Revamping optics setup

Bak222

FNG
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Dec 17, 2020
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Im looking to revamp my optics set up. Hoping to get some opinions from people with more experience than me. I live in and hunt the Midwest, but also go out west for 1-2 hunts/year. I use my binos frequently on the move, but also use a tripod for longer glassing sessions.

I currently have Maven B6 12x50’s I’ve used for everyone the past 4 years. I can hand hold them reasonably well, but didn’t realize how much FOV I was missing out on until I tried some friends 8x recently. I was dead set on some alpha 8x. After reading tons of forums, image stabilizing binos also came into the mix. I’ve changed my mind more times than I can count, luckily haven’t spent any money yet.

My current thinking is Sig Zulu6 10x30 on my chest. I figured that would make the most sense as I’m generally moving around a good amount and the image stabilization is fantastic while on the move. 10x have about 70 ft better FOV than any of the other Zulu6’s. As awesome as the image stabilization is, they lack FOV, low light, and optical quality. So I’m planning on carrying something else for longer glassing sessions and first/last light. Any thoughts on what would be best? Stick with the 12x mavens, but then I don’t gain any FOV. Sell those and go with a higher quality 12/15x, but again lacking FOV. Go with alpha 8’s for the awesome FOV, but lacking in mag. Get an additional 10x to supplement for low light, better optical performance and decent FOV, but will already have a 10x. I realize every option has trade offs, just looking for opinions from people who have done this much longer than me about what the best trade offs are. Price is an object, but very low on the list, more concerned with having the optimal setup with as few pieces of glass as possible, thanks!
 
As honestly as you can possibly guesstimate...

For every 100 hours you're glassing, how much is off tripod?

How much is "on the move", as in, physically walking or using your optics one-handed?

Of that 100 average hours of glassing, what's the average and max distances you'd be glassing in your home-area hunts?

If you were to take all your yearly glassing, what percentage of it is out west - in the wide-open parts of the West?
 
8x42 Swaro El or SLC. Buy used - Less expensive than new. Picked up the EL’s in this size and I see more deer than with my 10x Lecias. The FOV makes a difference. Once spotted, then screw down with a high magnification if needed. The color rendition is amazing and makes it easier to spot bedded deer that I glasses over with the 10’s.
 
8x42 Swaro El or SLC. Buy used - Less expensive than new. Picked up the EL’s in this size and I see more deer than with my 10x Lecias. The FOV makes a difference. Once spotted, then screw down with a high magnification if needed. The color rendition is amazing and makes it easier to spot bedded deer that I glasses over with the 10’s.
Agree, and I wouldn't use Zulu's if you gave them to me.
 
As honestly as you can possibly guesstimate...

For every 100 hours you're glassing, how much is off tripod?

How much is "on the move", as in, physically walking or using your optics one-handed?

Of that 100 average hours of glassing, what's the average and max distances you'd be glassing in your home-area hunts?

If you were to take all your yearly glassing, what percentage of it is out west - in the wide-open parts of the West?

Guesstimates:
40’of my time glassing is on a tripod

Average distance- 500 yds, max distance 3 miles

Probably hours wise, 50% wide open west
 
8x42 Swaro El or SLC. Buy used - Less expensive than new. Picked up the EL’s in this size and I see more deer than with my 10x Lecias. The FOV makes a difference. Once spotted, then screw down with a high magnification if needed. The color rendition is amazing and makes it easier to spot bedded deer that I glasses over with the 10’s.
I’ve had my eyes on these, NL pure, or Zeiss SFL
 
Agree, and I wouldn't use Zulu's if you gave them to me.
Genuinely curious why not? I’ve never spent any meaningful time with in the woods, but the little time I’ve been behind then it was pretty incredible. No chance I’ll ever hold any binos that still, especially with one hand.

In my head, the downfalls can be mitigated by having another option for low light, better clarity, FOV. While still getting the benefits of quick scanning while on the move with one hand. Am I missing something?
 
Guesstimates:
40’of my time glassing is on a tripod

Average distance- 500 yds, max distance 3 miles

Probably hours wise, 50% wide open west


In that case all combined, I'd go with NL Pures in 10x42s - the enhanced FOV makes them feel about like 8s when glassing off-hand. If you do a lot of one-handed or unstable glassing though, the NL 8s might be better. But given those times and distances, you'd probably get the most use out of the best chest binos you can afford. If doing the best you can after sunset is a concern, you might go up to the 10x52s.
 
