Upgrading binos

After feedback from owners or past users of leica geovid binos...

Heres where I'm at..
I bought a pair of $699 Minox binos almost 2 years ago and they have been great value for money, and are still in almost new condition... over the past year or so i upgraded 2 of my scopes to Zeiss HD5's which have been excellent improvements in the field... so a few months ago i though id upgrade from my minox binos to some ziess conquest hd binos, however spending 20 mins with them outside the shop along side my minox.. i was really struggling to find the $1200 difference in performance.. it was so close in clarity and light that i just couldn't see parting with $1900 for them.... moving forward to now and I'm back at the point where i can (if i wish to part with a chunk of change) afford to invest in upgraded glass, and am on the verge of snapping up some of the newer model Leica Geovid HD-R's or HD-B's .. now its going to cost me between 3-3.5 k through ways i have to purchase.. , from what i can see they both range to 1800yd and have angle compensation function but the $400 difference adds a inbuilt ballistic calculator/temp/atmospheric sensors with an sd card upload option and takes the angle compensation from 600yd all the way to 1800yd.

what have peoples experiences with geovids been? are they worth it? anyone have the hd-b and find it a $400 feature they use or could go without for $400?
I've looked through some and can see they are clearer and brighter but don't know how much this will realy earn themselves in the field...
advice and observations please!!!! as its a lot of money.
Cheers :)

I've got the new Geovid R's, great binos - I took a buy once cry once attitude to the purchase.
Comparing binos is hard, there are different coatings and different gas fillings that change how an image is presented to the user - which one looks better/natural/sharper can only be decided by the owner of the eyeballs.

Lower end binos have come a long way but saying that a $500 bino set are almost as good as a Leica/Swaro is like comparing a Corolla to a HSV for the sole purpose of going down to the dairy to pick up a bottle of milk.

Last light/end of day is where you will notice the biggest difference, In saying that unless your vision is 20/20 you might never tell the difference between the two.

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Originally Posted by Timmay

I've got the new Geovid R's, great binos - I took a buy once cry once attitude to the purchase.
Comparing binos is hard, there are different coatings and different gas fillings that change how an image is presented to the user - which one looks better/natural/sharper can only be decided by the owner of the eyeballs.

Lower end binos have come a long way but saying that a $500 bino set are almost as good as a Leica/Swaro is like comparing a Corolla to a HSV for the sole purpose of going down to the dairy to pick up a bottle of milk.

Last light/end of day is where you will notice the biggest difference, In saying that unless your vision is 20/20 you might never tell the difference between the two.

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so your have type 403? model40054?

https://www.jacobsdigital.co.nz/coll...eters-or-yards

Paid a bit more at the start of the year though.

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Originally Posted by Timmay

https://www.jacobsdigital.co.nz/coll...eters-or-yards

Paid a bit more at the start of the year though.

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great, your advice helps me feel better about the upgrade expense :)

as for the ones in that link (geovid-R) they replaced the "geovid hd" after they introduced the "hd-b".. they also dropped the HD from the "geovid-R" in those models from what i can tell, and then in the last year they again replaced the "geovid-R" with
the "geovid hd-R" utilising the new prism and form factor of the "geovid hd-b".

https://us.leica-camera.com/Sport-Op...d/Geovid-Range

From my understanding the HD-B (the two skinny tubes) have a different prism type.
The HD-R -> R is the removal of the hydrophobic coating and addition of the ballistic calculator to 550m (caveat: there are a few funny versions floating around) I don't see a need for the temp/barro/angle comp of the HD-B as my Smart phone does all that wiz bang stuff and with work I get a new one every few years (see: upgraded) so no point worrying about it in a pair of binos.

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Originally Posted by Timmay

I took a buy once cry once attitude to the purchase.

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Something to be said for that. At least, that's what I tell the wife. :)

If there is only $400 difference get the HDBs, the programmable ballistic programme is mint out to 1000 yard.

