I bought the 12x42s Zulus, and they are absolutely amazing. Used them a bunch on a family vacation in Wyoming in June, and it made wildlife viewing better for my whole family. These will be my main binos out west, and when I whitetail hunt in my home state of Kansas
The same company in Japan makes many of these stabilized binoculars as well as makes either the glass or the whole binoculars of some companies that they resell: Kamakura Koki Co provides the stabilization component for: Sig (US), Kite (Belgium), Besser (Germany), Opticron (UK), Vixen (Japan) and possibly more. That’s why they are so similar. The companies build different « shells » around the stabilization component.
I have had canon 12x42 IS binos and used them hunting for years. They are amazing. When people look through them for the first time they are always blown away. Every company will be doing these soon- coupled with laser range finding and DOPE calc in the binos it’s a no brainer. Literally.
Thanks for all the awesome content, Cliff. Really helpful for a new hunter like myself trying to build out a system that works without dropping all my time and money on gear. Thanks for stressing the importance of fundamentals and not always pushing the gear agenda that seems so entrenched in the hunting industry.
Why the Asian/tripod? I used my 16X42's for a week chasing desert elk. They are awesome and don't need a tripod. Now, I'll answer my own question. If you want to pick apart some country, a tripod is wonderful. You can scan right to left, bottom to top. I learned this from a special forces gentlemen. Scan the opposite how you read to turn your brain off from going on autopilot. You'll find more game! You're going to love your new glass!
The main issue with these 18x50 or the 14x50 Kite is the limited field of view (FOV) relative to non-stabilized binoculars. If one compares to a Banner Cloud APO by Sky Rover ($600-$700 with shipping and import) which has an equivalent FOV or better than a Swarovski NL Pure and almost same glass quality for a fraction of the price, it’s a big compromise. But, like you said, an Italian reviewer stated that the smaller FOV is mitigated by the easiness by which one can pan/scan around. I am glad that you mentioned it. I feel that stabilized binoculars would be a game changer for anyone say going down the river in the Amazone and wanting to see wildlife, for example.
I've always been the type to get excited and jump on new gear early and I've been burned a few times by this when a better version came out the next year. I really want to get a pair of these but I'm going to wait until they have a version with range finding capabilities.
Awesome video and awesome timing, I think you just saved me from buying the 16s and having to return them for the 12s. And one of your patented ‘a little too specific of a made up percentages’ that always make me smile.
Great commentary Cliff. As a Swaro user, I'm really happy to glass without a tripod, and will glass using a trekking pole for stabilisation if I require it. The Aziak bino adaptor and trekking pole fitting is a great solution for keeping it simple. Being a spearo, and having got sea sick - great to know I'd be dodging a bullet by going the image stabilisation. Here's a spearo tip for you Cliff, dive with the sun behind your back...
I was stuck between the 12s and 16s for awhile, I bought both and ended up keeping the 16s because I use the 10x30 zulu 6s as a chest binos. Sig is supposed to add a 16x50 which should hit a nice spot for eye relief, etc. I’ve been nodding my head yes to all your videos. You share the same opinion as I have on them after trying almost all of them. The 12s are definitely easier to get behind with the better eye relief. The 16 or 14 x 50s will be perfect I think. If you are given $1000 for zulu6s or $1000 for classic binos and a tripod, I find it hard to believe that the sigs can be beat. Also my 10s and 16s together weigh less than my previous 12x50s.
I have the zulu 6 20x42. Took them on a sheep hunt along with my vortex 15x56. Never used the vortex. Love the zulu 6. The only thing i would say is that in very low light, i prefer the vortex.
