I traded in my Swarovski EL Range 10x42 binoculars at The Outdoorsman’s for the Leica range finding binoculars, and I could not be more satisfied with the decision. Although I had never fully trusted the Swarovski ballistic calculator, I initially supplemented it with a Revic BR4 handheld rangefinder. The Revic delivered excellent ballistic data, but its optical quality was underwhelming, and it was nearly unusable in low-light conditions. About a week before my Wyoming elk hunt, the Revic began producing inaccurate ballistic ranges. After waiting eight years for the tag, I wanted equipment I could trust to give me the best possible opportunity to harvest a mature bull.
On the day the Leica range finding binoculars became available, I drove to The Outdoorsman’s and traded in my Swarovski binoculars. The Leica’s key strengths include a customizable heads-up display with three reticle options—a square, circle, or cross—for measuring distance. Its selectable target modes allow the laser to adapt to different weather conditions, and the display can be configured to show only the information you want. I particularly value the wind measurement and shot probability analysis, both of which are easy to configure in the Leica app. Bluetooth connectivity is immediate and reliable, with no noticeable lag. Creating and switching between firearm profiles is equally straightforward, and communication between the app and binoculars is seamless. Within each firearm profile, the app can also generate a range card in increments from 5 to 100 yards. This feature proved especially useful in Wyoming while we watched a group of cows move down a hillside with a bugling bull following them. We ranged the top of the ridge at 601 yards, the trail intersection roughly one-third of the way down at 572 yards, and the bottom at 524 yards. Overall, the Leica was well worth the investment, particularly because Applied Ballistics Elite is built into the system. The binoculars also fit comfortably in a medium Marsupial Gear bino harness. My only criticism is that the heads-up display remains illuminated for a full minute after ranging a target. This is not a major issue, and Leica may address it in a future firmware update, but an adjustable display duration would be a welcome improvement.
After 20 years of hunting in Arizona, I am extremely impressed by Leica’s optical quality, ballistic capabilities, and intuitive app integration. The system is easy to use, inspires confidence in the field, and has exceeded my expectations. I would recommend these binoculars without hesitation.