10x42 EL vs Leica 3000 HD-B

[gobears16]

I have a pair of 2013 10x42 EL’s that are my main binos and a Leica 1600B rangefinder as my main setup. I’m looking at maybe going with the Leica 3000 and have an all in one unit. My question is would I be giving up much of any optically going with the Leica?

 

[handwerk]

For several years I used those same SV EL's and they are a very impressive tool for sure, but in the end I went back to my old Geovid HD-R's , what tiny bit I gave up in veiw became un-noticeable in the field when I didn't have the two binos side by side. With those Geovid 3000's being a more recent product I'm sure they will still impress..I sure like having a RF bino.

 

[Blockcaver]

I've got SV 10x42 ELs. Love 'em. That said, on a Dall sheep hunt in the NWT in 2017 my guide had a recent pair of the Perger prism, banana shaped barreled Leica 10x42 Geovids. I think they were a model or two before the rangefinder went to 3000 yds but do not remember the exact model. Anyway, we did a bino trade for a while looking at and for Dall sheep. I was super impressed with the Leicas optically. They had a lot more depth of focus than my SV ELs, were equally as sharp to my eyes in the center and optically just were pleasing for me. Drawbacks were the extra size and weight (but still less than my combo of binos and rangefinder) and a bit of loss of clarity at the edges. I never upgraded....mainly due to the rangefinder not giving instant yardage corrected distances and in scan mode like my separate Leopold rangefinder does. Also, I decided they'd be harder to use one handed on the final stalk in bow range of mountain game.

If I was a rifle hunter I'd own a pair for sure. Good luck with your choice!

 

[gobears16]

Well it sounds like the Leica do not give up must optically to the SV EL's. I absolutely love my EL's but it would be nice to have a all in one unit then running with two. I hope some more people can add to the convo with their experiences.

 

[Shortmag11]

Well it sounds like the Leica do not give up must optically to the SV EL's. I absolutely love my EL's but it would be nice to have a all in one unit then running with two. I hope some more people can add to the convo with their experiences.

I'm sure Doug at CameraLand could help you out with this as well. Good luck with your decision