Cigman CT-1200 Review: Full-Featured Rangefinder Under $90

I don’t buy expensive sunglasses because I know that sooner or later, I’m going to leave them in a golf cart, never to see them again.

Now that more and more golf rangefinders feature a convenient magnetic mount, more and more players are forgetting them on the golf cart, never to see them again.

That’s just one good reason not to break the bank on a rangefinder. However, if you don’t want to sacrifice key features just to buy a rangefinder that you can afford to lose, your options are limited.

Don’t fret, I’ve got great news. You can score the new Cigman CT-1200 rangefinder, complete with slope-adjusted distances, a magnetic mount, and an external color display for under $90.

I’ve tested the surprisingly full-featured CT-1200 over five rounds. Here’s my complete review.

Pros:

• Excellent value
• Slope-adjusted distances
• Magnetic mount
• Battery display & USB-C charge
• Lightweight

Cons:

• Slope indicator is not intuitive
• Magnet is on the weaker side

I had two prevailing thoughts within my first 10 seconds of checking out the Cigman CT-1200 rangefinder. First, it’s incredibly lightweight. I later weighed it at 137 grams. For context, that’s 44 grams lighter than the Mileseey “mini” rangefinder I tested earlier this year, and 126 grams lighter than another full-featured rangefinder I’m testing soon. I’m comfortable saying it’s the lightest rangefinder I’ve ever held, which is great if you’re a walker and prefer to keep your rangefinder in your pocket.

The second thing I noticed was the color screen on the side of the unit. When you measure a target, the screen displays the distance for about 12 seconds. The screen looks sharp, but in five rounds of testing this rangefinder, I’m not sure I used the screen or fully understand its intended use case. That screen, however, does double as the unit’s slope indicator, as it turns green when the slope function is turned off (more on that later).

The optics on the CT-1200 are solid, and it gets distances instantly with a confidence-boosting vibration when you’ve shot your target.

After taking all of this in and factoring in the price, I’d sum up my first impression as decidedly impressed.

Time to take it to the course.

I tested the Cigman CT-1200 on the course over five rounds. The last two rounds were a two-day tournament with a juicy amount of calcutta money on the line. In case you’re not into reading between the lines, after three rounds of using the CT-1200, I trusted it enough to keep using it when it mattered most, even though I could have swapped it out for a more expensive unit.

It spits out readings instantly, and based on comparisons to GPS, course markings, and course knowledge from playing the same track hundreds of times, the distances are accurate.

The only drawback I found with the CT-1200 during my on-course testing was that the magnet for mounting the unit on a golf cart is not as strong as other devices I’ve tested. The unit often slid around the cart bar when going over bumps or on hills, so after a few holes, I decided it’s best to just keep it in the cup holder. I’m guessing that less magnetic material keeps the weight, and the cost down on the unit, but it’s a good idea to keep an eye on this rangefinder when you have it stuck on the cart, just in case.

There’s a battery indicator on the display of the CT-1200, which is helpful. After five rounds, I still have three out of four battery bars of charge. Speaking of the battery, it’s USB-C rechargeable, which is my personal preference over a replaceable battery.

The CT-1200 has a slope indicator, which shows whether the rangefinder is tournament legal when slope-adjusted distances are not allowed. To activate tournament mode, you hold both the measure and the mode buttons for a few seconds. This turns the side screen green and the unit will not give slope-adjusted distances in this mode.

However, the slope indicator isn’t very intuitive. You can also toggle to a distance-only (no slope) mode without entering tournament mode, but in that case, the green screen doesn’t appear. So, while you may be using the rangefinder legally, the slope indicator won’t reflect it.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what makes the Cigamnt CT-1200 stand out.

• Lightweight: Easily the lightest rangefinder I’ve tested, which is a nice bonus for walkers.
• Accurate: I had enough confidence in its accuracy to trust it during an important tournament.
• Digital Display: The display stands out and is sharp, but unless you have a terrible short-term memory or struggle to read the optics through the lens, I’m not sure there’s a ton of function here.
• Strong Battery Life: After five rounds, the battery is still 75% charged, which is a sign that the battery will last a long time.
• Magnetic Mount: While the magnet seems weaker than other rangefinders I’ve tested, the unit stayed on the golf cart while I had it up there. Just keep an eye on it, because it’s not as locked-on as with some other units.