Do you ever wish your laser rangefinder had more magnification? If so, then the new Cobalt Q-Z6 laser rangefinder is just what you need to enlarge your targets on the course.
I’m a fan of Cobalt laser rangefinders. For those of you who may have missed it, I reviewed the Cobalt Q-6SM rangefinder last summer.
My foolhardy self took the Q-6SM laser out as my sole rangefinder on a course I had never played before. You would think playing a new course with a new laser is a bad plan, but it worked out great.
Grizzly Ranch GC still dug its claws into me a bit but not because I didn’t know target distances. The Cobalt Q-6SM outperformed my golf swing by a wide margin that afternoon.
I’m bringing up my experience with the Cobalt Q-6SM because some of you may not be familiar with the Cobalt rangefinder brand. More importantly, this new Cobalt Q-Z6 laser has all of the great features of the Cobalt Q-6SM and one new feature Cobalt says is a first of its kind.
Cobalt’s new 6x-12x optical zoom feature
Everyone who has ever taken a photo with a cell phone knows the difference between optical and digital zoom. Optical zoom is a function of the phone’s lenses and digital zoom is a function of the software.
Typically, optical zoom yields clearer images with digital zoom pixelating the image at higher magnifications.
The Cobalt Q-Z6 has a new optical zoom feature built into the eyepiece lens. By sliding the blue lever in front of the eyepiece, you can increase the optical zoom from 6x to 12x.
This increase in zoom will make your target larger and should make it easier to tag said target with the laser.
The increased magnification could be the difference between targeting the pin and accidentally targeting a tree at the back of the green. When you zoom in, you’ll see the difference between the two objects.
Built on Cobalt’s excellent Q-6 chassis
The new optical zoom is the talking point for the Cobalt Q-Z6 but it is also loaded with the elements that made the other Cobalt lasers shine.
The Q-Z6 laser has a functional distance range of five to 2,500 yards, targeting pins at 600-plus yards and trees at more than 2,000.
(If you are shooting the pin from the tee on a 600-yard hole, you must hit the ball really far.)
Most of us probably shoot targets in the 300-yard range, a range where the laser has +/-0.5-yard accuracy.
Additionally, the Q-Z6 has an IPX7-rated waterproof aluminum housing and a super-strong neodymium magnet for attaching it to the cart.
You’ll hit your target in seconds, with the battery said to last mor than 2,000 firings. Slope can be added or removed with the flip of a switch on the side.
Even without the new optical zoom feature, Cobalt lasers have top-tier specifications.
More to come with the Cobalt Q-Z6
Today, I really just wanted to let you know the Cobalt Q-Z6 is available. If you are in the market for a laser, and magnification is your benchmark, check out the Q-Z6. I didn’t want you to buy something else without knowing that the Q-Z6 exists.
However, this is not the end of my story with the Cobalt Q-Z6.
Over the next couple of months, I’m going to be running the rangefinder through the paces on the course. For the core range-finding usage, I expect the unit to function as well as the other Cobalt lasers I have tested.
What I am most curious about testing out is the optical zoom. Is it a game changer? Will it make me wonder how I ever got along without it? Could it be something that I use occasionally? Like the hosel on my driver, will I set it once to a particular magnification and leave it there forever?
Once I have these answers, I’ll report back. Preliminary testing (aka shooting squirrels in the backyard oak tree with the laser) suggests the ability to zoom does change the targeting experience.
Stay tuned for more information.
Until then find out more about the new Q-Z6 (MSRP: $595) at Cobalt-Golf.com.
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