i looked seriously at both. all said, i felt the Leupold had the edge and bought it. the Leupold's adjustable intensity OLED overlay is superior. the rest of the features and optical performance were similar.

 

I am leaning towards the Leupold

 

I would go for the Leuopy.....picked up a 1000tbr real cheap last week and ,boy am I impressed with it.

 

Vortex! Dont like how busy the Leupold screen is. Cant beat the warranty for Vortex. Great customer service

 

Copied this from a post I did last week on this topic, I was looking for a new range finder. I already own a Leica CRF1200 and Bushnell Legend for comparison as well, and have since shot again out at 60+yards and 34 to 40 degree slope this time with a buddies Leupold TBR1000 and Vortex ranger....both were within 1 yard of each other on all shots (arrows were landing right where they needed to be as well, which is the important thing when holding 10+ yards off of slope distance):

I was looking for a new rangefinder last week with angle compensation, and narrowed it down to the Leupold 1000 TBR, the Vortex, Nikon Rifle Hunter 1000 or the Bushnell Legend Arc 1200.

Thoughts:

Leupold....great unit but NOT waterproof....in this day and age seriously? Not going to work where I hunt!

Nikon....2 guys I know have 'em and dislike the LCD illumination at low light, so it was out

Bushnell....accurate, affordable, compact, but the optics are blah and the display is in the lower edge of the ocular (blurry)

Vortex....tried this one last, and optically it blows away my Leica 1200 CRF, is simple to use (one reading in either HCD or LOS mode), fast with excellent readout (red with 3 brightness levels), and I like the belt clip. While it won't range like my Leica 1200 CRF for distance, the HCD mode is worth it. Best of all, super compact and lifetime warranty....I think a better archery range finder will be hard to find (although time will tell).

Used the Vortex and Bushnell out to 61 yards down 39 degree slope the other day practicing for a sheep hunt.....were within 1-2 yards of each other each time and the arrows were landing right where they needed to be.

Optically after a good comparison, I'd give the edge to the Vortex, and the display is much more crisp, not to mention simple (no extra numbers, simply gives one single reading). 3 brightness settings is nice as well.

Still can't get over the Leupold not being waterproof....they've been doing it with the scopes for half a century, not a new (or difficult thing). The Vortex warranty is unbeatable (provided they're around in a few years).

 

Well said StoneChaser - I agree.

My new Vortex has been wonderful thus far. Receiving a lifetime warranty gives the edge to Vortex - no doubt.

 

Thanks for all the responses, my decision is getting more difficult

 

Of those two, Vortex all day long

 

I bought the Vortex 2 weeks ago and i'm liking it very much. The settings are easy to adjust and th 3 light dimmable settings are great. very accurate and optic clarity is great. My wife gave me a hard time for buying it given the price and after she heard that it was a lifetime no fault warranty she understood and didn't say another word.

 

Hopefully your wife doesn't find out that it is actually just warranted against factory defects for the lifetime of the range finder (their no fault warranty doesn't apply to electronics (understandably).

Still, most rangefinders have a 3yr warranty at best, so you still have the best warranty going.

 

I looked at both last week at the local Cabelas. Both were nice rangefinders, two of the best they had. Between the two, I would give the edge to the Vortex. I had a Leupold and it required masters degrees in both electrical and mechanical engineering to operate. The newer Leupolds are better, but the Vortex is less busy. I really liked the Nikon rifle hunter 550. I own an OptiLogic Micro II and it is sweet. The ultimate in compact and easy to operate rangefinders.

 

Can you elaborate on the rifle hunter? I looked at prostate at dicks and thought the clarity was terrible

 

Vortex would be my choice.

 

I looked at the Leupold and bought the Vortex.

 

I went with the Vortex because of the warranty. My buddy has the leupold, its a nice unit also

 

not to throw a kink in things but I've been looking for several months on what to get and I am buying one tomorrow and chose the Opti-Logic Recon. Luckily I found they are having a 25% off labor day sale off any unit for Labor Day till September 5th. It was between that and the Vortex

 

I went to Gandermountain and they had the Leupold in stock. It was nice but didnt wow me. I really liked the red reticle. They did not have the vortex but had a pretty large selection. I looked through most of the ones that worked, almost every Nikon had dead batteries but none of the bushnells did. For a cheaper rangefinder I was surprised how clear the bushnell chuck adams was and it read the same as the Leupold out to 60 yds, I was inside. The only nikon wihout dead batteries was the archers advantage max and the reticle was terrible looking on it, dont know if it is adjustable. Leaning towards the Vortex now. I may get it through cabelas because no AT dealers have them in stock and they have a good return policy if I am not happy with it.

 

not to throw a kink in things but I've been looking for several months on what to get and I am buying one tomorrow and chose the Opti-Logic Recon. Luckily I found they are having a 25% off labor day sale off any unit for Labor Day till September 5th. It was between that and the Vortex

Have you used the optilogic? What color is the reticle? I was intrested in the micro 2 until I saw it did not have magnification

 

Red on the micro II

 

not to throw a kink in things

You Did!

