Zeiss Victory RF vs Leica Geovid 3200 for Hunting

[Spiral Horn]

Recently became very interested in a rangefinding binocular that also calculates a ballistic solution. I plan to use it mainly on Capra and Ovis hunts in the mountains. Have read available information on both units but really didn’t see any direct comparisons (outside of feature lists). I’ve owned both Leica and Zeiss products and consider both Alpha brands. I’ve seen more in-depth reviews of the Zeiss RF and have been impressed with its all-in-one ability without SD cards and the ability to provide an “in the field” ballistic solution without being connected to another device. This can come in quite handy in many field situations. At the same time it connects to the Zeiss App to load ballistic profiles. What I could not find anywhere is whether it can Bluetooth connect to a Kestral or if Zeiss is working new firmware to make that available. On the other hand I’ve seen almost no independent in-depth reviews of the Leica 3200 beyond just covering features. Know it uses SD cards and connects to an Apple Watch, iPhone and Kestral, but don’t know how all that works when quickly attempting to get set for a shot at that trophy ram that’s about to crest the next ridge.

Anyway, does anyone have hands-on experience with either or both (preferred) of these devices and would you mind sharing your thoughts. It would be a big help. BTW - I have no interest in the Sig. Thanks.

 

[Bzn_Hunter]

I'm

Recently became very interested in a rangefinding binocular..

Funny enough I started a thread for this exact thing maybe an hour or 2 ago. I've handled and used both at different times and I'm torn between them. Really having trouble making up my mind. They are both great. It connects via bluetooth. Here are the only pro/cons I can find:

Leica 3200.com:
- Better rangefinder. I've used them and they will range out past 3k with ease.
- Only calculates ballistics (without kestrel) to 1000 yards.

Zeiss RF:
- Calculates ballistics (without kestrel) as far as you can range.
- Mixed reviews on ranging performance/not as far ranging distance


Also, the new 3200.com doesn't need an sd card.

 

[Spiral Horn]

Anyone else? With all of the optics aficionados here on Rokslide, nobody else knows anything?

 

[Reburn]

Ill jump in. I have not used the leica but I have used the zeiss victory RF for 2 seasons now. I also have a sig kilo 2200bdx rangefinder and will jump in with that even though you didnt ask.

Zeiss Victory 10x54 RF
The glass is amazing. I have never been disappointed in the glass at all. It rivals if not is better then my swaro EL SV.
The range finder is good and I didnt have any problems ranging antelope out to 800-900 yards. Over 1k on pronghorn sized animals I struggled with. Reflective targets I have never had a problem ranging.
Ballistics. I normally use strelok for my ballistics app. Obviously everyones ballistics program is a touch different. However with altering MV and BC I can get the ballistic table in the zeiss app very close to my strelok ballistic table that I have validated out to 1k yards. However I feel that the zeiss app and built in ballistic program is the achilles heel of these great binos. Not having G7 BC is a fail. The ballistics program uses G1 profiles. More just a complaint is it doesnt have step BC profiles either. With strelok I am using G7 profiles. I do like the fact that I can pull up the ballistic table in the zeiss app and compare it to my ballistic table in strelok. I have them where the drop matches. At 1k with a vastly different enviromentals I dont know if I would trust it. I would still likely fire up my kestrel and strelok and verfiy at long range. I ran down this rabbit hole again sunday loading a new gun on my binos. I have come to the realization that I likely wont shoot at game past 300-500 max yards as a personal decision anyways so the rabbit hole I was down didn't really matter. One day there will be some industry standard for ballistic apps and things will sync up a little better. I dont think the zeiss can connect to a weather station via the binos or app. If it can I havent figured it out yet.

Sig kilo2200bdx rangefinder
great ranging abilities and hyper scan or what ever its called works well. Seems to range well and far. The readout is good and the inclometer is correct. This is where the good stops. Sig really dropped the ball and had 4 monkeys hump it in their app. I cant even figure out how to view the ballistic table on my gun profiles. They maybe using AB software on the back end but the gun profile and not having a ballistic table is a bigger fail then the zeiss app. Maybe I'm just not smart enough to figure out the sig app. This experience with the rangefinder software has made sure I will not buy or try the sig binos.

In closing I'm semi disappointed in zeiss. I wish they would hire an actual ballistic guy to clean up their app and simplify it. I dont need to keep a damn hunting diary in my bino app. I need my bino app to load an accurate ballistic profile on my binos and be able to connect to my kestrel for updated enviromentals with out cell service.

