NL Pure 14x52 owners

[StopMakingSense]

Follow up here, ended up selling my 14’s

Target acquisition when hand holding these sub 1000 yards was not fun.

Now on a tripod, these pick apart terrain when you need to sift it with a fine tooth comb. Found a wolverine at 1600+ easily when I had hours to sit and glass.

 

[breaks_mud_man]

I got a pair last fall and used them on a few hunts. As others have said they shine on the tripod but I do think they are fairly easy to hand hold effectively. Only complaint I have is they seem to fog up super easy. I used them on an elk hunt, was hiking and sweaty. It was probably about 15 degrees out. When I stopped to glass they fogged immediately. For reference my vortex furry 5000 binos don’t fog in that same situation.

 

[nphunter]

I got a pair last fall and used them on a few hunts. As others have said they shine on the tripod but I do think they are fairly easy to hand hold effectively. Only complaint I have is they seem to fog up super easy. I used them on an elk hunt, was hiking and sweaty. It was probably about 15 degrees out. When I stopped to glass they fogged immediately. For reference my vortex furry 5000 binos don’t fog in that same situation.

Fogging has more to do with the eye relief distance and how you hold them then anything else. I have this problem with most binos when sweating and glassing in the cold. Even my spotter does it, I keep my eye cups in and use a tripod when it’s like this, also until you cool off backing up a few inches and lightly blowing on them cleans the fog off. If you let them get so foggy they need wipped it’s a Pita.

 

[nphunter]

I got a pair last fall and used them on a few hunts. As others have said they shine on the tripod but I do think they are fairly easy to hand hold effectively. Only complaint I have is they seem to fog up super easy. I used them on an elk hunt, was hiking and sweaty. It was probably about 15 degrees out. When I stopped to glass they fogged immediately. For reference my vortex furry 5000 binos don’t fog in that same situation.

I agree with them being tough to hand hold, IMO the only thing they are good for is a quick scan at distance. I spotted a couple of spike elk sheds with mine a couple weekends ago at 500 yards so they’re still useful. I ended up buying some NL8x32’s to go with the 14’s. Unless I’m hunting really big country I’ll probably bring the 8’s on the chest and 14’s in the pack. Another good option is a light tall bino tripod and with an adapter on the pack. I did this a couple weeks ago for glassing big faces while shed hunting. It only takes a few seconds to drop the pack and put them on the tripod but still not as nice as having a small pair on the chest.

 

[Peregrine1]

I switched to 14x from 12x this year and theyre my fav bino to date. They are smaller and more ergonomic than you would expect, i dont feel any different carrying them or glassing with them off-hand than i did with the 42mm series. They comfortably fit in a medium marsupial.

Personally i like them for close range and long range alike…brings in the details wildlife watching like none other. Now my spotters are for digiscope filming, cause visually these do almost everything else.

 

[TheGDog]

Fogging has more to do with the eye relief distance and how you hold them then anything else. I have this problem with most binos when sweating and glassing in the cold. Even my spotter does it, I keep my eye cups in and use a tripod when it’s like this, also until you cool off backing up a few inches and lightly blowing on them cleans the fog off. If you let them get so foggy they need wipped it’s a Pita.

You learn to back up away from the eye cups and also purse your lips pointed downward when breathing. It's extra bad for those of us who require glasses 24/7, re: fogging-up.

 

[nphunter]

You learn to back up away from the eye cups and also purse your lips pointed downward when breathing. It's extra bad for those of us who require glasses 24/7, re: fogging-up.

Totally agree, I do this all the time, minus the eyeglasses. My eyecups are normally screwed all the way in.

 

[Hatchet Jack]

You guys are a bad influence, this thread cost me over $3k.

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

You guys are a bad influence, this thread cost me over $3k.

You won’t regret it. I have the 8 and 12 and in the field on a tripod, the 14’s blew me away.

 

[Hatchet Jack]

Ok guys maybe my eyes are messed up. I have the NL 12 (they were a tad better than my 12xEL ) and recently picked up NL 14s. I have compared them side by side on tripods for hours in all manner of conditions. While the 14s are incredible, I find that I prefer the view through the 12s as it just seems more relaxed, better in focus and my eyes can wander around in the FOV more easily. I really want to like the 14s since I primarily hunt coues deer but I find more deer by catching movement in the periphery so I feel like I want to keep the 12s and sell the 14s. Am I an idiot?

