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New Binoculars

Bowhunter57

Bowhunter57

Senior Member
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Roaming the country side....Retired.
Last week I was in Berlin, Ohio at J and L Sports Center. I'd never been there before and enjoyed looking around. :) I've been contemplating the purchase of some quality binoculars and Vortex Viper and Diamondback models have had my attention. The man at the Sports Center showed me a few different pairs of the Sig Sauer Zulu 6 HDX with their Image Stabilization feature. If you've never looked thru a pair, they're incredible.

I've always put binoculars up to my face and put my thumbs on my cheekbones to stabilize them. This I.S. feature is battery powered and it takes away any "jiggles" and totally stabilizes them while you're looking thru the lenses. I was looking thru a pair of 16x50 Zulu 6 HDX, out the store window and spotted a groundhog that was a good 600+ yards away and had no problem staying right on him. :cool: Thing is....they're only $1600. :oops:

The Sig Sauer website shows a pair of Zulu 6 HDX 10x42 for $750, which is still a chunk of change, but kinda reasonable. My only use for binoculars is for groundhog hunting, occasional long range viewing of deer and coyotes. I don't carry binoculars while deer hunting. So, the Vortex option seems more realistic. :unsure:

What do you guys typically carry for this type of usage?
What do you recommend?
 
Swarovski. Bought the CL companion 10x30 last year. One hunting season and two seasons of the biggest week in American birding and I have no issues with them. They go everywhere with me. Very light. Couple times I had to look down to see if they were still on my neck. Mid size.
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@GoetsTalon
I appreciate your recommendation, but I'd like to find a pair of binoculars that doesn't come with a payment book. ;) I looked over their website and anything in a 10x or 12x was a grand or several grand. 🚫 Even on Amazon, Swarovski is over a grand. :rolleyes: I was surprised to see that Zeiss was less expensive than Swarovski, on Amazon.

Most of my binocular decision is whether or not to get the Image Stabilization feature or a standard pair of Vortex 10x42 or 10x50. :unsure: The Sig Sauer I.S. at $750 is at the top of what I'm willing to spend.
 
K.I.S.S. That is where I'd be in these. Batteries going dead. Malfunctions. Technology issues. Spend the money on the best quality glass you can find in your price range.

That said, I've never tried the stabilization model you speak of. Might have a completely different attitude if I tried them.
 
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Hawke optics make a great pair of binoculars with a no questions ask lifetime warranty for half the price of vortex. I own pairs of both and I honestly I haven’t picked the vortex pair up in probably a year.
 
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whitetailjunky3 said:
Hawke optics make a great pair of binoculars with a no questions ask lifetime warranty for half the price of vortex. I own pairs of both and I honestly I haven’t picked the vortex pair up in probably a year.
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Which model of the Hawke binoculars do you have? :unsure:

I looked at some reviews and the Endurance model in a 10x50 and they seem to be their top of the line and at $330ish they appear to be very good optics. (y)
 
I have vortex only because i don't want to spend Swarovski money.

There is a visible (no pun intended) difference between my diamondback and vipers. Get the best you want/ can afford.

I personally don't enjoy 10x for deer hunting here in Ohio. For groundhog and glassing fields they are nice. 10x is also my personal limit or else they are too jiggly.
 
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