Leica Geovid Pro 10x42 AB+ Rangefinding Binoculars: Impressive Tool

I'm easily excitable, but when I popped open the brown cardboard box and spied a bright silver container branded with the words Leica Geovid Pro 10x42 AB +, my heartbeat kicked up. I'd covered the laser-rangefinding binoculars with Shot Probability Analysis, but only in a binocular roundup. I'd yet to give these advanced rangefinding binoculars a test drive.

That was about to change.

Based on shooter input and Leica's relentless drive to push the optical technology envelope forward, the Geovid Pro 10x42 AB+ Rangefinding Binos were created to provide hunters and long-range shooters with what Leica believes is the most ballistically advanced, precision-crafted rangefinding binoculars available. Let's find out.

First Impressions

The rangefinding binos come in a black, padded, felt-lined soft case. I'm a big fan of the Flat Dark Earth finish Leica chose for this offering, which is a sandy brown that blends in well with many environments. With black accents, including the eye cups, focus wheel, inside-barrel grips, dual control buttons, and bridge components, these rangefinding binos have serious eye appeal.

I detected no scratches, dings, or nicks; the padded neoprene neck cord attachment was a breeze, as was adding the included CR2 lithium battery. A small, circular aluminum housing on the bottom-right bridge sports a slotted, removable end cap. Insert the CR2 with the positive end down, and you're good to go.

Six eye-cup positions ensure ideal eye relief, regardless of lighting conditions, and each barrel features individual focusing rings—display focus on the right side and diopter adjustment on the left side. The housing feels excellent. I loved the sloped angle of the barrels; it promotes great hand placement and boosts balance. The rubberized, yet not spongy, housing cover also promotes superior gripability.

Basic Start-Up Procedures

There's nothing basic about these rangefinding binoculars, but it's essential to understand that the setup isn't intimidating and doesn't require an engineering degree. Leica includes a Quick Start Guide, which I recommend reading. It will shorten your learning curve and prevent you from making mistakes that could damage these rangefinding binoculars.

I know you can all read and watch YouTube videos, but I'd like to touch on some initial setup functions and features. First, the right button is the Menu Selection button. The left button is your Main On/Off button. The rangefinder will come set in EU or Meter Display. If you prefer to use meters, that's fine. I changed my setting to US (Yard Display) by pressing the menu selection button for less than two seconds each time I wanted to make a change to a menu setting, including internal modes such as EHr (Equivalent Horizontal distance), LOS (Actual distance), and bALL (Ballistic curve). Operating the menu is simple.

If you plan to download and pair your binos with Leica's App, turn BT (Bluetooth) on. You can also take advantage of five brightness level settings and AOFF (automatic power off) settings while bluetooth is on which are available for one, three, and five minutes. When BT is off, the unit powers off after about 15 seconds.

Ranging Functionality

I like the circular aiming device. Center the device on the object and push the raised Main Switch Button. The readout is immediate and to the tenth of the yard out to 200 yards and reverts to whole yards after that. Ranging accuracy is +/-.5m to 200m, +/-1m to 400m and =/-.5% over 400m. The binos also have a Scan Mode that allows for object tracking. During testing, I pinged a pronghorn at 2,833 yards and a cow elk at 3,001.5 yards. This rangefinder features a robust and accurate engine.

Optical Clarity

My problem with rangefinding binos has always been a loss of optical clarity. Yes, it's fantastic to carry one device that allows you to view and range animals, but when optical clarity wanes, I get frustrated.

I tested the Geovid Pro 10x42 AB+ in every imaginable lighting condition, including a scorching hot day on the prairie while scouting for pronghorn. The maximum temperature reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit; the heat waves were intense, but I was able to find and watch a bedded buck for hours by adjusting the eye cups to block stray light and allow for comfortable glassing. During periods of low light, I appreciated the 10-power magnification and wide field of view.

The eye relief is remarkable, focusing is finite, and the optical performance is the best I've tested in the bino/rangefinder combo unit. The rich detail and sharpness are notable, and on this hot day when my hands were sweating, the durable rubber armor grip ensured balanced and consistent handling.

The Leica App & The Geovid Pro AB+ Tested

After downloading Leica's App, I scrolled through the menu, enabled Bluetooth on the Geovid, and let the app walk me through pairing my optics. The process is easy. There are calibration and altimeter steps, and the app will have you move your binos this way and that way as synching and calibration occur. Don't sweat the process; it's easy.

