Sig Zulu6 12 vs. 16x42 HDX Low Light Performance

[Lock3]

I'm about to pull the trigger on either the 12x or 16x Zulu6 HDX (last gen).

There are a bunch of threads here but I couldn't find anything definitive on the low-light performance of one vs. the other. There seemed to be a picture comparison - see attached photo - that was captured by google but when I click through, it was inexplicably deleted in the thread "Sig Zulu 6 12's or 16's?"

Would love to get the braintrust's opinion on this.

Questions

Does anyone know how much worse the 16x is at low light (I'm leaning towards these) practically?

Does the extra mag make up for the reduction in low-light performance?

Use Case

If I buy the 16's, I'll be doing so in lieu of a Razor mini spotter. I'd keep my current LRF bino for rifle hunting, use the 16s as a pack spotter. When scouting, I’d just bring the 16s.

If I buy the 12's, I'd replace the LRF binos on my chest and probably get the Sig Kilo 4k rangefinder (OIS) and either the Razor mini spotter or a pair of 15x56s.

These will be used for western hunting -- mountains, canyons, some timber in between etc.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Food for thought...



If your choice is only the Sig 12 or Sig 16, then grab the 16. You can use the additional 4x all day. You may or may not be able to take advantage of a few minutes of additional "last light" with the 12x.

But if you are not limited to the Sigs, then consider the next part. This limited to my personal experience and my eyes while spending a week chasing blacktail in Oregon. The guide had a pair of Sig 16 HDX and I had my SLC 10s, SLC 15s, and Kowa 554.

1) The Sig 16 HDX will not replace a quality compact spotting scope. It has neither the image clarity nor the magnification range. I can't speak for the mini Razor but I know my 554.
2) The Sig 16x HDX will not compete against quality 15/18x binoculars on a tripod for (my definition) traditional glassing sessions. I'll take my SLC 15s 100% of the time over the Sig 16 HDX if glassing is on the menu.
3) The Sig 16 HDX does not have the image clarity of a quality pair of 15/18x binoculars. They're not hanging with my SLC 15s when it comes to detail work.
4) The Sig 16x HDX are very good for "scanning" where smaller handheld binoculars (ex: SLC 10s) are insufficient but you'll not be stationary long enough use bigger binoculars (ex: SLC 15s) on a tripod. Think along the lines of "running and gunning" where you want/need to cover a lot of ground and you are fine with missing some game (which would have likely been found with binoculars on a tripod).
5) Same as #4 but from a vehicle. You stop for a moment but then move on; not enough time to affix the optic to a window mount, for example. The Sig 16x HDX are on my "short list", if the price is right, specifically for use in a side by side.
5) The Sig 16x HDX are very good for use from an animal (ex: horse/mule).

That week changed my opinion of IS binoculars in a good way; however, the benefit they offer to me is mostly limited based upon the bulk of where and how I hunt.

 

[Lock3]

Food for thought...



If your choice is only the Sig 12 or Sig 16, then grab the 16. You can use the additional 4x all day. You may or may not be able to take advantage of a few minutes of additional "last light" with the 12x.

But if you are not limited to the Sigs, then consider the next part. This limited to my personal experience and my eyes while spending a week chasing blacktail in Oregon. The guide had a pair of Sig 16 HDX and I had my SLC 10s, SLC 15s, and Kowa 554.

