What’s the perfect glassing setup for opportunity?

[Bow2prince]

I think it depends a bit on your planned hunt type and locations, but from what I've gathered in this thread I think you'll be happy with the 15s. I'm also a midwest guy and primarily hunt with one friend. He got 15s so I got a spotter so we could cover everything. It works well, but wish I had the 15s for around home since most AG land is half mile or less. I also like them in rolling foothills, coulee type country. In those conditions it's nice when you spot a group of deer at 800ish yards and can tell if it's worth getting closer.

For the low standards guy I think 10s >> 15s >> spotter should be the progression. Most things I find with 10s (1-1.5 miles) I could tell sex/frame with 15s. Eventually (1.5-5miles) the 10s aren't enough and you're finding stuff with the 15s. that's when you'll need the spotter to pick sex/frame.

FWIW I just bought some 15SLCs and based on some local glassing am pumped to use them this fall.

This is great insight. Definitely makes me feel like the route I'm thinking of going is in line with the majority of you all.

 

[Hoodie]

If it’s open country 8x/15x combo no question.

Otherwise just a set of 8x or 10x.

 

[ahotrod2]

for folks going stabilized: thoughts on the new zulu pro vs. the zulu? all the reviews out there really don't make it seem like the pro is that much better and it's heavier too...

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

I can pick up a crapload of critters out to 2 miles with nothing but 10x42 Nikon monarch HG's. Stick em on a tripod and it's comfortable for all day. Don't overthink it.

 

[Buglebrush]

18x is much better than 15x

 

[swavescatter]

for folks going stabilized: thoughts on the new zulu pro vs. the zulu? all the reviews out there really don't make it seem like the pro is that much better and it's heavier too...

I bought 3 pairs of the new pros and tested them side by side with the regular gen 2's. All the pros went back to the store for a refund. I suggest you do the same thing, or just try the gen 2's and save yourself $600.

 

[nm.otter]

18x is much better than 15x

Except for the exit pupil...

 

[Buglebrush]

Except for the exit pupil...

That's true, but I have owned both and the extra 3x for a dedicated tripod bino is really really valuable. That's 20% more magnification, and it translates to a lot of real world value. More valuable than the extra five minutes of low light Glassing you'd get with the larger exit pupil.

 

[nm.otter]

Exit pupil also affects the eyebox -- quite a bit IME.

15x56mm is much less fussy to sit behind than 18x56mm, and I catch moving critters faster with a wider FOV.

 

[MTBackroads]

I like 7x or 8x to find groceries.

If I am hiking out for the day I only bring the 10x ranging binos