The Best Rangefinder Binoculars

Hunters and sportsmen for generations have carried and relied on binoculars to spot distant targets and scan terrain for the best hunting locations.  Most modern hunters recognize the benefits of a set of binoculars but leave them behind. There are other gear choices that have replaced the trusted but somewhat antiquated binocular.

The primary culprit is the laser rangefinder.  It is true that this tool is indispensable for getting a very accurate reading on distance and even has some of the spotting ability of binoculars.  What it won’t do is give you the same field of vision and detail that a set of binoculars can. Depending on how you hunt, this may be a fair trade-off.

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Just as the binocular fell to the wayside, it may be time to set aside your old rangefinder and move on to the most versatile tool for the job, the modern raging binocular.  While rangefinder binoculars have existed for years relying on a measured reticle, the new rendition of this technology incorporates a laser rangefinder. This gives you the ability to scan and pick out targets with both eyes and with a simple push of a button, you get a pinpoint readout of the current range.

Reticle vs Laser Rangefinding Binoculars

When it comes to the different types of technology used, there are two primary methods. Reticle rangefinding is the older and more affordable form, while newer laser ranging technology is more modern and expensive. Neither method is clearly superior to the other, but rather come with their own pros and cons. The one you decide to opt for will depend on your own individual preferences and the way in which you intend to use them.

Reticle Ranging

The way that reticle ranging works is that a scale is displayed within the optics. This scale is often something you can toggle on and off, while in some devices it may be fixed. Reticle technology itself may vary in appearance and not each reticle rangefinder will look the same through the glass. These changes are typically small though, and experience in one form should translate well to other devices with slightly different scales. Reticle rangefinders typically find the most value in situations where extended range is of utmost importance.

Laser Ranging

Instead of using a scaling system to determine distance, laser rangefinders work by firing off a beam which is then detected by the device once it reflects off the object. This method of ranging provides more accurate and quicker results and is generally easier to use for beginners. With this method, however, you will require a power source and thus need to keep battery levels in mind. While it does hold some serious advantages over the reticle method, it does also cost more and does not carry the same performance over very far distances. For shorter to moderate distances, the laser ranging does well. However, the distance at which it is viable will depend on the light conditions. It is also worth mentioning that laser rangefinders are not recommended for situations where water targets are being ranged, as water will interfere with the laser response.

Buyers Guide

While there is nothing too outlandish about the technology in a set of rangefinding binoculars if you are familiar with both the regular rangefinder and normal binoculars, it is best to make sure you understand both.  This is especially true of the rangefinder portion so a little refresher may be in order. This short video offers a concise primer on the technology.

Breaking down the Numbers

The first thing you will notice about a set of rangefinder binoculars is that they are far more powerful than a standard rangefinder and offer more features than traditional binoculars.  How much more powerful will depend on the brand and specific model but here is how to tell.

Most binoculars will have their power written similar to 12×50.  Right now we are only worried about that first number which tells us the level of magnification.  In this example, a target will appear 12 times closer than it would with the naked eye. Compare this to even the most powerful rangefinders at 7x and you will see there is a huge difference.

While a 7x rangefinder may get decent visibility out to 400 yards or so, 12x can get you out to a thousand.  Part of this is simply the more powerful optics but a second factor is that you have both eyes working to make distant targets clear and visible.

So what about that second number?  That is the size of the objective lens in millimeters.  While this doesn’t directly impact power, it does greatly improve the visibility of targets through your binoculars.

As you increase magnification you will need more light or the whole image will appear dark.  The primary way to get more light to your eye and keep images bright is to increase the objective size.  There are limits to this. An objective that is too large will increase both the size and weight of your binoculars.

With all that said, what should you look for?  A minimum of 8x is highly recommended with a 10-12x being a much better choice.  This can get you out to that 1000 yard mark.