Sig. Im angry at you. Back to the drawing board on your app completely. Thanks for making a good rangefinder with a giant F on the app.

 

[Spiral Horn]

Thanks Reburn, that’s exactly the kind of input I was looking for. Personally, I’m looking for a rangefinding binocular to use for hunting, and like you just because I have a ballistic solution in hand doesn’t mean that it’s perfect. It won’t turn me into some kind of shooting Superman and I’ll still be keeping my shots to within my comfortable maximum range of 500 yards or so, depending on conditions. Just don’t see myself developing the bug for true long range shooting as a sport or pastime.

I’ve read all of the reviews available and all the discussion boards on these units and the Leica as well. and have so far concluded:
Zeiss Victory RF - designed with the Optics, look, feel and Ergonomics of a true Premium Zeiss Binocular. This means it will feel quite normal in my hands, with very clean optics. In addition it has offers a “single device” ballistic solution. I’ll still need to dope the wind. But for that trophy Ram about to cross over the next ridge it’s a great solution, and I can always carry and use a Kestrel to augment it if the situation and time allows.

Leica Geovid 3200.com - although it is a big step up in Bluetooth integration and the Kestral Link, the unit itself doesn’t appear to be much of an upgrade from the outgoing model. It is still big, bulky, heavy, and certainly not the optics equal of the Noctivids. What surprised me most was they do not appear to have upgraded the laser as they did with the CRF 3500, just the processor and software. What’s even more shocking is it’s been out for quite a while now and I haven’t seen an “independent“ review where it is put through its paces - just some marketing guys on YouTube going over features. It also has built in ranging limits without the Kestrel In live sync.

Right now as a hunter I’m leaning heavily towards the Zeiss RF. If I was heavily into long range shooting my answer may have been different. Curiously, I’m also intrigued by the new Leica CRF 3500 due to the new upgraded 3R laser. It has that plus all of the BT advantages of the new Geovid, and I‘ve been using Leica CRF Rangfinders for many years now,

Thanks again for your thoughts.

 

[Reburn]

Your very welcome sir.

Based on your parameters which are similar to mine. You will be very happy with the zeiss. The ergonomics are great and they are quite comfortable to glass behind for hours. They dont have the pinched on your nose problem that my brothers maven B5's have. Also for big binos the 10 power is perfect and the image is very stable with really no shake. Friends that have picked up my zeiss have always wowed on the glass and didnt even know they were range finding until i told them to push the button they didnt even know was there. That was important to me that the binos feel like binos and not a giant piece of tech cobbled together. There the zeiss team scored a 100%. The only difference between us is I do shoot steel at long ranges and past about 750 the binos and strelok kestrel combo will start to deviate by 0.05-0.1mil. Inside 600 yards I don't see the onboard ballistic solution on the binos to be lacking if the enviomentals are updated on your generic location.

Before someone else steps in and wants to weigh in on the weight. Its not a factor with apples to apples binos. Do this and see the weight and cost is nearly identical.

zeiss victory rf 10x54 (41oz) in a kuiu pro harness (14.5) = 55.5oz = $3500ish new

swaro 10x50 EL SV (35oz) in the same kuiu harness (14.5) + sig kilo 2200bdx (8 oz) + rangefinder pouch (2oz) = 59.5 oz = 3200ish new

With all that being said I dont see any product that can reliably offer an onboard longrange 1k yard ballistic solution without some kind of weather station connectivity giving you the density altitude. The enviromentals just get to be too much at those ranges to wing in my opinion. I believe that my "percieved" short comings on the zeiss onboard ballistic solution will be a similar problem with any onboard "non-live" ballistic solution spit out by another device. I dont believe that the leica not spitting out a solution at 1k plus is really an issue either though.

 

[JGRaider]

Great information guys, much appreciate the first hand in the field comparisons. I'm almost of the opinion a guy would be just as well of using something like the Vortex Fury 5000 HD and a proven dope chart attached to the rifle......"old school" if you will. Seems to be pretty much foolproof.

Thanks again for all of your insight.

 

[Reburn]

Great information guys, much appreciate the first hand in the field comparisons. I'm almost of the opinion a guy would be just as well of using something like the Vortex Fury 5000 HD and a proven dope chart attached to the rifle......"old school" if you will. Seems to be pretty much foolproof.

Thanks again for all of your insight.

I would agree with the dope card packing taped to the rifle buttstock. I will disagree about the binos though. While useable on the vortex the optical clarity and definition of the zeiss is heads and shoulders above the vortex.

