Nikon Arrow id 5000 Laser Rangefinder Review

Nikon Arrow id 5000 Laser Rangefinder

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Pros

- Provides slope information using Incline/Decline technology
- Offers generous eye relief and diopter adjustment
- Included case is printed in RealTree APG camouflage


Cons

- Only effective to 600 yards
- Accuracy seems to be within plus or minus one yard
- Uses CR-2 batteries, which are difficult to find

Thanks for reading my review of the Nikon Arrow id 5000, a product geared towards bow hunters of all shapes and sizes. You’ll find some great features within this model, including slope compensation using Nikon’s proprietary Incline/Decline technology. Let’s see how well the rangefinder lives up to the Nikon name.

First, let’s examine what comes in the box. When I unpackaged this model, I found the following items:

  • The Nikon Arrow id 5000 laser rangefinder itself
  • A neoprene carrying case in RealTree APG camouflage
  • The owner’s manual
  • The warranty card

That’s it, I’m afraid. No lanyard or neck strap, and not even a lens cleaning cloth.

What’s the Range of the Arrow id 5000?

This model offers distance calculation out to 600 yards, but that’s assuming your target is large and highly reflective. In real-world situations, such as when you are hunting deer, expect to be able to lase your target and get an accurate reading from as far away as 200 yards. I wish it could get accurate distances to large, highly reflective targets from further away, but this model is geared towards bow hunters and isn’t as useful as other models for longer distances. Accuracy seems to be within plus or minus one yard, instead of the half-yard that I’ve come to expect.

How Easy is the Rangefinder to Use?

When a rangefinder features multiple modes, I like to see a second button for changing between the available features. That’s one reason the Arrow id 5000 is so easy to use; you don’t have to press the power button multiple times to select your mode and then fire the laser. Use the mode button, choose your options, and then fire the laser.

Nikon seems to have gotten a bit lazy with rangefinders, using just multicoated optics instead of fully multicoating them. That’s definitely the case with this model. The rangefinder features a large 21mm objective lens, with a comfortable field of view that allows you to picture 368 feet of terrain at 1,000 yards. The device’s eye relief is a comfortable 18.3mm, and you can utilize diopter adjustment to adjust the eyepiece up to plus or minus four diopters.

How is This Model Powered?

Nikon has chosen to use the notoriously-hard-to-find CR-2 battery to power this unit. You’ll get one in the box, but should probably buy a spare to carry with you just in case the battery fails in the field. The CR-2 battery is pretty rare in the more rural areas that bowhunters tend to frequent.

Power consumption is quite good, with the unit powering down after a few seconds of inactivity.

What Features Can I Expect?

You’ll love how Nikon uses its proprietary Incline/Decline technology to give you true distance to your target, compensating for slope. You’ll also be able to choose from two different targeting modes: first target priority mode allows you to range an object as small as a fence post while distant target priority mode displays the range of the farthest target among a group of targets measured.

What’s the Light Gathering Capability Like on the Nikon Arrow id 5000?

Since Nikon has only multicoated the optics on this model, transmittance isn’t the greatest. Daylight conditions offer clear, bright images, but you’ll be less than satisfied with the rangefinder during the low-light conditions such as dawn and dusk. On top of that, the LCD readout is in black, which is very difficult to discern when the lighting is poor.

How Are the Optics and Focus on This Rangefinder?

Optics and focus are pretty good, other than when the lighting is poor. Even then, however, you will enjoy a clear, crisp image. Focus is quick and snappy, so you don’t have to worry about wasted time waiting for the device to lock onto your target.

How Durable Is It?

The Arrow id 5000 is rubber armored, so its quite durable against bumps and falls. In addition, the lenses are O-ring sealed and the optics chamber is nitrogen-purged, so the device is both fogproof and waterproof. In short, this rangefinder can handle being out in the bush without too much pampering.

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Nikon Arrow id 5000 Laser Rangefinder Review Summary

Thanks for reading my review of the Nikon Arrow id 5000. This is a decent rangefinder, offering slope information as well as a variety of targeting modes. However, it’s of limited use during the low-light conditions that many deer hunters favor.

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Jeff Byrnes

This post was written by

Hi there! I’m Jeff, an avid outdoorsman and hunter who really likes exploring new technology. I’m especially into hunting optics, which is why I’m writing these reviews! I hope you find my articles helpful in your own shooting and hunting.


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