Objective size is less of a concern.  Most optics companies have pretty well got this down to a science.  Just be aware if the objective is much larger or smaller than competing brands.  Smaller will be less effective while larger may indicate an optical issue they are trying to compensate for.

Zoom Binoculars

Some rangefinder binoculars will have their power listed as 4-12×50.  These are zoom binoculars and are capable of using a variety of different magnifications between 4 and 12 times.  This is becoming a more common feature and is usually regarded as a valuable feature to have.

At lower magnification, you can see a much wider area which will improve your scanning speed when you are looking for a specific target.  For the hunter this is inviable, easily allowing them to follow moving targets until they stop or get to a location where you are willing to make a shot.

When zoomed in, the tighter field of view and greater power allow you to get a better point of aim on your target.  There will be less chance of error or slightly drifting off target and accidentally ranging something in front of or behind it.

Zoom binoculars are a more complex mechanism which increases the chance of them failing.  If you buy any reputable brand, this chance is quite small. If you purchase a pair of budget ranging binoculars with this feature, you could have issues.

Lenses and Lens Coatings

The overall quality of the image your optic produces should be a paramount concern.  No matter how powerful a set of binoculars are, if the image is cloudy or distorted they are not worth the money and will not be effective.  Manufacturing a binocular with great optical quality can be tricky and expensive. It all starts with the glass.

The primary factor that will determine how good your view is will be the lenses.  Nothing in the world can make up for a poor lens through many budget companies will try to pull off a miracle just to save a few bucks.  This never goes over well and ends up with a lot of dissatisfied customers.

The best lenses right now are coming out of Germany and Japan.  These are used in all high-end optics with many of the leading brands using the exact same glass for their lenses.

How can you tell if your optic uses this better glass?  In truth, you can’t. No company advertises that they use inferior components.  You will have to let the reviews, brand, and price be your guide.

The overall quality of the glass isn’t the only factor to consider.  Almost every high-end optic company uses coatings on their lenses. These coatings can affect a variety of things but their primary purpose is to filter light and reduce glare to improve the overall scope image.

There are several different ranges of coatings from a single coating on a single lens to multiple coatings on all lenses.  Price and quality increase with each coating and lens but the difference is noticeable. If you want the best, always look for binoculars that are fully-multicoated.  This is the best you can get.

Other than optical coatings some brands offer a variety of chemicals that protect your optics.  The most usual treatment prevents fogging on the lenses and is quite common. Some of the best brands use a hard coating that will resist scratching.  If you invest in a great set of rangefinder binoculars, this is worth its weight in gold!

Prisms

There are two different prism types often found in binoculars.  The older Porro prism models have been a staple since the 1960s before the new technology of roof prisms became the new standard.  They were lighter, slimmer, and easier to use than Porro prism binoculars making them very popular.

The new roof prism binoculars feature a straight design that may look quite simple but they are actually much more complicated.  They require a lot more precision to make corrections and will cost more because of the added complexity in manufacturing.

Porro prism binoculars are much more cost-efficient and easier to produce so don’t rule them out yet.  They offer better performance and much higher contrast than roof prism binoculars. Many of the best optics companies around still use this design because they get much higher quality.

Roof prism binoculars are easily the lion’s share of optics but don’t rule out the Porro prism.  Many rangefinder binoculars use Porro prism binoculars to get the maximum out of their product. If you are looking for binoculars on a budget, you are probably better off with a Porro prism to get the most for your money.

Rather than saying the prism type outright, they may use the term BAK-4 which is the type of glass the prism is made of.  This is the highest quality glass you can get in a prism and worth the investment. BAK-7 are of lower quality and not worth the investment.  Most BAK-4 prisms are Porro but a few are showing up on the market in the roof prism category.

If you are confused about the difference between prism types, here is a very helpful article that will also explain many of the other binocular related features discussed here.  Taking the time to understand these concepts will improve your chances of getting a product you are happy with.

