How are you integrating Image stabilized binoculars into your system?

[TitsMcGee]

I’ve heard from some pretty big voices in the industry, people who I perceive to give valuable & trustworthy opinions (@ExoMtnGear guys and @Cliff Gray), that the Image stabilization binoculars are spectacular in use.

I’m wondering how everyone is utilizing them? Have they taken over all roles, as a “one to rule them all” optic? Or are they still only a part of the system, and what goal does this equipment solve in that process?

Examples below for context:
Are people using the 12x42’s to entirely replace both a solid tripod setup, and glass on the move bino harness binocular altogether? Or are the IS binoculars more of a part of the system; Where the IS binos are being used on the chest, and a separate dedicated tripod glassing setup is still required? If the latter is the case what magnification/objectives are being used for the IS optics and tripods dedicated to get all of the boxes ticked? Higher mag IS bino and lower mag tripod setup? Lower mag IS bino, and higher mag/objectives tripod? When and why for either?

For me I’m trying to figure out how they could play into a system accomplishing the challenges of Colorado Elk Hunting.

 

[TitsMcGee]

for context, I haven’t been hunting in Colorado yet. All I have are a pair of cheap vortex Diamondback HD10x42’s, Vortex 4000 handheld rangefinder, and a Sirui tripod with the VA-5x head.

I don’t mind purchasing somethings that are nicer or somewhat spendy (sub $2k total) but I can’t justify something top-end like a pair of Swaros for my experience level(none).

I typically take the “bang for buck” approach for everything and am always fond of cutting costs and weight where I can. Give me some suggestions, or considerations if you were to advise someone on a new, first time glassing set up in my use case.

 

[hereinaz]

I used them a year ago. They are pretty fantastic for spotting big or obvious game. So might work for elk in your use case. When listening to EXO, that seemed to be the use case.

I can’t give up the optical clarity for the hunting I do with deer and even the CO elk in the southwest of the state. So I went back to 10x rangefinder and 15s off a tripod. It’s the way I am used to glsssing. With the 10x hand holding, it gets done the hand held scanning I need, which is what the IS are best for.

I can’t justify the added bino. Gonna be use case specific and what glass you already take and what it would replace.

 

[mntnguide]

I bought the Sig 16x couple years ago mainly to use horseback, so i didnt have to get off everytime i spotted animals in the distance, being that animals usually tolerate the horses until you step off and make a different profile...anyway, now i use them for everything horseback and backpacking. I havent packed my normal 10x50s for 2 years. I use the stabilized for everything. I still have my spotting scope and tripod for judging size on bucks and bulls, or gridding bedding areas. But I have seen a mule deer leg at 1000 yards in thick timber, handheld with the binos, that no way in hell id have ever identified using normal binos. Im sold on them, and no doubt they are only going to get better as more companies begin to join the party

 

[NDGuy]

They are replacing 90% of the Binoculars on the market. IMO there is zero reason to get anything else besides the alpha glass if you want more clarity.

Won't be buying anything without image stabilization again otherwise.

 

[TitsMcGee]

They are replacing 90% of the Binoculars on the market. IMO there is zero reason to get anything else besides the alpha glass if you want more clarity.

Won't be buying anything without image stabilization again otherwise.

Those are some heavy claims! Noted. Thanks! I added to my reserved comment to give some more context if you don’t mind providing some suggested avenues.

 

[dreamingWest]

So I guess everyone switching to IS binos are still using compact rangefinders?

 

[Glendine]

So I guess everyone switching to IS binos are still using compact rangefinders?

Yeah, I use a small leica rangefinder it fits into my kifaru binocular harness

 

[hereinaz]

They are replacing 90% of the Binoculars on the market. IMO there is zero reason to get anything else besides the alpha glass if you want more clarity.

Won't be buying anything without image stabilization again otherwise.

Not sure its 90%, but I do agree that they should replace most non-alpha glass. The IS makes the image better.

