A few months ago, we had ours first look at the new Cobalt Q-Z6 laser rangefinder. Since that footage came in the middle of the new season of January release madness, I’ll forgive you if you haven’t seen it.
Bringing everyone up to speed, the main new feature for the laser was the Q-Z6’s adjustable zoom optics. With the slide of a lever, Q-Z6 can be zoomed from 6x to 12x. Unlike the digital zoom on your phone, this is a hardware-based zoom.
If you want to double the zoom, all you have to do is slide the little blue lever to the right and the lens will zoom.
As with all shiny new things, I found this new zoom feature fascinating. Don’t tell my neighbors, but I shot the laser at every object I could see in my neighborhood, comparing the 6x and 12x sights.
While it was a fun afternoon, it made me curious as to how often I would use the zoom function on the golf course. Would this new feature be a daily staple or something that occasionally comes into play?
Today, I will share with you my observations during the course. But first, let’s recap some of its non-zoom features Cobalt Q-Z6.
Cobalt stellar optics and the speed of light
When I revised Cobalt Q-6 range in 2024I was unfamiliar with the Cobalt brand and approached the unit with zero expectations.
What I found was a laser with sharp optics, fast targeting, and a build quality that matched the unit’s premium price.
My only real concern was that the size might be cumbersome for those with small hands. It’s not a huge unit, but it’s not the smallest on the market either.
it new Cobalt Q-Z6 it’s the third Cobalt laser meter I’ve tested, and my initial assessment of quality and performance has proven true every time.
Cobalt’s optics are consistently top notch and their lasers engage targets quickly.
Through the advancement of rangefinder models, Cobalt has demonstrated their commitment to making their rangefinders even more functional by adding additional features.
last summer, they released the Q-6SM spacer. This new design added an impressively strong magnet to the Q-6 unit. For many customers, this was a must-have option, allowing them to attach the rangefinder to the post on the golf cart.
(Just remember to grab it when you get back to your car after the round.)
Is the new lens option as important as the magnet option?
Adding the magnet to Cobalt Q-6SM increased the overall playability of the unit. This magnet is a feature that players will benefit from every time they play a round of golf in a cart.
Is the new optical zoom feature as essential?
The short answer is no. This magnet is a feature that is used every time you pick up the rangefinder or return it to the cart.
In my opinion, the magnet represents a fundamental improvement.
Using the new optical zoom lens is more situational. There were rounds when I used it all the time and other rounds when I rarely swiped the lever.
This is not a knock on the zoom feature. When you need it, it’s fantastic. You just don’t always need it.
It’s like Sports mode in my car. For freeway on-ramps and the occasional empty road zoom, that little extra boost of acceleration is nice. However, most of the time when I drive, I just leave the car inside Standard way.
When was 6x-12x magnification useful?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, I mostly used the zoom feature when I was far from the target. In retrospect, it seems obvious that a zoom feature would be more useful for, well, ZOOM in distant flags.
The fact that I didn’t use the zoom on every lens speaks to how well the normal 6x setting works for many situations. Many times, I didn’t use the zoom function because Cobalt Q-Z6 the laser engages targets without it.
The zoom feature came in handy on long par-4s and most par-5s. I’m not a long player, so getting a par-5 in two isn’t really a thing. That said, I need to know the total distance left so I can plan my two-shot strategy.
With my situation at long distances or when shooting at distances for my partners playing games for two, the zoom feature was very useful.
Can I still shoot longer distances at 6x? Maybe, but zooming in made things easier. This was especially true when taking distances when other objects that could throw readings sat behind the pin.
How much magnification are we talking about?
For the record, I spent hours trying to get a picture of how a hole at 6x compared to the same hole at 12x. For some reason, the three lenses on my iPhone kept conspiring against me.
It was more frustrating than my driver and that’s saying something…
Ultimately, I was able to get these two photos below of the shed in my backyard. Sure, they’re of marginal quality, but they give you an idea of ​​what you’d see at the two magnifications.
6x magnification
12x magnification
Increasing the magnification makes the target larger, effectively bringing the object closer. However, there is a trade-off for increased magnification.
As the magnification increases, the field of view decreases. For both photos above, the field of view is limited by the interaction with the camera, but the difference between the two is representative of what you would see by eye.
In game, the best plan is to first scan the target on the low zoom setting. You will see more of the general target area at low magnification than you will at high magnification.
Once you find the target, then zoom in for the most accurate reading.
Physics dictates that the depth of field (aka focal depth) also decreases as the magnification increases, but I didn’t see this as a problem when using the unit.
The Cobalt Q-Z6 has the zoom when you need it
of Cobalt Q-Z6 is a great rangefinder with an extra feature that will suit certain players’ game. You will have to decide if the extra $150 will be thrown away Q-6SM for the Q-Z6 it’s for something you’ll actually use.
If you are consistently going for par-5 in two, the zoom will be used all the time. If not, you might be happy with the Q-6SM without zoom. Unlike the more universal magnet pull, the zoom value will be player specific.
Let’s go back to another car story. I once passed on buying a used car at a really good price after learning it didn’t have seat heaters. The car had 22,000 miles on it so someone ran the car just fine without the rear heater. For me, it was a must-have option as I turn them on after every round to free up my back.
After all, this is the story of Q-Z6 cobalt laser. It’s a high-end laser rangefinder with an added option that some will find a must-have feature.