With my Pro AB+ binos linked to my app, I built a ballistic profile for the Browning X-Bolt 2 Hunter Composite chambered in 6.8 Western. My three-shot muzzle velocity was 2,810 fps, shooting 175-grain Long Range Pro Hunter Sierra Tipped MatchKing boat-tailed bullets.

I didn't have a Leica scope atop my bolt-action, so I didn't select a reticle from the app's Reticle Library. Instead, I skipped that step and entered all the required data to build my rifle profile. You will need to know your zero range, bullet drop at 300 yards, sight height, and your bullet's ballistic coefficient (G7).

After naming and saving your profile, the long-range shooting world is your oyster with Leica's Geovid Pro 10x42 AB+ rangefinding binos and the Leica App.

My first long-range target was a 20"x20" piece of paper with diamond-like targets on all four corners. After accessing my Rifle Profile on the app, I selected Shot Probability Analysis from the Profile Actions drop-down menu.

In the Shot Probability Menu, I selected a rectangle target, entered the range, and provided the exact dimensions of the target. Next, the Shot Probability Menu asks you to choose from four Confidence Level settings: Low, Medium, High and Custom. Custom allows you to input specific confidence levels for the specific confidence factors. Nobody knows how you shoot like you do, so be honest. Shot Probability is trying to help you make the most ethical in-the-field hunting decision possible.

You can also manually enter the environmental conditions or scroll to and select the Binocular Icon and let the Geovid Pro 10x42 AB+ take over. That's what I did. Leica designed these binoculars to pair with the app, and both the app and the binoculars are technology-rich, so why not save time and select the Bino icon?

Based on what I entered, my Shot Probability Analysis was 94 percent. When I squeezed the trigger and watched a lone bullet hole appear less than one inch high and 1/2 inch right of the center bullseye in the top-right diamond, I smiled. This analysis is instrumental, and when used correctly, it can help hunters make informed in-the-field decisions.

My wife was with me while I was testing Leica's all-new rangefinding binos and the app, and she asked, "Won't it take a long time to do that in the field?" It's a good question. Here's the answer: No, it won't. Why? Because I know myself as a shooter. If I have a shot under 450 yards, I'm not going to try and enter Shot Probability. I know I'm going to make the shot. However, beyond 450, I will use this calculation every time to help me make an ethical decision.

Beyond 450 yards, you shouldn't be in a rush. The animal likely doesn't know you're there and you have all the time in the world. That's something many long-range shooters note as an advantage to shooting animals at longer distances. My good buddy, Grafton Singer, is the best long-range rifle shot I know. He told me a few years ago after I watched him make a one-shot kill on a pronghorn from 763 yards, "I love shooting things far. They have no idea I'm around. I can take my time, use modern-day ballistic technologies, and know with absolute certainty if I do my job, the animal will die."

From inside your Rifle Profile, you can also access a Range Card or Target Card, and of course, you can add, edit, and delete profiles at any time. Inside Shot Probability Analysis, there are many target types to select from, including Rectangle, Circle, Prairie Dog, Coyote, White-Tailed Deer, Elk, and IPSC. The technology is remarkable.

Leica Pro Track

Another feature I tested and found helpful was Leica's Pro Track. Available from the Main Menu on the Leica App, Pro Track requires Bluetooth connectivity. If the letters on the tab are gray and not black, press the power button to activate your Leica and let them pair with the app.

Leica Pro Track utilizes GPS mapping—I used Google Earth, but other options are available—to save the last measured distance of a target. For example, if I range a target at 536 yards, the app will direct me to Google Earth or the mapping system I select from the menu and show me the exact location on an aerial image, indicating where I am and where my target is. This is super advantageous for the hunter. Too many times, especially when a far shot is taken, do we wander around saying to our hunting buddy, "The shot was here. No, wait, it was here. It may have been 20 yards up that hill."

With Leica Pro Track, you pull up your map and can walk directly to where your target is standing. It's a fantastic feature.

Final Thoughts

Impressed doesn't say enough. These are the most advanced rangefinding binoculars with onboard ballistics that pair with a quality app, which doesn't require an advanced MIT-degree, that I've ever used. They will become part of my hunting arsenal. Leica made a believer out of me, and they will make a believer out of you as well.

Yes, these rangefinding binoculars are expensive. They have too much going for them not to be. However, I would beg, borrow, and steal to save the $3,848. That's how much confidence these binos provide, not only to help me make an accurate shot but also to find game animals in all lighting conditions.