Thread: Unscientific comparision, HDB, EL & Zeiss Rangefinding binos

Luckily recently I managed to get a set of Leica Geovid 10x42 HDBs after waiting just over a year

I also managed to borrow a set of the Zeiss 10x45 Victory RF & a demo set of 10x42 Swaro EL Range Binos.



I have compared them along with two local forum members.

The long & the short of it is the ELs are best in low light, followed by the Zeiss (they are bigger so have an advantage) then the HDBs.

Lowlight & LR shooting generally don't hold hands unless you want to get out well after midnight

The HDBs range the furthest by at least 300 yards, then the Zeiss, then the ELs.

Here is a pic I took through the HDBs, I have got to 2070, then they "go to sleep" with the good old --- quite a common signal with the others past 15-1600



I admit I'm a Leica Slut & overall rate the HBDs ahead of the Zeiss & the ELs.

Their range finding ability is extremely impressive, exceptionally quick as opposed to the ELs when it feels like you could get your sammies out whilst waiting for the range to be displayed, coupled with their lack of aim point before you press the button, it gets pretty frustrating with the ELs once you use the HDBs.

The Zeiss represent great value for money & are great optically, the display on the ones I borrowed is extremely hard to read in brightish light ?

The HDBs have a great ballistic program, using Baro, Temperature & angle of the shot.

You can use 12 preset ballistic curves.

You can preset custom curves one per micro SD card out to 1000 yards.

To be honest each set will do the business unless you are looking for ELR performance.

I'm really looking forward to getting out & about with the Leicas to see what they can achieve in the field

These opinions are what I/we found with the sets we had on hand, YMMV