I watched a field test review of the Maven. He was in a wooded hilly area and threw the Maven so it rolled down a slope of about 30 degrees, no issues. He then put it into a stream and it filled with water. I really like Vortex Optics and will continue using them.
It's common practice for the Original Equipment Manufacture to produce products with similar internals and different exteriors. I worked my way through college making battery grids at a battery factory. The company made batteries for everyone. Some had the same housing with different markings while others had various housings and terminals, but in the end it had the same internals and used the same technology to produce amps.
I own the Vortex 4000. Haven't used it on too many trips but from the light usage that I have, I do enjoy it. Fairly accurate and consistent as you stated. I personally keep mine in the case unzipped with the loop over it until needed. I wish the glass was a bit more clear but am happy with my purchase.
For what its worth, it might be defective. I have the Fury 5000 and it wasnt picking up squat past 2200, and even then it would only range reliably up to about 1500. I dont need 5000, but I figured 3000 would be a piece of cake. Sent them in, and Vortex said they were fine. It wasnt until I used a buddy's pair side by side that I saw how bad mine were. I sent them in again, vortex replaced them, and the new pair ranges out to 3800 every damn time, trees and rocks included.
@@Calcapwn300 not until I used my friends. On his, the reticle was much brighter and sharper, and when ranging, his made a quiet, but definitely audible high pitch whirring where you could hear it working- my first pair did not.
Strange how many similarities there are with these to my old sig kilo 2200 (especially in menu stuff) i'd almost bet mine is made in phillipines as well. Leaves and grass are very "fluffy" targets and great at dispersing laser beams. Moisture in the air, particulates, etc. can also give you great variability in performance. Some days i'm ranging forest canopy and pasture fields well over 1000y (with my 2200), and some days its a struggle. If you REALLY need to range longer with these consumer grade units, use a tripod. The cleaner the return signal is the more likely you are to get a reading. I do wish that all the companies would lower the threshhold on "data quality" as I'd rather have a noisy nasty reading that I need to deduce than " ---- "
Both the Maven and the Vortex being made in the Philippines and probably by the same optics manufacturer, Kenko Optics. A Japanese company that set up shop Cebu, and who also make Vortex's Viper line of scopes. Although its hard to say for certain as there are several Asian Pacific optics manufactures and the contracts regularly change hands. But if the Vortex Razor LRF is made by Kenko then it should be G2G. So to, the Maven.
Thank you for your honest reviews. This is really helpful. I went with vortex...on sale for a much better deal. Wasn't sure how it would stand against the Maven's glass, which you've presented and cleared for me.
I’m curious to know how much the Maven’s controls get in the way if you’re trying to pull it out of a case or a pocket. Probably not as much as I imagine. Great review as always!
After reading many range finder reviews it seems most do not reach the stated range so my conclusion is buy one that’s rated more than what you may need Thanks for the great review I’ve been looking at the razor 4000 for a while now
You were trying to range the tops of trees rather than the side of an abrupt tree line. This results in more range spread within the beam, and fewer photons stacking up at the same time, which makes it harder to detect. Rating these things is hard because of how much the target matters. I had a "1200yard" $80 Gogogo rangefinder which would really struggle to get half that in most cases, but would manage 2300 at dusk against a big building at the right angle.
got a 1000 meter one, in daylight it goes 500 meters max, at dusk it goes up to 1000m on a building but the display isnt lighted as with these modells so you cant read the numbers when it gets to dark.
love your reviews, have this LRF. One thing, Im not sure you were giving the ELR mode enough time to work itself out on the more challenging targets. Also, mine picks up moving targets with little difficulty. The scan mode works well here
I bought a razor. It's a rangefinder. The 400-yard Nikon I bought years ago still works, so the razr is probably the last one that I will be buying for a very long time.
