Updating your optics system to include image stabilized binoculars - share what you are using and for what type of hunts

[chicoredneck]

Well, after spending an afternoon looking through Sig Zulu6 HDX side by side with NL pure binoculars, I have decided to go all in on image stabilizing binos. Hand held, these things are game changers and outclassed everything. Taking out all those micro vibrations make such a huge difference in my ability to resolve detail.

I have ordered a 16x42 and a 10x30 Zulu6.
I’m looking at the Kite 18x50s for a long distance binocular from the truck as well, but I don’t see a way to affix them to a tripod. I know what your thinking, why not use regular binoculars if your glassing off a tripod? Well, even off a tripod, you often get a small amount of vibration if there is any wind. Which, for where I hunt, is always.

The big question for me is, how to incorporate these into what I already have.

I hunt out west in very open country for the main three, mule deer, elk, and pronghorn.

My glassing set up was:
Zeiss victory sf 8x32
Swarovski 15x56 on a tripod
Swaro BTX/ATX - depending on the type of hunt.
Revic BR4 rangefinder
Leica 3000b rangefinders usually go with me as a back up in case something happens to my BR4, but usually don’t leave the truck.

My new set up:
Zulu6 10x30 on my chest.
Debating if I keep the 15x56 Swaros or go to the 18x50 Kite image stabilized binoculars.
Swaro BTX/ATX

My wife has laid claim to the 16x42 Zulu 6, but if I’m hunting by myself these will be coming with me also. Maybe something like this:
Zulu 10x and 16x
Swaro spotter.

I was going to get the new 14x52 NL Pures, or a pair of 18x56, but I just don’t see a place for them anymore.

 

[chicoredneck]

I have a 10x42 NL Pure that I don’t want to get rid of. These things are amazing optically, but I don’t know where I will use them anymore?

 

[4th_point]

The big question for me is, how to incorporate these into what I already have.

That's a good question!

I had the non-HDX 10x30 and non-HDX 16x42 in 2022, and later tried the new 16x42 HDX. The IS and weight are excellent. They are awesome for casual viewing, kids and seniors, or scanning on the move. I would highly recommend them for that use.

For "glassing" or picking apart a landscape, I would rather have your 15x56 SLC. I have the 15x50 Canon now, as I missed the IS after selling the SIGs, but I wanted a bit better optical quality. Weight wasn't a concern (Canon is bigger and heavier), and I wasn't planning to scan while moving. So different tradeoffs.

The IS binocs really require careful thought, as the pros and cons in actual use can be a bit harder to evaluate!

 

[Southern Lights]

I have sometimes taken my Canon 15x50 IS binos vs. a spotter. The human brain works better using two eyes vs. one. Although image stabilized binos may have smaller mag, they can often work better than higher mag spotters simply because they are more comfortable to use with both eyes.

 

[chicoredneck]

Well I spent the day comparing the 12x and 16x Zulu6 against my Swaro 15s and a Vortex razor uhd 18x mounted to a tripod.

I actually liked the 12x better than the 16x. The larger exit pupil I think made a difference in ease of view. The Zulu6 had less contrast and color saturation compared to the Swaro, but the optics were still quite good. Comparing road signs at over a mile I was able to make out the same details with the 16x Zulu as the 15x Swaro. This was in mid day glassing from shade to full sun with minimal mirage, so optimal conditions.

The Razor UHD was impressive in regards to resolution. I looked to be equal to the Swaro in that regard. However, very annoyingly, the diopter setting seemed to shift ever so slightly as the focus wheel was turned. The diopter ring is locking, so it did not physically move, but the focus of the right barrel was definitely not in sync with the left. I also noticed slight color fringing on dark trees across a mountain ridge that was not in the Swaro 15s.

I think instead of the 30x Zulu6, I’m going to go with the 12x for the larger exit pupil despite the narrower field of view.

So I’m now thinking for a full load out, depending on the hunt.

10x42 NL pure mounted to a tripod for shorter range long glassing sessions across canyons.

12x Zulu6 for handheld and quick spotting.

15x56 SLC for longer range glassing

Swaro ATX/BTX as a spotter.

For lightweight setup.

12x Zulu6
Swaro ATX/BTX

 

[chicoredneck]

I compared my Swarovski 15 slc and 16x zulu6 hdx as well as the 10x NL pure all off a tripod on a 1951 resolution chart.

No suprise, the 15 SLC was much sharper than the 16 zulu6. Despite the extra 1x in magnification, I was able to resolve 3 more elements with the 15x slc. I was only able to resolve 1 more element with the zulu6 over the 10x NL pure off a tripod.

However, handheld and with the IS on the zulu6, I was able to resolve the same amount of elements as off the tripod. I wasn’t able to resolve any of the 0 or 1 elements with the NL pure and 15x SLC. Meaning, handheld, the Zulu6 hdx absolutely spanked the other two.

 

[bigbuckdj]

I wish I had access to all the optics you do but I had the 10x30, 12x42, and 16x42 Zulu 6 HDX that I compared with my maven b3 and meostar 12x50s for at least six months before I went all image stabilized. I mostly have the same feeling as you.

The 12 Zulu 6s were optically better than the 16s but I was bothered by them having the same field of view as the 16s and I couldn’t create a scenario where I could resolve something with the 12s that I couldn’t with the 16s outside of like maybe 3 minutes of last light scenario. Also I hated the 16 fov for a chest bino and the 10s have a much better fov, so I got rid of the 12s.

For normal vs is binos, I just feel like they spank everything out there if you don’t have the normal ones on a tripod. I’m bothered by the small fov of the x42s so I keep the 10x30s on my chest all the time and normally have the 16x42s in my pack. The 16s are also incredible for 3d.

Optically, compared to normal binos, the depth of field isn’t great, the focus wheel is too fast, but I’m able to get them as sharp as necessary. The ability to have them as stable as a tripod in your hands feels like a superpower and it’s kind of hard to appreciate how that might affect your hunt until you use them. If you tripod mount a bunch of binos they will likely lose to many similarly priced non is binos. Off hand they’ll win by a large margin and I think the quick stability translates well to hunting.

I do want to get some more normal binos, likely some 14 or 10 x 52 pures, I can definitely see how they would be preferred in really detailed long glassing scenarios when you feel like carrying a tripod.

 

[chicoredneck]

I had the 16x Zulu6 out in the field this weekend looking at antelope and deer. From a truck, they are amazing as I don’t need to turn it off. The 16x eye box is annoying though. You have to have the inter pupillary distance just perfect. The 12x are actually a better match up, but as you said, the fov is terrible. I haven’t played with the 10x yet, but plan on ordering them.

 

[bigbuckdj]

I had the 16x Zulu6 out in the field this weekend looking at antelope and deer. From a truck, they are amazing as I don’t need to turn it off. The 16x eye box is annoying though. You have to have the inter pupillary distance just perfect. The 12x are actually a better match up, but as you said, the fov is terrible. I haven’t played with the 10x yet, but plan on ordering them.

Thats my primary complaint. So much how I used to choose binoculars was focus wheel, eye box, depth of field, etc. stuff that couldn’t really be listed in a spec sheet. All those things kind of suck on the IS. I hear the x50s are going to be a step up, I’m excited to try them.