LRF Binocular vs Separate Binocular and LRF
This comes up a lot.
Is it better to have a binocular with integrated LRF or a standalone LRF and standalone binoculars?
Both approaches work just fine, unless you are super picky about configurations.
Until relatively recently, if you wanted an integrated LRF, my advice was to spend some serious money on a high end model from Leica/Swaro/Zeiss with my eyes slightly preferring Leica, but all three are really good.
Leica's Geovid Pro is the latest and really excellent. Now that I went and looked, the previous generation, Geovid 3200.com is discounted to just a bit over $2k. https://bit.ly/48iAXik If I were in the market today, I'd pick one up while they still have them. It won't last.
There are quite a few lower priced models out there from other companies and many have really excellent LRFs, but to me they sacrifice too much of the binocular function. Integrating the LRF takes a bit to much toll on the imaging performance of the binocular.
For my purposes, excellent binocular performance is critical, and since I can't afford to drop $3k-$4k on the latest and greatest, I mostly use separate binos and LRFs. In my case Kowa 6.5x32 binoculars, Vortex Razor UHD 10x50 binocular, Vortex Razor 4000GB LRF and Vortex Impact 4000 LRF. That gives me the means to pick out the kit appropriate for the terrain and the task at hand.
Also, I often use the standalone LRF as a monocular when going for a hike, so this approach works well for me.
I've used quite a few others as well. Sig LRFs are excellent, but there is too much of an optical compromise. I had the same take on Fury 5000.
I use what I use partly because of the ballistic integration.
In recent years, a couple of less expensive LRF equipped binoculars crossed my path. They are surprisingly good optically. They do not have quite the same level of EO integration, i.e. they will not give you a full ballistic solution, but they will give you a distance and accomodate for the inclination. For most uses, that's enough.
If you are just starting out or if you are simply this is your best way to go.
Delta Titanium RF 9x45 is a better configuration for me https://annexdefense.com/delta-lrf-binoculars-delta-t-9x45-hd-rf-bino-rangefinder-do-2720/
I like the 5mm exit pupil and 9x is a touch steadier to my eye than 10x.
Meopta Optika LR 10x42 is another. https://bit.ly/3TpHJyj
One caution with Meopta is that since the company has been sold to Carlyle, I have no clue what is happening with sporting optics. They are not showing any signs of closing shops, but I am always paranoid about company buyouts.
I suspect that the Delta and the Meopta are made by the same OEM. There are probably others form the same OEM with a similar performance out there as well (Burris Signature HD 10x42 looks like one https://bit.ly/4716STp), but I have not tested them. I can only talk about the performance of the Delta and Meopta.
The one other worth mentioning is the Leica Geovid R product line. I think are repackaged older Geovid designs. They were very good for their time and for the $1400 or so that Leica wants, they are quite good for the money. https://bit.ly/46UIoLj
If you spend a lot of time hunting or shooting alone and you are trying to figure out what to get, I'd lean toward a binocular with an integrated LRF.
That means less stuff to remember to take with you (I forgot to take my LRF when I went to Wyoming two weeks ago) and know there isn't nearly as much performance compromise.
