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Zulus Day/Night Optic - What's All The Fuss About?

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40K views 629 replies 50 participants last post by  TX_RDXguy  
#1 · (Edited)
Let's dig in a little deeper and try to help anyone interested learn.......

Some Facts:
- This optic surfaced on CBN in early September and there have been several threads about it.

- It's not a new product but distribution by DNT is new. DNT is Day Night Technology, a group out of Sugarland Texas, near Houston. About DNT | DNT Optics Store

About DNT | DNT Optics Store
We are a team of assorted enthusiasts who want to make the tools we want to see and use. We strive to provide yo...

- This scope is an electro-optic, a digital device that is setup for Day and Night hunting and uniquely compact, in some cases 1/2 the size, 1/3 the weight of comparable scopes. Both Day and Night modes are delivered by a Sony Starvis 2 sensor and packaged in a 23 oz bundle. It was designed for the rifle community like most digital IR scopes are but it's easily mounted to your favorite xbow.

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- The Zulus does what most scopes do but adds High-Definition Video recording, an integrated Laser Range Finder (LRF) for distance reference that feeds the scope processor that runs a ballistic program. With a press of a button the LRF captures yardage which in turn sets a reticle for the appropriate aiming distance.

- It's affordable. The MSRP of $899.99 is not out of line and similar products from ATN, Sightmark and other Optic companies, which can cost significantly more. Right now you can find it on sale from DNT for $599.99 using the "brawler10" discount code.

- It has a 2 year warranty. Tech support is US based and DNT has a member of their tech support here on CBN. Reach out to Brawler1588 if you have questions or need support.

There are some good video examples that will be shared and I hope to see some more Zulus videos pop up on CBN! My use and testing will continue as will you new Zulus shooters. Let's continue to put this thing through the paces to prove it's worth.

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#4 ·
OK, here ya go Delms82.

I'm going to give you the data points you need to enter to create a xbow friendly ballistic set. The highlighted ones are critical.

  • Start by going into the menu. Long press the menu button (about 2 seconds) and the menu will pop up.
  • Move to the right one position to select "Ballistic Options" and press the top button to select it.
  • Move to the right until you are on "Ballistic Data Settings" and press the top button to select it.
  • Move to the right to get to each ballistic value and add the detail below.

1. Zero Distance - AB yards, mine 30 yards (pick whatever yardage you want that you can "zero" your scope at)
2. Scope Height - A.B", mine is 2.9" (this is a measurement from the center of a loaded arrow to the center of the objective lens)
3. Muzzle Velocity - ABC fps, mine is 390 fps (this is arrow speed)
4. Calibur - A.BCD", mine is 0.344" (this is the OD of the arrow)
5. Bullet Weight - ABC gn, 464 gn
6. Ballistic Coefficient/Drag Function - A.BC", mine is 0.05" / AB, mine is G1 (this entry will look like 0.05/G1)
7. Bullet Length - This is not used so leave the value it at whatever the default is.
8. Temperature - I set it to 50 degrees which is the average temp in my area at 9 am in Nov.
9. Altitude - 659 ft (the altitude of the area I most commonly hunt)

* On #6 Drag Function is not show on the chart but that's what the second value is.

Save that data by pressing the left button (the one with a half black, half white circle).

Selecting the "Aiming Method" is next.
  • Start by going into the menu. Long press the menu button (about 2 seconds) and the menu will pop up.
  • Move to the right two positions to select "Aiming Method" and press the top button to select it.
  • Move to the right until you are on "Hold Over" or "Dial In" and press the top button to select it. I prefer "Dial In" which moves the reticle to the POA.

Always check you entries to see if they saved.

Next would be the zeroing step, which we will cover if needed.
 
#7 · (Edited)
I've been hunting a lease here in north Texas for 7 seasons which has been a good spot but is now changing because of land development pressure. This year I walked away from it thinking I could spend my time and money differently, which has proven to be true but a choice that also limits my hunting options in Texas. I'll work on that....

Thankfully I had an invite to come to Ohio, meet a long time CBN friend and do a little bowhunting. What a deal, a "royal flush" in my book and this past week I took off to Ohio to meet FarmDeer. Great trip, great guy, great place to hunt and we even made a trip to Magadore to visit TenPoint.
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I'm going to share a few videos tonight that I hope will show how the scope can work in a hunting environment above simply helping you put an arrow where you want it.

Day 1 started out here. A nice size one man blind perfect for a "full build" guy, a chair, small tripod, small pack and my crossbow.
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My early morning view looked like this.
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And here's an early morning video just to get a feel for how a Day Mode full color video in good light can look.


This is the scope in Night mode with no added illumination. The Zulus has an integrated IR lamp that will add a light that's invisible to deer or humans (any warm blooded creature). I intentionally didn't turn it on to show how well you can see in low light conditions. The sun had set and it was dusk and getting dark. FarmDeer was already out of his blind heading my way. Waite for it.......


Visible light is now almost gone and there's not a traditional scope that could pull in this much light at 7:38 pm EST as this electro optic does in this video. Think how valuable that visibility is when you need to scan a field to make sure Mr. Big isn't out there for you to run off as you get out of your blind.

I've got a few more examples to post and will pick this up again and a day or so. Hope this was helpful.
 
#15 · (Edited)
The way I have it setup, it does and its whole reticle shifts. You can change a menu option to “Hold Over” and it works differently by placing a POA indicator on the reticle. You have reticle operation options and also reticle style options. Good choices…..
 
#19 · (Edited)
Let's take a look at how this thing works in the dark.

