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new swarovski laser rangefinder

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whitefeather View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote whitefeather Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: new swarovski laser rangefinder
    Posted: August/13/2004 at 15:08
Has anyone purchased the Swarovski laser range finder?  Is it worth the money?

Edited by whitefeather
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Farris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/15/2004 at 16:20
Not out yet.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bigmo101 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/07/2004 at 19:03
Is it out yet?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Farris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/08/2004 at 10:16

Still not out.  Man did Leica and Swarovski really drop the ball this year on their new range finders.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mouflon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/26/2005 at 11:25

I saw no one had given any feedback since this was released so I thought I would provide my positive impression.

 

I've owned the Swarovski Laser Rangefinder for about 9 months now and am very pleased with it.  I previously had a Bushnell and notice three major improvement areas:

 

- Glass:  The Swar is bright.  I am able to use it instead of carrying additional binoculars when hunting in daytime thanks to the high light transmission and 8x magnification.  For roe deer hunting I carry only this, but still carry binos for low light or distance situations.

 

- Armor:  The unit is solid, with think rubber coating all around.  In particular, the activitation button is fully sealed under the outer rubber coating.  When dragging it through the mud and dirt stalking, it stays fully operational.

 

- Ranging:  No scientific testing here but I find it capable to range off most objects, be they matt or reflective, quickly.  Much less finicky than others I have tried.  The illuminated range indicator is also bright and easy to see in daytime conditions and completely disappears to allow a full view when not in use.

 

Overall an excellent unit up to Swarovski standard.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote www.technika.nu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/02/2005 at 16:16

I Think the optics are great, but when compereing to my Leica the Swarovski is much slower.

So even though the optics are superior to the Leica, I so far prefer the Leica.

But my testing is not finnished yet.

 

Regards Håkan

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brady Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/02/2005 at 16:23
Originally posted by www.technika.nu www.technika.nu wrote:

 but when compereing to my Leica the Swarovski is much slower.

 

 

What do you mean by slower?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote www.technika.nu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/02/2005 at 16:55

If you press the leica button 5 times in 3 seconds you get readings all times.

But on the Swarovski you have to wait a number of seconds before you can get the next reading.

 

I find it annoying as I often wanna check the distance a few times to be sure.

 

Regards Håkan

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stud Duck Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/03/2005 at 08:18

I had a chance to evaluate my brother-in-law's Swaro range finder last night and I agree it's slow.

 

The optics are great, just what you'd expect from Swarovski. However, I felt the unit needed to be a bit larger to use with both hands or a bit smaller for one hand use, it was kinda awkward for me to use and obtain a steady site picture. It just didn't feel good in my hands....but that may just be me.

 

I had issues with the activation button. The button on this particular unit seemed very stubborn, you had to press it in just the right spot or it would not respond. This would really concern me during cold weather hunting while using gloves.

 

I couldn't get enough eye relief either. The eyecup would not extend far enough for me to keep my eyelashes from touching the ocular lense. I could have held it farther away from my eye, but I like a good eye to eyecup weld, it helps me steady the rangefinder at longer distances.

 

We ranged several objects: utility poles, fence posts, deer feeders, grave markers, trees and houses. We could never get the same yardage on the same object. Could've just been us, but we had variations up to 21 yds. apart while ranging the same object.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to pick the Swaro to pieces, but I would definately hold one in my hands prior to plunking down that kind of money. The Swaro just wasn't for me (and I love their optics). As far as range finders go, I'll stick with the Leica or Bushnell Elite.

 

 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GSjohnny Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/04/2005 at 16:37

Whitefeather,

 

I compared the Swaro, the Leica, and the Bushnell Elite 1500 (at dusk) and found that there was no comparison.  I bought the Swaro 8x30 LRF and just got back from Wyo on an elk hunt.  This RF is superb.  The field of view was far greater than that of any other rangefinder.  In addition, I did not have any issues with it being 'slow'.  If you turn the LRF on and then use the scan mode, the issue of speed is no longer an issue.  I was ranging granite knobs, pines and cedars out to 1500 yards without the need for any reflective objects.  Buy the Swaro, you will not be disappointed in your purchase.

