Leica Geovid HD Binoculars

Back in 2006 I tested a set of Leica’s Geovid 8x56 BRF (binocular range finder) and I was impressed. Up until that point I had used, as many hunters did their excellent little 900 or 1200 SCAN monocular RF (rangefinder) units. Accurate and effective, but small and hard to hold on target easily, and a bit lacking in magnification and field of view. So the added stability and optical ability of a proper set of binos with the magic inside was very attractive.

I eventually raised the cash for the Geovid 8x56 BRFs and they have been my constant companion on both domestic and foreign hunts since. Also the yardstick I use when testing any laser rangefinder (LRF) system. Leica did not seem to have any challengers in this area until both Zeiss and Swarovski brought out their own BRFs, which are also very good. However, they have now upped their game with their latest product the Geovid HD-B in both 8x42 and 10x42 models.

SMARTER THAN

As a Geovid owner I was amazed at the changes both external and internal that

Leica have implemented in their new model. I would never call my old 8x56 BRFs good looking but the smooth lines and flowing curves of the HD-Bs are both attractive and more importantly ergonomic. The double- bridge design shows curved barrels that sweep down through the hands for an assured grip. As before Leica have incorporated the laser sender into the forward bridge hinge point. Each barrel has individual focusing rings (dioptre compensation dial) for initial set up, with a big main focus wheel in the middle.

The eye cups can be adjusted to suit glasses and non-glasses wearers with five, click-stop positions. The build is rubber armour over a magnesium alloy body. On the rear R/H bridge are two buttons – on the left the MEASUREMENT/laser actuator (dome headed) and next to it the SECONDARY/selector (dished head) for choosing the various functions and ballistic programmes. Their distinctive individual profiles meaning you can with just a touch tell which one you are on.

The battery compartment is underneath the right hand barrel’s forward hinge lug. It runs on a single Lithium CR2 3V cell. This is good for 2000 measurements, there is also a low battery warning displayed in the view that indicates when you have approx 50-pings left. Also inside is the micro SD card slot and as we shall see you can programme the HD-B’s on board ballistic computer with your own ammo specification as well as choose from pre-loaded data amongst other features. Told you it was amazing!

CLASS GLASS!

If Leica means one thing to me it’s top quality optics and again the HD-Bs do not disappoint. They offer sharp, high-contrast images with outstanding depth and plasticity as well as extremely high light transmission and neutral, vivid colours, thanks to Perger Porro prisms. The Aqua Dura Coatings prevents dust and dirt from sticking to the lenses so offering easy and simple
cleaning. I always rated my 8x56 BRFs and they are still good, but on comparison I think the view through the HD-Bs day or night is just that bit better all round!

Leica has stuck with the rectangular, red aiming box though the HD-Bs is larger and automatically compensates for available lighting conditions, both features I preferred. Leica quotes a maximum effective range of 1825m (1955-yards) for observation and ranging. However in terms of the ballistics package they say it’s 800-900 depending on the function you choose. They are fast to use to with the read-out in .3 to .5 seconds of pinging the target!

The basic function of any LRF to tell the direct distance to the target remains; point, press and ping (range it). The HD-B does this identically as my 8x56 BRFs, but that is not why you would buy a pair! What makes them so different and potentially useful is they can also show the range and output that information in a number of ways, so you can create a firing solution for just about any situation or rifle/calibre/scope set up.

Included are – equivalent horizontal range EHR (angled shots with a corrected range reading), hold over on target (HOLD) tells you how much to raise the reticule above where you want the bullet to hit. There are five options here to suit the most common BDC-type reticules available. Finally BALLISTIC TURRET (it uses inputted ballistic data to tell you howm many clicks to offset). All this through your binos as you are scoping out your quarry, near instantaneously, which sounds too good to be true! But it’s not!

SELECT

There are four menu options which are accessed by holding the SECONDARY button down for three seconds. Then press MEASUREMENT to cycle through them. First up EU.US, which offers output in either meters/ Centigrade (EU) and yards/ Fahrenheit (US). If you choose EU then a dot will appear bottom right of the aiming square to indicate metric. BALL (ballistic) allows you to choose from the 12, pre-programmed ballistic curves or use your own data which you input using the Micro SD card and selecting that option. Next is SIGHT IN (zero distance) with a choice of 100, 200 and 300 yards/m and finally the ABC (ADVANCED BALLISTIC COMPENSATION). This allows the aforementioned three methods of EHR, holdover and ballistic turret.

The 12 pre-programmed ballistic curves are in the manual in both EU and US notation US 1 to 12 & EU 1 to 12), along with the same at the 100, 200 and 300 yard zero points. These give drop figures from 100 to 500 yards/m and all you do is determine the maximum drop of your ammunition (hopefully printed on the box) at a known distance and find the nearest figure on the relevant chart, follow it to the top and it will give you the correct ballistic curve to select. Bullet weight and velocity do not come into it as such.

For example you select US and see your bullet drops 10” at 300 yards. Move across to the right on the 300 yard line until you find the nearest figure, in this case it would be 9.6”. Then follow that line up and it says US3 which you select. With the ballistic turret function you have the option of selecting click values in 1, 1/3 and 1⁄4 MOA (MINUTE OF ANGLE) or 5mm and 10mm = 0.5 and 1cm clicks. A point to note the manual (page 45) notates this as: “5 or 10 cm graduations” I think they forgot the decimal point; be aware!

You can also go on line at http:// leicaflash.leica-camera.com/leicadroptest. html to access their ballistic calculator. This allows the choice of factory ammo or to input your own reloads, with pull-down menus it’s easy to use with areas like bullet weight, BC, velocity and sight height etc. Data generated matched my pet reloads accurately out to all sensible shooting distances.

In use the display always shows the basic range first then and depending on what ABC function you have selected the compensated range (angled shot), holdover correction or clicks ballistic turret. The HD-B also has an onboard thermometer, BAROMETER and inclinometer to take these essential variables into account and apply them as required. I’m surprised Leica did not think up some way of offering wind correction too!

LIKE FOR LIKE

Accuracy with any LRFs is all; distance, weather conditions, target size, colour, reflectivity, how stable you can hold them and angle all make a difference and these are no exception. The maximum range of near 2000-yards is a debatable feature as to its practical use. Leica says that you can expect a +/- figure of 1 yard/m out to 500 yards/m and 2-yards/m out to 1000. Over that it’s around 5% +/-. With few exceptions a maximum practical range for a shot in the UK would be 500-yards and that is still a bloody long way and something many hunters would not attempt!

Up against my 8x56 BRFs the HD-Bs matched readings yard for yard. In use they are lighter, handier and more ergonomic. The ballistic functions work very well and set up is not an issue once understood! Optical performance was second to none day time or low light! There’s a video on Leica’s website, which is really useful.

MICRO SD

One thing I would stress as I do with any ballistic compensation system is the data!

The 12 integral ballistic curves are good, but you need to be aware that ammunition from different makers even of the same weight and calibre will differ in physical performance. Likewise barrel length will dictate muzzle velocity. Even with reloads that you have more control over things might not be quite as indicated. So I always say get out on the ground and shoot them to check before hunting. To be fair I checked out some of the integral ballistic curves and they were surprisingly good and certainly useable! Though the ballistic calculator with reloads on the Micro SD card would be my choice every time.

Price aside - which is the decider for many shooters; I can find little to fault with the HD-B 8x42s. They will be totally wasted on woodland stalkers etc, but if your aspirations are for longer ranges, varied terrain and more demanding shots then they are probably the best and most sophisticated BRFs out there to date! And I don’t say that lightly!