Basejumper.com - archive

ive never owned a rangefinder until now, and im beginning to wonder if i spent my money on a piece of shit. it seems that to get an accurate yardage reading with this thing i have to have COMPLETELY steady hands, in fact i think i may need a tripod. it just will not shoot unless my hand is completely still.

is this normal for range finders? has anyone owned this particular model please give me feedback. thanks

I've got a different Bushnell Yardage Pro, and it doesn't behave like that at all. It's actually kind of hard to get it not to read.

Do you have it on continuous mode (does yours even have that mode)?

I have the yardage pro 1000 and I don't have any problems either. I know what you're trying to shoot has a lot to do with it too though. The manual is downloadable online and says stuff like, aim for shiny surfaces, not dirty, and supposedly it doesn't work as well at night (no idea why, I thought it was a laser). I've verified the accuracy of mine a few times and it's always right on.

I have a yardage pro450 and I have little problems with it. If I am shooting up to the top of an A it can be a little difficult, because it is hard to keep one piece of angle in the sites, but if I am shooting from the top to the ground it's never a problem. I have a friend who has the same model and has no problems. Do you have tremors? If not, perhads you have a defective unit.

the manual does not state anything about continuous mode tom.

i think it may have more to do with what i was trying to shoot. i was aiming at a big concrete structure across the river from my work, and it wasnt showing up. it seems like its being fine shooting stuff from my patio right now so maybe its ok. i am going to scope some earth in a few days so hopefully it does its job and worst case scenario i still have the receipt.

and i do not have tremors - mainly a raging dependency on cheap beer which would explain the shakes...............

Haha, I can relate to the dependency on cheap beer. Some of the models do have a function button, so Tom is not just making that up. How far away, approx, was the concrete? The yardage pro450, as the name suggests, only measures up to 450 yds and it can be less than that depending if the object is reflective or not. I can't remember the figures, but it is all in the manual.

Maybe lay off the crack rock? J/k These LRF's get smaller and more powerful every year. But that does not mean jack when you don't have steady hands. Use objects around you to aid you on a accurate lase! Battery check? Surface of the object is another biggie.

I own a leica disto a-5, which i use for measuring interior spaces for construuction take-offs. it's only good to 300' but it uses a laser, and I have similar issues using it on some surfaces. not much good for base, but similar technology, and it's accurate to 1/32 of an inch.

I have a Yardage Pro Scout, and haven't had any problems with it (other than the fact that it eats batteries even when turned off). "Continuous" mode on my model is accessed just by holding down the button. As long as the button is down, it'll keep updating the value. This is sometimes useful, for example to shoot the very top of a building. Just point it at the sky, and hold the button while sweeping down slowly until you get a reading. It beats aiming at the top and hoping you got it.

Michael

 I own a 450 and it works fine on larger targets, such as buildngs and structures. It's very hard to get readings on smaller objects over 250 yds , such as small trees, bushes, and even cows (although cows, in my opinion aren't that small.) if you have your reciept, i'd take it back and get the upgrade.

Ya, you got to be steady to get a good pulse and reflection for a reading. & picking good surface reflection for the IR pulse is major also. but lower-end-$ LRF's can do pretty good.
Have not owned but have used a Bushnell 450 some & I got and use often a bush. 600 and a Leica 1200 .
I thought the Bushnell 450 I used did just fine. My Bushnell 600 has several different IR mode settings. The (continuous) as you say is also called (scan mode) also. it is for ranging, Moving objects that are in motion away or towards you. Will give a continuous yardage/meter reading as the LRF (laser range finders) sends out continuous IR pulses and then processes the reflections for range. Plus different manufactures and different models of LRF's have different widths beam of IR pulse. The more narrower of IR beam projected is the better for longer range and reflection. Wider Beam will be good though and the lower end models like Bushnell do good. My Bush. 600 has been pretty good to me. My Leica is stronger and narrower of beam and gets much further for object ranging but my cheaper Bush.600 can out perform it in foggy or misty/wet, air conditions when it is set on it's (rain mode) setting.
Also when you push the button for ranging. You are sending out a IR pulse. & most LRF's ' Need also to wait a few seconds ', between button pushes to re-set and then send again for a strong pulse for a good reflection to be read. Also you might not even get 100 good & strong IR pulses sent with 1-9v battery. the 9-v Lithium batteries are the best for LRF's but cost a little more too. I get stronger and more pulses with my LRF's with Lithium ( 9-volt smoke detector 5-year batteries) . I also use them in a couple of long range remote control units that use IR for control command and they are the best for life and strength.
LRF's are a good tool and all you got to is just use it and get familiar with it's habits.all brands and models act different. plus ALL models of LRF's do not work on there factory stated limit for max range estimation. If it is 450 then it is going to be strong @ 250-300 . If it is 1200 to 1500 yard model. It will be strong out to 800 to 900 but will be finicky when pushed to the limits and will not be 100% on IR feedback.
.

well i must say that it has been working for its intended use which was some earth ive been looking at. it seems that when im not trying to shoot something too far away it reads back everytime. and lets be real, i dont think im gonna find anything more than 450 yards out here anyways. i think i like this model cause it was moderatley priced. i am gonna buy a lithium battery as well

trick to using the smoke detector 5-year Lithium 9volt batteries is. they are just a tiny bit bigger in diameter than regular 9v. You will find that in the battery compartment of your Bush. LRF they put a little bit of a foam or other to hold the battery in snug. just remove/pull out the excess to make room for the little wider Lithium 9v . It should go-in just fine.
I did call Leica factory once for the lowdown and to see if the Lithium's were cool to use in there LRF's. the factory said it is ok.
.

A rock is cheaper.

i stopped smoking those a few years ago

Moved up to mainlining, eh ?

all about the speedball between the toes!!!!!!!!!!!