 

[BluMtn]

^^^^^ Not an Idiot, everybody's eyes react different. Optics are a personal thing; people will tell you such and such is the greatest thing since sliced bread and another person will tell the exact opposite. You are comparing probably the two highest alfa pieces of glass on the market right now and like the 12's over the 14's. That is like driving two identical high end luxury cars and liking the one with the tan leather seats as opposed to the black leather seats. You are the only one that matters in your decision. When I decide to get rid of my 12EL's I will probably go with the 14NL's.

 

[jdub17]

I second the comments about the headrest. It is an outrageous price for what it is, but the stability they provide is worth the money. I am also extremely impressed with the Sig Zulu 6 HDX. Mine are 16 power and incredibly useful. You can one hand hold them and still have a very clear image. FOV suffers, but we can't have it all...

 

[willfrye027]

Ok guys maybe my eyes are messed up. I have the NL 12 (they were a tad better than my 12xEL ) and recently picked up NL 14s. I have compared them side by side on tripods for hours in all manner of conditions. While the 14s are incredible, I find that I prefer the view through the 12s as it just seems more relaxed, better in focus and my eyes can wander around in the FOV more easily. I really want to like the 14s since I primarily hunt coues deer but I find more deer by catching movement in the periphery so I feel like I want to keep the 12s and sell the 14s. Am I an idiot?

Nope, makes perfect sense to me. Can’t say I feel the same way about them but yeah different eyes different experience.

 

[JoeK]

Ok guys maybe my eyes are messed up. I have the NL 12 (they were a tad better than my 12xEL ) and recently picked up NL 14s. I have compared them side by side on tripods for hours in all manner of conditions. While the 14s are incredible, I find that I prefer the view through the 12s as it just seems more relaxed, better in focus and my eyes can wander around in the FOV more easily. I really want to like the 14s since I primarily hunt coues deer but I find more deer by catching movement in the periphery so I feel like I want to keep the 12s and sell the 14s. Am I an idiot?

not an idiot. You should probably sell those 14's.
to me....

 

[Hatchet Jack]

not an idiot. You should probably sell those 14's.
to me....

I will ship them to your door for $3200

 

[eddielasvegas]

I will ship them to your door for $3200

Things that make you hmmmm...

Do they have the headrest and Outdoorsmans stud?


Eddie

 

[Sako300]

Ok guys maybe my eyes are messed up. I have the NL 12 (they were a tad better than my 12xEL ) and recently picked up NL 14s. I have compared them side by side on tripods for hours in all manner of conditions. While the 14s are incredible, I find that I prefer the view through the 12s as it just seems more relaxed, better in focus and my eyes can wander around in the FOV more easily. I really want to like the 14s since I primarily hunt coues deer but I find more deer by catching movement in the periphery so I feel like I want to keep the 12s and sell the 14s. Am I an idiot?

I actually have both the 12 and 14s and totally agree with you. The 12xs view is more crisp, easier to hold, and will probably find 90%+ the 14s will on a tripod. However, for quick scanning (either hand holding or tripod) I’ll take the 12xs over the 14xs.

 

[Dalligator8]

I second the comments about the headrest. It is an outrageous price for what it is, but the stability they provide is worth the money. I am also extremely impressed with the Sig Zulu 6 HDX. Mine are 16 power and incredibly useful. You can one hand hold them and still have a very clear image. FOV suffers, but we can't have it all...

Would I be stupid to consider getting the Zulu HDX pros (16 or 14X) for a run and gun chest bino and then running my NL 12’s for my tripod binos? Or should I just sell me NL’s and get the Sigs?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sako300]

Would I be stupid to consider getting the Zulu HDX pros (16 or 14X) for a run and gun chest bino and then running my NL 12’s for my tripod binos? Or should I just sell me NL’s and get the Sigs?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sako300]

I would keep the 12 NLs and give the Zulu 16xs a go. I just think the 12 NLs are the best all around binocular for the west. Besides coues hunting perhaps.