Eye Relief

If you are a seasoned rifle scope shooter you are familiar with eye relief and may be shocked at the difference between a scope and a set of binoculars.  Scopes often have eye relief measured in inches where binoculars are measured in millimeters.

So what is eye relief?  It is the distance you can hold your eye away from the eyepiece and still get a good view through your optic.  There are benefits to having more eye relief as long as everything else about your chosen ranging binoculars is up to par.  This should never be the deciding factor in itself.

Longer eye relief is more forgiving and often faster.  You can get the binoculars in place quickly and see better without worrying about getting your eyes aligned perfectly.  You will still want them in a perfect position before you range but the quicker you can get a view of your target, the quicker you can get a solid range.

Field of View

The last thing we want to cover on the binocular side of the equation is the field of view.  Simply put, this is the size of the area you can see at a specific range. For example, a set of ranging binoculars may have a FOV of 400 feet at 100 yards.  This means at 1000 yards, the distance from the far left of your view to the far right of your view will be close to 400 feet.

Binoculars with a larger FOV will work much better at scanning an area and locating a specific target. This can be an exceptionally good thing for the hunter who needs to cover a lot of areas to spot his target.  With a larger FOV, it will be more difficult to get your binoculars center perfectly on a target without practice.

Smaller FOV binoculars will show less area and can be a poor choice for scanning an area.  Conversely, they are much easier to pinpoint a target at a distance and get a good point of aim for ranging.  These tend to work better for target shooters who are only interested in a single, unmoving target.

Rangefinder Range

If nothing else has convinced you to go with a set of rangefinder binoculars this is where your mind changes.  There is no doubt that rangefinder binoculars will greatly outpace a standard rangefinder in range. Not just by a little bit but by a huge margin.

You will often see a standard rangefinder that boasts 1000 yard range but when you get down to the details you will find that against anything you want to shoot it is only 300 or so.  This is because the laser has different reflective properties against soft targets like a deer than it does against a hard target like a rock.

Despite this limitation, there are a number of rangefinder binoculars that can range upwards of a mile on a hard target and get better than three-quarters of a mile on a soft target like a deer.  That would be close to a thousand yards more than a standard rangefinder. Keep in mind that this is not even the best rangefinder binoculars but closer to the higher side of average.

This will be affected by the same issues that affect any rangefinder.  Fog, rain, and other environmental factors will still cause issues with the laser going out and returning.  That is a fact of life with a rangefinder and nothing will change it. That said, these more powerful lasers are far more likely to get results than the smaller lasers on a traditional rangefinder.

Rangefinder Priority and Modes

As shot distances get farther and technology works to keep up, a variety of modes have been developed to assist the shooter in getting the right calculations.  Rangefinder binoculars often have less available modes than a traditional rangefinder but some brands are working to add these modes to their products. This is the one factor you want to pay the closest attention to when deciding what the best rangefinder binoculars are for you.

The first thing you will want to know is target priority.  This can be either first or second target priority and deals with how any rangefinder deals with hitting different distances.  A rangefinder isn’t a continuous beam but a shorter pulse. When you aim it, it will hopefully hit your target but may hit around your target or even be intercepted between you and the target.

First priority mode will take the shortest distance and is most useful for shorter shots on target ranges.  Second priority will take the farthest distance so anything that gets in the way will be ignored. Which is right for you will depend on what you use your rangefinder binoculars for but second priority is often preferred.

This is just the beginning with the complexity.  There are a number of different specialized modes and each company may call them something different.  It would be hard to cover all of them here but you can find a list of them as well as other rangefinder terminology here.  But we will cover some of the more common and important options briefly.

Scan mode is probably the most common mode and it turns that pulse into more of a solid beam.  Or it will at least make it feel like a solid beam. It provides constant updates to the range and is best used when scanning a shooting area or following a moving target.  This may also be called continuous ranging.

Angle Compensation or HCD modes are used to determine the distance to targets on an incline or decline.  This is very useful for any shooter on any terrain but excels when the shots are less than 500 yards and the slope is less than 15 degrees.