 

[TitsMcGee]

I can’t justify the added bino. Gonna be use case specific and what glass you already take and what it would replace.

all I currently have are some shitty 10x42 vortex diamondbacks, and a tripod. If I were considering picking some up what could you see working well?

 

[hereinaz]

The 12x are a great balance of field of view and magnification, of the IS.

 

[NDGuy]

all I currently have are some shitty 10x42 vortex diamondbacks, and a tripod. If I were considering picking some up what could you see working well?

Any will be a huge upgrade. I have the 16x and like them, I also skipped the "pro" model as there was a thread on here where the image coloring was a lot more muted on the pros.

 

[4090Sharps]

I’ve heard from some pretty big voices in the industry, people who I perceive to give valuable & trustworthy opinions (@ExoMtnGear guys and @Cliff Gray), that the Image stabilization binoculars are spectacular in use.

I’m wondering how everyone is utilizing them? Have they taken over all roles, as a “one to rule them all” optic? Or are they still only a part of the system, and what goal does this equipment solve in that process?

Examples below for context:
Are people using the 12x42’s to entirely replace both a solid tripod setup, and glass on the move bino harness binocular altogether? Or are the IS binoculars more of a part of the system; Where the IS binos are being used on the chest, and a separate dedicated tripod glassing setup is still required? If the latter is the case what magnification/objectives are being used for the IS optics and tripods dedicated to get all of the boxes ticked? Higher mag IS bino and lower mag tripod setup? Lower mag IS bino, and higher mag/objectives tripod? When and why for either?

For me I’m trying to figure out how they could play into a system accomplishing the challenges of Colorado Elk Hunting.

@TitsMcGee .... Navy... checks out

I like the Sig 16x42 as part of a system. They can take the place of a mini spotter when the terrain makes sense, to save a couple pounds between the spotter and tripod. Until manufacturers offer a bigger FOV, I can't seem to leave my traditional binoculars behind.

 

[Acorn]

I picked up a pair of Sig 12x42s this year and they were the only optic I used. I primarily used them to locate elk in archery season anywhere from 300 yards out to ~3 miles. Very nice on a backpack hunt to not carry a spotter or tripod.

 

[lintond]

I love them for the ability to glass while still hunting. I took my 12x to Wyoming for my archery elk hunt and left the tripod in the truck to save weight. I wasn’t trophy hunting and wasn’t doing long glassing sits. For rifle hunting I still carry RF binos so haven’t decided if I’ll carry both.


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[thegoosano]

I recently picked up some sig zulu6 14x50s and 10x30s to test them and how I could incorporate into my current setup. For context my traditional setup currently is swaro 10x42 ELs on the chest, 14x52 NLs and a aziak backcountry tripod in the pack, and swaro STC 17-40x spotter.

After playing with both sigs I decided keeping the 10x30 made the most sense if I was going to be carrying the 14x52s around. With the 10x30s on my chest they fit in the same small marsupial harnsess and have the best fov of any sig zulu6 model. Are they the best optically? No definitely not but when I need high quality glass for a long period I can pull out the 14x NLs. For quick on the move glassing I can do a lot with those 10x30s and low light isn’t an issue since I have the NLs


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[hereinaz]

I recently picked up some sig zulu6 14x50s and 10x30s to test them and how I could incorporate into my current setup. For context my traditional setup currently is swaro 10x42 ELs on the chest, 14x52 NLs and a aziak backcountry tripod in the pack, and swaro STC 17-40x spotter.

After playing with both sigs I decided keeping the 10x30 made the most sense if I was going to be carrying the 14x52s around. With the 10x30s on my chest they fit in the same small marsupial harnsess and have the best fov of any sig zulu6 model. Are they the best optically? No definitely not but when I need high quality glass for a long period I can pull out the 14x NLs. For quick on the move glassing I can do a lot with those 10x30s and low light isn’t an issue since I have the NLs


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What do you range with?

I might do this, the IS is nice for handheld scanning. But I use rangefinding binos.