Hey Cliff, thanks for another awesome and informative video! I have a question related to optics.. as someone who is just getting into western big game hunting, I started off with an entry level pair of vortex binos and an entry level vortex spotting scope. With my optics together it barely breaks $1000, and I often wonder what I am missing out on by not having the more top-of-the-line equipment that people spend thousands on.. I know it’s not necessary to have the best of the best, but it must be worth it to some extent. I’d love to see a video that dives deep into the differences and talks about why exactly it’s worth the extra expense and what exactly someone like me is missing out on by not owning that equipment. It would be super helpful for understanding better why I actually need to pull the trigger and buy the more expensive equipment instead of just always feeling the pressure because I think I’m missing out on something.. The way I think about it is this: let’s say if optimal visibility is at 100 and the high end optics get you right to that mark… I often wonder if it’s possible that buying the lower end optics can get you, say, 80% there and spending the extra thousand just pushes you to that 100% mark… or is it more realistic to say that the lower end optics are only half as good as the high end getting you to only about 50% of the way there, in which case it might be easier to justify the extra cost of the higher end equipment. I would love to hear your take as someone who has a ton of insight and probably some good reference as to how much better getting high end optics actually is. It might help some of us newer hunters better spend our budget on the right gear first.
I've tried IS bino's years ago but not long enough to feel anything wierd, great tip to turn them on before looking through them. I've heard the sickness is similar to VR which I have tried and did feel noticeably dizzy and uncomfortable
Saw you using rhe Aziak Backcountry Lite tripod....you like how it performs over the now ubiquitous Tricer BC? I feel like Tricer has amazing PR when thr Aziak tripod appears better in this class of light carbon tripods. Thoughts?
have a pair of the sig 16's and love them. Mine shut off after 15 minutes as a "battery saver" which I like because it reminds me every 15 minutes to take a little break and look at the country near me. Also lets me time how long I glass at a spot. On top of that I can glass up bears and goats 3000' up a mountain from a boat bouncing around on the lake which is not going to happen with any non IS bino...
I have a tendency toward motion sickness. For example, when Saving Private Ryan came out, I could not watch the movie due to getting sick so fast. Any video on RUclips with a handheld camera sometimes even if the image is stabilized I can’t watch it. Have you come across people with significant motion sickness that have been able to use your recommendations and successfully use the IS binos without ultimately getting sick? I love tech, and the idea of these is right up my alley, but I’m super hesitant to purchase due to my issues with motion sickness.
Cliff, curious what you think about reversing the setup: 8x42s on the chest for twilight stuff and 16x42s to replace a spotting scope? Wouldn’t work for bighorns, but maybe good enough for elk, mulies and Coues deer?
I run the smaller 10x33 zulu for archery, they are light. I bought the 16x42 zulu for rifle season and ditched my heavy 10x42s and the baby spotter i used to carry
@CliffGray Yeah, it's a language, like Jive, but potatoe head. I understand potatoe head. Mmm, sometimes you lose me, and i have to watch and re-watch. But I stayed right with you on this one. 😃 Keep'm coming . I hope to join your online group here soon...
@@jamesmooney5348 haha, I gotcha. Stay tuned on the online group. I have some new stuff coming together on that front here in August when I am done guiding in AK. Should be around the 15th, I'll make an announcement on it.
Have the 16x42 love them! Gonna try them out on a coues hunt here in a few weeks. Also thank you Cliff. I didn’t know there was a tripod adapter for the Zulu 6’s. I peeped yours and went and bought it
lets my 14 yr old daughter glass really well. ditched my small spotter and 10x binos on pack trips and have the 16x zulu. tons of weight savings. I'm back to carrying and one handing the 10x zulu during archery season when I would leave my heavier 10x42s in the truck a lot. Low light performance is a little overrate imo. its like 4 minutes of glassing in the evening and morning? Maybe not even that. Being able sit midday and glass for hours and pick apart terrain is more important. Nice T&K harness! I love mine.
Low light is not only early and late daylight, it’s also being able to see in the shadows even in bright daylight. One will see or not what is literally lurking in the shadows.
I've been using Canon 10x42L IS for 10+ years. I wouldn't trade them for any bino on the market. The glass is very high end even without the stabilization.
He touches on the exit/eye pupil in this and his other vids. 42/20= 2.1 which is really low. This low number means low light situations it's really going to struggle. Human eye can dilate roughly 2-7 (daylight - dark). The higher you can keep the exit pupil, the better off you'll be in those low light situations. For comparison a pair of 15x56 have a pupil of 3.73. Staying closer to 4 helps that much more. I am going through the same dilemma now trying to build my setup as a fairly new hunter. Leaning toward Canon 15x50 IS binos. Pretty long legacy of IS in their binos and Canon is a pretty trusted brand, imo. Kind of the sweet spot of magnification, weight reduction, and keeping more low light performance, but haven't tested these in person, so take that with a huge grain of salt. Best of luck.
