Steiner Military+Marine 7x50 (1 Viewer)

[rdnzl]

They are big, chunky, and relatively heavy. But the views are quite good. The "Sports Auto Focus" marketing term, is just that. Marketing. Everything beyond about 60 feet is in focus, and anything closer, you just turn the individual focusers. I guess they thought they had to call it something. I followed some squirrels gathering nuts across the road, and I didn't need to refocus as they went from yard to yard. I watched a hummingbird on my feeder with a quick adjustment, at 15 feet or so. Then I returned the focusers to my marks, and bam, SPORTS AUTO FOCUS. Colors and contrast are great.

They are sharp almost to the edge of the view when reading small print on a sign that's 100 yards away, and there is no noticeable CA. I didn't notice any distortion when looking at a fence across the road. Eye relief is perfect for me, a non eyeglass wearer, with the rubber cups out. Not what I'd call a wide angle view, but what is in the view is presented very well.

The rubber wetsuit cover thingy works well. But they also have a pretty nice camo case with shoulder strap.

TIme will tell how they hold up. But they have a lifetime warranty, and I doubt that they will be going out of business any time soon.

 

[Ted Y.]

Nice short review.

 

[Ignatius]

I have the MM10x50 and can confirm the above impressions.

 

[rdnzl]

I had them out at dusk last night and a little bit after dark. Low light performance is excellent. Nice "shadow" performance, as I could see well into some shrubbery and I could see a lot of detail on branches, leaves, etc. while the brighter areas didn't wash out. They presented a very useful view.

While they aren't too hard to hand hold, the addition of a tripod mount would have been nice. Where the tripod mount hole would be, is the swivel stud for the objective covers. This system works good for the covers at the expense of a tripod mount. I may look into getting one of those "platform" tripod mounts that hold the binocular with a strap. But at 7X, they aren't jumping around that much.

 

[yarrellii]

I really like the shape of these and the way the "fall" in your hands as you cup them. I've only had smaller versions, the 8x30 Wildlife Pro (the "hybrid" focus version) and 7x30 Navigator. Both were a pleasure to handle, but specially the latter left a lot to be desired in the optical department, and by the looks of it the Navitagor sits in a very similar price range as the MM, so I wonder if my unit was a bit of a lemon.

 

[rdnzl]

I too, like the shape and how they feel in my hands. I can find nothing to fault with these, and the optics are real nice, but if they weren't I would have sent them right back.

I do wonder if Steiner should just drop the "Sports Auto Focus" bit. They are just binoculars with a very deep depth of field. With anything closer than about 60 feet, focus is easy to achieve with a slight twist of the focus rings. Then I just return to my "marks". Which are both -1 on the scales. Very simple. Everything beyond that is in focus. I guess every manufacturer can fall victim to an agressive marketing department.

 

[rdnzl]

I like using side guards/shields. They really make viewing better, with no side light coming in. I had these in my drawer, and they fit perfectly.

 

[Dave3006]

I have two pair of the 7x50s. They are awesome. $215 delivered on Amazon. They are probably the best deal on binoculars you can get. I have two questions:

1. What is the level of waterproofing. The specs say "waterproof". But, it is hard finding more information. They are not nitrogen purged.

2. That bino sleeve looks cool. Do you have any pictures of it from the front? How do you use them with it on?

Thanks.

 

[rdnzl]

��������

I'm not sure what WATERPROOFING means. Is it bathtub depth? Swimming pool depth? Marianas Trench depth?
This is all they say
Waterproofing	Waterproof
Prism Material	BaK-4
Lens Coating	Fully Multi-coated

 

[rdnzl]

And about the bino bib. It actually works quite well. Once you figure out how to orient the "belt" that goes around the body so the cover isn't on the back, or upside down. It's very stretchy,and you just let it hang down, and it's not in the way.

 

[rdnzl]

One more.

 

[Dave3006]

Thanks rdnzl!

 

[rdnzl]

I spent the afternoon down at the local marina, pretending that I own a boat. I had these with me, and I sat at the end of a pier and watched boats coming and going. It was a clear day, with just a bit of haze in the air. I could see everything very clearly, and they also worked well for watching seagulls, both in the air and on the ground. The focusing system is really handy. No adjustments were needed today at all. I also viewed the Olympic Mountains, across the sound, and I could pick out details on the shoreline in front of them with ease. A couple container ships cruised by, out in the shipping lane, and I could easily read the names on each container.

All in all, I like these a lot. I have nothing to complain about. Except the lack of a tripod mount, but that's just nit picking, because they really aren't hard to hold still at all, in spite of their size. They present views that are just right, with no eye fatigue. I might be buying the 10x50's at some point.

 

[Dave3006]

I just sold my 10x50 MM Steiners and bought the 7x50s. I hated the 10x version. Too much shake. The 7x50s are much better.

I thought there was a cap that can be removed that holds the lens covers on to attach to a tripod?

(Don’t take my word for this, I could be wrong)

 

[rdnzl]

I don't think the stud for the covers is intended to be removed. It's really on there.

 

[Dave3006]

Please don’t try to hard, I don’t want you to break it because of me.

Berlebach has a mount I use for my Steiner.

 

[Ignatius]

I don't think the stud for the covers is intended to be removed. It's really on there.

The MMs do not have a removable plastic cover hiding a tripod adapter thread on the central hinge. That stud is solely for the objective lens covers.
The real military ones costing about a grand more than the MMs are waterproof to 16'. I would class the MMs as 'weather proof' or rain/shower proof. If they get dirty you can wash them off, but I would not actually submerge them.

 

[Dave3006]

I called the Steiner office in CO. I was less than impressed with the "technical expert" I spoke to on the phone. He claimed that the Military Marine is submersible to 15 meters. He also claims they are nitrogen purged. I am skeptical to say the least unless I see it on official Steiner documents.

And, just to be clear, I specifically asked about the MM, not the commander. I even reminded him of this.

 

[Ted Y.]

I called the Steiner office in CO. I was less than impressed with the "technical expert" I spoke to on the phone. He claimed that the Military Marine is submersible to 15 meters. He also claims they are nitrogen purged. I am skeptical to say the least unless I see it on official Steiner documents.

And, just to be clear, I specifically asked about the MM, not the commander. I even reminded him of this.

You asked and you have the answer.
Why 'I was less than impressed'? Do you have facts or is just your impression?
Why the quotes in "technical expert"? Do you have facts or is just your impression?

 

[Ted Y.]

I am an engineer. I know when I am speaking to someone about a technical issue and when that person does not have a clue. The person I talked to took forever to get the answer and was digging through paperwork to find it. Lots of "ums", "wait", and "I think" statements. He had no comprehensive knowledge of the products. I can also tell when someone is guessing. I could hear it in his voice. He didn't know anything about nitrogen purging.

I have been in technology 35 years. My impressions are rock solid. The guy knew next to nothing about Steiner binoculars.

I respect the fact you have an opinion and you let us know it. I asked for facts, you offered subjective estimations of the behaviour of the support person.
I prefer an answer from documentation.
I do not doubt your impression "are rock solid". 'Solid' is not equal 'correct' for me.