Leica LRF 1200 Rangefinder

S

SteveTimm

New member
Finally, someone is making a rangefinder that works for me!

I've been dinking around with the Oriental brands for the last several years and they weren't getting the job done. Yeah, they would work morning and night, but an antelope or a prairie dog mound at high noon resulted in ---.

The Leica Geovids were great, but I refuse to wear a three-pound instrument the size of a cigar box in the field.

I have had several guides who used the Leica 800 and my Bushnell 600 Compact beat the Leica every time. I was underwhelmed with the Leica 800.

Lately, at the VHA Jamboree, I had a chance to use the Geovid and the new Leica 1200 side-by-side. After a couple hours, I came to the conclusion that they are as close to equal as they can be (at least for field work).

In the blaring noon sun, I can get good readings on a prairie dog mound at 600 yards. A single four-inch baloon at 700 yards reads every time. Hey, it works for me.

I paid $450 for the Leica 1200. Don't know if that's a good price or not and really don't care. All I know is I am going into the field this fall with a range finder that will work when I want it to.

Gad, it is nice to have a range finder that is a decent size and dependable.

Steve
 
Amen Brother Steve!

I snagged one of the first LRF1200's to arrive in the country. Over paid for it, didn't care. Have been using it all year and I agree with your assessment 100% (including your thoughts on the Geovid - awesome instrument, but TOO FRIGGIN' BIG!). I used an LRF 800 from the time they were introduced (also starting with one from the first shipmment to arrive in the country), and had some real problems with them (went through 3 of them before getting one that worked right). The "one" I ended up with was nice, did what it was supposed to, but overall, the 800's were a poor product in my opinion. Leica definitely "got it right" this time though!

- DAA
 
I went from an early Bushnell 400 to the LRF 1200. You can imagine how happy I am with that change. Especially since I'm getting full-range readings (1200+ yards) at mid-day on relatively non-reflective targets. I paid $469 for mine, which seems to be the standard price most places. Definitely worth it for me.

-dan
 
i had a bushnell 1000 range finder and it was junk as the rest of there stuff went to a leica 800 and love it i can get clear readings to 1400 yards sometimes we have all kinds of rangefinders in are camp and they all bragg on mine i sold mine on ebay thats a good place to get rid of them
 
Hey Guys,
Just got a set of the 1200's from Leica last week and I am already having trouble with the --- thing. Today at 9:30 it would not read a solid tree pass 750. Read a bush at 762 once but would not do it again. Kinda annoying uh!!
 
SteveM

I have no idea what the battery life of the 1200 is or how good the OEM battery is. Might try a new 9-volt battery.

Sometimes battery-driven stuff suddenly comes alive when you replace the power source.

SteveTimm
 
Neither trees or bushes are very reflective. You are just seeing the limits of laser range finders. The laser range finders are very convenient and easy to use, but at longer ranges the optical ones are still much better. Admittedly the Barr and Stroud type range finders are a real pain to set up and use, but they are still better at looong ranges.

Jack
 
Jack, trees and bushes aren't very reflective, true. But, this unit SHOULD range a tree at 700 yards no problem. Mine sure does. It will range trees all the way to a thousand yards. I've ranged off of the sides of cows at over 700 for that matter.

Could be you got a defective unit Steve. Try the new batt like Mr. Timm suggested, but if that doesn't get it ginning to your liking it's time to return it. As I mentioned above, I had trouble getting an LRF800 that would work like it was "supposed to". The bad ones would range "okay", but not nearly as well as the 800 yard units from Nikon and Bushnell. Finally, after returning a couple of them, I ended up with one that ranged like it should have. That's why I was so willing to pay full retail for my 1200 unit - I went where I could "try before I buy". Meant paying $499 + tax, but I was able to take three of them outside and play with them before purchasing. So I knew I wouldn't end up going roundy-round like I had with the 800's.

But, anyway, your 1200 most definitely should range better than it is. Aside from a battery, make sure you have the unit steadied well, they really should have tripod lugs built into them. But I know you already knew that...