Really like the fact that it is made in usa
Its also completely waterproof and they are the inventors of angle compensation

 

Here is another kink in things....save some money and buy something other than 1000 yd rangefinder.....not many people out there that i know, even in the military that shoot this range.............and if so it is in their scope Even with a max range on an animal at 600 yrds that is still a poke in most terrain. Just my 2 cents. But I have the RX-750 and love it. And also Leupold supports the military to great extent....so another reason to support them.

 

I just ordered the Recon. Nice savings of $89.99 off! Reason I got the Recon is because that model they said will range thru the mesh windows of a blind since I do some blind hunting, its lightweight and very compact. Having it go further than the average shot using a firearm is a bonus too me. Would I need the 1000 yds, no, but never know on one of my trips when ranging plus where I hunt, there is a 1000 yard shooting range. And yes, another reason, AMERICAN MADE!

 

I completely changed my mind after the posts here and doing some additional research. Ordered a opti-logic micro 2. American made and will range to 400 yards if needed but I mostly bowhunt anyway. I really like the simple red display and size.

 

Throw a kink in my plans too, was set on the riflehunter 1000 now have to seriously look at the opti-logic, Thanks alot!!

 

my micro 2 will be here monday

 

Nice choice over the Opti Recon!! Newer doesn't always mean better.

I had a Recon ordered and immediately cancelled my order because the Recon is black lcd and quite a bit bigger than the Micro II version.

Why did I order in the first place? Because Opti-Logic's website did not indicate at that time of the black lcd. Also, they incorrectly identified the specs (for size) as the same as the micro II version where in fact, the specs of the Recon, is quite larger in size. I contacted Opti-Logic and they changed but not until weeks later.

I think the Recon will be a flop for Opti-Logic and bowhunters IMO.

 

Can you triple your budget? If so, look at the Fusion Arc 1600 Bushnell, and have a combo bino/rangefinder with good glass.

 

Leoupold currently advertizes that the Leupold Rx-1000i TBR DNA is waterproof and offers a 2-year warranty against materials and workmanship. If you carefully read the Vortex rangefinder lifetime guarantee, you will find that it is limited to materials and workmanship only - this means misuse (would include dropping) would not be covered. Leoupold is manufactured in the USA and has earned world renowned respect for its workmanship; this means to me that, if for some reason the unit that I've bought has something wrong with it, the defect would be revealed long before the warranty expired. You do not have to have a degree in Engineering to read the instructions supplied for Leoupold's rangefinder and apply them to set up the device for the application which you would like to use it for. However, in order for you to learn how to operate and use the Leoupold rangefinder, it does require that you be able to read the owners manual (or have someone read for you) and understand basic archery elevated position and/or rifle hunting ballistic trajectory facts, something that all successful hunters should know anyway. FYI - after configuring the Leoupold for the application (very simple series of steps) all that is required to operate the unit is to point at your target, click single button, release button and press again to see an impressively fast range aquisition and easily visable bright red reticle and numeric distance display. Additionally, if you have more than 1 target to range, while still holding activation button and moving the range finder to reallign the reticle, the rangefinder will provide a constantly updated range aquisition - only possible because of the simple and fast execution of the range finding algothm used.

I own the Leoupold Rx-1000i TBR DNA rangefinder and continue to enjoy a great product which easily provides everthing I need for determining the range of my targets (bow or gun).

 

Leoupold currently advertizes that the Leupold Rx-1000i TBR DNA is waterproof and offers a 2-year warranty against materials and workmanship. If you carefully read the Vortex rangefinder lifetime guarantee, you will find that it is limited to materials and workmanship only - this means misuse (would include dropping) would not be covered. Leoupold is manufactured in the USA and has earned world renowned respect for its workmanship; this means to me that, if for some reason the unit that I've bought has something wrong with it, the defect would be revealed long before the warranty expired. You do not have to have a degree in Engineering to read the instructions supplied for Leoupold's rangefinder and apply them to set up the device for the application which you would like to use it for. However, in order for you to learn how to operate and use the Leoupold rangefinder, it does require that you be able to read the owners manual (or have someone read for you) and understand basic archery elevated position and/or rifle hunting ballistic trajectory facts, something that all successful hunters should know anyway. FYI - after configuring the Leoupold for the application (very simple series of steps) all that is required to operate the unit is to point at your target, click single button, release button and press again to see an impressively fast range aquisition and easily visable bright red reticle and numeric distance display. Additionally, if you have more than 1 target to range, while still holding activation button and moving the range finder to reallign the reticle, the rangefinder will provide a constantly updated range aquisition - only possible because of the simple and fast execution of the range finding algothm used.

I own the Leoupold Rx-1000i TBR DNA rangefinder and continue to enjoy a great product which easily provides everthing I need for determining the range of my targets (bow or gun).

Hate to break it to ya but Leupold rangefinders are made in China.