Image stabilizing binos vs Alpha Glass?

[cwitt]

My apologizes for going on a tangent on this thread but you have both the NL 12 and NL 14s. I recently got the 8s and the 14s. I went back and forth between the 12s and the 14s. I was just wondering if you had any insights on the 12s compared to the 14s. The 14s aee unreal but just curious if other experiences with both.

I think you made a great choice going with the 14s over the 12s, especially if your intent is to pair them with the 8s. Like I mentioned, I think the 12s are as close as anything to a perfect do it all/stand alone bino. But they absolutely have their limitations. There are plenty of times I’ve wished they had a little more reach during use on the tripod or handheld better while on a stalk archery hunting for example. The 8/14 duo I would think would cover a lot of those gaps and I eventually plan to pick up a pair of the 8s myself for that. Right now, those Sigs are doing a good enough job at the same things I’d want the 8s for that I am holding off. Super interested to hear your experience with that combo though.

 

[ThatsBishop]

I think you made a great choice going with the 14s over the 12s, especially if your intent is to pair them with the 8s. Like I mentioned, I think the 12s are as close as anything to a perfect do it all/stand alone bino. But they absolutely have their limitations. There are plenty of times I’ve wished they had a little more reach during use on the tripod or handheld better while on a stalk archery hunting for example. The 8/14 duo I would think would cover a lot of those gaps and I eventually plan to pick up a pair of the 8s myself for that. Right now, those Sigs are doing a good enough job at the same things I’d want the 8s for that I am holding off. Super interested to hear your experience with that combo though.

Thanks for the response. The more I have used the it is more clear how different an optic they are. I do think that the 12s would be to close in function to the 8s. I was glassing a little yesterday evening and was blown away by the resolving power of the 14s. Then I would put the 8s up to my eyes and would be just as blown away by the ease of use, edge to edge clarity and depth of field. I have yet to use them hunting or scouting but after each use I am more satisfied with my choice.

 

[nphunter]

Thanks for the response. The more I have used the it is more clear how different an optic they are. I do think that the 12s would be to close in function to the 8s. I was glassing a little yesterday evening and was blown away by the resolving power of the 14s. Then I would put the 8s up to my eyes and would be just as blown away by the ease of use, edge to edge clarity and depth of field. I have yet to use them hunting or scouting but after each use I am more satisfied with my choice.

My hunting partner has the 12's and there have been several times that we ended up using my old Meostar 15's over the 12's because we couldn't tell how big bulls were, what looked like a OK branch bull with the 12's turned into a 6 point bull with the 15's. Lots of other places the 12's were better to look though due to the increased FOV and depth of field. IMO the 14's are the best of both worlds, the only way I would buy a 12 is if I planned on using them on a tripod often and on a tripod the 14's are better. IMO neither are great for hand holding but both are fine for quick looks at stuff.

I'm very happy I decided on the 14's over the 12's even though they cost a few hundred more dollars.

 

[sololearn9]

I have owned a few IS Binoculars and one Alpha. With the exception of 10X42L, optics in Canon IS binoculars are nowhere close to the optics in Alpha. In 10X30 and 12X36 I have owned, the optics were pretty average.

 

[Scoggin12]

The image stabilized are definitely not a substitute for alpha glass on a tripod. However flatland elk hunts/ rutting mule deer the image stabilized is better.

 

[Steve O]

I wanted to like the Zulus. Nothing is cooler than hitting that switch and have everything just settle right in. BUT, using them in the field I just could not get used to the shape, the ergonomics, the sight picture, or the lack of detail I was so used to with my Alphas. I’ll be one of the dinosaurs and stick with my NLs or the like.

 

[dreamingWest]

Interesting discussion here. I've become a glass snob but would be super interested in comparing the Sig Zulu HDX 14x50 to my beloved Swarovski EL SV 8.5x42 for treestand hunting whitetails. For me, the EL 8.5 represents the least amount of compromise of any optic for this setting (brightness, magnification, DOF, FOV, ergonomics, etc.).

I know if I wait long enough Swaro or Leica will release an IS+RF bino.

 

[HuntFishCamp]

Planning to pick up the 14 NLs. Keeping my 10x Vipers until I can add a 8 or 10x RF/IS bino.

Interesting discussion here. I've become a glass snob but would be super interested in comparing the Sig Zulu HDX 14x50 to my beloved Swarovski EL SV 8.5x42 for treestand hunting whitetails. For me, the EL 8.5 represents the least amount of compromise of any optic for this setting (brightness, magnification, DOF, FOV, ergonomics, etc.).

I know if I wait long enough Swaro or Leica will release an IS+RF bino.

For the Whitetail woods, don’t you think the image stabilized 14 X would be a bit much power and narrow field of view? They do have a 10 x 30 Zulu 6

 

[dreamingWest]

Planning to pick up the 14 NLs. Keeping my 10x Vipers until I can add a 8 or 10x RF/IS bino.


For the Whitetail woods, don’t you think the image stabilized 14 X would be a bit much power and narrow field of view? They do have a 10 x 30 Zulu 6

Yeah I'd probably be disappointed with the FOV on both.