@@CliffGray For sure. Would love to see an experienced hunter review them and compare to Zulus stabilization, etc. I know gear review/comparison isn't really your main thing, but would be great to see what other options are out there now from a well known brand like Canon. They seem popular in astronomy circles. Weather resistance seems a little questionable by comparison, but comes with tripod socket standard.
@@tcvalentine thank you sir. I am just trying to figure out light set up. It is hard to bring all the best and the biggest because it would be too heavy. Terrain I go to is tough. Thanks for your reply.
@@Rico11b having weight for the sake of weight is dumb. one handing 10x binos while carrying your bow and not needing a tripod are worth more and cheaper than a regular pair of binos and a tripod. You're carrying and buying two things. dumb
I bought the 12x42s Zulus, and they are absolutely amazing. Used them a bunch on a family vacation in Wyoming in June, and it made wildlife viewing better for my whole family. These will be my main binos out west, and when I whitetail hunt in my home state of Kansas
awesome! my kids love them too. Crazy easy to use.
The same company in Japan makes many of these stabilized binoculars as well as makes either the glass or the whole binoculars of some companies that they resell:
Kamakura Koki Co provides the stabilization component for:
Sig (US), Kite (Belgium), Besser (Germany), Opticron (UK), Vixen (Japan) and possibly more.
That’s why they are so similar. The companies build different « shells » around the stabilization component.
I have had canon 12x42 IS binos and used them hunting for years. They are amazing. When people look through them for the first time they are always blown away. Every company will be doing these soon- coupled with laser range finding and DOPE calc in the binos it’s a no brainer. Literally.
Thanks for all the awesome content, Cliff. Really helpful for a new hunter like myself trying to build out a system that works without dropping all my time and money on gear. Thanks for stressing the importance of fundamentals and not always pushing the gear agenda that seems so entrenched in the hunting industry.
For sure man. I’m glad it’s useful 👍
I have the Zulu 16x42’s with an Aziak adapter. These are going to be so useful on my elk and antelope hunts this year.
For sure! Good luck
Why the Asian/tripod? I used my 16X42's for a week chasing desert elk. They are awesome and don't need a tripod. Now, I'll answer my own question. If you want to pick apart some country, a tripod is wonderful. You can scan right to left, bottom to top. I learned this from a special forces gentlemen. Scan the opposite how you read to turn your brain off from going on autopilot. You'll find more game! You're going to love your new glass!
Been using Canon IS binoculars for a decade. No compromise on glass quality.
The main issue with these 18x50 or the 14x50 Kite is the limited field of view (FOV) relative to non-stabilized binoculars.
If one compares to a Banner Cloud APO by Sky Rover ($600-$700 with shipping and import) which has an equivalent FOV or better than a Swarovski NL Pure and almost same glass quality for a fraction of the price, it’s a big compromise.
But, like you said, an Italian reviewer stated that the smaller FOV is mitigated by the easiness by which one can pan/scan around. I am glad that you mentioned it.
I feel that stabilized binoculars would be a game changer for anyone say going down the river in the Amazone and wanting to see wildlife, for example.
I've always been the type to get excited and jump on new gear early and I've been burned a few times by this when a better version came out the next year. I really want to get a pair of these but I'm going to wait until they have a version with range finding capabilities.
Awesome video and awesome timing, I think you just saved me from buying the 16s and having to return them for the 12s. And one of your patented ‘a little too specific of a made up percentages’ that always make me smile.
ha! :)
Glad it was helpful!
Great commentary Cliff. As a Swaro user, I'm really happy to glass without a tripod, and will glass using a trekking pole for stabilisation if I require it. The Aziak bino adaptor and trekking pole fitting is a great solution for keeping it simple. Being a spearo, and having got sea sick - great to know I'd be dodging a bullet by going the image stabilisation. Here's a spearo tip for you Cliff, dive with the sun behind your back...
thanks man! I will start thinking about that when diving! appreciate it
I was stuck between the 12s and 16s for awhile, I bought both and ended up keeping the 16s because I use the 10x30 zulu 6s as a chest binos. Sig is supposed to add a 16x50 which should hit a nice spot for eye relief, etc. I’ve been nodding my head yes to all your videos.
