Glassing from a moving truck with the SIG SAUER ZULU6 HDX PRO 16x42 image-stabilized binoculars.

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The holy **** moment with the new SIG SAUER HDX PRO 42mm image-stabilized binoculars came while driving down a road in Canada this past spring; in a moving truck, I switched into the new OmniLock mode for the first time. At that moment, I knew these binoculars had just gotten even better!

I've been using ZULU6 image-stabilized binoculars since 2021, and I genuinely cannot go back to standard binoculars. Stabilization is king! If you've never flipped that switch on an image-stabilized optic for the first time, I guarantee you'll have a giant smile on your face.

I’ve used every version of SIG SAUER’s ZULU6 image-stabilized binocular line, and now that their fourth-generation model has just been released, somehow they keep refining what is already a great optic and making it even better.

You'll notice the new 42mm version of the ZULU6 HDX PRO has a curved area toward the objective lens. Whereas the 50mm version is completely straight in this area.

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Today, they released a new 42mm version of their ZULU6 HDX PRO line in 12x, 14x, 16x, and 20x magnifications. Note: We currently have the 12x and 14x available to purchase today. The 20x is available for pre-order from us with an estimated delivery in mid-September, and the 16x, it sounds like it will be available in October.

We also just released episode 241 of the Big Hunt Guys Podcast, featuring Anthony Cuomo and Troy Hellman from SIG SAUER, in which we discussed the new ZULU6 HDX PRO 42mm binocular. You can watch the video below or listen to the episode wherever you listen to podcasts.

New OmniLock stabilization mode

OmniLock is amazing when you need even more stabilization!

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I absolutely love this OmniLock feature, and I've been giving SIG SAUER feedback that I would love to see the second stabilization mode added back into the ZULU6 line, and it’s finally here, and even better! 

The ZULU6 HDX PRO 42mm version has a new stabilization mode for the 4th generation called OmniLock (enabled by turning stabilization on, then turning it off, and back on again within a few seconds). If you’re familiar with the 2nd-generation ZULU6 HDX 42mm version, it’s similar to what was called Target Mode on that version. The new OmniLock is a huge improvement over Target Mode, in my opinion, and is now much smoother when panning side to side. Everything about OmniLock is better than the 2nd generation Target Mode.

You also have OmniScan, which was used on the 3rd-generation HDX PRO. OmniScan enhances the image stabilization by using a digital accelerometer to optimize the level of stabilization based on your movement. 

How the stabilization actually works

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I asked Troy on a recent Big Hunt Guys podcast to break down what's happening inside the housing when you flip that switch, and it's wilder than you'd think for something packed into about an inch of space behind the battery compartment.

The roof prism isn't set up like a standard one. When stabilization is off, the prism is mechanically locked in place, and the binocular functions like any other fixed pair of binoculars. Turn it on, and that prism is released onto a two-axis gimbal, controlled by magnets, so it's free to move independently of your hands. An accelerometer inside is constantly reading your movement, whether that's from breathing hard on a climb, riding in a truck, sitting on a boat, or being on horseback, and it corrects for that motion in real time.

The difference between OmniScan and OmniLock comes down to how tightly that gimbal is held. In OmniScan, the accelerometer dynamically loosens or tightens the stabilization based on how fast you're moving. This mode is great for scanning across a hillside. Flip into OmniLock, and it clamps down to a tighter tolerance for a locked-in, dead-stable image, which is what makes glassing out a truck window or from a stationary position feel almost unnaturally still.

Improved field of view

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With the 42mm version of the HDX PRO, you get a wider field of view across the entire lineup of different magnifications when compared to the 50mm version of the HDX PRO. The HDX PRO 42mm in both the 14x and 16x has a field of view of 4.2 degrees, whereas the 50mm version of the HDX PRO in 14x and 16x has a field of view of 3.7 degrees.

Shorter and lighter than the 50mm

The ZULU6 HDX PRO 42mm is about a 1/2 inch shorter than the ZULU6 HDX PRO 50mm and almost 4 ounces lighter.

Improved low-light performance when glassing

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The low-light performance is even better on the new 42mm HDX PRO than on previous generations.

You really notice the improvement in low-light performance when you look through the Gen 2 HDX 42mm and compare it to the 50mm HDX PRO, which is a big step up in low-light performance. And finally, the new 42mm HDX PRO is even better in low light than the 50mm HDX PRO. It’s wild to see the changes across generations!

SIG SAUER ZULU6 HDX PRO 42mm Specifications

Glass anywhere, anytime, and it will seem like you're glassing off a tripod due to the OmniScan and OmniLock modes.

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Below are the specs of the new ZULU6 HDX PRO 42mm image-stabilized binoculars. 

The price for these is as follows:

All models of the 42mm version of the ZULU6 HDX PRO have the Schmidt-Pechan prism, 5.0m near focus, and HDXPRO glass, LensArmor, LenShield, and SpectraCoat. Plus, this 42mm version has the same dual-battery system as the 50mm ZULU6 HDX PRO, which uses two AA batteries with up to 40 hours of runtime. And the binoculars also have an IPX-7 waterproof rating.

A new objective lens cover is also included with the ZULU6 HDX PRO 42mm version.

Which magnification should you buy?

Antelope buck I took a few weeks ago with the new SIG SAUER HDX PRO 16x42mm binoculars.

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This is the most common question I get: “Which magnification of ZULU6 should I get?”

While I love the 16x magnification of the ZULU6 image-stabilized line, it might not be the best for everyone based on where they hunt or how they hunt. I still stand behind the 16x is the best magnification for how I hunt and glass.

I would probably say that the 12x magnification is the most versatile all-around pick; 16x is the most popular for those who want to really glass long distance; 14x splits the difference for people torn between the two. If you bowhunt in tighter country and also rifle hunt, the 12x42 gives you the most versatile tool. And if you really want to ditch a spotter completely, you could go with 20x, but I’ve never personally tested the HDX PRO 20x42 or the HDX PRO 18x50 version on any hunts.

In closing

Literally, you can glass anywhere with ZULU6 binoculars!

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I do say it a lot, but glassing with stabilized binoculars while hunting is something special! And now, with SIG SAUER’s 4th generation of ZULU6 image-stabilized binoculars, they keep getting better and better. At the end of the day, the features of image-stabilized binoculars allow me to glass more comfortably and glass for longer hours. More time on the glass equals more animals that I have a chance of finding. 

If you’re just getting into ZULU6 image-stabilized binoculars for the first time, or looking to upgrade to the latest version, I don’t think you will go wrong with the new ZULU6 HDX PRO 42mm.

Be sure to also watch a video I recorded with Anthony Cuomo going over a quick comparison of the 2nd, 3rd, and new 4th gen of the ZULU6 line.