Buying binos sucks

[Chingon]

Yeah I've spent a lot of time behind that exact setup. Marginally better than $900 Sigs handheld.

Only caveat is they're more comfortable to look through for greater than 30-45 minutes. I was dead set on a BTX/115mm setup but that's not even on my radar anymore.

 

[manitou1]

Our fathers and grandfathers killed plenty of game with $50 binoculars.

We seem to get it in our heads that we need $5000 rifles, $2500 scopes, $2000 binos and $1500 clothes.

That being said, I am as guilty as the next guy as I have purchased all the above... I don't kill any more game than when I hunted with less expensive items.

 

[shrapnel]

I’ve killed everything you can in Montana with old rifles and cartridges. I didn’t need Swarovski optics to find or shoot them. This is about good optics or better optics.

If you can’t tell the difference between top tier glass and bargain glass, don’t waste your money.

 

[WVTXn]

The best glass is the most usable glass. I've always thought I would end up with Swaro NL Pures and a 115mm BTX setup. However, after seeing how darn useful my Sigs were, I never thought to reach for my partner's Swaro EL's or BTX setup. Those stayed put away and I used my Sigs exclusively pretty much, and he went back and forth between my Maven 15's on a tripod and his BTX (but only if we were going to glass a spot for a long time).

At one point I was trying to ID a Barbary Sheep/Cactus and couldn't do it with my Sigs. Couldn't do it either with my Mavens on a tripod, nor the Swaro ELs. The 95mm BTX *BARELY* was able to ID it. I think I paid under $900 shipped for my light and fast Zulus vs. the $6k BTX setup?

Alpha glass is only worth it if it's easier to use. And this image stabilization has changed the paradigm.

What model Sigs?

 

[Chingon]

What model Sigs?

The Zulu 6HD 16 power. The glass is "good" but not alpha, but the image stabilization makes it stomp all over alpha glass when handheld. Just saves time/hassle messing with tripods if you move around a lot.

 

[WVTXn]

The Zulu 6HD 16 power. The glass is "good" but not alpha, but the image stabilization makes it stomp all over alpha glass when handheld. Just saves time/hassle messing with tripods if you move around a lot.

Good info. Thanks!
I take it that they require batteries? Long battery life?

 

[Chingon]

Good info. Thanks!
I take it that they require batteries? Long battery life?

I've been using the same regular AA battery for a couple weeks worth of hunting. Practically a non-issue. If the battery dies they just become OK binos with a narrower field of view, not a show stopper. And they do make tripod adapters for them.

 

[Joseph Peterson]

Most of you will think I am crazy, but I carry two binoculars while guiding. A Lecia 10 X 42 that I have used for over 20 years and a Zeiss 20 X 60 stabilized I have used for ranch hunts for the same time. I don't use the big pair on horseback pack in hunts as they are just to much and not needed in the timber and brush. I find the 20 X 60's to be on par with more powerful spotting scopes in practical use. I can look through them all day with no eye fatigue. The 10 X 42's are used in thicker cover, where more field of view is needed and quick scanning. It would be hard to justify the extremely high cost if it were not my job. The 10 X 42's are under my hands in this photo. The smaller ones sit atop the larger when I am not napping! The photo was taken by a customer who thought it was interesting I could sleep on a bed of rocks using a rose bush to keep from sliding down the hill.