Recommendation on Rangefinding Binoculars

[BoltBandit]

Gents,

Need a recommendation on rangefinding binoculars. I'm trying to stay around the $1,000 to $1,200 range. As a big fan of Vortex products, the HD Fury5000 immediately caught my attention; however, half the reviews praise them as being awesome, with the other half dinging points for optical clarity. The Sig Kilo is a strong contender as well. I'm open to any suggestions, just please stick to the relative price range.

 

[Bama Fan]

I have the Sig Kilo 3000 and have no issues with it. It has been very accurate over distance and syncs perfectly with my Kestrel. I have used it in several classes and my friend used it in a s sniper competition and had no issues what so ever.

 

[blbennett1288]

I am looking at both the Sig and Vortex so interested in feedback also

 

[gr8fuldoug]

Your timing is great. We have a demo of the Leica Geovid HD-R Typ 403 10x42 Rangefinder Binoculars #40054 for $1,199.99

 

[Krakenbjj]

I have the older Vortex HD rangefinder/bino. I have used the HD5000 many times during competitions and field work. I have used them next to swaro’s and other high dollar bino’s. I really like the Vortex HD 5000. I think the clarity and accuracy is top notch. The people I know and shoot with all love them. Hope this helps.

 

[MarshalC_SportOptics]

In the market currently the Vortex has been a strong contender at that price point. I've gotten behind both optic and the Sig's are good, bluetooth feature is awesome too but having a pair of binoculars with the same glass at the Vipers roughly makes them a great set for both ranging and just glassing!

 

[dski]

Only have used the Sig3000bdx and have really liked them. Pairs great with my kestrel.

 

[domdoc]

Bushnell is the only one I've used; works fine.

 

[calamjn]

Yeah I looked through a pair of the FuryHD's at my local gun shop just a couple days ago and thought they looked pretty dang good. But then I made the mistake of looking through the Swaro EL-R's and now I'm trying to figure out how to save $3k.

 

[dski]

Never look through glass you aren't willing to purchase!! I break that rule all the time. I then end up usually buying something lesser, only to regret it, sell at a loss and then spend the money anyway on the thing I want. I'll never learn.

 

[calamjn]

Never look through glass you aren't willing to purchase!! I break that rule all the time. I then end up usually buying something lesser, only to regret it, sell at a loss and then spend the money anyway on the thing I want. I'll never learn.

That sounds exactly like me The way I look at it, you just buy a place holder until you can afford what you were meant to have...

 

[dski]

'Place holder' I like that. I now feel way better about my approach

 

[D_TROS]

had both side by side. I own the Sigs.

glass is a push. rf a push. sig is faster on the range and has Bluetooth.

no affiliation with either company.


GL
DT

 

[lr123]

I’ve used the bushnell fusions and Leica Geovids. The Leicas are extremely nice and we were able to range animals easily out to 1400 yards and glass quality was excellent as well.

 

[WirgmanUSMC]

Depending on the features that you want, the Steiner Military m830r is a great choice. There is a $8k option, or a $2kish option that you can sometimes find used for closer to your budget. I’ve been using them for a while and the optical clarity is far above the Vortex 5000 or the Sig 3000s.
They don’t have Bluetooth, they don’t have angle compensation, they don’t really have any fancy features or even basic ones, but they sure range great in all conditions. I like the mil reticle in them as well, comes in handy for guiding a teammate onto target.
I know they are out of your price range, but I wouldn’t completely disregard it in case you can find them used.

 

[Jindo 1-2]

had both side by side. I own the Sigs.

glass is a push. rf a push. sig is faster on the range and has Bluetooth.

no affiliation with either company.


GL
DT

I was in the same boat a few weeks ago. I checked out both at a store nearby and the glass was good on both but I ended up getting the Sigs as it had a faster response than the vortex. The Sigs scan 4 times a second compared to the Vortex's 1 per second, while continuously scanning. Sig also has more features for the same price.