 

[JGRaider]

I know the optics are lacking, but eventually you'll be left with an apha bino and failed electronics and no warranty to fix it. They all fail at some point. The mediocre optics in the mid level bino/rf's are the big reason I haven't gone that direction. I've got no trouble so far with the Sig BDX 2200.

 

[PNWGATOR]

JGRaider’s concerns mirror mine. However, I do believe range finding binoculars are a more efficient tool than separate units for hunting. Rd be really nice if someone offered the complete package with a comprehensive warranty.

 

[Reburn]

I know the optics are lacking, but eventually you'll be left with an apha bino and failed electronics and no warranty to fix it. They all fail at some point. The mediocre optics in the mid level bino/rf's are the big reason I haven't gone that direction. I've got no trouble so far with the Sig BDX 2200.

I do agree with that at some point the electronics will fail. It will be intresting to see how zeiss handles it when it happens. Hopefully they stick with the same model for a while with incremental updates to lasers and processors and offer a reduced cost upgrade since the warranty will be out. I can hope cant I?

 

[Matt Cashell]

I like the Zeiss RF a lot.

I stand by everything I wrote in my review:

Zeiss Victory RF Binocular Review - Rokslide

Zeiss Victory RF Binocular Review. Matt Cashell reviews all the features of Zeiss' lazer rangefinding binocular with built in ballistic solver.

www.rokslide.com

Further, Zeiss has updated the app and you can use G7 BCs with any bullet in the library that has a G7 listing.

The App spits out solutions that are within a 1/4 minute of the solutions in my Kestrel out to the 1200ish yards I have tried.

The Zeiss RF is still at the top of the ranging hunting bino heap, IMO.

 

[Ohearchai]

Plenty of threads with regards the 3200, especially its bluetooth connection or should I say lack off, perhaps the lastest update fixed that problem.

 

[Spiral Horn]

I like the Zeiss RF a lot.

I stand by everything I wrote in my review:

Zeiss Victory RF Binocular Review - Rokslide

Zeiss Victory RF Binocular Review. Matt Cashell reviews all the features of Zeiss' lazer rangefinding binocular with built in ballistic solver.

www.rokslide.com

Further, Zeiss has updated the app and you can use G7 BCs with any bullet in the library that has a G7 listing.

The App spits out solutions that are within a 1/4 minute of the solutions in my Kestrel out to the 1200ish yards I have tried.

The Zeiss RF is still at the top of the ranging hunting bino heap, IMO.

Thanks Matt - my RF trigger finger is starting to get itchy.

 

[Bzn_Hunter]

OP and I have been chatting, but I just got my RF last week. Here are some initial thoughts I have:

- Glass is outstanding. Really. It is crystal clear, no CA and is as good as anything I've looked through.
- Build quality seems very good, but you'd expect that for what these cost.
- I've only been able to get them to read out to 1879 yards so far, where my Kilo2400ABS would hit 2200yards, aiming at the same targets. That is a bit disappointing, but I'll keep trying it out.
- The display is terrible. I have it set to max brightness and still have to aim towards a dark area after ranging, just to read it clearly. Just not bright enough.

thats all for now

 

[Matt Cashell]

- Glass is outstanding. Really. It is crystal clear, no CA and is as good as anything I've looked through.
- Build quality seems very good, but you'd expect that for what these cost.

Agreed.

- I've only been able to get them to read out to 1879 yards so far, where my Kilo2400ABS would hit 2200yards, aiming at the same targets. That is a bit disappointing, but I'll keep trying it out.

Are you saying the RF and Kilo are giving readings over 300 yards differently from each other on the same target?

If so, there is definitely a QC issue with one of them.

My RF ranges within a yard or two of my Leica 1600B out to the Leica’s max range.

- The display is terrible. I have it set to max brightness and still have to aim towards a dark area after ranging, just to read it clearly. Just not bright enough.

I don’t have this issue. I keep my brightness level at 8 (out of 11) and it automatically adjusts according to ambient light pretty well.

Your copy’s display may be out of spec.

 

[Bzn_Hunter]

Agreed.



Are you saying the RF and Kilo are giving readings over 300 yards differently from each other on the same target?

If so, there is definitely a QC issue with one of them.

My RF ranges within a yard or two of my Leica 1600B out to the Leica’s max range.


I don’t have this issue. I keep my brightness level at 8 (out of 11) and it automatically adjusts according to ambient light pretty well.

Your copy’s display may be out of spec.

