To image stabilize or not?

[TruckMonkey]

I bought some Sig Zulu6 HD 18x50s and they didn’t power on out of the box. I never got to try a working pair as I returned them and Sig couldn’t get me a pair in time for my hunt this year. The lack of customer service (or ability to get me a pair in 12 days) through one of the online retailers and the fact the power was an issue day one has me questioning this route.

I am tempted to get some Vortex 18x56s and upgrade my tripod. The lifetime warranty and lack of electronics to fail has me leaning this route.

So for those who have done both- to image stabilize or not? If you haven’t done both in the field I am not particularly interested in your opinion… no offense. Just wondering if electronics aren’t worth it and if I’ll want a tripod anyways even with IS binos?

 

[LostWapiti]

I am using the 10x image stabilized binos and have loved them this year but will be leaving them at home for my last hunt. They truly are incredible and I spotted a lot of game this year with them but the small FOV and lack of rangefinder are a big trade off. Once then can give a better FOV to stabilized binos then I will be all in. I carried a second pair of binos all year for putting on a tripod which are the 12x42 NL Pure, which will never be left behind although I can’t handhold them for shit.

If I was you I’d suggest passing on the stabilized binos for now and get quality glass for putting on a tripod. Do you have a good lower power Bino yet? That should be your first priority.

 

[TruckMonkey]

I have some decent 8x40s.

 

[hereinaz]

I had the 16x sig, very cool and image stabilized is good for some hunts where you want to scan quick. I sold mine. I hoped they would work, but not for AZ glassing.

Nothing beats the 15x Swaro, but the 18 Vortex UHD are close.

 

[Bugger]

I have the 16’s. I found that IS is amazing, but the reduced FOV and image quality make it a loser at traditional high power bino range. I think they fit better in the role that most people wish their non-stabilized 12’s could do, tearing up mid-range brush and treelines without a tripod.

 

[swavescatter]

New Sig Sauer Zulu6 HDX Pro vs Gen 2 Zulu6 HDX

Background: I bought the new 18's and they sucked hard. Sig said they meet spec and I'm just a crybaby, even though I provided proof. Relevant threads here here here here. Got my 18x50 HDX Pro's back from Sig with a note that they're amazing and I'm an idiot. Grabbed another set of 18x50 HDX...

rokslide.com

Stay away from new HDX Pros.

 

[LostWapiti]

I don’t understand why they don’t have an 8x stabilized yet. Would be so good for tearing up areas quick without a tripod. I do love how quickly the stabilized allows me to scan an area. The lack of FOV just kills me on the 10s.

 

[Southern Lights]

I have used Canon 15x50s Image Stabilized for many years now, including on some hunts vs. bringing a spotter, and they have been extremely reliable. Note some IS tech will not work well on tripods so it is good to check to be sure on whatever brand you choose. Canon has been doing IS optics for decades in camera gear and can take rough handling by pros.

 

[TruckMonkey]

I’m going standard on binos. Thanks for the input. I want to sit and glass big country. Sounds like IS are good for quick glassing while on the move, but that’s not my primary goal.

 

[TxLite]

I am using the 10x image stabilized binos and have loved them this year but will be leaving them at home for my last hunt. They truly are incredible and I spotted a lot of game this year with them but the small FOV and lack of rangefinder are a big trade off. Once then can give a better FOV to stabilized binos then I will be all in. I carried a second pair of binos all year for putting on a tripod which are the 12x42 NL Pure, which will never be left behind although I can’t handhold them for shit.

If I was you I’d suggest passing on the stabilized binos for now and get quality glass for putting on a tripod. Do you have a good lower power Bino yet? That should be your first priority.

How was the low light performance compared to a traditional bino?

Did you lose a couple minutes of scanning time?

 

[LostWapiti]

How was the low light performance compared to a traditional bino?

Did you lose a couple minutes of scanning time?

You definitely do lose a few minutes(maybe up to 10 vs the NL) but I’m always going to be posted up behind a tripod at those times so I wouldn’t use them at that time anyways. As your only bino it would handicap you.

I know early morning and sunset are important but I often feel like things don’t get moving until 30 minutes after first light.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

Buddy bought a pair, I tried them for a bit on a mule deer scouting trip.

The image stabilization made me feel like I was looking at a video game, Probably just takes some time to get used to it but offhand vs my Zeiss 10's on a tripod I preferred the latter. I think they've come out with tripod mounts now, but his biggest complaint at the time was the lack of that. You just can't move as slowly and methodically handheld.

I could see a use case for bear, archery elk, etc. where tripod mounted glass isn't as critical.

 

[ORwaterfowler]

I brought the16x42 hdx (non pro) on my October mule deer hunt as my chest binos this year and put in a good amount of time behind them. The field of view being small is a bigger disadvantage than I gave it credit for while playing with them at home. The first few days I tried to run only the Sigs but ended up alternating between a pair of 10's in my pack and using the sigs to get a better look which worked pretty well for picking up deer, and then being able to get on them in more detail quickly. To find deer a normal pair of chest binos was better for our group, but the ease of throwing the stabilized binos up and getting a rock-solid view with minimal effort to confirm what you were looking at was nice. I carried a small lightweight monopod shooting stick instead of a tripod to rest them on. Not a one and done solution for our group as a chest rig but overall very happy with them.

There is a drop in image quality when going to target mode others have mentioned but did not feel the need to use it as 95% of the time scan was more than good. Even just something to balance one elbow on was enough to get solid in scan mode. The newer version switching between the target and scan modes automatically would turn me off of them in addition to what others have mentioned about the pro version being heavier with the same field of view.

 

[silasbowhunter]

I don’t understand why they don’t have an 8x stabilized yet. Would be so good for tearing up areas quick without a tripod. I do love how quickly the stabilized allows me to scan an area. The lack of FOV just kills me on the 10s.

I agree.. 8x would be money in a treestand bowhunting one handed!


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