 

[07jkjeeper]

I like the idea of pairing the Sig Binos with my Kestrel. Seems like it would be useful for hunting applications.

 

[dski]

I don't hunt but the pairing has been great for target shooting for me with the Sig3000bdx and K5700. My buddy that hunts is moving that direction as well.

 

[07jkjeeper]

I don't hunt but the pairing has been great for target shooting for me with the Sig3000bdx and K5700. My buddy that hunts is moving that direction as well.

Anything that you don’t like about that setup?

 

[acudaowner]

two little kids with a lot of energy and a windout tape measure

you could get two birds with one stone your kids would be tired after a day running around measuring distances for you and you got to shoot its a win win and If the kids bug the wife cause they are stuck inside and at home , you just gave her a vacation that could be another win in your favor your a hero .

 

[dski]

Not really. I mostly shoot from a single location so having a more compact rangefinder really isn't necessary and it is nice to spot with the binos the shorter stuff. It actually consolidates some kit. Binos, kestrel and rangefinders into 2. There are certainly binos with better glass but it works well for me.

 

[07jkjeeper]

two little kids with a lot of energy and a windout tape measure View attachment 7277927
you could get two birds with one stone your kids would be tired after a day running around measuring distances for you and you got to shoot its a win win and If the kids bug the wife cause they are stuck inside and at home , you just gave her a vacation that could be another win in your favor your a hero .

Plus they can give you a good wind call down range. Very solid ?

 

[07jkjeeper]

Not really. I mostly shoot from a single location so having a more compact rangefinder really isn't necessary and it is nice to spot with the binos the shorter stuff. It actually consolidates some kit. Binos, kestrel and rangefinders into 2. There are certainly binos with better glass but it works well for me.

Cool. I don’t expect the glass to be world class but it seems like it’s a solid setup. Thanks for the info.

 

[TagalongJC]

Leica work good. have older HDB pair

 

[TagalongJC]

Bushnell is the only one I've used; works fine.

haven't seen this. what model

 

[domdoc]

Bushnell Fusion

 

[seansmd]

Anything that you don’t like about that setup?

I had them and sold them for the Leica 2800.com, the beam divergence is much better and the side by side performance through loops changed my mind.

 

[lawrence97]

I had them and sold them for the Leica 2800.com, the beam divergence is much better and the side by side performance through loops changed my mind.

Sean,
Is that minor difference in beam divergence worth it? Seems like the Kilo 3000 might have a slightly larger beam but it doubles as a decent bino and it does not have any connectivity issues.

What’s the beam divergence for each of these?

I am tempted to sell my Kilo’s to play with the 3500.com but not getting a good vibe on connectivity issues users are experiencing. I need that function since I usually have my RF tethered to my kestrel.

 

[seansmd]

Sean,
Is that minor difference in beam divergence worth it? Seems like the Kilo 3000 might have a slightly larger beam but it doubles as a decent bino and it does not have any connectivity issues.

What’s the beam divergence for each of these?

I am tempted to sell my Kilo’s to play with the 3500.com but not getting a good vibe on connectivity issues users are experiencing. I need that function since I usually have my RF tethered to my kestrel.

The beam divergence in the specs often are "effective" if you measure the actual size the magnitude is much larger. This trade-off showed up in loops where the larger beam could not navigate. This was experienced in side by side testing of only 2 devices, so ymmv.

 

[lawrence97]

The beam divergence in the specs often are "effective" if you measure the actual size the magnitude is much larger. This trade-off showed up in loops where the larger beam could not navigate. This was experienced in side by side testing of only 2 devices, so ymmv.

I do recall seeing that video. I wonder if the user sent back the kilo 3000 to see if they were out of spec or to get a replacement.
I will have to look at my kilo thru my NV again but it definitely does not look as large as in the video.

