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Pros - Excellent accuracy - Waterproof to 1 yard - Fantastic clarity and image quality Cons - Uses CR2 battery - Only accurate to within 2 yards beyond 500 yards

Welcome to our review of the Leica Rangemaster CRF–1000R Rangefinder. Leica is a big name in optics, so I was excited at the opportunity to give their rangefinders a whirl. Does the CRF–1000R live up to the Leica brand, though? In this review, I put the Rangemaster CRF–1000R through its paces, and report the results back to you. Read on, dear reader!

What’s the Range of the Leica Rangemaster CRF–1000R Rangefinder

The Leica Rangemaster CRF–1000R Rangefinder is accurate to within a yard for ranges out to 500 yards, and is accurate to within 2 yards between 501 and 1,000 yards. You can range objects as close as 10 yards, and various factors can impact the range of the rangefinder. You’ll always find that large, highly reflective objects are easier to range, while small non-reflective objects (like deer) are harder to get a reading on. With that said, I’ve obtained accurate ranges on deer up to 500 yards away, which is an amazing feat for such a tiny device.

How Easy is the Leica Rangemaster CRF–1000R Rangefinder to Use?

The Leica Rangemaster CRF–1000R Rangefinder has a main button and a secondary button, so navigating menus can be a bit tricky. Even so, I found this complex rangefinder to be quite easy to use, especially when you are just interested in line of sight distances. Once you set it to equivalent horizontal range (Leica’s name for angle range compensation), it stays in that mode and is still very easy to use. Once you get accustomed to the menus, you can quickly and effectively operate the rangefinder with just one hand.

How is the Leica Rangemaster CRF–1000R Rangefinder Powered?

This rangefinder is powered by a single CR2 battery, and a battery comes with the unit. After 10 seconds of inactivity, the unit automatically shuts down. Unfortunately, the battery life on this rangefinder is not quite on par with less expensive models, only providing around 2,000 measurements on a single battery. And of course, CR2 batteries can be hard to find in the field, so if you get this rangefinder I would recommend carrying a second battery with you at all times. When the display begins blinking, you know the battery is almost depleted. After this, you’ll have about a hundred measurements, at decreasing ranges, until the battery is completely drained.

What Features Can I Expect From the Leica Rangemaster CRF–1000R Rangefinder ?

The Leica Rangemaster CRF–1000R Rangefinder features magnification of 7X, allowing you to get a close-up view of your target with ease. It automatically focuses the image, so you don’t have to worry about focusing on your target. The eyecup is adjustable, allowing you to use it with or without eyeglasses. If you need diopter correction, the Leica Rangemaster CRF–1000R Rangefinder is adjustable to +/- 3.5 diopters.

This rangefinder features a mode that will provide you with the equivalent horizontal distance for shooting at objects on a slope. This means, for instance, that the range to a deer downhill from you would, for ballistics purposes, be shorter than if the deer were on level ground with you. Conversely, an elk uphill from you will require a longer shot than if the terrain was even. You don’t even have to think about that with the Leica Rangemaster CRF–1000R Rangefinder, because the built in inclinometer helps make those adjustments for you.

What’s the Light Gathering Capability Like on the Rangefinder?

Light gathering on this device is astounding. I’ve used the Leica Rangemaster CRF–1000R Rangefinder in the early dawn hours as well as the late dusk hours, and the target image is always bright and clear. The LCD readout is automatically adjustable based on ambient light, so it is easy to read in all lighting conditions.

How Are the Optics and Focus on This Rangefinder?

The optics on the Leica Rangemaster CRF–1000R Rangefinder are fully multi-coated, and the automatic focusing mechanism works flawlessly. Every time I’ve used this rangefinder, I’ve been amazed at how similar the view through the rangefinder is to the view of objects through my Swarovski binoculars. Detail, contrast, and crispness are all outstanding, and the rangefinder works just as well in cold temperatures as warm. The 24mm objective optics are coated with High Durable Coating and Aqua-Dura coating to help prevent water from obscuring your view, and the prisms are coated as well for maximum light transmission.

How Durable is the Leica Rangemaster CRF–1000R Rangefinder?

The chassis of the Leica Rangemaster CRF–1000R Rangefinder is made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic and cast metal. It is very durable and rugged, allowing you to confidently take the rangefinder with you even into the harshest of conditions.

The Leica Rangemaster CRF–1000R Rangefinder is listed as being water-impermeable in water up to 1 yard deep, and is watertight for up to 30 minutes. I wouldn’t take it into the pool, but it should survive being dropped in a puddle if you retrieve it within half an hour.