The IWA Outdoor Classics is an annual fair held in Nuremberg, Germany, where leading figures from the firearms, sports optics, and related sectors display their latest products, drawing thousands of attendees.
Our marketing team visited the Element Optics booth to explore their new products for 2024. They showcased three new rangefinding products during the event. This article will focus on the Helix 1500, a rangefinding monocular.
On our blog, you’ll find two additional posts that explore the Titan 3K and Element Optics’ latest Rangefinder module in more depth. For a closer look at these, we invite you to read the articles.
Helix 1500’s features
The Helix 1500, true to its name, can measure distances of up to 1500 meters. It boasts a compact and lightweight design, making it convenient to carry in a pocket in a bag fastened to the hip (provided in the box). The device is also designed with a rubberized surface to enhance grip. The magnification is 6x. It features an LED display that allows you to clearly view all the details on it, no matter the lighting conditions. Helix 1500 is powered by a CR2 battery, housed below the viewfinder.
There are three different ranging modes available to users. The simplest of these is the Line of Sight (LOS) mode, which shows just the direct distance to the target. The Horizontal Component Distance (HCD) mode offers an angle-adjusted measure, presenting the user with the target’s equivalent horizontal distance. The third method will be discussed in more detail in the following paragraph.
Advanced ballistics calculator
One of the standout features of the Helix 1500 is its advanced ballistics calculator which integrates seamlessly with the Element Optics smartphone app. This mode is marked ‘BAL.C’ on the display. Users can input their specific ammunition data to create personalized ballistic profiles. After setting up their profile and transferring the information to the rangefinding monocular, they can select their profile from the device’s menu. Upon ranging a target, the device calculates and displays the necessary compensation in either MIL or MOA units, making it an invaluable tool for precision shooting.
Pricing and availability
The Element Optics Helix 1500 is priced at approximately 400 € in Europe and comes with a 3-year warranty. It is expected to be available on the market by April 2024.