 

[seansmd]

I do recall seeing that video. I wonder if the user sent back the kilo 3000 to see if they were out of spec or to get a replacement.
I will have to look at my kilo thru my NV again but it definitely does not look as large as in the video.

I did. This podcast also take about manufacturers that use dsp technology to create the "effective" beam.

 

[338LMAI]

Here's something to look at:

 

[USP45]

If only the 3000BDX had a compass built in for DOF I would be all over it. Kind of a serious flaw to me.

 

[seansmd]

Some of those beam divergence numbers aren't pure and physical sizes and some are. We tested this with night vision side by side, and this podcast discusses it with someone in the industry. Some use strong ladders lasers with dsp to create an *effective* beam and can push distances at the expense of through loops.

PRM 138 - New Electro Optics w Nick Vitalbo

This week Nick Vitalbo comes on and talks about some of the new electo optics that have hit the market since shot show and we just shoot the breeze!

www.podbean.com

 

[eazy e]

Vortex Fury FTW!! These things are awesome

 

[lawrence97]

Another vote for sig kilo 3000. I looked thru the Furys and they look about the same as the sigs. I went with sig since they offer more functionality. The internal ballistics silver and connectivity make it a definite plus over the fury.

 

[aggiez28]

swaro EL range are awesom but $$$$

 

[aggiez28]

two little kids with a lot of energy and a windout tape measure View attachment 7277927
you could get two birds with one stone your kids would be tired after a day running around measuring distances for you and you got to shoot its a win win and If the kids bug the wife cause they are stuck inside and at home , you just gave her a vacation that could be another win in your favor your a hero .

only gotta shoot 100ft huh?

lol

 

[Diver160651]

Here's something to look at:View attachment 7287254

Some of your numbers are not correct just at a fast glance.. In addition to what
seansmd said.. Gated is cheaper, but not really as effective.

 

[338LMAI]

Some of your numbers are not correct just at a fast glance.. In addition to what
seansmd said.. Gated is cheaper, but not really as effective.

They weren't and aren't my numbers; as the bottom line states, "From Manufacturers".

 

[Diver160651]

They weren't and aren't my numbers; as the bottom line states, "From Manufacturers".

I understand. Who typed the list? As an example the manufacture does not list the 2800 @2.5mrad

 

[seansmd]

Not that @Diver160651 needs help with specifications.

 

[338LMAI]

I understand. Who typed the list? As an example the manufacture does not list the 2800 @2.5mrad

I just checked with Leica and you are correct; the 2800.com has the same divergence as the 3000 HD-B, 05x1.2 mrad. I checked the list against rangefinders that I've owned or own and never having a 2800.com it wasn't checked.

 

[338LMAI]

Not that @Diver160651 needs help with specifications.View attachment 7314196

Where did this come from? This differs from Leica's own site; further this indicates that the 2800.com is portrait oriented and not landscape. There could be differences due changes over time, manufacturing modifications as perceived necessary for marketing, legal, ROI, etc.

 

[seansmd]

Where did this come from? This differs from Leica's own site; further this indicates that the 2800.com is portrait oriented and not landscape. There could be differences due changes over time, manufacturing modifications as perceived necessary for marketing, legal, ROI, etc.

This was from the manual

 

[seansmd]

That is why I download and save when I buy, just downloaded and it's changed.

 

[338LMAI]

That is why I download and save when I buy, just downloaded and it's changed. View attachment 7314230

Wow; good point. Smart thinking as someday saving that evidence may prove invaluable; at least it'd help with warranty issues. Just a generic statement definetly not directed at Leica for sure.

 

[seansmd]

Google docs is great for that and you can mark them to be available offline, my range often has no service but bring able to call up docs for optics zero stop setting, torque specs etc has saved me.

 

[rootacres]

Vortex Fury's are awesome. I spent a week in WY chasing muleys and really didn't feel eye fatigue. I was pleasantly surprised with how good my eyes felt by the end of the trip.

 

[Todc]

Can't go wrong with the vortex. They're great.