Round up of the latest Rangefinders

MTC RAPIER 2 OLED LR1000 Weight: 230g Dimensions: 110x75x40mm Magnification: 6x Objective: 25mm RRP: £199 www.mtcoptics.com Medium size, and not quite as ergonomic as the others. However, its ace card is the LED display, which is useful for very low light, and can be manually adjusted for brightness levels. It does need to be turned up quite high for bright daytime use, and if you go to then use it next time in dark conditions, it can be quite blinding!Vague, non-clicking buttons are irritating but not a deal breaker.

NIKKO STERLING 603 Weight: 210g Dimensions: 106x73x41mm Magnification: 6x Objective: 24mm RRP: £200.99 www.highlandoutdoor s.co.uk This one is nice and compact, with a soft touch grippy finish and rounded top. It has a simple display that affords a refreshingly uncluttered view, good clear optics, and for the record, changing the battery is also less fiddly than the others.

DANUBIA DJE600 Weight: 215g Dimensions: 115x72x40mm Magnification: 6x Objective: 25mm RRP: £165 www.ruag.co.uk Medium sized, the Danubia, feels a bit slippery compared to the others. It features a folding back eyecup, to use with glasses, but this is a bit fiddly, and keeps popping out again!The dioptre ring was also loose on my example. It proved tricky getting a reading from a narrow target, and the picture isn’t overly sharp. Nit-picking maybe; as it does calculate ranges very quickly, and still pretty accurately. There’s also a function to compensate for rain- although I wasn’t able to put this to the test.

HAWKE LRF900 Weight: 254g Dimensions: 99x68x40mm Magnification: 6x Objective: 25mm RRP: £189.99 www.hawkeoptics.com Externally, this model looks much the same as Hawke’s LRF400, except, as the name suggests, it can read to 900 yards maximum distance as opposed to 400 yards,reminding ourselves that these products are intended for shooters across the board. For our airgun-related tests, it proved slightly more accurate, and a great all-rounder in most scenarios.

VORTEX R1000 Weight: 208g Dimensions: 100x78x40 Magnification: 6x Objective: 22mm RRP: £300.19 www.vortexoptics.com This model is in the ultra compact bracket, and is very comfortable to handle. The right/left hand mounting belt clip is a useful feature, but more importantly, the optics are clear, and readings on the whole accurate. Needs three button pushes for first range from off. The others need only two.

SIG K2000 Weight: 215g Dimensions: 107x76X33mm Magnification: 7x Objective: 25mm RRP: £541.99 highlandoutdoor s.co.uk Another compact model with a high quality feel, and all the controls work well; along with the LED display, which adjusts automatically for brightness. It takes 4readings per second whilst you hold the button and takes an average. Comes with a substantial neck cord, features great optics,is accurate and lovely to use. In fact, it’s my pick of the bunch if I had the money!But it is expensive compared to its rivals.

HAWKE LRF400 PRO Weight: 257g (with battery and strap) Dimensions: 99x68x40mm Magnification: 6x Objective: 25mm RRP £149.99 hawkeoptics.com Hawke are well known for mid-priced,good value kit, and this unit doesn’t disappoint. It’s comfortable, with soft touch rubber and a rounded top, and feels good in the hand. One observation on test though- as a spectacle wearer, I couldn’t quite seethe whole screen with glasses on, and the diopter ring and extending eye piece for non-spectacle wearers moves a bit too easily. It is however, still perfectly useable.

ZEISS VICTORY 8X26T Weight: 324g Dimensions: 130x98x40mm Magnification: 8x Objective: 26mm RRP: £640 www.zeiss.co.uk Zeiss have a fantastic reputation of course for premium products,and this Victory model is a fitting addition to the line-up. It is quite large though, which has to be a consideration. So what do you get for your significant outlay? Superb optics, fast readings, clear, good quality controls and a premium feel. There’s an abundance of built in ballistic info to give hold over etc., which is more aimed at firearms users and it’s expensive compared to many.

LEICA RANGEMASTER CRF 1600-B Weight: 185g Dimensions 75 x 34 x 113mm Magnification 7x Objective 24mm RRP: £602.99 www.leica-camera.com Leica have been considered by many to be the rangefinder experts and have offered many models over the years. This, their latest mono, is light and compact and a joy to use and offers such things as yards to meters selection, angle, temperature and even atmospheric pressure. The focus ring is positive in operation and the read-out clear and bright and includes a nylon belt pouch and lanyard. They also offer a cheaper model the 1000R at £373.