Line of Sight Mode is pretty much the opposite of Angle Compensation.  It gives you the true reading of distance to the target. This is best used on targets greater than 500 yards and at angles of greater than 15 degrees.  This mode is intended for use with additional charts or programs to calculate holdover.

There are a variety of other modes specific to brands but those will need to be pointed out individually.  There are too many to list here.

Reticles and Aiming Points

A feature common to all standard rangefinders is a reticle or aiming dot that will pinpoint the target you are attempting to range.  Without this small addition, there would be no way to get an accurate range on anything. Make sure when looking at rangefinder binoculars that they have a similar feature.  Unless you are shopping at the bottom of the bargain models, this shouldn’t be an issue.

So what is the difference between the dot and reticle?  For most people, there will be very little but there can be an important distinction if you are looking at rangefinder binoculars that can reach extreme distances.

Often an aiming dot will be at least 3 MOA.  This means for every 100 yards, it will cover 3 inches of the target.  At a mile, this would be better than 4 feet. If you are aiming at a deer, most of it will be completely obscured by the dot and your margin of error will be much higher.  This is not an ideal situation.

A reticle may be somewhat harder to see considering the thinner lines but this has been a problem with reticles on any optic since they were invented.  If you can get used to following the lines and picking out the crosshair, you should do ok as long as light levels are good. The thinner cross, often less than 1 MOA, will get you a much more accurate point to aim from.  There is no doubt this is the most accurate option for a reticle.

Occasionally, you may see rangefinder binoculars that have illuminated reticles.  These are the best of both worlds feature. The illumination will help you pick out your exact aiming spot easier and line it up better than a standard reticle.  The cost will increase but you may find that trade to be well worth it if it improves your overall accuracy.

Durability and Weather Resistance

Due to the sometimes high cost of a pair of rangefinder binoculars, you want them to be as tuff, rugged, and durable as possible.  Most outdoorsmen who need this technology will not be the type to use them lightly. They are likely to see use in adverse weather, dusty environments, and may even get dropped or banged around from time to time.  If there are features that will allow them to better survive this type of treatment, you can bet they are worth having.

Often the first line of defense is a rubberized coating or armor.  This is a common feature but not universal. At best this will protect your binoculars from water and the occasional impact.  At worst it may only provide some impact resistance and scratch protection. Either option is better than having nothing at all.

While the armor may protect it from some moisture, the only feature that will make it truly waterproof is to seal it.  This would be seals on the battery compartment as well as sealed lenses. While a battery compartment can be sealed easily, the binocular internals is a little more complicated.  Usually, this involves a pressure set O-ring but can simply be a glue seal. The O-ring is the better option for a variety of reasons, mostly because the binoculars can be more easily serviced.

If you have sealed internals, the next upgrade is for them to be purged and filled with an inert gas.  This will usually be either dry-nitrogen or argon. Both accomplish the same goal of applying outward pressure on the lenses to keep moisture and debris from entering the sensitive mechanism inside the scope.  Because they are inert, they will also hold less moisture and be more temperature stable. This is the only sure fire way to prevent fog and condensation inside your optic.

As mentioned above, some companies use lens treatments to improve the durability and weather resistance of their optics.  There are a few companies that use a scratch resistant coating on their lenses. This will not make the lenses completely scratch proof but they will prevent scratching of lenses from daily use and storage.

You may also get a fog resistant coating.  While being sealed is a much better option, it does nothing to prevent fog or condensation from forming on the outside of the lens.  This is where the coating comes into play. Having a combination of sealed and fog resistant lenses will almost ensure you get a clear view in any weather.

Size and Weight

As technology progresses, everything gets smaller.  This has been the case with regular binoculars where even some of the most powerful models are small enough to carry in your pocket.  With rangefinder binoculars, this has not been the case. The technology these use will likely become smaller over time but for now, we have to live with the limitations of the electronic components.

