Estimated studying time: 12 minutes
After listening to that Leica was releasing the brand new Geovid Professional 10×42 AB+, I started scouring the web for data. I needed to know what enhancements had been made to the menu, show, rangefinder, app, and so forth. My search proved to be in useless, and I used to be left questioning whether or not this new rangefinding binocular was a major sufficient enchancment over the Leica Geovid Professional to justify a purchase order.
I had beforehand examined the Leica Geovid Professional 10×32 AB+ in opposition to the SIG Kilo10K-ABS Gen 2. As a long-range shooter, I felt the Leica 10×32 Professional wouldn’t present the extent of accuracy I wanted, despite the fact that its glass was higher than SIG’s. I used to be very excited after I noticed Leica had launched a brand new model of their range-finding binoculars with Utilized Ballistics onboard. From what I may inform, they’d a extra highly effective rangefinder. I used to be hopeful that they’d additionally improved the menu, app, and general person expertise.
Once I lastly discovered a pair of AB+ binoculars on the market, I purchased them for the aim of testing them in opposition to the SIG Kilo10K, despite the fact that I had solely just lately bought the SIGs. I’m not sponsored or endorsed by both of those corporations and paid for each pairs with my very own cash (I’m nonetheless married, for now). The next is just not a regurgitation of the specs—these are available. That is my private expertise and opinion on how these two 10×42 range-finding binoculars stack up from a hunter’s and shooter’s perspective.
Rangefinder – SIG KILO10K Wins
The SIGs win this class fingers down, as they need to with a claimed 10,000-yard vary. Nevertheless it’s not nearly distance. The beam can also be tighter, making it extra more likely to hit the goal you’re attempting to vary. It’s additionally quicker and works higher in fog.
This was one in every of my greatest complaints concerning the Leica 10×32 Professional. For instance, brush or timber beside or behind a goal made getting an actual vary practically unattainable because of beam accuracy. Once I thought I’d ranged a goal appropriately, the beam was truly hitting one thing 30 yards behind it. This will likely not matter at brief distances, however at 900 yards, that’s a miss.
After intensive side-by-side testing, I discovered the SIGs extra correct at hitting the specified goal because of their beam measurement.
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Vary and Energy
Leica did enhance the vary and energy of the rangefinder within the new Geovid Professional 10×42 AB+, but it surely’s nonetheless a methods behind the SIG. At 1,000 yards, the beam on the Leica AB+ is 65W x 29T inches. The SIG’s beam is 54W x 2T inches—a major distinction.
I additionally discovered it simpler to hit targets utilizing the SIS’s vary button. The Leica’s button made it tougher to maintain the binos regular whereas ranging, similar to utilizing a rifle with a 4-lb set off versus a 2-lb set off.
That mentioned, the AB+ is a giant enchancment over the ten×32 Professional. With that mannequin, I struggled to get constant readings previous 1,200 yards on animals or panorama. The AB+ constantly ranged out to 1,800 yards, with a max vary of three,160 yards. The SIGs constantly attain 3,000 yards, with a max of 5,634 yards. I didn’t have a method to lock both bino right into a tripod, and I’m certain extra vary might be achieved with one.
Glass – Geovid Professional AB+ Wins
The Leicas win this class simply. Whereas the glass on the SIGs is sweet, it could’t match the outstanding picture readability from the Leicas. That is noticeable in all lighting situations and turns into particularly clear at lengthy ranges.
After spending a number of time behind the SIGs, I satisfied myself the glass was top-tier, and it’s first rate. However after I switched again to the Leicas, I used to be reminded of what true alpha glass does to the viewing expertise. The picture is just sharper and higher. At distances over three miles, I may spot elk with the Leicas that I had missed with the SIGs. I’d then return to the SIGs and, now understanding the place the elk have been, see them—however my mind didn’t instantly register that I used to be elk.
This occurred repeatedly.
I’ve been utilizing Swarovski glass for over 20 years, and I imagine the Leica AB+ is among the many greatest out there. It’s actually a pleasure to look by way of—and at its value level, it needs to be.
The SIGs win this class by a rustic mile, and that is my greatest grievance concerning the Leicas.
Navigating the Geovid Professional AB+ menu is irritating. It’s primarily the identical system used within the Geovid HD-B 2200, which I owned for 5 years. It was launched round 2016. The whole lot is managed through two buttons, with single clicks, double clicks, and lengthy presses required to navigate. It sounds easy, however I usually ended up within the improper menu with the AB+, even with being accustomed to the menu from the HD-B 2200s.