My general rule of thumb from seeing many tests of laser rangefinders is that the reflective target distance is 100% best case scenario, and I usually come down to about 70-80% of that for real world expectation, and then cut that number in half for the "tree/deer" rating. So this performed exactly as I expected. It is annoying that manufactures tend to overstates the capabilities in real world use, but i guess that's just something we have to live with. Hyped up marketing has been a thing since marketing first existed i guess, everyone wants you to think their product is the best thing ever and they don't have to technically "lie" they just use the absolute best case scenario and say "that's good, we'll run with that"
Awesome review, best one on Yt! I realized with my cheap rangefinder, that it works much better when its dark outside, maybe thats why it sometimes picks up far away trees and sometimes it doesnt.
Just got my sig kilo 10k its the fastest range finder I've ever used...and shoot the furthest....I got easy thousand yards in misty conditions..so far furthest I've hit is 4500 on a rock face.. I should have sent it to you before I started running it.
Please review the vortex recon R/T or other reticle based range finding monocular or binocular. Is a laser rangefinder really necessary? or just a gadget.
It really looks great - but why can't I get a range finder with built in GPS and compass - my cheap android phone has a compass and I can get GPS with an App! wtf
I assume the trees are all funny shaped and the leafs are pointing in every possible direction so the reflection coming back to the range finger is not great if nothing at all.
I feel like if you want 1000+ meter ranging with a range finder you have to move up to 1550 nm. 1550 nm no matter what power pulse will not damage eyes. 905 can damage eyes hense why it can have more power than a say laser aiming module but with the more power it needs to pulse.
100% Personal preference. I do like the features the Maven has. And it works very well. The warranty is hard to beat with Vortex however. I dont have any experience with Maven and their warranty.
I got myself a vectronix terrapin (the old original one) and although heavy it is awesome. Ranges coyotes alone on snow at 1700 meters! It's crazy. Built like a brick shit house too. It is seriously military grade. Not for the casual hunter but woukd be great for long distance shooting. Only downside besides weight is that it's only 5x magnification. With its amazing range on small animals it should have like 12x magnification.
I have a "1600" yard rangefinder that struggles picking up anything non reflective outside of 800ish yards. It seems that you have to divide the manufacturers reflective target claim in half to get actual useful application.
I watched a field test review of the Maven.
He was in a wooded hilly area and threw the Maven so it rolled down a slope of about 30 degrees, no issues.
He then put it into a stream and it filled with water.
I really like Vortex Optics and will continue using them.
The Vortex warranty is like that warm cozy blanket that you cover yourself with on those cold snowy winter nights.
The Maven has the exact same warranty just as a FYI. Unconditional Lifetime Warranty. @@CDOES
It's common practice for the Original Equipment Manufacture to produce products with similar internals and different exteriors. I worked my way through college making battery grids at a battery factory. The company made batteries for everyone. Some had the same housing with different markings while others had various housings and terminals, but in the end it had the same internals and used the same technology to produce amps.
I own the Vortex 4000. Haven't used it on too many trips but from the light usage that I have, I do enjoy it. Fairly accurate and consistent as you stated. I personally keep mine in the case unzipped with the loop over it until needed. I wish the glass was a bit more clear but am happy with my purchase.
As long as someone is happy with their purchase. That is ultimately all that matters.
For what its worth, it might be defective. I have the Fury 5000 and it wasnt picking up squat past 2200, and even then it would only range reliably up to about 1500. I dont need 5000, but I figured 3000 would be a piece of cake. Sent them in, and Vortex said they were fine. It wasnt until I used a buddy's pair side by side that I saw how bad mine were. I sent them in again, vortex replaced them, and the new pair ranges out to 3800 every damn time, trees and rocks included.
I have a fury 5k also. did yours show anything that made the defect obvious? I'll have to check mine now
@@Calcapwn300 not until I used my friends. On his, the reticle was much brighter and sharper, and when ranging, his made a quiet, but definitely audible high pitch whirring where you could hear it working- my first pair did not.
Strange how many similarities there are with these to my old sig kilo 2200 (especially in menu stuff) i'd almost bet mine is made in phillipines as well.