You share the same opinion as I have on them after trying almost all of them. The 12s are definitely easier to get behind with the better eye relief. The 16 or 14 x 50s will be perfect I think. If you are given $1000 for zulu6s or $1000 for classic binos and a tripod, I find it hard to believe that the sigs can be beat.
Also my 10s and 16s together weigh less than my previous 12x50s.
I have the zulu 6 20x42. Took them on a sheep hunt along with my vortex 15x56. Never used the vortex. Love the zulu 6. The only thing i would say is that in very low light, i prefer the vortex.
Hey Cliff, thanks for another awesome and informative video! I have a question related to optics.. as someone who is just getting into western big game hunting, I started off with an entry level pair of vortex binos and an entry level vortex spotting scope. With my optics together it barely breaks $1000, and I often wonder what I am missing out on by not having the more top-of-the-line equipment that people spend thousands on.. I know it’s not necessary to have the best of the best, but it must be worth it to some extent. I’d love to see a video that dives deep into the differences and talks about why exactly it’s worth the extra expense and what exactly someone like me is missing out on by not owning that equipment. It would be super helpful for understanding better why I actually need to pull the trigger and buy the more expensive equipment instead of just always feeling the pressure because I think I’m missing out on something..
The way I think about it is this: let’s say if optimal visibility is at 100 and the high end optics get you right to that mark… I often wonder if it’s possible that buying the lower end optics can get you, say, 80% there and spending the extra thousand just pushes you to that 100% mark… or is it more realistic to say that the lower end optics are only half as good as the high end getting you to only about 50% of the way there, in which case it might be easier to justify the extra cost of the higher end equipment. I would love to hear your take as someone who has a ton of insight and probably some good reference as to how much better getting high end optics actually is. It might help some of us newer hunters better spend our budget on the right gear first.
I've tried IS bino's years ago but not long enough to feel anything wierd, great tip to turn them on before looking through them. I've heard the sickness is similar to VR which I have tried and did feel noticeably dizzy and uncomfortable
Baker Marine SE 14x42 Binoculars. 800 bucks. Word on the street is these are better than the Fuji techno stabis.
Saw you using rhe Aziak Backcountry Lite tripod....you like how it performs over the now ubiquitous Tricer BC? I feel like Tricer has amazing PR when thr Aziak tripod appears better in this class of light carbon tripods. Thoughts?
As far as the sig goes what do you think of their 10x30 version if you have tried them or if not what would your opinion be
have a pair of the sig 16's and love them. Mine shut off after 15 minutes as a "battery saver" which I like because it reminds me every 15 minutes to take a little break and look at the country near me. Also lets me time how long I glass at a spot. On top of that I can glass up bears and goats 3000' up a mountain from a boat bouncing around on the lake which is not going to happen with any non IS bino...
I have a tendency toward motion sickness. For example, when Saving Private Ryan came out, I could not watch the movie due to getting sick so fast. Any video on RUclips with a handheld camera sometimes even if the image is stabilized I can’t watch it. Have you come across people with significant motion sickness that have been able to use your recommendations and successfully use the IS binos without ultimately getting sick? I love tech, and the idea of these is right up my alley, but I’m super hesitant to purchase due to my issues with motion sickness.
If you had a choice for elk and deer hunt, would you take the vortex razor hd or Zulu 6 hdx? I’m having a hard time picking one
Zulu6 for sure. They are amazing.
Cliff, curious what you think about reversing the setup: 8x42s on the chest for twilight stuff and 16x42s to replace a spotting scope? Wouldn’t work for bighorns, but maybe good enough for elk, mulies and Coues deer?
I run the smaller 10x33 zulu for archery, they are light. I bought the 16x42 zulu for rifle season and ditched my heavy 10x42s and the baby spotter i used to carry
Astronomers have used the Canons IS Binos for years.
Waiting for a good vortex or zeiss glass to make is
It could happen
Thanks Cliff. You put it in 🥔 for me.
Bwhaha what?
@CliffGray Yeah, it's a language, like Jive, but potatoe head.
