Re: Rangefinders
It depends on your application for the LRF. Hunting, competition (e.g., LR Tac matches)...?
And my opinion is your price range is a couple of hundred too low, i.e., the incremental bang for you buck rises considerably if you get up to the $650-700ish range.
At the edge or just above that price range, my short list would be:
Monocular-style: Zeiss Victory LRF -- I do own one of these and have been happy with it. Clear, bright, fast, and get out to over a 1000 yds with no problem. I think you can find them in the $600 range with some work.
Binocular-style: the new Busnell Fusion 1600 ARC would be high on my list but it's getting well above your price point.
After using a monocular style LRF for a year of LR Tactical competition, I can say I would like a bino/LRF combo. There's enough glass time at those matches when you're spotting for others where the mono LRF gets tiresome. And carrying good binos and a LRF is a pain, imo.
If I had unlimited funds, I would have the Leica Geovids or Zeiss Victory Binos. You won't find those used in your price range.
Intersting article:
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=310520