Steiner vs Pentax binoculars
Want to hear from users of both brands. Likes, dislikes. I have Pentax 12x42 DCF-HR and am pleased. A friend is looking at Steiner Safari 12x40 and wants to know more. The Steiner feature of being adjusted to infinity is interesting but is clarity and definition lost at long distance?
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I have a pair of Steiner military marine 8x30 and love them. German optics generally deliver exactly what they say they will. 0 -
GHD,
If I were to go for the Steiner, I would go for their Predator line. They do make excellent binoculars. I don't know what size objective lense he wants, but he could look at the new Zeiss Diafuns. The Zeiss are extremely sharp & clear.
My best advise is, tell him to go to some large sporting goods store where they carry high end optics and try some of them. Also, tell him to buy the very best he can afford. Even if he has to use the plastic. That way he only has to buy them once. He won't regret it, trust me.
"If All Else Fails, Read The Directions"0 -
Here is a web site that does some bino comparisons and ratings. These are serious birders that carry binos more than most hunters. It is worth a look.
http://www.ornith.cornell.edu/publications/livingbird/spring99/binos.html
A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand0 -
He Dog,
I just glanced through that birdwatchers site. As you probably know, I'am a die hard Zeiss fan, and I also like Swarovskis. I noticed that they didn't test the Zeiss 8 or 10x56 Victory Series, maybe Zeiss didn't want to supply those the them. Those are two of the finest binoculars I've ever seen.
I think when you get up to that class of binoculars, it is extremely hard to pick them apart and say which one is best. That's where bias comes in. Not to mention favoritism with certain groups to promote your products.
I got the word direct from Zeiss that they will be producing a 12x56 Victory model sometime between this fall and spring. I can't wait to see that one. I better start saving my money now.
PS, I forgot to mention, they have a pretty hefty price tag. List $1449.99 and $1549.99 respectively.
Edited by - bullelk on 08/14/2002 19:29:010 -
I've been using a pair of Steiner Firebird 12x40s for about 5 years and love them.
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Proud member of the vast right wing conspiracy0 -
BullElk, I agree when you get into the stratospheric price range there is very little that seperates them-like which is most comfortable to hold etc. My personal bias runs toward Leica, but I am looking hard at the Nikon Venturers for Birding. I use a pair of 8x42 Eagle Optics Rangers for hunting. At less than $400 they are a real steal I think, comparable to $600 binos. I have put them on top of a pair of Leicas at various times of the day, and the Leicas give me about 5 extra minutes of looking dawn/dusk, if that much. I think Swarovskies are very fine binos, but somehow they seem a little heavier and are not as comfortable to hold for me. At that level it is really personal preference, so you want to get something you like working with, so you will use them, rather than grumble about them and leave them in your pack.
A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand0 -
I bought a pair of Steiner binoculars at the begining of the year and my Nephew age 5 dropped them and they fogged up.I called the factory and they sent me a box Postage paid and a control number to send them back.About two weeks later I recieved a brand new pair with a note saying they had rendered the first pair defective,and my brand new pair is one of the most used items I have. Clarity vs Magnification are great.But I now believe them to be over priced.
Best!!
Rugster
Edited by - Rugster on 08/15/2002 11:23:530 -
I have used steiners alot in recent years and found them to be a good value for the price. I think it depends on the use intended alot. I have a pair of 12x40 Hunting model Steiners ( the model prior to the NightHunter model ) that are excellent for my use. Where I do most of my hunting is wide open spaces where you generally need the extra 12 power. They don't have as wide a field of view as 8 or 10 power but bring in long range details very well and have the good multi-phase coated optics that are good in early morning light or at dusk. These are what the new NightHunter models have and is why they cost more. The safari models are pretty good glasses for the money ( a hunting friend of mine liked my hunting models so much he bought some safaris )but are made with different glass coatings and have a darker tint to them. They are made to use in bright light across deserts and such and are much like sun glasses. They are not as good in the early morning or at dusk. The predator models have a greenish tint to them and are for bringing out the reds and brown animal colors in timber and brush.Another thing to consider is how steady you can hold them. I have steady hands and the 12 power is fine for me, but have an elderly friend who cannot use them because with the smaller 40mm lenses ans 12 power every little shake is magnified.For most people, if you want 12 power it is better to go with 50mm lenses but then the price goes up for the larger glass. --- Hope this helps, good hunting --- Temblor 0 -
tembler, WELCOME to GB!! Thanks for the info on the Steiners. He still hasn't purchased yet so I'll give him your input. GHD PS. I see that as a new member you are checking old posts! There's a lot of interesting stuff out there!! 0 -
Temblor, welcome, and thanks for the info. I was not aware of the different applications for the Steiners. One of the discount houses (Sport's Guide http://www.sportsmansguide.com/?) has some Steiners on sale. Anyone familiar enough with the pricing of these to comment on the value? Sounds to me like the Steiners I would want would be in the Predator series. What about the 8x30 military? Seems like a pretty small exit pupil to me.
Guys, I am trying to educate myself regarding optics generally. As you might expect, I am particularly interested in gun scopes, spotters, binos. I have an old book called Basic Optics for the Sportsman by Earle Brown, dated but gives the basics. Does anyone know some good source material for study?
As far as binos go, my primary use would be game observation and hunting. Here in the midwest, I don't think I need the higher magnifications. Recommendations would be appreciated, both as to best and to best bang for the buck.
Does anyone have websites for the manufacturer's bookmarked?
redcedars0 -
Sorry to throw water on a suggested post review.
Found the "review" to be sorely lacking in accurate comparisons.
Ie., when comparing a 7X42 vs 8X45 there is already an optical difference of 12+ % in power, and 20+ % in brightness, not even to mention resolution.
Throw in a 10X24, or 10X50 and it's like comparing performance between a 22-250 vs a .270. Or a pick up truck vs a family SUV.
Would have been far better to group by specifications within price ranges.
Strongly suggest using only to see how evaluations were done, but don't buy using "immage or catagory results".
Happy Bullet Holes!0 -
Redcedars, there are two books curently out there on optics: "Optics for Hunters" by John Barsness, and "The Gun Digest Book of Sporting Optics: How to Use and Choose Riflescopes, Spotting Scopes, and Binoculars" by Wayne Van Zwoll. Both are good and they are a little different in approach and content. I find Barsness very readable which is useful in the technical aspects of how these optics work. He also talks about when to use which optics and about various products. The Van Zwoll book is a couple of years newer and places more emphasis on the catalog approach to what is available. He clearly likes Swarovski products and they provided a lot of photos for the book. I have both and I think that is the best approach. If I were just keeping one of them, it would be the Barsness book.
A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand
Edited by - He Dog on 09/07/2002 12:09:530 -
I steer people towards Nikon optics and suggest they compare anything else with them. Nikon is not necessarily perfect, but they don't slouch on their stuff so they offer a benchmark for users.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead0
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