 

[robby denning]

The guide I hunted with in Canada had the 16X SIG IS.

Optical experience: C+

Spotting bucks from standing position: A

He found one buck from a standing position that I had to use a tripod and a Swaro' STC to find.

IMO, IS is niche, but they do work.

 

[packgoatguy]

Sorry, older thread here.

I've been using the zulu6 10x30 and 16x42 for a couple seasons now. Also have meopta 15x56 binos, swarovski compact STC spotter, kowa 554 compact spotter, and the kowa 66s spotter.

If I'm by myself going in light and deep, I take the zulu6 10x30 on my chest and the swarovski compact in a small pouch on my hip where I can pull it out quickly. My hiking staff also is my tripod, so I can quickly put the spotter on to verify something (and digiscope from it as well). I tend to cover a lot of ground (probably too much) so having the OIS 10x30 handy is ideal.

If I'm with my kids (which is most of the time) my son will have the 16x42 Zulu6 on his chest, and my daughter will have the meopta 15x56 in her pack... which really only comes out when we force ourselves to sit down and glass for longer stretches. I find myself reaching for the 16x42s a lot when we are moving around or stopping for quick stints. I prefer the view with the meopta, so if we stop, I'll usually steal those and give my daughter the 10x30s. However, if it's very windy, even the beefyiest tripod can't get enough shake out of the meoptas to compete with the 16x42s. The bigger kowa spotter usually doesn't come with us unless we have 4 of us, and only 2 rifles (two carry rifles and the lighter OIS binos, and the other two carry the bigger meoptas and spotter, and another tripod). But the little swarovski spotter is always with me... field of view is amazing, and in many ways it bridges the gap between bigger binos and the OIS 10x30s well.

 

[Alpine4x4]

After a full season under the belt with the SLC 10x42 and the Sig 16x42 I find myself grabbing the Sigs more often than not. The SLC's are definitely clearer and better in the low light, but the ability to hand hold the Sigs steady is great. Especially after busting ass up a hill and spotting an animal and needing to count tines for legality, I could barely see through my SLC's at that point.

 

[SikaSeeker]

Canon 10 x 42 L are alpha tier. If you are after 12s consider them as the stabilisation lets you see more

 

[packgoatguy]

Canon 10 x 42 L are alpha tier. If you are after 12s consider them as the stabilisation lets you see more

I've heard good things about the Cannon 10x42L IS... except for the fact that they are 40oz, which is double the weight of the Zulu6 hdx 10x30. Have you done a side by side comparison? Does the better glass offset the weight issue enough to be worth it?

 

[MtnMuley]

I think the clarity of the Sigs is under appreciated. I ran the 18s the last month and had my NL 12s close by. I never had one issue with eye fatigue or clarity. The couple times I'd grab my NLs, they were quickly put down and swapped back out for the Sigs. The Sig 18s combined with my Swaro 95 will be what I continue to go to for most hunts I'm involved with these days. The NLs will definitely get used with archery hunts and certain back country hunts for me.

 

[voltage]

I love my Sig Zulu 16s.

I went on an elk hunt this fall, and my guide was using NLs. I found significantly more elk than him, and by the end of the week, he said he would be putting a set of the Sigs.

I think the Sigs are great for hand holding and finding big yellow school buses (elk) on open mountain sides at 0.5-3.0 miles. However, they aren’t the best for long, meticulous glassing sessions.

I still will always have IS binos. I love them.

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

My setup for a while was NL in 8 and 12 and the STC and STX spotters.

I sold all of it and now have the Zulu in 10 and 14 and the Oscar spotter on the way.

No, the glass is not even in the same league. But the image stabilization makes that a moot point for me. They are far more useable and I shed a ton of pack weight.

When I’m in thick timber, I’m not going to pull out a tripod every time I stop so I used the 8’s and try to keep them as shake free as possible. But with the I.S. It’s a non issue. I see more with lower glass quality that’s perfectly stable than I did with crystal clear shake. Easier to spot movement and not wonder if it’s just me.

Plus I bought my entire kit for what I sold one and a half pairs of binos for.

The rest bought me new bows this year.

 

[SikaSeeker]

Canons were better to my eye vs swaro EL of same mag. Canon L glass is used in their top of the line long lenses that cost 10k. The weight is an issue but they are generally nice to use, the eyecups a bit meh

 

[Sully_44]

My 0.02 as I own both the zulus and the NLs.

I end up carrying both pretty often these days, using the Zulus on the chest for all handholding and NLs in the pack for the tripod. Obviously they can both be used in both of those situations, but carrying two sets of binos optimizes both use cases.

When I had NLs on my chest on a Sept elk hunt this fall, I was asking to borrow my buddy's zulus which caused me to buy a set. Sold my NLs thinking I could get away with the zulus on a tripod but it didn't take me long to miss the alpha glass on the tripod. So now I own both and my wife thinks I'm crazy. Also strongly depends on the hunts in my opinion.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m in these boat with both NLs and Zulus, as well as my wife thinking I’m crazy