Leica did add a wind function that may be managed instantly from the binos (not simply the app). With sufficient apply, I may use it with out cursing—but it surely’s nonetheless nowhere close to as intuitive because the SIG’s wind function.
Leica Menu Irritating and Complicated
Utilizing the Leica menu is like driving a automobile out of the country the place you may’t learn the highway indicators. You’re uncertain of the way you’re going to get to your vacation spot and sometimes find yourself biking by way of options you don’t want a number of occasions.
The Leica person handbook can also be lackluster. After studying it a number of occasions, I gave up and turned to YouTube, which helped me develop into semi-proficient. Additionally, there’s an obnoxious blinking Bluetooth icon on the Leicas that I haven’t found out tips on how to flip off. It blinks no matter whether or not the telephone is related, in airplane mode, or off. If there’s a method to flip this icon off, I couldn’t discover it.
Whenever you vary a goal with the AB+, it first offers you the elevation maintain (e.g., 4.5 moa), then that disappears, and it reveals the wind maintain (e.g., .25moa), then that disappears too. There are three show durations: 1, 3, and 5 seconds. I began with 1, which was too fast to recollect the numbers. I settled on 3 seconds, which is best, however I additionally don’t like ready—animals that obtain searching stress don’t maintain nonetheless for lengthy.
With the SIGs, the menu is a house run. Whenever you vary a goal, all of the related data seems on the show without delay: holdover, wind, bullet velocity, foot-pounds of power, and which gun profile is chosen. It stays seen lengthy sufficient to refer again to with out having to vary once more. I by no means even wanted the SIG person handbook—it’s that intuitive.
One other standout function of the SIGs is the power to lock environmental settings. The Leicas have the choice to manually set this function of their app, however I used to be unable to get it to switch to the binos. With the SIGs, I can scroll by way of the menu within the binocular and set the temperature manually. This could be very helpful throughout winter months to set the temperature to keep away from inaccurate readings attributable to transitioning between a 70°F truck and a ten°F surroundings. The identical goes for carrying binos beneath heat clothes and subsequent to your physique. This handbook override function will be the distinction between successful and a miss. Whereas that will not sound like a giant deal, I’ve but to get a shot at a wolf, and after I do, I most definitely don’t wish to miss because of my binos studying the improper temperature.
Ergonomics and Design – Geovid Professional AB+ Wins
I give a slight edge to the Geovid Professional AB+ right here. I desire the SIGs’ smaller profile and lighter weight, however I don’t like how shut the target lens is to the sting of the barrel. My concern is getting the lens scratched if one thing’s on the backside of my bino pack. It’s a minor grievance, however SIG may simply tackle it.
I additionally like Leica’s placement of the laser within the heart hinge, quite than the barrel. I imagine this contributes to its superior readability.
Neither bino misplaced focus nor had eyecup points within the area. As soon as adjusted, each held their settings. The Leicas wanted much less fine-tuning to realize a transparent image, doubtless as a result of superior glass. I discovered myself wanting to regulate the SIGs extra in low-light situations than the Leicas. The focusing programs on each have been good, with the AB+ being barely smoother.
I additionally really feel just like the match and end is barely higher within the Leicas. Each really feel extraordinarily sturdy. Whereas I didn’t abuse them, I imagine they may face up to important put on.
App – SIG KILO10K Wins
The SIGs win once more right here, but it surely’s not a dramatic distinction. When you’re accustomed to it, the Leica app is useful. Nevertheless, the SIG BDX app shines with its syncing capabilities. When syncing profiles to the SIG binos, you get affirmation that modifications have been obtained, which supplies me a heat, fuzzy feeling inside. With Leica, I usually discovered myself double-checking that every thing had synced correctly and that modifications that had been made within the app acquired to the binos. The SIG app additionally has a bigger bullet library, which makes plugging in your knowledge quicker.
Each apps embody a ballistic truing system that’s simple to make use of.
Each binoculars embody a monitoring system. I solely used the SIGs, which combine with OnX (already on my telephone). Leica makes use of Basemap. I assume it really works effective too—kudos to each corporations for together with this function, which might be very useful find down sport throughout a drainage the place you’d lose line of sight with the animal.
The Geovid Professional AB+ additionally features a “shot chance evaluation,” which estimates your chance of hitting a ranged goal. I didn’t use it, as I’ve a powerful understanding of my capabilities on whether or not or not I and my weapon system could make successful. Nevertheless, I can see this being useful for others who should not have as a lot expertise in long-range capturing and wish to solely take moral pictures.