Ranging: Sorry, reading my comment I can see how that is confusing haha. I meant aiming at a tree line on a hill, at the exact same time, my Kilo was able to hit further than the RF. (aiming up the tree line for longer distances) I plan on testing this more over the weekend, but it is really smokey where I'll be hunting, so I'll probably end up testing it more when it clears up.

Brightness: This is dependent on what I'm ranging really. Dark trees/rock, it is perfectly fine. But scree fields/bright trees in bright sunlight I can hardly see the ranging results. I end up ranging, then quickly aiming towards a darker area to see the results. Did you say there is auto brightness adjustment on these?


Overall, I still really like these binos. The size, features and performance still make them top dog as far as LRF Binos go(under $8k anyway). One plus I will give the Leica's tho is that their ranging is lightning fast and solid out to 3K Yards.

 

[Matt Cashell]

Ranging: Sorry, reading my comment I can see how that is confusing haha. I meant aiming at a tree line on a hill, at the exact same time, my Kilo was able to hit further than the RF. (aiming up the tree line for longer distances) I plan on testing this more over the weekend, but it is really smokey where I'll be hunting, so I'll probably end up testing it more when it clears up.

Brightness: This is dependent on what I'm ranging really. Dark trees/rock, it is perfectly fine. But scree fields/bright trees in bright sunlight I can hardly see the ranging results. I end up ranging, then quickly aiming towards a darker area to see the results. Did you say there is auto brightness adjustment on these?


Overall, I still really like these binos. The size, features and performance still make them top dog as far as LRF Binos go(under $8k anyway). One plus I will give the Leica's tho is that their ranging is lightning fast and solid out to 3K Yards.

I see.

One issue I have had is ranging through mist/clouds/haze. In these conditions the TaL measuring mode helps as it prioritizes the furthest measured point vs. the TaB mode that prioritizes the “best” measured point. TaL may help with ranging in smoky conditions.

Brightness settings are adjustable from 1 to 11. Each setting has a “curve” of brightness that is adjusted automatically by the binocular which means the intensity is dimmed in lower light.

 

[Bzn_Hunter]

I see.

One issue I have had is ranging through mist/clouds/haze. In these conditions the TaL measuring mode helps as it prioritizes the furthest measured point vs. the TaB mode that prioritizes the “best” measured point. TaL may help with ranging in smoky conditions.

Brightness settings are adjustable from 1 to 11. Each setting has a “curve” of brightness that is adjusted automatically by the binocular which means the intensity is dimmed in lower light.

I'll definitely give that setting a try. Thanks Matt

 

[Spiral Horn]

Just received my Zeiss Victory RF 10x42 yesterday. Haven’t had a chance to fully put it through it’s paces yet but so far I’m very impressed. My impressions this far (disclaimer = your actual mileage may vary):

As a Binocular - IMO this gets far too little attention when discussing Rangefinding Binoculars. After all, I’ll use them far, far more as my main hunting glass then as a ranging/ballistic device. From first glance the RFs are clearly an Alpha Class Binocular. The image is very bright, sharpness is crisp, color saturation is vivid, with excellent depth of field. It can really resolve deep into the brush and shadows. There is some CA near the very edge of the image, but this bino is more akin to the HT line so it isn’t designed with extreme edge to edge field flattening in mind - the sweet spot is absolutely gorgeous. I still think my Zeiss Victory SFs are slightly better in terms of FOV, edge-to-edge sharpness, and no other binos compare to the SF‘s balance and handling characteristics. However, the RFs are as good or better than most Alphas so don’t think I’ll be “paining” if taking them on my next Ovis or Capra hunt. Build quality is exceptional. Not crazy about the double, non-locking diopters, but having to simultaneously adjust for both distance focus and range readout I can understand why it’s there.

As a Rangefinder - not enough experience to conclude very much yet. While I agree that the ranging display could be improved, it works just fine for me. As a longtime CRF user - IMO Leica’s display is cleaner. Right out of the box I was getting ranges beyond what my Leica CRF 1600-R could read. But from my house there isn’t a clear line of sight much beyond a mile. The great news is the CRF and RF tracked pretty close. The only washout of the RF’s range readout was when I was ranging treetops against the background of the midday sky. But that’s before increasing the brightness level. I also really like where the ranging buttons are. They way I naturally hold the bino my pinky is right over the ranging button. I tried ranging this way a few times and found it holds my view much steadier on the target than trying to switch to my index finger.

As a Ballistic Device - no ballistic testing yet. I did try out the App - very easy to use. I’ve already created multiple ballistic profiles.

My 2 cents so far - more to come In the months ahead.