I’ve examined dozens of consumer-grade laser vary finders through the years, and from their humble beginnings within the Nineteen Nineties, they’ve developed considerably.
The brand new Maven RFZ.1 is among the business’s first zoom-capable laser vary finders that caught my eye earlier this 12 months, and over the months, I’ve been taking it to the vary with me to make use of it for measuring every part from distance to targets to extra mundane issues like measuring distances for taking pictures drills.
Discovering a variety finder that works for you and your kind of taking pictures is among the finest investments you can also make so far as vary equipment go, and so in the present day we’ll be testing the options, specs, and my expertise with the RFZ.1 to see the way it would possibly, or won’t match into your gear choice.
Maven RFZ.1 Specs & Options
Like all different Maven optics, the RFZ.1 is a direct-to-consumer product, which means that the one place you should purchase one is both straight from Maven’s on-line retailer or second-hand from a buddy who already owns one.
Maven’s optics are sometimes marketed as a extra budget-friendly possibility. A part of the associated fee financial savings, slightly than being minimize from the product facet, is achieved by Maven not having to take care of a big stock and by not delivery extra merchandise to distributors.
Nonetheless, one other a part of that value financial savings, at the least in relation to the RFZ.1, is its precise nation of meeting. I don’t suppose it comes as a shock to anybody that the electronics contained in the RFZ.1 are possible of Chinese language origin.
Laser rangefinder modules are sometimes solely sourced primarily from three nations, with the opposite two being the US and Switzerland. Given the Maven’s worth in comparison with another premium or army producers, I believe it’s secure to conclude that the elements are shipped from China to the Philippines, the place they’re assembled, after which lastly to the US, the place Maven does the ultimate high quality management checks, packages them, after which has them shipped to prospects.
Product Hyperlink: https://mavenbuilt.com/merchandise/rfz-1-6-12×21-5-4500-yd
HIGHLIGHTS– Premium Mannequin– Dimension: 5.3 in. x 3.2 in. x 2.1 in.– Weight: 10.6 oz.– Water Resistant– 5-4500 Yard Effectiveness– 6-12x Zoom– Line of Sight & Angle Compensation– Subject / Forest Perform (Obstruction Filter)– 6 Reticle Choices– 5 Brightness Ranges– Exceptionally Clear, Vibrant, Excessive Distinction Picture– Glorious Shade Constancy– Section Correction Coating – Tripod Adaptable– Lifetime Guarantee– Direct to Client / No Retail Markup
Clearly, the RFZ.1’s primary declare to fame is its considerably distinctive potential to go from a 6x to a 12x zoom through the cleverly launched throw lever. At first, I virtually missed this vibrant orange lever just because it was built-in so effectively into the design that it made it virtually indistinguishable from the beforehand launched Maven RF.1 illuminated vary finder.
Preliminary Impressions
Like different Maven merchandise, the RFZ.1 comes commonplace clad within the vibrant satin orange highlights which have considerably grow to be a calling card for the price range optics firm.
The knurling is current on each the brightness rheostat dial and the diopter adjustment, however is curiously lacking from the throw lever, which I want had texture to offer a bit extra grip or traction. The throw lever is stiff proper out of the field, however loosens up after continued use and turns into pretty clean as soon as it’s damaged in.
There are six totally different reticle choices, all of that are pretty helpful relying in your purpose. I usually like to make use of the crosshair with the dot within the heart for many events.
Nonetheless, when i’m attempting to identify a slightly massive object at elevated distnces i discover its useful to make use of the empty diamond shped reticle so you may really see what you’re pointng at – particularly for the reason that RFZ.1 is a primary focal aircraft design which means the reticle will get greater because the zoom stage will increase.
I personally have taken a liking to the general styling of the Maven sequence of optics. The RFZ.1 not solely sounds just like the title of a European superbike, it additionally kind of seems like one with its streamlined but angular entrance finish, clean blended strains, and cautious number of colour highlights.
