A couple of months back, we had our first look at the new Cobalt Q-Z6 laser rangefinder. Since that look came in the middle of January’s new release madness season, I’ll forgive you if you didn’t see it.
Bringing everyone up to speed, the key new feature for the laser was the Q-Z6’s adjustable zoom optics. With the slide of a lever, the Q-Z6 can zoom in from 6x to 12x. Unlike the digital zoom on your phone, this is a hardware-based zoom.
If you want to double the magnification, all you need to do is slide the little blue lever to the right and the lens will zoom on in.
As with all shiny new things, I found this new zoom feature fascinating. Don’t tell my neighbors but I shot lasers at every object I could see in my neighborhood, comparing the 6x and 12x visuals.
While that was a fun afternoon, it did make me curious about how often I would use the zoom feature on the golf course. Would this new feature be an everyday staple or something that just occasionally comes into play?
Today, I’ll share my on-course observations with you. But, first, let’s rehash some of the non-zoom features of the Cobalt Q-Z6.
Cobalt’s stellar optics and light speed
When I reviewed the Cobalt Q-6 rangefinder back in 2024, I was unfamiliar with the Cobalt brand and approached the unit with zero expectations.
What I found was a laser with sharp optics, rapid targeting and a build quality that matched the premium price of the unit.
My only real concern was that the size could be cumbersome for those with small hands. It’s not a huge unit but it’s not the smallest in the marketplace, either.
This new Cobalt Q-Z6 is the third Cobalt laser rangefinder I have tested and my initial assessment of quality and performance has proven true each time.
Cobalt’s optics are consistently top tier and their lasers pick up targets rapidly.
Through the progression of the rangefinder designs, Cobalt has demonstrated their commitment to make their rangefinders even more functional by adding additional features.
Last summer, they released the Q-6SM rangefinder. This new design added an impressively strong magnet to the Q-6 unit. For many consumers, this was a must-have option, allowing them to stick the rangefinder to the strut in the golf cart.
(Just remember to grab it when you head back to your car after the round.)
Is the new lens option as significant as the magnet option?
The addition of the magnet to the Cobalt Q-6SM increased the overall playability of the unit. That magnet is a feature that players will take advantage of every time they play a round of golf on a cart.
Is the new optical zoom feature just as essential?
The short answer is no. That magnet is a feature that is used every time you pick up the rangefinder or return it to the cart.
In my view, the magnet represents a foundational upgrade.
The usage of the new optical zoom lens is more situational. There were rounds when I used it all of the time and other rounds when I rarely slid 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 Sport Mode in my car. For freeway on-ramps and the occasional empty-street zoomies, that little extra boost of acceleration is delightful. However, for most of the time when I drive, I just leave the car in Standard Mode.
When was the 6x-12x zoom useful?
It probably comes as no surprise that I primarily used the zoom feature when I was far from the target. In retrospect, it seems obvious that a zoom feature would be the most helpful to, well, zoom in on faraway flags.
The fact that I didn’t use the zoom on every target speaks to how good the normal 6x setting works for many situations. Many times, I didn’t use the zoom feature because the Cobalt Q-Z6 laser picked up targets without it.
The zoom feature came in handy on long par-4s and most par-5s. I am not a long hitter so getting on a par-5 in two is not really a thing. That said, I do need to know the total remaining distance so I can plan my two-shot strategy.
With my long-distance situation or when shooting distances for my going-for-it-in-two playing partners, the zoom feature was super helpful.
Could I still shoot the longer distances distance at 6x? Probably, but the zoom made things easier. This was especially true when acquiring distances when other objects that could throw off readings sat behind the pin.
How much zoom are we talking about?
For the record, I spent hours trying to get a shot on the course 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 is saying something …
Ultimately, I was able to get these two photos below of the shed in my backyard. Admittedly, they are of marginal quality but they do give you an idea about what you would 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 tradeoff to increasing magnification.
When magnification increases, the field of view decreases. For both of the photos above, the field of view is restricted by the interaction with the camera but the difference between the two is representative of what you would see with your eye.
In play, the best plan is to initially scan for the target at the low magnification setting. You’ll see more of the overall target area at low magnification than you will see on high.
Once you find the target, then you zoom in for the most accurate reading.
Physics demands that depth of field (aka focal depth) also decreases with magnification increases but I did not see this as an issue when using the unit.
The Cobalt Q-Z6 has the zoom when you need it
The Cobalt Q-Z6 is a great rangefinder with an extra feature that will fit the game of certain players. You will need to decide if the extra $150 to jump from the Q-6SM to the Q-Z6 is for something that you will actually use.
If you are consistently going for par-5s in two, the zoom will get used all the time. If not, you may be happy with the non-zoom Q-6SM. Unlike the more universal appeal of the magnet, the value of the zoom will be player specific.
Let’s meander into one more car story. I once passed on buying a used car at a really good price after learning that it didn’t have seat heaters. The car had 22,000 miles on it so someone drove the car just fine without posterior warming. For me, it was a must-have option since I turn them on after every round to loosen up my back.
Ultimately, that is the story of the Cobalt Q-Z6 laser. It is a top-notch laser rangefinder with an added option that some will find to be a must-have feature.
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