Leica Geovid range vs Swarovski range

[SWVA_Tim]

Looking at both of these and can't justify price of Swarovski .... Is there that big of difference ?

 

[carlc]

I went through the same ordeal last year. You can't go wrong with either. I chose the swarovski. I looked through a couple pairs of each a few different times, and to me, the leica had a slight blue tint to them. I mean slight. But once I noticed it i could not get it out of my head. I can consistently get my swaros to range past 1600 on a landscape target.

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[handwerk]

Which geovid model are looking at?

 

[SWVA_Tim]

10x42 non HD

 

[goat1958]

I have the Leica Geovid 10x40 and the El Range 10X40. I cannot after extensive use with both tell any difference optically between the two, Both are fantastic glass.
The Leicas range faster defiantly , the El.s struggle sometimes ranging in bright sunlight. Returned to Swaro and came back a bit better but still not as good as Leicas. The lens caps on leicas are pure junk, wont stay attached to the binocs, they have to have tape to keep them on. They make a improved cap and its a POS also. I have black tape securing them. That is to bad for a 3100 $ pair of glasses.
The plus side to the Leicas is Angle indicator, temperature button,and ballistic card " i have not used it ". I give the nod to the Leicas even with thei terribly designed lens caps... I hope there engineering department is reading this....lol

 

[Broomd]

I have had both and compared them...the swaro's have extremely sharp glass-awesome imho--but in every other way I like the Leicas--mine are HD...the Leicas have better rangefinding capabilities, in test after test. Not even close.
Swaros likely have far better service if needed (Not needed for either.)

For the dough, I'd take the Leicas, (not the "B"s, just the HDs/or non HDs...) Revolutionized hunting...they were the first.

 

[goatboy]

I had a pair of Leica's 10x42 hd geovids and sold them and bought a pair of swaro EL Range and was terribly disappointed in them compared to the geovids. The Leica's I find have a much truer color definition and more contrast detail than the Swaros, swaro bright els are definately brighter and greens and yellows really stand out but to my eyes the Leica's have better glass. I ended up with the hd b geovids after selling the El ranges.

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[elkguide]

I own Swarovski glass. With that said, if I were buying a ranging binocular, it would be the Leicas. Plain binoculars, Swarovski. I have only seen many clients and friends with both and have used both extensively, I think the Leica have a better combination. Now if you are considering just glass, I'm going to push you towards the Swarovskis.

 

[SWVA_Tim]

Thanks for all the answers guys ... I don't think the older version has angle compensation ... Is this really that important to you ?

 

[handwerk]

So currently I have the leica HD-R 8x42s, which are now discontinued, but can be found still, at some pretty good prices.
Before them I had Geovid non HD 10x42's and HD 10x42's, then the EL range 10x42. I did like the El Ranges, but with something funky in my dominant eye I had a heck of time seeing the yardage readouts on the El Ranges, after 2 trips to swaro (they were great) we figured out it was me and not the binos, so I sold them. Now with the Leica HD-R's I'm quite pleased , short of the humps the, El Ranges have better ergos, but I too liked the rangefinder in the leicas better. My 10x42 binos are swaro SV's awesome binos all the way around, but I tell you as far as pure view goes the leica HD-R's are right them with the SV's.
So in the end for the cost I'd find a set of the GeovidHD-R's, and If not the Geovid HD's, but I wouldn't buy a pair of the older non HD geovids...to my eyes when leica went to the HD glass it was a big improvement. Just search the net, there are deals to be had on the Leicas.

 

[goatboy]

Thanks for all the answers guys ... I don't think the older version has angle compensation ... Is this really that important to you ?

Having had both I'd say yes the angle comp is worth spending money on. You can buy old chassis HDs with angle comp in them.

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[Steakngravy]

I have the geovid hd-b and I'll agree with the above comment the only downside are the objective covers other than that I really like them when I purchased these I had a pair of Swarovski el swarobright 10x42 I now only have these , if your using the ballistic data it will give you moa holdover values in clicks I wish it gave it in moa but not a huge deal , if you run mills it will give you hold in mills. I can get 2k yard reads off hand but need to get pretty steady like laying on a pack the rangefinder is very fast .also should note they will give holdover to 1k anything past that you would need an applied ballistic app or kestrel etc, pretty amazing piece of gear , if you get a pair I suggest getting a good bino case harness like an xl agc or something like it

 

[Steakngravy]

Call out to Alaska guide creations he had some good prices on these

 

[SWVA_Tim]

Thanks all !

 

[mcseal2]

Another vote for Leica. I will say up front I've never tried the Swaros, after reading similar reviews to these on the Swaros I never tried them. Nobody local had them to try. I picked up the Leica 10x42HD-B binos and absolutely love them. Best hunting purchase I ever made. I have Swaro 15x56HD binos and 2 Swaro spotters so I know how good their glass is. The Leicas are right there with them. I definitely would go with the HD glass and angle compensation. In my early days of mountain hunting I shot over a big 6pt bulls back 3x in a row holding for the range my old Bushnell rangefinder without angle compensation gave me. Not knowing the horizontal distance (or enough to hold for it as a flatlander) cost me that day. I would not consider buying a rangefinder without angle compensation knowing what I know now.

 

[wyomingmuleyz]

I see this is a pretty old thread. Any updates to this? I'm currently in the market, looking for 12s or 15s range finding binos but willing to go without range finding. Definitely thinking range finding are the way to go they way i hunt. Any recommendations in 2023?

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I see this is a pretty old thread. Any updates to this? I'm currently in the market, looking for 12s or 15s range finding binos but willing to go without range finding. Definitely thinking range finding are the way to go they way i hunt. Any recommendations in 2023?

I would suggest looking at recent threads here and other forums about the actual current models. Everything discussed in this thread has gone through several revisions in the last 7 years.