Zeiss Rangefinder Owners- Worth it?

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Those of you that use the Zeiss, do you like them? Would you rather have purchased the Swaros or the Leica CRF 1600s? What are your thoughts? If I draw an elk tag this year I'm dropping the cash on one of these 3 models. Now I'm trying to decide on which one...

I understand the Leica has the tightest beam divergence, but the Swaro ranges the furthest... How do you like the Zeiss?
 
The Swarovski's have the nicest glass and the most accurate readings and I feel they are better than the Leicas. The Zeiss are the cheapest. The Bushnell Fusions give you the bino feature as well. Here are reveiw's on all three (Swaro, Zeiss, Bushnell):

Zeiss Victory 8×26 PRF - Articles: Optic Reviews - Blog Articles - CS TACTICAL

Bushnell Fusion 1600 ARC - Articles: Optic Reviews - Blog Articles - CS TACTICAL

Swarovski Optik LRF 8×30 - Articles: Optic Reviews - Blog Articles - CS TACTICAL

Thanks,

Mason @ CST
 
Very satisfied! Top tier glass, field of view 3x that of the leica 1200, readout easier to see than the swaro. The swaro will range farther, but to 1500 yds on non reflective targets (rocks) the Zeiss was faster and more sure on the day I tested both side by side. I do not anticipate shooting anything over 1500yds so the zeiss was the best fit for me.

This was about a year ago when I was making a purchasing decision. Technology marches on and everyone is improving their products rapidly. I have no experience with the leica 1600 and maybe swaro has improved the readout on their unit. It was pretty dim on the two swaro units I tested against the Zeiss.

It was a sunny day in Arizona. My buddy and I switched back and forth between the swaro and the zeiss several times and we both concluded that the zeiss was ranging rocks on a mountain at distances between 1000-1500yds faster and more reliably than the swaro. We were surprised by this and went back into the Outdoorsmans and they gave us another swaro to try. The results were the same.

I would give the edge to the swaro for optical clarity by a hair. All three are great units that will serve you well and none are the wrong choice.
 
I have one and I really like it. It maxes out at 1480 yards - trees, rocks, brown cows deer/elk in the evening. I can hit deer sized animals at 1100-1300 on snow covered ground & midday sun. Coyotes to 700-800 yards in a flat field.


I'm posting mine for sale in a few days. $500. It's yours if you want it. The reason I'm selling it is because I got a Leica Locator Plus for dirt cheap that was being sold as surplus surveying equipment. It's amazing. 7500 yards on cliffs and rock outcrops. Last time out it read 2000 yards on a coyote standing in a snow covered field, hand held, mostly sunny sky's, looking 3 degrees down onto the field - it reads vertical angles too. Bad wind call - the bullet hit 6 inches to the left.
 
Thanks Paul, I'd love to have yours, but I have to wait for my taxes to arrive and see if we got drawn for elk here in AZ first. If we did, I'm buying a new rangefinder this year! So basically, I'm doing my homework now. If, however, you still have them early April, I'll be all over that deal, along with some 169.5g 6.5mm bullets of course j/k! :D:D I decided to go a different route than 6.5mm as I wasn't happy with the bullets available. Maybe one day... (hint hint:rolleyes:)

On another note, it seems like the Swaros, Zeiss, and Leica CRF 1600 are all winners. We know the Swaros are great, the Zeiss appears to be good also, what about that CRF 1600?

Tim.
 
I have the zeiss and have used it out to 1400 yrds. with no problems. I really like the instant and clear read-out. I have been told by a person that has a swaro that the zeiss was easier to read.
 
I have no experience with the other units you mention - I own the Zeiss (for about three months).

Great clear glass, nice eye relief and ranges very quickly, excellent measuring digits in the viewfinder. On a 'tough' day I can range out to about 880 on small targets with ease. Later on in the day when it's more forgiving (less sun, near dusk) I can go out 1380 with no problems - all hand-held.

Works great spot-lighting at night too:)
 
Wildcat Bullets said:
I have one and I really like it. It maxes out at 1480 yards - trees, rocks, brown cows deer/elk in the evening. I can hit deer sized animals at 1100-1300 on snow covered ground & midday sun. Coyotes to 700-800 yards in a flat field.


I'm posting mine for sale in a few days. $500. It's yours if you want it. The reason I'm selling it is because I got a Leica Locator Plus for dirt cheap that was being sold as surplus surveying equipment. It's amazing. 7500 yards on cliffs and rock outcrops. Last time out it read 2000 yards on a coyote standing in a snow covered field, hand held, mostly sunny sky's, looking 3 degrees down onto the field - it reads vertical angles too. Bad wind call - the bullet hit 6 inches to the left.
Click to expand...
i just realized you are the guy i was talking to at the elko range yesterday, you were shooting a 7 allen mag and you played with my leica for a minute.
 
Good said:
Those of you that use the Zeiss, do you like them? Would you rather have purchased the Swaros or the Leica CRF 1600s? What are your thoughts? If I draw an elk tag this year I'm dropping the cash on one of these 3 models. Now I'm trying to decide on which one...

I understand the Leica has the tightest beam divergence, but the Swaro ranges the furthest... How do you like the Zeiss?
Click to expand...

I dont own any of them but I borrowed a pair of Leica binos with the range finder built in. All I can say is I will be getting some as soon as I can find them on sale somewhere. We were ranging elk at 1200 yards on a hunt last year. I have used most of the high end stuff and like these the best for hunting big game. just my .02............Jim
 
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