I understand potatoe head.
Mmm, sometimes you lose me, and i have to watch and re-watch. But I stayed right with you on this one. 😃
Keep'm coming . I hope to join your online group here soon...
@@jamesmooney5348 haha, I gotcha. Stay tuned on the online group. I have some new stuff coming together on that front here in August when I am done guiding in AK. Should be around the 15th, I'll make an announcement on it.
Have the 16x42 love them! Gonna try them out on a coues hunt here in a few weeks. Also thank you Cliff. I didn’t know there was a tripod adapter for the Zulu 6’s. I peeped yours and went and bought it
lets my 14 yr old daughter glass really well. ditched my small spotter and 10x binos on pack trips and have the 16x zulu. tons of weight savings. I'm back to carrying and one handing the 10x zulu during archery season when I would leave my heavier 10x42s in the truck a lot. Low light performance is a little overrate imo. its like 4 minutes of glassing in the evening and morning? Maybe not even that. Being able sit midday and glass for hours and pick apart terrain is more important. Nice T&K harness! I love mine.
Low light is not only early and late daylight, it’s also being able to see in the shadows even in bright daylight.
One will see or not what is literally lurking in the shadows.
If your in that room you’re in the mountain range and scoping out some elk and bear, how many tags you trying to fill? ✌🏻👍🇺🇸
I've been using Canon 10x42L IS for 10+ years. I wouldn't trade them for any bino on the market. The glass is very high end even without the stabilization.
What do you think about Zulu6 20x42 as all in one, binos and spotting scope? Question may be stupid but I really need to cut on my pack weight.
He touches on the exit/eye pupil in this and his other vids. 42/20= 2.1 which is really low. This low number means low light situations it's really going to struggle. Human eye can dilate roughly 2-7 (daylight - dark). The higher you can keep the exit pupil, the better off you'll be in those low light situations. For comparison a pair of 15x56 have a pupil of 3.73. Staying closer to 4 helps that much more.
I am going through the same dilemma now trying to build my setup as a fairly new hunter. Leaning toward Canon 15x50 IS binos. Pretty long legacy of IS in their binos and Canon is a pretty trusted brand, imo. Kind of the sweet spot of magnification, weight reduction, and keeping more low light performance, but haven't tested these in person, so take that with a huge grain of salt. Best of luck.
This. Great info/insight.
Low light performance kills it for me on the 20x.
I need to look at those Canons
@@CliffGray For sure. Would love to see an experienced hunter review them and compare to Zulus stabilization, etc. I know gear review/comparison isn't really your main thing, but would be great to see what other options are out there now from a well known brand like Canon. They seem popular in astronomy circles. Weather resistance seems a little questionable by comparison, but comes with tripod socket standard.
@@tcvalentine thank you sir. I am just trying to figure out light set up. It is hard to bring all the best and the biggest because it would be too heavy. Terrain I go to is tough.
Thanks for your reply.
@@CliffGray thank you sir. Great content as always!
Do they work as a normal bino when they are not turned on? If the battery runs out are you 100% out of a set of binos?
They work without power
@@CliffGray good to know, thanks Cliff!
You are awesome man.
😆 well thanks man!
I dont understand how i have a 6x and 7x range finder with stabilization and they cant make a pair of binocs with it?
A man that can explain maths to men that didn’t like math at school.
Im rooting for nikon to come out of left field at half the price!...at least a man can dream something new and cool can also be affordable ha
Nikon came out of the hunting field, so unless there is a good use outside of hunting, maybe.
Always good info
However, ever seem like he is talking to you like a 2 year old ?
Can't do it anymore sorry.
Just view at higher speed 1.25x or 1.5x or more, it’s usually easier to follow then.
too much blahblahblah..I want see examples, vids..
Or you could just save your money and use a tripod with regular binos. Problem solved.
More weight?
@@ttonAb2 Yes. Having a nice heavy wallet is the best thing. That should be your heaviest piece of gear. And the best part is, no woozy vertigo. ;)
@@Rico11b having weight for the sake of weight is dumb. one handing 10x binos while carrying your bow and not needing a tripod are worth more and cheaper than a regular pair of binos and a tripod. You're carrying and buying two things. dumb