Wolfe,
About a year ago, I purchased the Nikon Monarch 800 (the waterproof model) after examining and testing every rangefinder available locally - which at the time included just about every rangefinder on the market. I've been very happy with it since - the only thing I don't like about it is that it's sometimes difficult to read when the lighting is low... making it hard to use at early dawn or late dusk. However, you will have the same problem with almost every other laser rangefinder on the market including the Bushnells, so I can't really hold this against the Nikon when doing comparisons.
A little over a week ago, I got a chance to try one that wasn't available when I bought my Nikon, it is the "Swarovski Laser Guide". I was VERY, VERY impressed - it seems to be lightyears ahead of every other model on the market... but at a staggering price of well over $800. It seems to range better than any other model I've ever tried, and also has a bright red LED display for the reading instead of the usual LCD display - making it EASY to read during any lighting conditions. Too bad it's so expensive... a few hundred dollars cheaper and I would have bought one on the spot!
If you can afford the Swarovski, I would say grab one without hesitation... if not then the Nikon Monarch 800 is what I would recommend - I'm still very happy with mine, even though there is something better out there (which I guess there always will be!)
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Best wishes,
Bawko