Leaves and grass are very "fluffy" targets and great at dispersing laser beams. Moisture in the air, particulates, etc. can also give you great variability in performance. Some days i'm ranging forest canopy and pasture fields well over 1000y (with my 2200), and some days its a struggle.
If you REALLY need to range longer with these consumer grade units, use a tripod. The cleaner the return signal is the more likely you are to get a reading. I do wish that all the companies would lower the threshhold on "data quality" as I'd rather have a noisy nasty reading that I need to deduce than " ---- "
I wouldnt be surprised. Id love to see this as a "3000" LRF. Because then Id say "sure, I can see that."
In some medium fox my 1000m amazon rangefinder cant find a target 10meters away.
I, for one, love the word moist! As always, great content! Hope all’s well with the family!
Both the Maven and the Vortex being made in the Philippines and probably by the same optics manufacturer, Kenko Optics. A Japanese company that set up shop Cebu, and who also make Vortex's Viper line of scopes.
Although its hard to say for certain as there are several Asian Pacific optics manufactures and the contracts regularly change hands. But if the Vortex Razor LRF is made by Kenko then it should be G2G. So to, the Maven.
Why can't we get that kind of glass on lpvos without a 1500 plus price tag?
Fixed magnification, for one...
Because an LPVO has to withstand recoil. This LRF does not.
Stop Bitchin' Lady... Cowboy Up and Pay the Money!
Delta Stryker 1-6 …
Fixed power is just better
Thank you for your honest reviews. This is really helpful. I went with vortex...on sale for a much better deal. Wasn't sure how it would stand against the Maven's glass, which you've presented and cleared for me.
I’m curious to know how much the Maven’s controls get in the way if you’re trying to pull it out of a case or a pocket. Probably not as much as I imagine. Great review as always!
After reading many range finder reviews
it seems most do not reach the stated range
so my conclusion is buy one that’s rated more than what you may need
Thanks for the great review
I’ve been looking at the razor 4000 for a while now
That seems about right to me. I'm glad it is cold firmed from multiple sources.
You were trying to range the tops of trees rather than the side of an abrupt tree line. This results in more range spread within the beam, and fewer photons stacking up at the same time, which makes it harder to detect.
Rating these things is hard because of how much the target matters. I had a "1200yard" $80 Gogogo rangefinder which would really struggle to get half that in most cases, but would manage 2300 at dusk against a big building at the right angle.
got a 1000 meter one, in daylight it goes 500 meters max, at dusk it goes up to 1000m on a building but the display isnt lighted as with these modells so you cant read the numbers when it gets to dark.
love your reviews, have this LRF. One thing, Im not sure you were giving the ELR mode enough time to work itself out on the more challenging targets. Also, mine picks up moving targets with little difficulty. The scan mode works well here
I bought a razor. It's a rangefinder. The 400-yard Nikon I bought years ago still works, so the razr is probably the last one that I will be buying for a very long time.
My general rule of thumb from seeing many tests of laser rangefinders is that the reflective target distance is 100% best case scenario, and I usually come down to about 70-80% of that for real world expectation, and then cut that number in half for the "tree/deer" rating. So this performed exactly as I expected.
It is annoying that manufactures tend to overstates the capabilities in real world use, but i guess that's just something we have to live with. Hyped up marketing has been a thing since marketing first existed i guess, everyone wants you to think their product is the best thing ever and they don't have to technically "lie" they just use the absolute best case scenario and say "that's good, we'll run with that"
Unfortunately, you ar correct. It's a trend I don't think anyone really likes, or appreciates.
Awesome review, best one on Yt!
I realized with my cheap rangefinder, that it works much better when its dark outside, maybe thats why it sometimes picks up far away trees and sometimes it doesnt.
Great video as always, thanks for the content
Thanks mate
As always, BEST reviews on the planet ! ✌
Large bodies of water mess with the ranging system, in my experience. Thanks for the share!!
