Sheep Optics

[C Bow]

I am looking for opinion on which binos. I have narrowed it down to either Zeiss 10 x 30 SFL or Swaroski 10 x 30 Companions Light weight is my main goal Hope someone has experience with these. Thanks

 

[cuerro viejo]

Gpo 10x40 range guide

 

[Spiral Horn]

Personally, for the kind of intense and often prolonged glassing done on a sheep hunt I wouldn’t recommend going under 40mm. Even though the new 30mm are quite sharp there will likely be more eye fatigue. An SFL 10x40 is a fantastic glass and quite light for its form factor. My 2 cents.

 

[BRWNBR]

Not sure what kinda sheep. But for the white ones small glass is just fine. Keep the “big eye” for determining anything after finding the white dots.
But if I was hunting brown sheep I wouldn’t go less than a 40mm to help combat the eye fatigue.

 

[C Bow]

Thanks

 

[OutdoorsMD]

I have used swaro el 10x42, NL 8x32, and NL 10x42 and SLC 15s on multiple dall, stone, and bighorn hunts. In big open country I preferred the FOV and over performance of the 10s. I am an ounce counter and took my 8x32s on my first dall hunt but subsequently have taken the NL 10s on others. I never noticed the weight difference between the two once in the harness.

Of your two choices both would be excellent optically and if you have narrowed it down between them I would go with whichever feels better balanced to you and whichever has better color hue to your eye preference.

 

[MThuntrrr]

I had the 8x30 SFL’s and they were more finicky with eye positioning/eye relief. They were crazy light at 16 oz. I would imagine the 10x30 SFL’s only amplify that problem. Currently have EL range 8x32 after selling 8x42 SLC’s and am happy with the current setup

 

[Blockcaver]

I glassed for hours at a time last August (NWT Mt Caribou) with Swaro NL 10x32. Great field of view and clarity. My other binos are Swarovision EL 10x42. Both are excellent! Backpacking, the NL 10x32 in big open country worked out just fine for me. And they are bright. Besides caribou I glassed a bunch of grizzlies, a few wolves and some Dall sheep.

 

[ol490]

I’ve had the swaro CL Companions. I’ve currently got NL Pure 10x32’s that have been on one sheep hunt so far. IMO - These two models aren’t even on the same planet. 10x32 NL Pures are a joy to use for hours on end. My two cents - don’t go with CL or similar. I don’t have experience with the Zeiss model you list. Maybe they are comparable to the pures.

 

[J.B.]

Two seasons ago I upgraded from vortex razors to the sfl in 10x as my do everything bino, including sheep here in AB. The sfl has been great, a noticeable improvement when compared side by side with razors. I have not looked through swaro cl or nl binos, so no comparison there. I can confidently say that getting the zeiss sfl compared to any swaro will be in no way the reason a guy doesnt kill a sheep.

 

[buffybr]

In the '80s and early '90s I hunted the Montana Unlimited sheep units almost every year and managed to kill 3 rams and 1 Mountain goat. For those hunts along with my other Montana deer, elk, and antelope hunts, along with my Canada NWT Dall ram hunt I used my Nikon 8x23 or 9x25 pocket binos.

I also used the 9x25s on my New Zealand hunt in 2014. After that hunt I bought a pair of Nikon Monarch 10x42 that I really like and have used on all of my hunts until last year when I bought a pair of Vortex 10x42 Ranger HD 3000 with their built in laser rangefinder.

These are a little heavier than my Nikon 10x42s but I don't need to carry and use a separate rangefinder.

 

[JB33806]

Optically I know the best straight binos are better, but I can't imagine not using range finding binos today. If you carry a separate rangefinder you'll like save weight in addition. The GPO mentioned above is a good option.

 

[BillNye]

For me it depends on whether there are curl restrictions where you plan to hunt. I've only hunted Dall where they have to be full curl and IMO the optimum setup for that is very lightweight binos with just enough magnification to quickly check if it's worth breaking out the spotting scope. Better to save the weight for a bit more zoom on the scope since you'll be behind the scope measuring the curl on any decent sized ram anyways.

 

[khunter]

@C Bow what did you end up getting? No way a 10x30 is appropriate or recommendable for sheep hunting. That would be a mistake, pure and simple. Get 10x42 as the most obvious minimum dimensions. Adn put them on a tripod when glassing. Not the light weight you are after but what is more important lightweight or actually have a decent chance of finding what you are seeking?

 

[C Bow]

I have decided to get NL Pure binos I will be using them in the Montana Unlimited area

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

No way a 10x30 is appropriate or recommendable for sheep hunting. That would be a mistake, pure and simple.

Ok, good to know.
25mm to 32mm objectives used on all of these.

 

[Grassymike]

Clearly those binos let you down... I am interested in which ones you have used. I am still packing my swaro El 8.5x42 s. I have been thinking a lighter set might be in my future. We spend at least half of every day glued to our binos looking for and watching Sheep.

 

[C Bow]

Ok, good to know.
25mm to 32mm objectives used on all of these.
View attachment 1058196View attachment 1058197
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Thank you

 

[MacJenkins]

I have decided to get NL Pure binos I will be using them in the Montana Unlimited area

Nice choice! I have 3 sets of NL, one SFL, one companion and a few leica rangefinding binos. NL’s are by far the best optically & the FOV is incredible.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Clearly those binos let you down... I am interested in which ones you have used. I am still packing my swaro El 8.5x42 s. I have been thinking a lighter set might be in my future. We spend at least half of every day glued to our binos looking for and watching Sheep.

If you’re asking me, I’ve used Leica 8x32 BN’s, Zeiss Victory Pocket 8x25’s and now Swaro 10x32 NL. The NL’s are head and shoulders above any other bino. I tried the 10x42 NL’s for one season and the half a lb weight gain brought no benefits to me for sheep hunting,ie viewing comfort, low light performance etc.