Leica World News
11
Smart appearance: The new Leica Rangemaster CRF 1200 – Shown actual size
There were no unpleasant reflections in
backlit situations or with in viewing snow
scenes. The high-grade multi-coated optics
delivered superb performance even under
difficult lighting conditions. That also
applies to its use at twilight. The monocu-
lar with its phase-corrected roof prism
delivers an undistorted image, even in dim
light or in backlit situations. The phase
correction prevents interference effects.
Therefore the new Rangemaster 1200 is
useful not only for measuring distances,
but also for monocular observation. The
exterior lens surfaces of the objective and
the ocular are equipped with a very hard,
scratchproof coating. Rubbing them with
my coarse gloves did not affect the coating
in the least.
The laser beam is emitted through a lens in
the lower part of the body and the reflected
laser light is captured by the objective lens
of the monocular and conveyed to a recep-
tor cell. Sophisticated short-time measure-
ment technology is used to compute the
distance in meters (in yards for Anglo-Amer-
ican regions), based on the time elapsed
between the emission and the return of the
laser signal. An LED display in the monoc-
ular shows the measured distance. During
the measurement process, a square red
target area is also outlined in the monocular.
The brightness of the red display is auto-
matically adjusted to the ambient bright-
ness. It is thus very easy to see in all kinds
of lighting conditions, without flare or
excessive brightness. It does not employ a
lower quality liquid crystal display. A blink-
ing signal indicates insufficient battery
power. The electronics independently rec-
ognize different measurement conditions
and automatically set the appropriate
mode – for example, during rain or snow,
so that the rangefinder will not be fooled by
raindrops or snowflakes. Only fog creates
problems for all laser rangefinders. But the
view is very limited in such cases anyway. In
practical use, the laser functioned extreme-
ly dependably and accurately: +/- 1 m at
distances of up to 366 m (+/- 1.09 yd at
distances of up to 400 yd).
Holding the button in activates the scan-
ning mode, which displays the measure-
ment results continuously. That enables
hunters to measure the distances to migrat-
ing game. The very rapid display of differ-
ent distances is truly remarkable. Dis-
tances to subjects with good reflectance,
such as the sides of a house, can be meas-
ured from as far away as approximately
1300 m (1422 yd). A dark spruce forest
was ranged at exactly 1147 m (1254 yd).
Even under very difficult reflecting condi-
tions, it was always possible to obtain reli-
able measurements of distances of up to
900 m (984 yd). It was no problem at all to
measure the distance of game situated
500 or 600 m (547 or 646 yd) away. A roe-
buck, for example, was ranged at 558 m
(610 yd), a stag at 783 m (856 yd) and a
goose was found to be 657 m (719 yd)
away. No measurements can be made at
distances less than 10 m (10.9 yd).
Game can thus be ranged from camouflaged
positions, and branches or other vegeta-
tion within the field of view will not affect
the measurement results. In difficult range-
finding situations, the scanning mode still
makes it possible to measure the distances
to objects adjacent to the actual subject
very quickly – the rock, for example, on
which a mountain goat is standing.
The new Rangemaster is eminently versa-
tile for uses ranging from playing golf to
hunting.
It measures distances very accurately even
under the most difficult conditions. The
specified measuring range is 10 to 1100 m
(11 to 1203 yd).
Only 113 mm long, 34 mm wide and 75 mm
high (4
7
⁄
16
x 1
3
⁄
8
x 3 inches) and weighing
only 220 g (7,8 oz), it is supremely handy
and quick to use. Its brilliant optics make it
very easy to distinguish fine details and to
observe the subject accurately. For distant
shots beyond the calibrated shooting dis-
tance, the hunter is compelled to rely on
accurate distance measurements in order
for the shot to achieve the desired suc-
cess. Only the laser rangefinder can pro-
vide this distance information dependably.
The Leica Rangemaster 1200 is no burden,
even in extreme terrain, yet it provides
invaluable assistance for a successful shot.
I appreciate it for hunting deer and foxes in
my home range just as much as I value it
for hunting mountain goats or snow goats
in remote high mountain regions of the
Rocky Mountains.
R O L A N D Z E I T L E R
