Testing of this unit was facilitated utilizing a test unit borrowed from Armament Technologies Ltd., Halifax. Many thanks to Mr. Andrew Webber for its use.
The unit is sealed, with only two user controls. One for transmission of the laser pulses, then other for mode transitions. The rubber armoring allows for good grip, however, contouring it, or a pebbled surface would improve this. The battery compartment is also sealed, and overall, I would rate the unit quite well for user friendliness.
The LED display within the unit is blue, and the indications are easily read, and very understandable.
The rubber eyepiece is capable of being rolled down, to allow easier viewing for people like me who wear eyeglasses.
The conversion from meters to yards was accurate. (573 meters to 626 yards.)
Target quality below 200 meters was always high, no matter the target. Between 200 and 400, the quality on the same targets was observed to drop. This is a normal function of the scattering of the returns. At 200 meters, it was possible to range accurately from a 1x0.5 meter object. (Garbage bin.) By 400 meters the ability to resolve a target of the same size, with higher reflectivity was lost. It was capable of resolving a 1x1 meter target at 400 meters.
Beyond 400 meters, the unit's performance declined significantly. The unit was capable of ranging to a 2x6 meter window, but could not reflect off of a larger target (10x3 meters) of a less reflective nature. (Aluminum siding, painted yellow. The range to the window was 573 meters, and the range to the aluminum siding was 1 meter less.) Using the rangefinder against a truck at a range of 530 meters provided no returns, even from the white cap. Ranging to a white shed at a range of 603 meters was possible, but a poor quality return was received.
For all targets beyond 400 meters, some "searching" with the unit was required to find a location with the best return.
The unit did not produce returns from targets beyond 700 meters.
Testing results:
The test conditions were a sunny day, fairly warm (15 degrees C) intermittent cloud cover.
Results:
Target Measured range Rangefinder range Target quality
Garbage barrel 84 m 84m (P) 100
(1x0.5 m) 190m 191m 100
(Red, rusty steel) 310m 312m 80
400m Unable 20
Garage door 54m 54m (P) 100
Fence (white) 65m 65m (P) 100
Bottom stair (grey) 82m 82m(P) 100
Top stair (grey) 83m 83m(P) 100
Window (2x6m) 573m(P) 100
Aluminum siding (1m less than window) Unable 10
(Yellow, 10x3m)
Garbage Bin 520m 522m 70
(Blue, 2x2m)
Truck, Grey 530m Unable 20
Truck Cap, White 530m Unable 30
Shed, White (3x10m) 600m 603m 60
Car, Red 720m Unable 0
Shed, White (3x10m) 735m Unable 0
(P indicates that the "Precision" measure was attained. That means 1 meter accuracy)
For a long range varmint hunter, this unit will prove difficult to use against targets as small as ground hogs, especially since as the range increases, the significance of a minor error in ranging will be magnified by the increased rate of drop of the bullet.
For a long range hunting application, with the target being a deer, or other similarly sized animal, the ability of this unit to resolve the target past 400 meters is seriously in doubt. Options to deal with this would be to accurately range to a suitable nearby landmark, and estimate the range to the target based on that ranging. Unfortunately, this defeats the primary purpose of purchasing the unit. Aiming at the animal itself would not be likely to provide an adequate return.
In summation, the Lytespeed 400 performs to the design specs that have been distributed by the manufacturer. If it's ranges up to 400 meters that you're determining, then you're in luck. If you're trying for targets beyond 400 meters, you'd probably be best served with one of the higher priced units that claim accuracy to longer ranges.