The lighter gray elements of the rangefinder physique are calmly rubberized and have an eggshell-like texture, offering a stage of grip texture, particularly in gloved or moist palms. The darker parts of the physique are a tough plastic which is slippery when moist, however on condition that the rangefinder is sufficiently small to slot in most individuals’s palms simply, this isn’t an enormous challenge.
If we’re judging the RFZ.1 simply on its official specs and my preliminary impressions, I believe it straddles a really wonderful line between a premium providing and among the extra budget-oriented vary finders on the market within the 4,000-yard vary. Most different choices from different price range firms are about $300-$450 however lack good glass, and are sometimes fairly disposable.
With an asking worth of $650, Maven is making an attempt to position the RFZ.1 in the identical class as Leica’s Rangemaster Professional ($849), or Vortex’s Razor HD 4000 ($730), that are each $at the least $100 costlier than the asking worth for the Maven. Nonetheless, neither of these two choices options variable magnification.
Within the Subject with the RFZ.1 – Does the Zoom Matter
Probably the most flashy and perhaps even questionable function on the RFZ.1 is its zoom function. Sometimes, there aren’t a number of causes to have a variable zoom on a rangefinder. Along with being a slightly poor magnified remark gadget, rangefinders even have painfully small exit pupils, which means the 12x magnification is de facto exhausting to get lined up proper for a crisp, clear image.
You’ll be able to circumvent this limitation by tripod mounting the rangefinder, permitting you to take higher benefit of the 12x magnification, however I’ve discovered the very best use from this rangefinder on the bottom-end 6x magnification in all however essentially the most excessive instances.
Maybe extra useful – at the least for establishing exactly measured levels for USPSA or different taking pictures drills, is the 0.1M stage of precision you get the the RFZ.1. This stage of precision is a step above your typical rangefinder that rounds to the closest meter or half meter usually.
I discovered the RFZ.1’s “Subject” and “Forest” modes (selectable by a small change that surrounds the brightness dial)got here in useful a variety of instances as effectively. Subject Mode focuses on isolating small or hard-to-hit targets in open or distant terrain, ignoring bigger background objects, whereas Forest Mode filters out close by obstacles like branches or brush and locks onto the farthest goal past the litter.
That is simply demonstrable through the use of one thing like a display screen door or window. Utilizing the Forest mode, you may get fairly correct ranging on objects past the display screen, which is one thing it gained’t do when the laser is engaged in Subject mode.
Moreover, the rangefinder is able to doing just a little bit of additional give you the results you want through the “COMP” setting, which adjusts the displayed distance to account for the results of incline or decline—offering the true horizontal distance or “true vary” to the goal.
Options for the Wealthy?
I’m not solely certain the place I stand on whether or not or not the RFZ.1 is the latest “should purchase” in relation to laser vary finders. If we’re talking truthfully, most of us are in all probability utilizing a variety finder for going someplace, zeroing our pistol or rifle, after which calling it a day.
Most of us would possible not want a rangefinder this succesful or advanced, though it does have some creature comforts I want had been included in a few of my favourite inexpensive rangefinders (illumination is tremendous useful).
Nonetheless, for the hardcore hunters or aggressive shooters on the market who are sometimes looking in adversarial situations and at prolonged ranges, I believe the RFZ.1 has loads going for it when it comes to offering higher information to the shooter, in addition to an all-in-one resolution to getting a greater have a look at a goal.
12X places the RFZ.1’s zoom vary at concerning the mid-way level for a quite common looking optic magnification vary (3-18 is typical).
This additional zoom mates effectively with the totally different reticles to present hunters and precision shooters a extra streamlined rangefinding expertise, in a package deal that, whereas not tremendous sturdy or proof against the harshest situations, is at the least ok to face up to some rain, mud, filth, and basic abuse.
In an more and more crowded market, the Maven RFZ.1 does really distinguish itself by including one thing new that I believe we would see extra rangefinders providing when it comes to optical versatility and precision.
Whether or not its worth and complexity justify changing easier fashions will rely largely on what your particular person priorities and price range are, however for many who can afford it, the RFZ.1 undeniably expands the toolkit for the trendy shooter with none bizarre Bluetooth, Wi-Fi tech, or subscription fashions tacked onto it.
The place To Purchase
