Geovids or 10x42 binos and rangefinder?

esshup

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I have a pair of Minolta 8x42 binocs and a Bushnell 1500 rangefinder, but was seriously thinking of upgrading to the 10x42 Geovids. Hunting Wy. for Mulies and antelope, but next year Elk is on the menu.

The Geovids will cut down on total gear weight and I won't have to switch between binos and rangefinder. But, I'm second guessing my choice.

For the same $$ that I would spend on the Geovids, (<$2,000.00) are there any better options? Swaro rangefinder and different binoculars??

Any advice/suggestions that you have will be appreciated.
 
I would keep them sepperate. The Geovids are Leica 1200 range finders with very good glass. Good glass will last as long as they are taken care of and are more durable than rangefinders. Rangefinders are electronic and can be easily damaged and I would think that you will go through more range finders than bino's. Actually, if you simply get a Swaro, or a Leica CRF, you may not need another pair of binoculars becasue the glass is already so good in both. JMHO
 
The geovids are great!!! I love having the rangefinder and binocs together. Less things to carry and fumble with.
 
I just made the same decision. My rifles will run further than my rangefinders. I liked the Geovids. But, the Swaro is capable and consistent twice as far. No point in having 2k capable rifles (or even 1k) if you can't range an animal that far in hunting conditions.

I bought the Swaro SLC and the Swaro rangefinder. 939 + 1489 = 2428 is only a little more. I believe the optics and the rangefinder are much better. You can also buy used and save several hundred.

Another thought is if you choose to carry different binos for different hunting. I don't, but I would if glass wasn't so costly.
 
I've used a pair of Geovids for a couple of season.
They aint lite.
The glass could be better. Nikon ATBs have just as good of glass
The farthest I have ranged a pronhorn is 615 yards(550 is normal).
With that said they aint for sale.......yet.
To 500 yards they work great on everything but if I planned on shootin farther a better rangfinder would be in order.
 
Geovids

Hi all,
I have used 10 by 42 Geovids for nearly two years now in the North island of New Zealand and will never go back to seperate components or lesser optics.

I previously owned a CRF 1200 and found it too small to be watching animals for 6 or 7 hours at a time in the morning and 4 hrs in the afternoons, it would range reds or Sika out to 1150yrds max. I also used top end leupy binos which I thought were ok...

Once using the leica Geovids I realised the fun, and ease of sitting in behind quality optics for long periods of time, having a very clear, wide field of view to watch and gather info on my intended quarry (making me a more effecient hunter).
I like nestling in behind my Sendero with the Leica's in hand, locating and watching animals, ranging the animal of choice and then settling in behind the M4 8.5-25 M1 LR/T TMR.

Using the Geovids to spot with I have shot and killed Hares out to 1103yrds and rabbits out 1151yrds, they certainly have the clarity and ranging precision(on a tripod) to do the job.

The Geovids will range Sika or Red's out to 1344yrds all day for me and im very happy with them. Some hunts are 15 to 20 km one way at around 4500 to 5000 ft and while I put the Sendero away and take the Alaskan Titanium, - the Geovids always come along.
Again their optical quality helps find the wily Sika which love bush/scrub margins and crappy scrub covered faces. Most animals in their winter coat are simply NOT visible with the naked eye, especially once past 300yrds.

I have not found a better way to locate, evaluate and range game in one go. I can find game, range it and shoot it before my hunting buddy has worked out which one to shoot ! -(had to beat him to the draw once, -with some good natured banter to prove a point).

Although expensive in New Zealand, the Leicas are proving to be the optical "search and destroy" equipment of choice. I hope you guys get to try them out in your intended hunting areas and find them as good and helpful as I do.

Good and safe hunting to all.

Andrew R..............nz


3 Red stags in velvet on 19th December 07.
The pic is a little low on quality due to it being taken through a telescope and they were 1800yrds away. 300yrds out of range!

andys_pics_009.jpg
 
I looked through and ranged with a friend's Geovids. The glass quality was very good but the ranging distance of the range finder was limited. If you need to range more than 700 yds I would buy the Swarovski RF. The Geovids would not range as far as my Leica 1200s, for whatever reason. And I sold my Leica 1200 and purchased Swarovskis. If you intend to pack long distances, I would go with a set of lighter, more compact binoculars. The Geovids are pretty large and heavy - too cumbersome for my backpack hunting in Alaska.

However, if you didn't need to range distances further than about 700 yds and if you don't have to pack a long way in or out to hunt, the Geovid's could serve both purposes very well. They do have good glass.
 
I'm a backpack hunter and just purchased a pair of the 10X BRF's. They're heavy but convenient, and i'm willing to sacrifice the weight for the convenience/efficiency. I don't go beyond 700-800 yds. tho with my rigs so they fit my style well. I'm also a walking coyote hunter, and they'll be with me this yr. on every hunt. Kinda wierd to think my 1200 CRF is now a backup laser tho.
 
I have a separate RF and binos, I would not combine the 2, because if the rangefinder component breaks, as electronics do, you are then stuck with some very heavy and bulky binos.
 
Any advice/suggestions that you have will be appreciated.
If you're happy with how far they'll range and you can afford them, I say get them. Binocs/rangefinder combined is the ONLY way to fly, IMHO. You'll love it! I'll never be without. I use the Bino Manager and it eliminates the size and weight of my Newcon as being a problem.

Now if you won't be happy with the ranging capability of the Leica, the Newcon 3000 is another choice. Better laser but worse glass so you sort of need to chose which is more important to you.
 
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