Nikon Monarch 800 or Bushnell 1500 tournament?

[Solutions Etcetera]

So now you're saying what ever is in the field of view will make a difference in the percieved levels of magnification (a tree is different than a flagstick)? And as for a computer screen... I post process thousands of images on monitors and see much more detail than I would through a viewfinder.

 

And it is actually your example that is "ridiculous" as you have merely reduced the image. Of course the smaller one looks smaller. The images I posted were identical numbers of pixels with only the focal length of the lens changed. In this case the "ONLY" difference was magnification and not picture size.

 

I seem to remember us getting into it before... so I'm pretty sure you will believe what you want to believe regardless of the facts. I am sorry to have be so blunt with you but you simply repeat the same "its much bigger, its much bigger!" arguments... and even when presented with physical evidence to the contrary, you dismiss it as ridiculous and respond with something more akin to an optical illusion than a fair comparison.

[wm07]

Solutions Etcetera, using your images, here is the side by side comparison.

 

 

 

7x is still 16% bigger than 6x mathematically and it clearly shows it.

 

No matter what, it's a matter of preference. Both Bushnell and Nikon works well, and I prefer performance over less weight/smaller size, that's why I have Bushnell.

[dpark]

To the orignal poster, as you can see, opinions vary greatly on a topic like this. If I were you, I would do this: Go to the nearest store that has the Nikon 800 (or 1200) and the Bushnell 1500. Then spend some time shooting at targets as far away as possible (hopefully the store is near a street that has signs/stoplights far away).

 

If you take enough time to use them you will probably see what I see when I did this (and still do since my primary golfing buddy has a Bushnell). If you want something lightweight, non-bulky and allows one-handed operation, but takes a couple of tries to lock onto targets over 200 yards you will probably like the Nikon.

 

If you want the one that is for all intents and purposes a "one shot" and you have your target distance rangefinder and you don't mind a little extra weight and bulk, you will like the Bushnell.

 

I chose the Nikon based on size and weight, but I prefer the ease of use and accuracy of the Bushell. If Bushnell every got their product into a smaller form factor that didn't sacrafice any of its accuracy, I would sell my Nikon in a heartbeat. But as someone who carries all the time and have a bag with a limited amount of carrying capacity, the Nikon fits the bill better for me.

 

Unfortunately there is a tradeoff between them. Both have advantages and disadvantages, you just have to figure out what is most important to you.

[ApexGrind]

I think I may be the one who started this thread. I have not tried the Nikon except in the store. I ended up buying the Pinseeker 1500 TE. I've used it for about 20 rounds now (the last 14 rounds were in the last 7 days in Myrtle Beach :russian_roulette:). I cart most all the time. I'm extremely happy with the Bushnell. With the exception of the 100's lcd digit going dim it has performed flawlessly. Useability seems to have been thought out and executed VERY well (although, as I noted, I have not used the Nikon out of the store). I was able to very easily range a flag stick up to 250 yds one handed. First try every time. The view finder magnification was just right for the application. Plenty strong enough for accurately targeting a flag stick or the likes from over 200 yds and not so strong that you had to initially hunt for the target (good field of view).

 

I found the view finder magnification just right for the application.

The targeting circle in the view finder is just the right size.

Eye relief was very good wearing sunglasses or not.

It's "armored" and I wasn't worried putting it in a riding cart glove box without the case.

It's water proof and ranged flawlessly in moderately heavy rain.

It remembers the last mode it was set to (nearest target -"pinseeker" or scan).

Yardage read out was almost instantaneous (1 second, usually less).

Some reviews complained about battery life (9v). I think it was the 7th round that the 100's lcd dimmed out (you can see it but it's really dim compared to the others). I thought it was the battery so I put in a new one and tossed the old one before using it on the next hole. It was the lcd digit so I don't know how long the battery will last. I was ranging about 2 times per hole. Only off the tee on par 3's but twice on most other holes with a few hazard rangings thrown in. The great majority in pinseeker mode and only very occassionally in scan mode.

 

[edit] In Myrtle Beach we rotate riding partners each round (spreads the grief and avoids fights :beruo:) so every third round I was also ranging every shot for my partner from 200 yds in.

 

The only thing they might have done is put the mode button on the right side instead of the left. Then all controls and adjustments would have been accessible for a right hander using only 1 hand while looking through it. Anything over about 250 yds. I had to use 2 hands to steady it.

 

I like it.