Just got my sig kilo 10k its the fastest range finder I've ever used...and shoot the furthest....I got easy thousand yards in misty conditions..so far furthest I've hit is 4500 on a rock face..
I should have sent it to you before I started running it.
Please review the vortex recon R/T or other reticle based range finding monocular or binocular. Is a laser rangefinder really necessary? or just a gadget.
That CR2 makes me want to find an engineer to kick.😂
It really looks great - but why can't I get a range finder with built in GPS and compass - my cheap android phone has a compass and I can get GPS with an App! wtf
I have the razor 4000 GB and it's terrific. In my opinion it's worth the extra money for the onboard ballistic calculator
I assume the trees are all funny shaped and the leafs are pointing in every possible direction so the reflection coming back to the range finger is not great if nothing at all.
You have a bike on the wall. I always associated that with people living without quality of life in a big city. Great review👌 stay safe city boy!
I feel like if you want 1000+ meter ranging with a range finder you have to move up to 1550 nm. 1550 nm no matter what power pulse will not damage eyes. 905 can damage eyes hense why it can have more power than a say laser aiming module but with the more power it needs to pulse.
Between this and the maven, which would you say is the better choice?
100% Personal preference. I do like the features the Maven has. And it works very well. The warranty is hard to beat with Vortex however. I dont have any experience with Maven and their warranty.
Any chance you can get your hands on a Sig Kilo 8000 ?
Would be awesome to see a review of that!
Hopefully one day
Super underrated chanel bro
Try range a target on ground level with boiling mirage. You will only get 1/4 of what manufacturers advertises.
I know I can't see that far, but I wish it was over 9000!
First comment I saw about the reference. Thought I was the only one to notice lol
CR2 battery? Hop will have something to say about this when he wakes up.
Pretty much all LRF take them... A company would make a lot of money if they went to a standardized battery.
Lol I haven’t thought about CR2s since I stopped following obscure custom pocket flashlights in the early 2010s
@@snowfa1155 The Vortex middle-tier RF is CR123. Viper.
@@ExtremeSquared good to know, but I'm pretty sure the max range is not that far on lesser models.
Damn good review!!
Will it range a black bear or deer at 500 yards and beyond?
If only I got the same credit as the case for something being "mostly hard" 😂
How far can you clearly see a deer with this rangefinder?
You can get reall close with Arken optics for 500.00.
I couldn’t stand the 4000, it was always blurry and the reticle had lines and shit going thru it. I went with the 3000 way clearer and easier to see
Hows athlon helios 2-12 holding up?
Really well. There will be a follow up review on it soon.
@@CDOES also have this one, based on your review. SUPER impressed with it.
I got myself a vectronix terrapin (the old original one) and although heavy it is awesome. Ranges coyotes alone on snow at 1700 meters! It's crazy. Built like a brick shit house too. It is seriously military grade. Not for the casual hunter but woukd be great for long distance shooting. Only downside besides weight is that it's only 5x magnification. With its amazing range on small animals it should have like 12x magnification.
@@ryaniam22 that all sounds like a win to me
Thats a large difference on those two water tower distances
I have a "1600" yard rangefinder that struggles picking up anything non reflective outside of 800ish yards. It seems that you have to divide the manufacturers reflective target claim in half to get actual useful application.
Is that a leica crf?
@@ryaniam22 Leupold 1600i
9:31 why would you shoot a deer at 2.200 yards? 😂
Because you couldnt get him to come in to 2100😎
Holy crap he has a face!
A full reveal
Ripping the bandaid right off
@@CDOES and the sleeves
There's just too much variance with trees. Ive used swiss made 12km LRFs and even they would have trouble hitting them within 3km.
My girlfriend: “mostly hard. Excellent.”
Giggity
I have a 2019 model, made in China!
Ahhh, he comes out of the closet!!!
dragon ball z reference?
Nice low key face reveal
How anyone uses parking meters,, speaking English,,use Great Britain measurements
А на УКРАЇНСЬКІ МОВІ є? 😭😭😭😭