Zulu 6 hdx pro 12x42

[Dawson]

Sig just added 12x42 to their “pro” line. Anybody have their hands on them yet? I was on the fence already about trying out image stabilized. I currently run older pre “swaro vision” EL 10x42’s.
Initially I decided I wasn’t going to try the Zulus after hearing about glass quality and tiny FOV. But with the new “pro” line in 42mm they claim it’s the clearest/sharpest glass yet, even better that the 50mm series according to GOHUNT. Also they have widened the field of view, it’s still not even close to a standard bino, but it’s about 50ft less at 1,000 than a typical 12x bino.
I’m mainly a whitetail hunter but we live in more open country, I go on a couple western hunts a year. Are these new models worth the upgrade from my swaros?

 

[jpc01101]

The benefit of these was to have higher mag (16x - 18x) and stabilization. Just get worse glass on a 12x. Not sure the draw but if you get them report back how you like them vs the swaros.

 

[Hammsolo]

I tried them at Scheel’s yesterday. They’re pretty wild. Dead still when I was walking looking through them. I’d like to test them in the field. Can you rent them somewhere? They’re much smaller now. They do look weird.

Word on the street is Leica will be releasing a pair soon. Probably $$$

 

[Stretch866]

I have the 14s arriving thursday. I've looked thru the 2nd gen and those were impressive. But I also dont own any alpha glass so hard to say if the FOV tradeoff for the stabilization is worth it. But I generally trust the gohunt guys to not just blindly push stuff they dont like and Brady likes the 4th gens a lot. Can report back.

 

[Potsie]

I have the 14s arriving thursday. I've looked thru the 2nd gen and those were impressive. But I also dont own any alpha glass so hard to say if the FOV tradeoff for the stabilization is worth it. But I generally trust the gohunt guys to not just blindly push stuff they dont like and Brady likes the 4th gens a lot. Can report back.

You mean the guys with a podcast directly sponsored by Sig?

 

[schmalts]

If anyone is looking for any of them let me know, I do carry that brand

 

[Stretch866]

You mean the guys with a podcast directly sponsored by Sig?

I mean I get it and they are. But Brady seems like a genuine guy and also has said publicly he wouldnt recommend some of their other products like the stabilized spotters.

 

[SC Living Outdoors]

I ordered 16s yesterday. I played with my friends pair of the original 16x42 last year on an elk hunt. They were pretty cool, but I was waiting on them to have a glass upgrade and supposedly these have that. I'm going to use them on my WY elk and antelope tags that I have coming up and this weekend for alligators if they get here in time.

If they suck I will sell them.

 

[brymoore]

I mean I get it and they are. But Brady seems like a genuine guy and also has said publicly he wouldnt recommend some of their other products like the stabilized spotters.

Yeah. Miller was anti suppressor and believed in brakes until he was sponsored by a suppressor company. Money talks.

 

[Potsie]

I mean I get it and they are. But Brady seems like a genuine guy and also has said publicly he wouldnt recommend some of their other products like the stabilized spotters.

I have a hard time believing any recommendation from anybody being paid by that company. Hands down, bar none, full stop. It’s all marketing.

 

[Gonewest]

I’m interested in hearing some real world reviews as these start to be delivered. I’m trying to decide between the 12s or 14s.

 

[Hammsolo]

Yeah. Miller was anti suppressor and believed in brakes until he was sponsored by a suppressor company. Money talks.

The reviews on the Tenet suppressor are pretty damn good.

 

[Hammsolo]

Probably going to piss people off, but I’ve looked through elite glass. In my opinion, the cost/benefit analysis doesn’t compute. $+3k??? If I won the lottery, admittedly, I’d probably own the “best.”

I do encourage people to look through them. Again, I want to actually use a pair in the field before I consider them.

 

[Wild Bill]

Probably going to piss people off, but I’ve looked through elite glass. In my opinion, the cost/benefit analysis doesn’t compute. $+3k??? If I won the lottery, admittedly, I’d probably own the “best.”

I do encourage people to look through them. Again, I want to actually use a pair in the field before I consider them.

Agreed. IMO very few hunters NEED elite glass.
Cost/Benefit ratio doesn't make a ton of sense for the majority of hunters. For those that need to count annuli on sheep and goats, sure, but most guys looking to confirm branch antlered bulls or deep forked bucks from 1000 yards or less mid tier glass ought to suffice.

 

[roravetz]

I have Gen 2 Zulu's 6s in 16x and like them a lot. I couldn't pry them out of my wife's hands yesterday evening looking at elk in Evergreen. They are great for general use and hunting. But they do fog up easily on cool mornings and if you are doing real glassing sessions, you still need a tripod because your arms get tired holding them up even just propping them up is uncomfortable. Last year the Zulu 6s are all I brought on day 1 of a Barbary hunt without a tripod and I regretted it. Day 2 I wore my Zulu 6's on my chest brought my tripod and Leupold BX-5 10x50s. I was really glad to have my Leupolds for the glassing sessions and the tripod for that matter. I do have the adapter to use the Zulu 6s on the tripod but at that point I wanted the better glass on the tripod. My biggest issue with the Zulu 6s is how easily they fog up in the mornings; it could be me pressing my eyes up too hard on them or something but that's my only complaint and it doesn't happen with my Leupold's.

There might be some good deals on the older generations now that the new line is coming out.