Do leica provide any kind of warranty on the electronics part of the binos and is the software able to be updated/hardware upgraded?? I personally couldn't bring myself to spend that sort of money on something that's going to be outdated pretty rapidly if theres no way around that? Even if the rangefinder stopped working 15 or twenty years down the track, you would still have a decent set of binos, but I cant stand having something that doesn't function how its supposed to even if I don't need those functions.

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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Do leica provide any kind of warranty on the electronics part of the binos and is the software able to be updated/hardware upgraded?? I personally couldn't bring myself to spend that sort of money on something that's going to be outdated pretty rapidly if theres no way around that? Even if the rangefinder stopped working 15 or twenty years down the track, you would still have a decent set of binos, but I cant stand having something that doesn't function how its supposed to even if I don't need those functions.

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Which is exactly why I didn't buy a combined unit

how can a customizable projectile path become outdated? , are they going to reinvent bullets soon? Will the ballistic curve suddenly require a new factor?
Should I just sell my guns now incase they do?
And while I'm at it - should I buy carburetor cars from Now one because fuel management systems become outdated.
Haha

Just kidding ;-)

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Originally Posted by chchben

how can a customizable projectile path become outdated? , are they going to reinvent bullets soon? Will the ballistic curve suddenly require a new factor?
Should I just sell my guns now incase they do?
And while I'm at it - should I buy carburetor cars from Now one because fuel management systems become outdated.
Haha

Just kidding ;-)

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I think @Ryan_Songhurst was meaning if the electronics fail and can no longer be repaired (yes it happens often)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chchben

how can a customizable projectile path become outdated? , are they going to reinvent bullets soon? Will the ballistic curve suddenly require a new factor?
Should I just sell my guns now incase they do?
And while I'm at it - should I buy carburetor cars from Now one because fuel management systems become outdated.
Haha

Just kidding ;-)

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I think @Ryan_Songhurst was meaning if the electronics fail and can no longer be repaired (yes it happens often)

Same electronic failure goes for an equivalent range finder which would cost 3x the $400 price difference of having it inbuilt

And if the electronics fail outside of the 5 year warranty they would still be good binos :)

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Originally Posted by chchben

Same electronic failure goes for an equivalent range finder which would cost 3x the $400 price difference of having it inbuilt

And if the electronics fail outside of the 5 year warranty they would still be good binos :)

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Being a high end brand you would like to think they would fix or replace them no drama.....:)

The low end ones can....:D

doesn't matter if they are still good binos, I wouldn't want to walk around with something expensive that doesn't work how it should

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Originally Posted by chchben

Same electronic failure goes for an equivalent range finder which would cost 3x the $400 price difference of having it inbuilt

And if the electronics fail outside of the 5 year warranty they would still be good binos :)

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look at it this way, If like me you have separate units and for example the rangefinder goes pooze then its not so much coin to get a new one and my binos still work.
It would piss me off no end to have something that cost as much as they do poo itself ........................ out of warrenty especially if it were no longer repairable even if I paid to have it fixed.

Have we got any first hand reports of the ranging function not working in Geovids and leica telling someone to piss off? Or are we just speculating that A) it will fail and B) it will not be fixed by Leica.

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Originally Posted by Timmay

Have we got any first hand reports of the ranging function not working in Geovids and leica telling someone to piss off? Or are we just speculating that A) it will fail and B) it will not be fixed by Leica.

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I never said they would fail or Leica would not fix them ( but I would not expect them to be repaired 5-10 years later) The Japanese company we distribute gear for only guarantees parts or service for equipment 5 years (and its not the cheapest of equipment either).

So speculation.

