Steiner big binocs?

[Bill A]

Anybody know anything about the 20x80 or 25x80 Steiner binocs? I've always been interested in some big binoculars for birding (used on a tripod, of course). The only review I've found was a very negative one on Cloudy Nights by a disgruntled purchaser who sent 'em back. I take it seriously, but one swallow does not a summer make. Anybody have any direct experience?

Thanks,
Bill

[ranburr]

These are very good binos in a category that doesn't have a lot of selection. The Senators and Observers are actually the same glass. The only difference, per Steiner, is that the Senator is built to Milspec.

ranburr

[ranburr]

I read the review on Cloudy Nights and then I went to their forum and another reviewer loved them.

ranburr

[Bill A]

Hi Ranburr,

Thanks for the info. Do you know if the "Rallye" model is different from the Observer/Senator?

Best,
Bill

[henry link]

Anybody know anything about the 20x80 or 25x80 Steiner binocs? I've always been interested in some big binoculars for birding (used on a tripod, of course). The only review I've found was a very negative one on Cloudy Nights by a disgruntled purchaser who sent 'em back. I take it seriously, but one swallow does not a summer make. Anybody have any direct experience?

Thanks,
Bill

Bill,

IMO large binoculars of this type make rather poor birding instruments. Without even getting into questions of brand quality almost all of them (with a few notable exceptions) use simple cemented achromatic doublet objectives with very low focal ratios of around f/4. An 80mm objective with a design like that inevitably results in high levels of chromatic and spherical aberrations. Viewed in daylight at 20X those aberrations are not at all subtle. Compared to any decent quality spotting scope the images are soft with pronounced color fringing. I've owned several of these large binoculars over the years for astronomy, but have never found any of them to be an acceptable substitute for a good scope in daylight. The Steiners have the additional problem of individual focus oculars, not a problem for astronomy but tricky for birding, especially given the narrow DOF at 20x.

Henry

[Bill A]

Henry,

Thanks. You make a convincing case. I think I'll pass on them at least until I can take a look through a pair myself. I have a good scope and so don't at all "need" such a pair of binocs.

Bill

[ranburr]

The steiner is essentially two spotters thrown together. I have found them to have quite a nice view. Let me say that I am biased. I have a very hard time seeing with a spotter and anything that allows me to use two eyes is more favorable to my liking. The Rallye model has been replaced and the current models are of higher quality.

ranburr

[tilling]

www.binoculars.org has pretty good tests on a lot of binoculars. In the "Giant" category he didn't like the Steiners at all; the close focus was about 100 feet!
I don't know how much things have changed since he did those tests, but the Zhumells seemed like a good deal for nice optics in that category.

[grbrown]

Bill,

I have an early pair of large Steiners 15x80, which when I bought them I was very pleased with. They are the same size and appearance of the sizes you mention. Mine have excellent illumination, something the higher powered versions will not have. I used mine handheld for several years of bird watching, but my latest Leica 12x50 are even better. The higher magnification models would obviously make a tripod essential.

Steiner are quite well made, but to get their relatively light weight must use mostly plastic construction and optics. I have just weighed mine and they are 68 ounces compared with 44 for my much smaller all-glass/metal Leicas.

So the purpose of my posting is to make two comments. 1. Really high quality bins like the larger Leicas are remarkably good and have made my Steiners redundant. 2. The size of large binoculars you mention may not give a big enough improvement in performance over high quality standard sized ones if you have them.

I have also bought spotting scopes for more distant viewing, but don't get on with using only one eye. Although I loved them I found my Steiners had only a small advantage over my normal sized bins and I have stopped using them now. So I am looking to make a bigger step up in size and performance to binocular scopes, in the 80/100mm objective range.

Hope that helps!

Graham. ;)