Vortex fury ab

Joined
Oct 7, 2023
Messages
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Do you think vortex will make their rangefinder binoculars in a 12x50 or be able to use them to drop a pin on a map? I’m pretty close to buying the 10x42’s but would definitely rather have those features without buying the Leica or sigs.
 
Maybe I’m missing it….but I don’t know of ANY manufacturer doing 12x LRF. And personally don’t see the use case.

Short answer I’d be very surprised.

Not asked. But opinion offered.

If you think you need 12x glass, you’d be better off getting solid 12x binos and a 8oz or so handheld RF to avoid taking a glass quality hit that all RF binos have. If you need 12x you are clearly concerned with detail. RF hurts it a bit.
 
12x are already hard to steady...for an rf it would be critical.

The comment on image quality is huge. I have the leica rf binos that I only carry on rifle hunts. For muzzleloader or bow I will take my noctovids and a dedicated rf. The image quality difference is substantial and the leica has as good of image as youll get.
 
Leica makes 15x LRF binos. My buddy has them, and obviously they can only range off a tripod. I don't know of anyone making them in 12x. I don't think anyone will, but maybe I could be wrong.

When it comes to practicality, you have to use 12x and 15x binos on a tripod or supported if they have a rangefinder. I ran 12X binos for years and a 7x RF. My system before was Leica Ultravid 12X bino and a 7x RF. Now, I run the 10x Fury and 18X Razor. When I get some extra funds, I'll probably upgrade to some better 15X bino.

I first switched to the 10X Sig 3000bdx and now the Fury AB. Hand holding 10x is harder than the lighter dedicated RF because weight matters at that scale. I made this switch because when doing my quick glassing in an area, or watching feeding/moving animals, I didn't want to switch to the RF. If you have ever been watching Coues whitetail, you can lose them in a blink. Also, I like to pull out my optics quite often to get a look at something, and part of my practice is to guess the distance, and then range it. Helps me calibrate my eyeballs and get a sense for what is shootable from wherever I am glassing.

That is my reason to switch, to have the RF in my bino so I didn't have to futz around with multiple optics as much. But, I had to add in a bigger bino to pick apart the hillside, which I could do with my Leica Ultravids. There is a noticeable difference. And, it took me over a year to finally sell my Leica because I was indecisive about my glass set up.

I don't think I would use 12x or 15x rangefinding bino. At best, I could handhold my 12x bino for a quick scan, but if I wanted to catch detail, I had to go to my tripod. Of course, I am talking picking apart bushes and scrub looking for the flick of a deer ear. I wouldn't want to try to range find with 12x because of that, I would always have to go to a tripod. I can get away with it using my 10x, because the weight makes the 10x a little easier to handhold and range.

The ones I am running are passable, but I still wonder if leaving my 12X Ultravid Leica and the handheld RF was better. I could run that pretty much everywhere and add in a Kowa 554 and be at or near the same weight. Its a toss up in my eyes whether the extra clarity of the 12x I gave up is worth the extra magnification of the 18x.
 
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