In that case all combined, I'd go with NL Pures in 10x42s - the enhanced FOV makes them feel about like 8s when glassing off-hand. If you do a lot of one-handed or unstable glassing though, the NL 8s might be better. But given those times and distances, you'd probably get the most use out of the best chest binos you can afford. If doing the best you can after sunset is a concern, you might go up to the 10x52s.
Are you implying ditching the Zulu 6 altogether? Or get the NL pures in addition like I was referring to?
 
Are you implying ditching the Zulu 6 altogether? Or get the NL pures in addition like I was referring to?

If you're doing a lot of bowhunting, and need one-handed use, get the Zulus. If you were up in Alaska and doing a lot of scanning from a boat, then get the Zulus. Short of that though, they don't outweigh the advantages of really premium chest binos, especially if you can also get all the benefits out of them when using them on a tripod.
 
Genuinely curious why not? I’ve never spent any meaningful time with in the woods, but the little time I’ve been behind then it was pretty incredible. No chance I’ll ever hold any binos that still, especially with one hand.

In my head, the downfalls can be mitigated by having another option for low light, better clarity, FOV. While still getting the benefits of quick scanning while on the move with one hand. Am I missing something?
It's a personal preference thing I guess. I don't care for the terrible ergonomics or the miniscule FOV. Optics are just average at best. I also don't walk around glassing, and don't consider that glassing at all actually. Even if I'm standing upright, I can get steady binos resting them on a shooting stick, tree, etc, or sitting down and spending more time at least I have my knees. I would never trust my main binos to having to use a battery either.
 
Guesstimates:
40’of my time glassing is on a tripod

Average distance- 500 yds, max distance 3 miles

Probably hours wise, 50% wide open west
Roughly matches my use pattern. I'm really liking 8x42s on my chest. Comfortable to hand-hold and stable enough. Their small harness bag hugs my body even when climbing or crawling.

Just added a pair of 15s for spotting.
 
Find a pair of used/sale price Revic BLR10b range finding binoculars. They’re great to use hand held or from a tripod and the laser ballistic solution is fast and reliable at over 2k yards. They will make you more effective afield.
 
It's a personal preference thing I guess. I don't care for the terrible ergonomics or the miniscule FOV. Optics are just average at best. I also don't walk around glassing, and don't consider that glassing at all actually. Even if I'm standing upright, I can get steady binos resting them on a shooting stick, tree, etc, or sitting down and spending more time at least I have my knees. I would never trust my main binos to having to use a battery either.
Makes sense. I like to try to glass ahead of me, it’s fairly frequent that I’ve bumped animals hiking through an area. Not saying I can’t do that with a solid 8x or 10x, but I could see myself doing that more successfully with image stabilized binos, and they’re only 19 oz. But who knows.

The battery thing doesn’t concern me, my rangefinder relies on battery, my phone, my gps, my flashlight/headlamp, etc. Worst case scenario, in that aspect, I’m left with an average set of binos.
 
Roughly matches my use pattern. I'm really liking 8x42s on my chest. Comfortable to hand-hold and stable enough. Their small harness bag hugs my body even when climbing or crawling.

Just added a pair of 15s for spotting.
I can certainly see the advantages of that. I played with the Zeiss SFL 8x40, and they feel great in the hand.
 
My hunting partner does 10x sig Zulus and 15x SLC combo and its a really nice set up. Im always asking him to borrow the 15x SLC, they are a pleasure to look through.
 
I can certainly see the advantages of that. I played with the Zeiss SFL 8x40, and they feel great in the hand.
In the sprit of S2H, Kraft, and the like: I wear them on regular walks and hikes -- then practice pulling them out quickly to focus on something across the canyon. I'm noticeably faster with the 8X at doing that.
 
Find a pair of used/sale price Revic BLR10b range finding binoculars. They’re great to use hand held or from a tripod and the laser ballistic solution is fast and reliable at over 2k yards. They will make you more effective afield.
I’ve thought about this route too. Haven’t completely ruled it out, but got pushed to the wayside among me trying to make all the other decisions lol. Thanks for adding it back into the mix
 
My hunting partner does 10x sig Zulus and 15x SLC combo and it’s a really nice set up. Im always asking him to borrow the 15x SLC, they are a pleasure to look through.
Have you been able to put much time behind the 10x sigs, or know how he feels about them? I was originally leaning towards a set up like this. I just can’t find much info about the 10x sigs
 
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