Reticle Rangefinders on Marine Binoculars

If you are a binoculars enthusiast, you may have come across a reticule even though you did know what it is. A reticule is a network of fine lines on the eyepiece used for taking measurements. The rangefinder reticule, in particular, is used to measure the distance between the viewer and the object. Furthermore, it used to measure the height of the object. You may also like: best thermal binoculars

Varied types of rangefinders used in optics

There is also a laser rangefinder that is mostly featured in hunting binoculars. It works by sending out a point of light to calculate the distance to the target. This method is advantageous because it provides an accurate measurement. However, they are limited to shorter distances, require a power source, and some give inaccurate measurement when used over water. In addition, they tend to be more expensive, and because they send out light, they can reveal the position of the viewer, which is a big issue in the military.

Where are rangefinders reticules used?

i. Marine binoculars

Most marine binoculars feature a reticule rangefinder to enable marine vessels operators to calculate distances.

ii. Golf rangefinders

In most cases, rangefinders used in golfing are in the form of a monocular. They are mainly used to calculate the distance to the hole so that the golfer can choose the appropriate club.

iii. Hunting and military

Sometimes reticule rangefinders are featured in rifle scopes and hunting binoculars and are mainly used to calculate the distance to the possible target to have a better aim. However, nowadays, laser rangefinders are becoming more popular for hunting and in the military.

How do rangefinders reticules work?

Actually, there are various methods used to calculate the distance in the rangefinder reticule. One of the simplest and commonly used methods is measuring marks on the reticule against the size of the object being viewed. This method is known as the Mil-Dot reticule, and the formula is referred to as the Mil-dot formula.

Mil-dot formula

So, if the height or length of the object is known, it very easy to calculate the distance to the object. Alternatively, if the distance is known, the height or length of the object can be calculated using this method.

Do rangefinder reticules work?

Rangefinder reticules actually work, but they are not as accurate or fast as the laser rangefinders. Nonetheless, unlike laser rangefinders, they can be used over longer distances.

The accuracy of the rangefinder reticules will depend on user lining up the target and correct estimation of the height or length of the target. If the height or distance of the target is known and lined up well with the reticule, the rangefinder can be pretty accurate.

Some of the best marine binoculars with rangefinders

Name	Weight	Eye relief	Close focusing distance	Lens coating	Pros	Cons
Celestron Cavalry 7×50	31.5oz / 893g	23mm	32.7ft	Multicoated	Built-in GPS	Lens cap need redesign
Vanguard 7×50 mariner binoculars	40oz/1130g	20mm	13.1ft	Fully multi-coated	Sufficient magnification	Require a tripod to use
Steiner 7×30 Navigator Pro C	20oz /567g	20mm		Fully multi-coated	Lightweight and sturdy	Quite expensive
Bushnell 7×50	37oz /1049g	18mm	35ft	Multi coated	Illuminated compass	Flimsy eye caps