Rangefinders, Leica or Bushnell 1600?

Update... bought the Nikon 1000 today and my daughter and I spent a couple hours tromping through the country testing it against the Leica 1000 I bought about 3 weeks ago ... probably tested 200+ reads, fencelines, cedar trees, signs, bushes, brush piles, snow drifts, deer, houses, telephone poles, barnes, silos, ect. ...from 200-1200yds ... we would stop and pick out 7-8 targets and run both rangefinders ... Leica won hands down, especially at ranges past 300yds ... it flat out picked up more objects than the Nikon ... no comparison ... I thought about testing the Zeiss against the Leica but I like how the Leica will fit into my shirt pocket and the Swaro is awesome but not sure the cost is worth it to me because I'm really only looking at something solid out to 500yds. In hindsight, my expectations were too high when I first bought the Lieca when I wasn't getting the reads I felt I should be getting ... Now, I'm keeping Lieca and returning the Nikon tomorrow.

In defense of Nikon ... I like their products, have a couple of their scopes and have had their binocs... I think they make great glass for the $$ ... the Nikon 1000 did a good job overall and had some bells/whistles that the Lieca didn't such as Angle Compensations and a couple of other things ... and it costs about $250 less.

For what I'm looking for, basically a great, no frills 500+yd rangefinder, Leica is what I'm sticking with. I can't justify the Swaro's price unless I was wanting to get out past 1000yds consistently.

Hope this review helps out ... should have listened to you guys earlier ... but sometimes you just have to do it the Missouri way.
 
Great update... it is helpful...

how did they do on hillsides or slopes... without any objects standing out...

I only wonder about this because it seems like it would be handy for a randefinder to be able to read open slopes or hillsides in preperation for incoming critters.
 
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I currenlty live in central Iowa . . . finding a hill is tougher than finding coyotes. We were on a riverbed yesterday and there was a ridge about 50' tall with trees . . . it was shaded . .. both rangefinders picked up a reading of about 650yds, but that is all the experience I have with ridges... sorry.
 
I like my Leica so far,but haven't used it alot. It's a 1200 ,which was replaced by the 1000 model.

G.O. , sounds like flat farm ground.
Sumtin like this ? .....
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Looks exactly like that. I actually grew up in SE Iowa, which is a little more 'ditch' ground, but hills are still hard to come by.

I thought about the 1200 and now the 1600 is available with some extra programs on it. Do you notice a difference with the 1200?

I took the Nikon back to day . . . I'm glad I compared them though... makes spending the extra $$ much easier!
 
Originally Posted By: 12RingMaybe I shouldn't even comment on this since I have not used the bushnell but I don't even think you can compare the two. Leica is in a entirely different league than bushnell. If you have the extra $300 then spend it.

You're completely wrong with rangefinders. The bushnell fusions are 10 times better than the Leica rangefinders. I've used both. I'll bet the Geovids are much nicer than the fusions if you want to spend that kind of money.
 
Originally Posted By: NickNielsenOriginally Posted By: 12RingMaybe I shouldn't even comment on this since I have not used the bushnell but I don't even think you can compare the two. Leica is in a entirely different league than bushnell. If you have the extra $300 then spend it.

You're completely wrong with rangefinders. The bushnell fusions are 10 times better than the Leica rangefinders. I've used both. I'll bet the Geovids are much nicer than the fusions if you want to spend that kind of money.

I gotta call BS on this. The Leica is an excellent RF for small targets at longer ranges. There's only two dogs in this race, and Bushnell isn't one of them.
 
Originally Posted By: MikeWenzOriginally Posted By: NickNielsenOriginally Posted By: 12RingMaybe I shouldn't even comment on this since I have not used the bushnell but I don't even think you can compare the two. Leica is in a entirely different league than bushnell. If you have the extra $300 then spend it.

You're completely wrong with rangefinders. The bushnell fusions are 10 times better than the Leica rangefinders. I've used both. I'll bet the Geovids are much nicer than the fusions if you want to spend that kind of money.

I gotta call BS on this. The Leica is an excellent RF for small targets at longer ranges. There's only two dogs in this race, and Bushnell isn't one of them.

Do you own both? I know Leica's glass is way better than Bushnell's. But I have both and if i'm going into the field to hunt coyotes, i'd take my fusions over the Leica rangefinders. I don't need to measure their ears or anything. I don't want this to turn controversial but borrow a buddy's for a day if you know anyone that has them and you'll be impressed. Also I'm talking ranging not clarity.
 
As it goes, I'm a big fan of Bushnell. But I prefer two having two separate tools for two separate jobs...
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The Fusions are good. But they ain't 10x nothing over Leica products. They honestly don't compare on either level. And I do own both brands...
 
Originally Posted By: knockemdownAs it goes, I'm a big fan of Bushnell. But I prefer two having two separate tools for two separate jobs...
2012-03-05_20-39-58_109.jpg


The Fusions are good. But they ain't 10x nothing over Leica products. They honestly don't compare on either level. And I do own both brands...


I know i'd get [beeep] about this. No big deal, to each their own. Absolutely not knocking Leica's optics at all. I just don't think their rangefinders are up to their standards.
 
Nick,
Nope, I dont own any Bushnell's. have used friends while shooting PD's and I dont see where you can say they are 10 times better. I respect your opinion, but don't share it on this topic. Come to WY and maybe we can shoot some rodents and you can try to sway me over to your side! Where in ND do you live?
 
i have both a 1500 and 1600 bushnell elite rfs... they get the job done... no regrets... my buddy has a leica and a nikon.. this is from his mouth not mine he says " for the money the nikons just as good if not better than the leica" i have no experience with the nikon or the leica... but the elite rf is a solid unit....
 
Originally Posted By: MikeWenzNick,
Nope, I dont own any Bushnell's. have used friends while shooting PD's and I dont see where you can say they are 10 times better. I respect your opinion, but don't share it on this topic. Come to WY and maybe we can shoot some rodents and you can try to sway me over to your side! Where in ND do you live?

I live in the Eastern part of the state. I'm just speaking from my experience with a Leica CRF 1000, Leica LRF 1200, and bushnell fusion 1600's and the ranging functions for coyote hunting. These are my opinions and having all 3 laying on my dash, i'll take the fusions in the field (coyote hunting) every time. No big deal and everyone has different tastes. I honestly do believe the fusions are superb for coyote hunting. I like having the rangefinder in the binocs so I don't have to carry so much into the stand. Now if I was whitetail hunting i'd chose differently just because the fusions glass is inferior. If I had the extra money i'd definitely buy the Leica Geovids but I can't jusify it at this point in my life.
 
Nick,
I bet if you sold all three of your other range finders you could afford some Geovids!

Geovids are definitely on my very short "next purchase" checklist!

If only I could find that money tree!!!
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Jon
 
Originally Posted By: PharmerJonNick,
I bet if you sold all three of your other range finders you could afford some Geovids!

Geovids are definitely on my very short "next purchase" checklist!

If only I could find that money tree!!!
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Jon

Someday i'll have some for sure unless Swaro comes out with some but then i'd need to win the lottery. LRF is my old man's, i guess i could sell it but he'd find out he was missing it come fall
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my buddies have leica's and i have a swaro.the swaro ranges thing the leica won't.we traded them back and forth always get the same results
 
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