Day 4 and I'm on the tree line at 18' looking into the open field and at about 30 yards is a mature crabapple tree. Apples are still hanging but only at about 7' and up, just out of the reach of our friend the whitetail deer.
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It's 6:48 am EST and pitch black. Zulus scope is in Night mode with the 940 nm illuminator on and set to low (it automatically comes on at the low setting)

Same spot at 6:46 am EST. The Zulus is set to Night mode with the 940 nm illuminator turned off. This is the super stealth mode for low light IMO.

You've heard this before ;) Same spot at 6:45 am EST. The Zulus is set to Day mode and the color image is grainey and not very clear. Remember, it's pitch black out.

Here is one more low light video of a buck at about 120 yards coming my way to 60 yards and meeting some does.

My conclusion, which has been consistent with this digital technology since 2016, is the usability of these scopes with the low light Day and incredible Night mode light gathering ability is exceptional. One of the most challenging aspects of bow hunting just got a little more manageable. Now toss in the LRF and video recording....... Priceless!
 
#21 ·
Let's take a look at how this thing works in the dark.

Day 4 and I'm on the tree line at 18' looking into the open field and at about 30 yards is a mature crabapple tree. Apples are still hanging but only at about 7', just out of the reach of our friend the whitetail deer.



It's 6:48 am EST and pitch black. Zulus scope is in Night mode with the 940 nm illuminator on and set to low (it automatically comes on at the low setting)

Same spot at 6:46 am EST. The Zulus is set to Night mode with the 940 nm illuminator turned off. This is the super stealth mode for low light IMO.

You've heard this before ;) Same spot at 6:45 am EST. The Zulus is set to Day mode and the color image is grainey and not very clear. Remember, it's pitch black out.

Here is one more low light video of a buck at about 120 yards coming my way to 60 yards and meeting some does.

My conclusion, which has been consistent with this digital technology since 2016, is the usability of these scopes with the low light Day and incredible Night mode light gathering ability is exceptional. One of the most challenging aspects of bow hunting just got a little more manageable. Now toss in the LRF and video recording....... Priceless!
Great video footage....the only thing left for one of you guys to post is a actual a couple "daytime" and especially " nightime" video in these different modes, just like you did in these videos.....just shoot a target with a lighted nock preferably.....thanks
 
#29 ·
Got mine yesterday too. Mounted, balistics table uploaded, ready to do the zero tonight. Image looks great! I am curious about the battery cap. Mine is extremely difficult to unscrew. Very tight threads, almost feels like cap is not quite round? There is a tight spot on each turn if that make sense. Anybody else have this issue?
 
#41 ·
Texas has no laws prohibiting use of electronic, digital, IR or Thermal optics that don’t project visible light on regulated game. Visible light like a spotting light beam or a visible laser.

What state are you in?
 
#31 ·
I received mine yesterday first off. I want to say I was very impressed on the packaging scope. It’s packaged in the box with what I think it’s high density foam to me. That’s great attention to detail for ensuring that the scope doesn’t get damaged shipping.
I did mount scope last night temporarily just to see how it looked while the batteries was charging. This morning I removed the scope brought it to work with me today. Hopefully, I’ll have time today to get the ballistics uploaded.
Possibly this weekend has time to zero And shoot it. To be continued.
 
#32 ·
Sidenote, one thing I did notice the manual that comes with the scope in the box is smaller so it fits in the package without folding for older eyes. It’s a little hard to see even with glasses.
On their website, they do have a PDF file manual that you can download. I had done this when I ordered the scope printed out in color and placed the three ring binder much easier to read. This could be helpful for some folks.
 
#47 ·
Ok guys to I want to speak to all the tech challenged people out there like myself and I’m one of the worst.
I just set my ballistic profile up using Rich & George notes supplied here and I did have the manual in front of me while on lunch took me probably 45 minutes which normal person probably 5-10 minutes. I do still have to mount scope and measure scope height and enter that but easy mezzy. Now I know and honestly after I figured out how to get from metric to standard it was a breeze took me maybe 10 minutes to enter all the information.
Hopefully I can get some time tomorrow to zero it.
 
#49 ·
After reading ... 30 pages of this stuff I don't think I saw anyone mention how you start the recording feature.
 
#51 ·
Ok guys to I want to speak to all the tech challenged people out there like myself and I’m one of the worst.
I just set my ballistic profile up using Rich & George notes supplied here and I did have the manual in front of me while on lunch took me probably 45 minutes which normal person probably 5-10 minutes. I do still have to mount scope and measure scope height and enter that but easy mezzy. Now I know and honestly after I figured out how to get from metric to standard it was a breeze took me maybe 10 minutes to enter all the information.
Hopefully I can get some time tomorrow to zero it.
 
#54 · (Edited)
I just zero'd ... my Ten Point Nitro 505 with the ATN X-Sight 5 Series LRF model. It's been sitting in my double sea container for over a month. I couldn't get to it because I've been busy as a three-legged dog in a butcher shop since September 14th.
#1. That 25x is nice. I love the available higher magnification.
#2. The ATN - X5 is sweet. I had bore sighted it a month ago. First arrow at 20 yards was about 3" low and 1" right. (LRF said 23 yards) Second arrow at 23 yards was in the bullseye. One arrow at 30 yards about 1.5" low. (LRF confirmed 30 yards) Tweaked the reticle for 30 yard zero, next arrow was dead nuts.
#3. After laying idle for at least a month the battery was on 96%! The highest I ever saw it was 97% after charging!

Don't git no better dan dat. :) ;)