Each binoculars use Utilized Ballistics, which is the perfect capturing app available on the market, for my part. I used these binos aspect by aspect for weeks, ranging the identical targets with each of them, again and again. The calculations have been shut sufficient to one another that you simply couldn’t dial for the distinction utilizing 1/4 moa corrections.
Value – SIG KILO10K Wins
As of this writing, the Leica Geovid Professional AB+ retails for $3,849.00, and the SIGs for $2,699.00. Whereas I’m keen to pay further for alpha glass, I don’t imagine the AB+ is $1,150 higher than the 10K’s when it comes to optics alone. Conversely, the 10K’s are simply price $1,150 greater than the AB+ when it comes to electronics. Financially, the SIGs are the higher cut price.
READ MORE HERE: REVIEW: NOCPIX QUEST H50R Thermal Rangefinding Binoculars
Conclusion
I by no means thought that I’d ever use something however alpha glass for searching after utilizing it for the final 20 years. Nevertheless, with the unimaginable developments in long-range capturing, the necessity for ultra-precise electronics has elevated. After testing each range-finding binoculars aspect by aspect (I actually wore two bino packs whereas searching this spring), my conclusion is obvious: the SIG Kilo10K is the higher instrument, particularly for hunters desirous to make the most of long-range pictures.
I confirmed this on rock chucks out to 1,100 yards. I hunt year-round, for quite a lot of animals—elk, deer, bears, antelope, turkeys, wolves, coyotes, foxes, badgers, rock chucks, squirrels, and starlings. My rifles and hundreds vary from .22 lengthy rifle to 7PRC. The SIGs deal with this versatility with out difficulty.
If I have been solely searching mule deer (my favourite quarry) or Coues deer, I’d go for the Leicas. These animals are onerous to identify, and alpha glass makes an actual distinction. They’re the very cause that I began shopping for alpha glass twenty years in the past. Whereas the AB+ might not give me the boldness to make each conceivable shot on a deer, they’d for about 75 % of the pictures I’ve encountered to this point. And also you received’t kill 100% of what you may’t see.
Opinion of 6 Extra Folks
Throughout this take a look at, I had six others (some skilled shooters, others extra informal hunters) use each binoculars. All at present personal optics with alpha glass. With out understanding my opinion, all of them mentioned the Leica had barely higher glass, however they unanimously selected the SIGs for themselves, citing causes starting from the show, menu, and rangefinder to cost and general measurement of the optics. Two plan to purchase the SIGs after utilizing them. (Each are very skilled shooters and are at present utilizing Leica Geovid 3200.com and the opposite Swarovski EL Vary.)
I hope that one in every of these corporations will lastly launch a rangefinding binocular that mixes cutting-edge electronics with true alpha glass. SIG is nearer to attaining that than Leica. I don’t know why they haven’t but put alpha glass within the Kilo10K—in the event that they did, they’d make all different rangefinding binoculars out of date.
Because it stands, for my part, alpha glass is the one factor conserving Leica aggressive on this market.
Right here’s a hyperlink to the Leica
Right here’s a hyperlink to the SIG
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Jorden Doggett brings real-world expertise and precision to the GunsAmerica staff as a regulation enforcement sniper, licensed firearms teacher, and devoted long-range shooter. His background in tactical coaching and real-time decision-making within the area offers him a novel and credible perspective on gear, ballistics, and marksmanship.
Off-duty, Jorden is a passionate hunter who spends as a lot time as doable within the mountains chasing elk, deer, bears, coyotes, and wolves. Whether or not he’s behind a scope, within the area along with his rifle, or coaching the following era of shooters, he brings self-discipline, perception, and grit to every thing he does.
Expertise:
– Legislation Enforcement Sniper – Lively-duty LEO sniper with intensive tactical coaching and operational expertise.– Licensed Firearms Teacher – State-certified LEO firearms teacher with a give attention to rifle and precision capturing.– Lengthy-Vary Marksman – Deeply skilled long-range shooter with a powerful background in precision rifle work.– Massive Sport & Predator Hunter – Hunts elk, deer, coyotes, bears, and wolves throughout rugged terrain.– Ballistics & Gear Knowledgeable – Trusted voice on tactical tools, rifles, optics, and efficiency beneath stress.– Mission-Pushed – Dedicated to excellence, security, and advancing firearms information in each skilled and civilian circles.