Most rangefinder binoculars are about the size of what standard binoculars were 20 years ago.  They can be as much as 8 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 3 inches high. This does not make for a convenient size to fit in your pocket.

Most models do come with a neck strap to keep them accessible but the weight can annoy some people.  Even a good set can weigh upwards of 3 pounds which is a lot to carry around your neck. Ranging binoculars were never intended to be the type of optic that is always ready.  Instead, they are intended to use when you are in place and looking for your target.

A rangefinder is much smaller and lighter if you need an easily portable option but you lose the power of the rangefinder binoculars.  This is probably the most noticeable tradeoff. For those shooting 300 yards or less, a rangefinder is a solid option. If you are planning on shooting over that, the rangefinder binoculars are probably the only solid bet.

Batteries and Battery Life

Here is another balancing act in your decision-making process.  There are three common ways to power your rangefinder binoculars or at least three ways to look at how they are powered.  Some will take standard batteries like AA or AAA. Others may take more rare lithium batteries. And finally, some will be rechargeable without removing the batteries.

If you opt for standard batteries, you will always be able to pick up a spare at any local store for cheap.  They may not last as long but their affordability makes carrying backups easy and affordable. Binoculars powered by standard batteries are not that common.

Lithium powered binoculars are the most common and will usually run far longer than the other options.  On the downside, batteries can be harder to find will cost significantly more. You likely will have to order them special since most stores will not carry them.

Rechargeable binoculars are a newer offering and have a few ups and downs.  Some will run longer than standard battery models but most have a similar run time.  You will never have to replace batteries saving some money and hassle. The major failing is that if your unit dies in the field, you will have to find a way to recharge it instead of simply switching out batteries.

While you should consider these options, most rangefinder binoculars have exceptional run time.  Those with illumination may have slightly less but will still be good for hundreds if not thousands of ranging shots per charge.

The main deciding factor on which will work better for you depends on how fastidious you are at keeping your batteries fresh and charged.  If you are going to be spending a long period of time away from civilization, consider that when making your purchase.

Cost

It would be foolish to leave price off as a consideration.  Everyone has a budget and rangefinder binoculars are far from what would be considered cheap. Prices can start at a few hundred dollars and go as high as a few thousand.

Is the difference in price warranted?  Are the thousand dollar options really better than those costing a couple hundred?  The answer is yes but they may not be better in every way. There are three criteria that will affect the price.

Optical quality is the most likely to raise the cost.  Companies like Zeiss produce optically perfect binoculars but they are expensive.  If you want the best overall quality with the best image, you will have to spend the money.

Range is a consideration and will affect the final cost of your binoculars.  The more range they can hit and get a solid reading, the more they will cost.  If you have a good idea of the maximum range you will need ahead of time, you can factor in the cost.

Durability is the final factor that will affect cost.  The more durable, the more expensive just like with most products.  You can consider this as an investment as the more durable your binoculars are, the longer they will last.  That is if you are willing to make the upfront investment.

Even affordable ranging binoculars will usually have one of these traits that is quite high.  You can also get a set of binoculars in which all of these are very high but you will pay quite a bit for them.  There are drastic differences as cost goes up. The best recommendation is to get the best overall product that you can afford.  In the end, it will likely be worth it.

Conclusion

Unless you plan on being constantly moving such as in golf or some hunting situations, ranging binoculars are almost always a better bet than a standard rangefinder.  They are far more versatile and powerful. Often their craftsmanship is better than most rangefinders making them a more solid investment.

If you never shoot more than a couple of hundred yards, they are probably worth the additional cost.  For dedicated archers, the best rangefinder binoculars are probably a little too powerful unless they have an option for low magnification.

For anyone else, your money will be best spent on the product that will get the widest range of uses.  The best rangefinder binoculars fit that bill. You will find them to be more accurate over shorter distances and able to hit the farthest distances you will ever need.

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