I have had experience of Leica repairing their products that are well outside the warranty period at no cost to me and no questions asked, no debate, no pleading they just did it.
I have used Leica products for over 40 years in both Australia and New Zealand. I have NEVER been disappointed by the way I've been treated by the company.
You can buy their products and be confident of first class after sales service. If the electronic technology fails at some future date I'm sure Leica will see you right and not take months to get it sorted.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chchben

Same electronic failure goes for an equivalent range finder which would cost 3x the $400 price difference of having it inbuilt

And if the electronics fail outside of the 5 year warranty they would still be good binos :)

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good bino with no electronics, still have to buy more electronic lol. My only question with the temp dodacky is will it be effected by being close to your body therefore no giving a true reading??

Manual states that if it's been inside a warm place then the housing may be warm and should allow 30mins un heated for housing to cool to enable internal sensor to read correct temps.
I don't think one insulated side against the body would be enough to to push the housing temp out enough to effect them.

Manual states that if it's been inside a warm place then the housing may be warm and should allow 30mins un heated for housing to cool to enable internal sensor to read correct temps.
I don't think one insulated side against the body wouldn't be enough to push the housing temp out enough to effect them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Timmay

Have we got any first hand reports of the ranging function not working in Geovids and leica telling someone to piss off? Or are we just speculating that A) it will fail and B) it will not be fixed by Leica.

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if a human has any input into it its bound to crap out :thumbsup:

Now I'm more on the fence than I was when I started the thread, thankyou for all the input though, however I'd like to take this right back and highlight my opening sentence

"After feedback from owners or past users of leica geovid binos...."

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Originally Posted by chchben

Now I'm more on the fence than I was when I started the thread, thankyou for all the input though, however I'd like to take this right back and highlight my opening sentence

"After feedback from owners or past users of leica geovid binos...."

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Had hdb's for twelve months no issues.better glass than any brand I have compared to lately.There was on guy on here bleating on about how shit his rangefinder was on his and was going to make a you tube vid to show every one.Lacklands have said to me they have no record of this other than a battery issue after being left in the truck in the cold.my two cents of using them other than people's comments on why they didn't buy them .rubber lens caps are a bit shit compared to the old good ids would be my only issue as they pull off easily

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Do leica provide any kind of warranty on the electronics part of the binos and is the software able to be updated/hardware upgraded?? I personally couldn't bring myself to spend that sort of money on something that's going to be outdated pretty rapidly if theres no way around that? Even if the rangefinder stopped working 15 or twenty years down the track, you would still have a decent set of binos, but I cant stand having something that doesn't function how its supposed to even if I don't need those functions.

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I hope i get notified when they release a new version of physics , lol

I kept my separate RF, and bought a pair of Vortex Razors.

Figured a short warranty on the electronics doesn't justify it. Though my mate said if he bought a pair and the electronics failed, he'd accidently drop his off a cliff and claim on his house insurance.

I can tell you from personal experience that for such a pricy bit of kit the lens caps on my Swaro El's were obviously designed by an engineer who never actually used them outside.

First trip out and 1 gone.

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Originally Posted by mikee

I can tell you from personal experience that for such a pricy bit of kit the lens caps on my Swaro El's were obviously designed by an engineer who never actually used them outside.

First trip out and 1 gone.

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Yep same reason I took mine off before I went hunting. Lenses are well back in their housing so not easily damaged, and I never place them lens down on anything except down my shirt front.

Allright.. I've been persuaded...

New shopping list is Leica CFR1600-B rangefinder and a pair of great optics..

now i just need to choose between the Swarovski Swarovision El 10x42 HD or the Leica Ultravid HD 10x42 .

More persuasion then I've got a pair of Steiners they are nice :)

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Originally Posted by chchben

Allright.. I've been persuaded...

New shopping list is Leica CFR1600-B rangefinder and a pair of great optics..

now i just need to choose between the Swarovski Swarovision El 10x42 HD or the Leica Ultravid HD 10x42 .

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Look thru both and choose the ones your eyes like better they're both premium bits of kit all be it somewhat pricey

Have a look at the Swarovski SV EL 8x32. Much lighter and smaller than the 10x42, difference in light gathering between the two is negligible, superb optics and just an excellent hunting bino.