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

Cheers KG

Thanks for going to the trouble to compare......luv my EL's

B

Now I know where you live

The Leica's win hands down for a bow hunter too

Cheers Greg

Was interesting to compare,
The ELs had a "cool"(for lack of a better description) colour to them in normal light ,greens of different trees really popped out.
Would be nice to get some brown animals in some brown scrub and see how that "cool" tint helps or hinders.
Noticeably the best in low light.

The HDbs ranging was awesome and idiot proof (i could work it)

Instant repeatable ranges at 1700something to a pine from my house that i could not get reading on at all with the other two.

Id be happy to own any of them, my cascades must be broken i couldn't get a range at all with them

When I'm loaded that's handy info
which were the heavy ist? The zies look big

Sent from my HUAWEI Y210-0100 using Tapatalk 2

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Cheers Greg

Was interesting to compare,
The ELs had a "cool"(for lack of a better description) colour to them in normal light ,greens of different trees really popped out.
Would be nice to get some brown animals in some brown scrub and see how that "cool" tint helps or hinders.
Noticeably the best in low light.
D

Sika hind stood out like a glow bug in long tussock last May 8th last hour before dark
@ 660m with my EL's.....didn't see the other two that popped up once I shot her tho!!
Shot taken closer range tho

B

I think the lense caps on the HD-b's is pretty poor

Originally Posted by Smiddy

I think the lense caps on the HD-b's is pretty poor

That's being awfully complimentary...... I think you missed a word out that starts with F...... no not fairly either.....

So given your observations would it be fair to say that the EL's would be better suited to hunters and those people that would be shooting to an absolute max of say 1200mtrs (or even 1000mtrs) and the HDb's or better suited for those that want to shoot further than that but don't necessarily need the glass quality and low light capability of the EL's?

As an aside, I think the caps on the EL's are pretty rubbish too.

Originally Posted by Proudkiwi

So given your observations would it be fair to say that the EL's would be better suited to hunters and those people that would be shooting to an absolute max of say 1200mtrs (or even 1000mtrs) and the HDb's or better suited for those that want to shoot further than that but don't necessarily need the glass quality and low light capability of the EL's?

As an aside, I think the caps on the EL's are pretty rubbish too.

That would be a fair idea, but the HDB glass is only just behind, to my eyes & you most likely won't be shooting far enough to make it an important feature in light that low.

You still need to be able to see it through your scope & have enough time to go & retrieve it.

The HDBs quick ranging & programmable, corrected for the ambient conditions, ballistic solution trumps the others.

The few ballistic solutions I have run for my calibres, only put it up to 0.25 moa different to Shooter at 1000yards

Yeah, the software definitely looks intriguing.

I should also add that I have had a shocker with the ranging on my EL's. Three trips back to Austria and a new set in the end and I am finally happy. The glass is amazing though.

Originally Posted by Proudkiwi

Yeah, the software definitely looks intriguing.

I should also add that I have had a shocker with the ranging on my EL's. Three trips back to Austria and a new set in the end and I am finally happy. The glass is amazing though.

The demo pair of ELs I have really struggle past 1600 even it perfect conditions, I have heard they are a lottery as far as ranging goes...

The Geovids I have just go bang, bang, bang, out to 2068 yards every time

It's interesting. Apparently the local H&F cancelled their order of HDBs because they had issues with the range finder on the demo model.