the top of a telephone pole. Needs to be on a very steady rest.

Right on Crews, that's exactly how I figured it out and it was someone else's idea who told me about it.

Yes My Sig 3000 also has the beam in the bottom of the circle as that is the first thing I test. I too had not thought about it until going to Brian Litz's school back when it was in Dallas.
The Sig designer was there and gave a little tutorial on getting the most from your rangefinder..... funny part of that story was he was using the unreleased at that point RF2400AB but he couldn't really talk about it or show it to anyone at that point.
I was complaining to him about how hard it was to program the Gunwerks G7 and he pulled me aside and showed me the app on his phone that programed the Rf2400.....
sold my G7 as soon as I could get home.

Well if that's "in spec" then I'll take an easy pass on trying another Sig. Imagine trying to laser a big mule deer at about 400 or so, and having the tops of mesquites that are actually at abut 250, and getting a range on the deer of 250 because the beam is actually way lower than the reticle. That's a huge problem and no way I tolerated that crap. That's exactly the way I figured out there was a problem in the first place.

Not that I disagree but to be honest having my beam line up with the bottom of the circle I have found gives me a more precise aiming point than just trying to put the object somewhere in the middle and hope I am hitting the correct object.

I hear you DStroud, but let's assume your "window" to range is rather tight, and you get ranges of 400, then 450. How do you know which is right?

that issue happens it seems no matter the reticle design or where the beam is located in relation to the reticle. For me the main thing is knowing to use a 6 o’clock hold and taking several readings and having 10x power Binoculars so you can see your target better and hold steadier than smaller RF ‘s.

Got a stellar deal on a 10x42 Leica Hdb2200...from Doug at CameraLand. It is a true game changer!