SIG Sauer Binoculars
SIG Sauer has 3 binoculars on The Bino List, priced from $1,000 to $1,200, spanning general purpose, hunting. The least expensive SIG Sauer model here is the SIG Sauer Zulu6 HDX 10x30 at $1,000. Compare the full lineup below.
SIG Sauer's binoculars here all come from one idea: the Zulu6 HDX, a stabilized binocular built for hunters rather than for the camera aisle. Every model has two modes. Scan is for sweeping hillsides, and Target is for holding on an animal, adding up to 50% more stabilization. All are IPX7 waterproof, which is the clearest difference from Canon's stabilized range. The series runs 10x, 12x, 16x and 20x in the 42mm and 30mm bodies, and SIG also sells a heavier 50mm version at 14x, 16x and 18x.
The 10x30 at $1,000 is the carry model. Owners like it for one-handed use, bowhunters especially, but find its 273 ft field narrow and its colors a little muted next to conventional glass at the same price. The 12x42 at $1,100 is the one the hunting world talks about most. Owners describe hillsides resolving into deer at long range, a 21.5 oz weight lighter than many plain 10x42s, about 30 hours on one AA battery and 17mm of eye relief. The trade-offs they report are a 199 ft field that slows scanning, a short lag and settle in Target mode, and less usable last light than premium conventional binoculars. The 16x42 at $1,200 is too new for a track record, and its 2.6mm exit pupil and 14mm eye relief make it the most demanding of the three.
SIG's Infinite Guarantee covers the optics for life, but the electronics have a five-year limited warranty, which is worth weighing on a binocular whose main feature is electronic.
Sources: shop.gohunt.com, outdoorsmans.com, sportsmans.com
SIG Sauer binoculars: common questions
What is the difference between Scan and Target mode on the Zulu6 HDX?▾
Scan mode stabilizes while letting you pan across terrain without the image fighting you. Target mode adds up to 50% more stabilization for holding on one animal, though owners note a slight lag and a brief settle when they stop moving.
Is the SIG Zulu6 HDX covered by a lifetime warranty?▾
Only partly. SIG's Infinite Guarantee covers the optical system for life, while the stabilization electronics carry a five-year limited warranty. Keep the receipt, because the electronics are the part most likely to need service.
Should I choose the Zulu6 HDX 10x30 or 12x42?▾
The 10x30 is lighter and easier to use one-handed in a treestand. The 12x42 adds reach, a larger 3.5mm exit pupil and 17mm of eye relief, which owners in open country and those wearing glasses tend to prefer.