RE: What is you choice in rangefinders
The only time I tend to find myself using a rangefinder is when I bowhunt...not when I riflehunt. I also do not normally hunt in rainy conditions. Those two issues and the fact that I like a relatively compact design lead me to the Bushnell Yardage Pro Sport model. It is the least expensive of the Bushnell line and one of the smallest. Its drawbacks include poor optic quality, no zip or rain mode and it is not waterproof. I have not found any of these to present a problem for me while I am bowhunting but I can see where it might be a problem for some.
Hope this helps.