With all the advances in hunting equipment the one I think is the most important is the range finder. When I started looking for one 5 years ago the one that I chose was a Leica 1200 in brown. Now this was an early model versus the one that they now offer. It performed well and was easy to use. I carried it and used it each year until the fall deer season of 2009. I was in camp with Don who was showing me his new Leica 1200, a new smaller and lighter unit then mine. When I got mine out to compare I was shocked that it would not range anything. We were four weeks away from a guided hunt in Montana and I needed a ranger finder. When I returned home I jumped on the Leica web site and e-mailed customer service. They responded faster then it is taking me to write this. So I shipped it to them and in less then two weeks I received a box back from then. This is why I like Leica products, they did not repair mine but instead replaced it with a brand new updated model. Now that is service and standing behind your product.

So off to Montana we go and it is opening morning.  The guide points out something that looks like elk. I bring up the ranger finder and with a push of the button I can tell that they are at 1300 yards. The actual reading on the Leica 1200. When we got into position I passed the ranger finder to our guide Brandon and he called out the range as the bull elk moved closer in to 340 yards.  Brandon said “that's it he is turning outbound."  Now this is why the range finder is important.  I knew the range to the yard so I put the 300 yard dot on the money and the rest is in the photos.

To put it simply the Leica 1200 is lightweight, easy to use and the company stands behind their product. Check them out at leica .

Steve Turner

Specifications:

Magnification 7x

Objective Lens Diameter 24 mm

Range 10-1200 yards Field of View 347 feet/1000 yards

Eye Relief 15 mm

Close Focus 30 feet

Weight 7.8 ounces

Length 4.5 inches

Weatherproofing  Waterproof