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Hunting Guide Reviews

Leica LRF 800L

April 06, 2004

Features:

Model #: LRF 800L.
Size: 4" w x 3 3/4" d x 1 3/8" h.
Weight: 10 ounces.
Waterproof: No, water resistant.
Temp Range: -14 degree F to +122 degree F.
Display: Red LED. 1 press of button gives you a small red target indicator square, next press of button gives you range in yards in the lower part of display. You can change the reading to meters with a switch in the battery compartment. The LED display a
Magnification: 7 power.
Optics: 7 x 21 mm, multi-coated with "ballistic tough" ion-assisted coating.
Exit Pupil: 3 mm, adjustable eyepiece diopter insures readability for all users, with or without eyeglasses.
Diopter Compensation: ± 4 diopters.
Range: 10 -800 yards. You can change the reading to meters with a switch in the battery compartment.
Accuracy: ± 1 yard (repetitive).
Field of view: 336 feet @ 1000 yards.
Twilight Factor: 12.12.
Beam divergence: Unknown at this time, please e-mail us at if you have this info.
Power Source: 1 each 9 volt battery 6LR61. Battery compartment is accessed with a #2 flat tip screwdriver or a coin if you're in a pinch. A rubber O-ring seals the battery compartment. Battery compartment is on eyepiece side of unit, to the right as you r
Shock resistant: Yes, fully rubber-armored.
Tripod mountable: No threads for mounting on a tripod. Optional tripod adapter is about $49.00
Color: Black.
Comes With: Case, user manual and neck strap.
Warranty: Two-year warranty.

Other Information

No information

User Comments

8/26/00 From DAA on the Go Go Varmint Forum.

I got mine from Leica in N.J. last week. Supposedly from the very first shipment of new production units to hit U.S. soil (I bitched so long and loud about the first batch I got on a first name basis with the LRF800 product manager...). Road tested it just a bit last night. Seems to work as advertised now. Took it to the same spot where I'd done direct comparison to a Nikon 800 with my first Leica and the new one was able to range the same targets as the Nikon, targets that my first one could not range. I'm well enough satisfied with the unit now I think. Would still like to see less heavy "trigger pull" on the activation button, and would especially like to see the aiming square remain visible while depressing the button, but those are my only remaining complaints. Optical quality is vastly superior to any of the other "low cost" laser range finders out there. Ranging distance capability now seems to be on par with the Nikon. Need to do some more direct comparison before I'm really ready to say for certain, but my impression is that the beam divergence of the Leica is actually tighter than the Bushnell and Nikon 800 yard units. At least, I was able to discriminate between some targets with the Leica that I have doubts I'd have been able to with the others. I still have a nasty taste in my mouth for the way Leica handled this situation - which I frankly find disgraceful - I won't buy any more Leica products, ever. But, at least I have a rangefinder I'm happy with now. DAA

5/5/00 Dealers were notified by Leica today by mail all shipments of the Leica 800 range finders will cease until July 15th. An upgrade is being done to assure accurate reading. Some of the models shipped so far have had some problems. Anyone with problems should ship the range finder directly to Leica in New Jersey. They will be given top priority with the upgrades.

If you have a bad Leica rangefinder, send it to the address below. Leica Camera Inc. 156 Ludlow Avenue Northvale, New Jersey 07647 Tel.: +1(201) 7 67 75 00 Fax: +1(201) 7 67 86 66 E-mail: olesin@aol.com

4/25/00 There has been a report of a high failure rate of the Leica rangefinders from the of the first users to take them in the field. Word is they can only range to about 200 yards and the problem is a bad production run from Portugal. If you have this Leica and are having problems with it, contact Leica at the link below. If you are looking to buy one of the new Leica 800 rangefinders, make sure the dealer has the units that are not affected by this problem. Leica and most dealers are aware of the problem and are getting the bad units off the market. If your dealer does not know for sure which units he has, DO NOT buy it.

Other notes .... I finally got to play with this unit at the 2000 SHOT show in Las Vegas 1/17/00. Man is this unit light and small. The optics are real crisp and clear and the red LCD display of range and the target indicator was very easy to read. The LED display is bright enough to see the display even in low light conditions, many of the other rangefinders don't have this capability. The only problem I foresee may be the neckstrap having only 1 mounting location in the middle of the unit on the backside. If you use a "Bino-Buddy" or other camera neck strap setup that has 2 mounting points, you may need to do some modifying, or you can just live with the provided neck strap that allows the unit to lay flat against your chest. Leica may have goofed here. The manufacturer supplied thin neck straps just cut into your neck, so many users change them to camera neckstraps, which are wider and more comfortable. No neck rash equals a happy camper at the end of a long day of hiking.

Other Reviews .... The unit was a thrill to hold compared to the heavy Geovids that I'm used to, big points to them for that. The new unit DOESN'T have any attachment for tripod mounting, and those of you that have used the Geovid at long range know how important the tripod attachment is to get good readings on small targets at long ranges. IMHO, the optics weren't as sharp or clear as the Geovid - but that is a helluva high mark to compare any rangefinder to - they were as clear or clearer than any of the competitors units. My judgment is to get the new Leica's before even considering buying a Bushnell, Weaver, Nikon, etc. But if the EXTREMELY long ranges are what you're after, the Geovid is still the only way to go and there isn't even a challenger yet (and yes I have tried the Swarovski's). Just my thoughts, feel free to disagree. - da Judge

For speed, compact size, light weight, optics, and precision, it's tough to beat the Leica for $400. - hasbeen.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind which rangefinder is the best - the Leica. Do a side by side comparison with a Leica and a Bushnell/Nikon and you will see what I mean. You can get a Leica for $350 - $360. - Olink.

Get the Leica! Compare them all in low light and see which one wins! - VA Hunter.

Nothing compares to the Leica. - dalep.

I've had the Leica LRF800 since the first year they were out. Even sent mine back in when they said you could, just to see if anything was going to go wrong with it (also, I know some of the folks up there and asked them to check it out for me, just in case) They returned my unit to me w/ a note that there wasn't anything wrong w/ the unit and that the fix they had put in the one's that had had problems they had put in my unit. (seems they put in a redundant circuit on the ranging portion of the electronics). I've never, NEVER had a problem with mine. I've successfully ranged up to 914 yards (a large tree as the target) and consistently have been able to range a wild turkey-sized target at ranges up to 500 yards. For the money, the Leica optics are second to none and better than a lot out there. Get the Leica, either the 800 or the 1200, you'll definitely get your money's worth. - Bbear

Pricing Information

Best price is $359.16 at D & R Sports, $398.95 at SWFA. $399.99 at Bear Basin. $399.99 at Bass Pro Shop and Cabela's. Note .... Please check current pricing and availability. Info current as of 6/6/02.

Manufacturer Information

Leica
http://www.leica-camera.com/fernopt/fsys_e.htm