- DAA
 
DAA and Timms,
I hear ya guys. All I know is that in my experience the Geovids will range the leaf on a tree at 1000 yards and this 1200 unit is lacking somewhere. DAA you are certainly right on the tripod mount. These are a real pain to use on small objects without resting them on something. I was using the windon of my truck on the trees I spoke of and that still did not work. Further testing is in order.
 
A fellow that posts on another board I frequent came up with an easy, innexpensive way to tripod mount the LRF. Steve Timm might even know him - it's Rick V. that makes the BR Pivot. He posted pictures, but I didn't save them. Maybe I can get him to post them here or send them to me.

Anyway, dirt simple. He took a piece of sheet metal about the same size as the LRF and tacked a nut of appropriate thread size to serve as tripod lug to the center of it. Then simply used a heavy duty rubber band to affix the LRF to the sheet. Voilla! A $.69 tripod adapter.

Haven't put one together yet myself, just too dang busy, but I'm going to, using some 1/8 aluminum stock I've got laying around.

- DAA
 
Holding still for the reading is quite essential, as several other board members have said.

Why, oh why, didn't Leica do the simple job of putting a 1/4 X 20 socket in the bottom of both the 800 and 1200 range finders? I nornmally carry a very light (small) camera tripod with me for hero pictures and the combination would greatily aid range finding.

For antelope hunting, the window mount would work well.

Rick Vs solution is wonderful. I do not have the welding gear, so I will probably use Marine-Tex to attach the 1/4 X 20 nut to the plate. Simple solutions are usually the best.

Steve
 
Don't know if anyone is interested or not? If some of you guys don't have the material or equipment to make one of these tripod bases for your Leica's,I work in a welding and machine shop and could knock out a few of these bases free of charge and no postage necessary. We have quite an assortment and sizes of aluminum,stainless,and steel. Possibly a piece of 1/4" thick nylon or plastic with a threaded insert pressed in to it would work out well for holding the RF. The plastic would be light and quiet. Let me know if interested

Some of you guys give out a bunch of good solid advice and experience to others for nothing, so I wouldn't mind making them
 
---Possibly a piece of 1/4" thick nylon or plastic with a threaded insert pressed in to it would work out well for holding the RF. The plastic would be light and quiet. Let me know if interested---

Lonny, I'd be GLAD to pay your for something like that!

- DAA
 
Lonny,

Yes, yes, yes. The 1/4-inch nylon or plastic would be perfect.

Please, my friend, let us pay you for it -- at the very least fot the materials and postage.

The 1200 actually measures 4" X 4", but it has a pair of small ridges on the bottom that would make a 3" X 3" plate perfect. Might slightly round the corners for cosmetics.

Other 1200 users might check my measurement and idea to make sure it is right for all.

The plate could then be attached by using a pair of industrial-strength rubber bands.

I don't know the dimensions of the 800, so maybe someone else can add this information.

Lonny, you are a gentleman and any time I can help you, just holler.

Steve Timm
 
DAA, Does 3"X 3" work for your 1200 LRF also? I can make it any size you like so its whatever you want. Is 1/4-20 the size of threaded insert thatwill adapt to your tripod?

Steve T, I will make yours to the specifications you mentioned above.3"X 3" radius the corners.1/4-20 works for you I take.

I will most likely be using a plastic called nylatron that is black in color and 1/4" thick, do both of you guys want the threaded insert to be centered exactly in the piece? I can position the insert anywhere you want in the plastic. I am assuming center is best though? email me at lonnylisa@cableone.net with names and addy's and I'll get them made one of these days.

Anybody else need one? It doesn't take much more work to make several.

Nope, No money needed. You guys give out to much free advice for me to charge.
 
Hey Lonny,

I would truly be interested in piece such as this. My vote would be for the plastic as far as weight but don't know if it can hold a thread well enough for the long haul. What do you think DAA/Timm??? This would be great on my window mount.
 
Steve M. The threaded insert I intend on using will either be bronze or steel. The threads in the insert should hold up well unless more than normal force is used. Does 3"X 3" x 1/4 plastic with a 1/4-20 threaded insert work for you?
 
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