 

Regards,

 

GS 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Glock Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/07/2005 at 13:42

Hi guys i have to agree with www.technika.nu and Stud Duck the optics are great but the laser is slow, the activation button is too hidden and the display is poor. If you move your head slightly you lose sight of the aiming circle and readings. I sold my Leica LRF1200 and i must say i'm partly sorry i did, i wanted better optics. Which i definately got, you really don't have to lug an extra Bino about with this rangefinder. I could easily distinqish different animals at ranges of 500m

But i feel you can't beat Leica when it comes to laser rangefinders. The demo model i tried didn't  have the batterys in or i would never have bought it

 

Regards Chris

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote klint51 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/08/2006 at 21:20
I have the leica 900 and a friend has the swaro I agree on the slow laser but I think the optics more than make up for it and for bow hunting not having to carry bino's would be great
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote linksmechanic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2007 at 22:47
You guys are nuts! The swaro outperforms the leica by a long shot. It ranges animals 1700 + yards and the optics are unbeleiveable. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote www.technika.nu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2007 at 23:16

I own a Leica and I am not considering swatiching it for the Swarovksi as it's to slow.

The Leica is also more precise than the Swarovski and does not have as much "funny readings".

The 1700 yards plus performance is nothing that I care about, I do not have guns for those ranges anyway.

 

Regards Technika

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote birddog63 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/02/2008 at 19:40
I just got a swarovski 8x30 laser range finder for Christmas.  My wife got it for me off the samplelist.com (great price for an excellent product).

I've only used it around the nieghborhood so far, but I like it alot.  The optics are better than anything else I've looked at.

As for the "slow" ranging, I can't really compare, as I don't have experience with the others.  However, you can put the Swarovski in "auto mode" so it is constantly giving you readings.  Can't imagine anything faster than that.

I'm from the old school.  Buy the best you can afford and you won't be disappointed.  So, I did, and I'm not.

Mike
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mike650 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/02/2008 at 22:42

I own Swarovski binos and a z6 and I love 'em all but was hesitant when it came to the range finder.  I was looking at Bushnell, Leupold, Leica and Swarovski narrowing it down to the last two. I never doubted the optic quality of the Swarovski but I found it to be almost $300.00 more and twice the weight vs. the Leica crf1200.  I then checked the Sample list during my quest and found about 25 Swarovski's for sale and no Leica's. Interesting. I then thought hard about how I hunt and what I really need. I've had the bino style in Bushnell which I really liked but there were many times I wished I had a more compact unit that I could at times stow in the side pocket of my BDU's or anywhere else I please depending on the situation.

I ended up getting the Leica and never looked back. For a small, compact rangefinder with some of the best glass out there the Leica crf1200 is hard to beat. I can range objects up to 1300+ yards, which is plenty for me, with minimal effort but what impresses me most is how lightning fast the unit is. The red LED is pretty cool too vs. my old Bushnell.



Edited by mike650 - January/02/2008 at 23:04
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote smithrjd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/07/2008 at 20:13
I looked at both the Leica and the Swarovski, the Swarovski had better optics, but like others I thought it to slow. Also the aiming circle is quite large on the Swarovski. Easy to under or overshoot when rangeing at distance. The Leica is smaller fits my hand well and will range well beyond any distance I have any reason to shoot at. Got the Leica CRF 1200 and am not looking back. Point, push and range.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bartond Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/15/2008 at 22:06
That's one of my favorite things about the CRF is the smaller readout, and the fact that it's a unique red LED. The smaller readout size gives me more confidence that I'm actually ranging what I see, where as the larger readouts (Bushnell, Swaro, etc.) make me question whether or not it is actually reading the intended target.

The bright red LED really shows up better than the others in varying light conditions, too. Just my thoughts.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote trigger29 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/18/2008 at 21:06
Originally posted by linksmechanic linksmechanic wrote:

You guys are nuts! The swaro outperforms the leica by a long shot. It ranges animals 1700 + yards and the optics are unbeleiveable. 
 
This is good to know cause I shoot all my game at 1700 plus yards!     WinkBucky

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steelbenz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/25/2008 at 02:05
I will soon be test driving one for myself and post a review in the review section of this forum.  As for ranging at 1700yrds+.  Look if it's that far away, call for air support or artillery.  To close for a TLAN!!!   Wink
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