07 August 2017, 23:06
GunsCoreDoes Leupold have any plans for Range Finding binoculars?
Just wondering? Vortex has just released a new model and Bushnell, Zeiss, Swaro, Leica have had them our for awhile....is Leupold falling behind?
08 August 2017, 21:58
StonecreekLeupold offered a ranging binocular several years ago. I don't think it is still in their current line-up however, which says something about the utility of such instruments. Rube Goldberg would be very disappointed.
I had one of the original Leupold RF binoculars, and was not in love with it. Made in China, very bulky, interpupillary distance adjusted by a telescoping/sliding system which felt cheap. As a rangefinding instrument it worked well enough for me; I think it was rated to 800 yards but in reality it was good to about 600, which was quite sufficient for my purposes. It ate batteries at an unbelievable rate.
Leupold dropped it and then introduced one (or perhaps more) improved version, but I never used or even held one. I haven't owned another combination binoc/RF unit of any description since, and doubt I will ever buy another, regardless of manufacturer. Optics technology seems to improve much more slowly than electronics; it seems foolish to buy a top-of-the-line combo unit, which will remain near the optical cutting edge for many years but whose electronics will be obsolete very soon after purchase.
30 August 2017, 03:25
AtkinsonSo far I keep them separated, and actually don't use the range finder much. Based on the system I use for sighting in a hunting rifle I don't really need a range finder I don't guess, since I carry it but never take time to use it and don't take shot beyond 400 yards as a rule. I do like binocs however. Id rather have iron sights and binocs than a scoped rifle with no binocs, but a scope and binocs backed by irons is the ideal NA hunting setup for sure, and just as good for Africa.