Steiner quality and solid construction...
Steiner has a great reputation for making high quality binoculars that are even fit even military use. So, it’s no surprise that Steiner is also a top maker of marine binoculars as well. We recently reviewed the Steiner Marine II 7x50 binocular (without compass) and found it to be a high quality and very sturdy marine binocular.
In reviewing binoculars for use in the marine environment we consider durability (shock resistant, quality optics for low light situations and waterproof as the key features for marine binoculars. The Steiner Marine II 7x50 does well in all of these categories.
The first thing that you notice is that it is a bit heavier and it’s rubber armoring feels more durable that other comparable marine binoculars. They have the right amount of mass to give you confidence in their construction. Indeed these are shock proof binoculars. Despite their sturdy feel that are a relatively compact binocular. At 37 ounces, they are sturdy but not heavy.
However, it was the optics that really impressed me with the Steiner Marine II 7x50. The BAK-4 prisms (higher quality than BK-7 prisms) and fully multi-coated lenses provide exceptional low light visibility. With over 90% light transmission, these binoculars are great for use on a boat where you may be depending upon them at down, dusk or in foggy conditions. This aspect alone makes the Steiner Marine II 7x50 a great buy for the serious boater.
Steiner’s depth of field offers the ability to focus on anything from 20’ to infinity without having to refocus.
Of course the Steiner Marine II 7x50 are nitrogen filled waterproof binoculars and are also fog proof. These waterproof binoculars also offer 22mm eye relief for easy use with glasses or sunglasses and they provide a full field of view.
We like the 7x50 magnification because we believe that it offers an excellent combination of magnification (7x) and brightness. The 7x magnification enables you to see things more closely without it being a bouncy image because of the movement of your boat. We also like the objective lens size (50mm) which offers a wide field of vision and allows lots of light into the binocular for low light situations.
Finally, it’s worth noting that the Steiner Marine II 7x50 also comes in a version with a bearing compass (we review that separately). It offers a high quality bearing compass that enables bearings accurate to the degree. This feature will cost about $200 additional but is well worth it if you need to make accurate bearings.
We rate the Steiner Marine II 7x50 (without compass) very highly. It comes with a 10 year warranty and is definitely a tool that will serve you for a very long time. You can find cheaper binoculars but it’s hard to beat this combination of quality and price.
Enjoy and happy boating!