1) The Sig 16 HDX will not replace a quality compact spotting scope. It has neither the image clarity nor the magnification range. I can't speak for the mini Razor but I know my 554.
2) The Sig 16x HDX will not compete against quality 15/18x binoculars on a tripod for (my definition) traditional glassing sessions. I'll take my SLC 15s 100% of the time over the Sig 16 HDX if glassing is on the menu.
3) The Sig 16 HDX does not have the image clarity of a quality pair of 15/18x binoculars. They're not hanging with my SLC 15s when it comes to detail work.
4) The Sig 16x HDX are very good for "scanning" where smaller handheld binoculars (ex: SLC 10s) are insufficient but you'll not be stationary long enough use bigger binoculars (ex: SLC 15s) on a tripod. Think along the lines of "running and gunning" where you want/need to cover a lot of ground and you are fine with missing some game (which would have likely been found with binoculars on a tripod).
5) Same as #4 but from a vehicle. You stop for a moment but then move on; not enough time to affix the optic to a window mount, for example. The Sig 16x HDX are on my "short list", if the price is right, specifically for use in a side by side.
5) The Sig 16x HDX are very good for use from an animal (ex: horse/mule).

That week changed my opinion of IS binoculars in a good way; however, the benefit they offer to me is mostly limited based upon the bulk of where and how I hunt.

If I got the 16’s I’d be using them (1) while scouting as my chest bino and (2) while rifle hunting as a mobile spotter alongside existing LRF binos.

I’m not trophy hunting just need to judge legal bucks.

I’m mainly worried about low light performance at first light while scouting.

I’m hesitant to get the 12s because I’d be using them as chest binos and would have to get a separate laser rangefinder and something with more mag.

With the 12’s I’m looking at an extra 1800 vs an extra 1100 because of the rangefinder / I’ll have another piece, the rangefinder, on my chest during hunting season instead of just ranging w my binos.

Is the 16x usable during first light? How many minutes do you lose at first light vs your normal binos?

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Since it appears you are 100% committed to the HDX, how many minutes of additional light would make you choose the Sig 12x over the 16x?

From there you and you alone can determine if the cost per minute gained with the 12s offsets the cost savings of the 16s combined with potential value that an additional 4x in magnification offers..

 

[Tysoncannon]

I don't have any experiance with the 12s but I have used the 16 hdx and the hdx pros. There is a big difference in 16 hdx pro for low light probably 10-12 minutes. I had a situation in last year that the hdx could barley tell there was a deer bedded down at about 200 yards and when I pulled up the hdx pros I could tell it was a buck and could even tell how many points it had. If your using them for glassing at first and last light alot I would take a look at the pros.

 

[Lock3]

Since it appears you are 100% committed to the HDX, how many minutes of additional light would make you choose the Sig 12x over the 16x?

From there you and you alone can determine if the cost per minute gained with the 12s offsets the cost savings of the 16s combined with potential value that an additional 4x in magnification offers..

On the cost vs. value side, hard to quantify a dollar per minute without knowing how many minutes you're giving up (which is why I'm asking about it).

If it's 30 minutes for each of first/last light (pretty much all of it) -- I would pay the extra money. If it is 10 minutes on each end, probably not.

 

[Lock3]

I don't have any experiance with the 12s but I have used the 16 hdx and the hdx pros. There is a big difference in 16 hdx pro for low light probably 10-12 minutes. I had a situation in last year that the hdx could barley tell there was a deer bedded down at about 200 yards and when I pulled up the hdx pros I could tell it was a buck and could even tell how many points it had. If your using them for glassing at first and last light alot I would take a look at the pros.

Which pros were you using? 14x or 18x?

 

[SLCbowhunter]

I'll echo some of the sentiments others have shared. The 16's work best as a scanning tool rather than one used to pick country apart over the course of hours. I use them for backpack hunting elk during bow or rifle season. Weight is a premium, so the 16's allow me to leave the tripod and spotter at home. If i need to set up for an hour and glass a canyon, I can do it, if I need to run and gun in the timber and try to pick up antler tips on a bedded bull at 150 yards, I can do it. It's not stunningly good at any one thing, but the flexibility is handy and they work well with a more mobile style of hunting. I've found the glass quality to be fine, but if I was going on a hardcore spot and stalk type hunt, I'd bring better binos and a spotter.

 

[Tysoncannon]

Which pros were you using? 14x or 18x?

I used the 16 hdx pro