Binoculars

[Dodger]

I've got another optics question...I've taken your advise and have decided to start shopping for binoculars. I've been looking at the 12x and 15x sizes of binoculars. I'm curious if anyone uses the Steiner predators (12x40). They seem to have a good reputation and these are in my price range (I can't afford the Swarovskis or Leicas). Any suggestions?
Thanks
Matt

 

[bullwidgeon]

My buddy has that exact pair of 12x40 Predator's. They are clear enough when you get the adjustments right. They work wonderfully for him when the light is good. The magnification is nice compared to 8 or 10 power binos. They are extremely light weight and pretty rugged in design.
The 3 things I personally DO NOT like about these is the Steiner individual eye focus. I don't like any bino that doesn't have a main focus knob. I also dont like the fact that you lose the ability to glass as light gets low. The last thing I dont like is the lack of a tripod mounting system for these things. He said he looked for one but couldn't find anyway to get them mounted to a tripod other than a bino buddy and I think those things suck.
Back to the light gathering problem, I know this is a bad comparison, but I can glass with my 15x56 Swarovskis at least 20 minutes earlier and later than he can because his binos get "dark" before mine do. I think the 12x40 doesn't have enough exit pupil? I may be wrong on that terminology, I do know they don't glass well in lowlight at all. You may want to look at other kinds. I have looked through Pentax 12x50's and Nikon 10x40's Monarchs, and I would think both would be superior in lowlight to those Steiners. I don't know what your exact price range is but alot of people on the other boards say alot of good things about the Pentax DCF WP series in 8x40 and 10x40. I think, if you want to stay with the Steiner brand, they have a new 12x56 and 15x56 model that may gather alot more light towards evening and early morning, I just haven't ever looked through them so I couldn't tell you for sure. I hope that helps.
Bret Mattausch

 

[jthunt]

I am not a big fan of Steiner with that said If you can not afford Leica Zeiss Swarovski I would suggest the 10x42 or 10x50 Pentax DCF/waterproof very good binocular for the money do some searchs because the prices will very a lot. The 10x42 and 10x50 are real good for the money and I think there the next best thing. Good luck there are tons of good mid priced binoculars out there but this would be my first pick.

 

[redrabbit]

I have compared a pair of Minox 15x58's and was impressed. The local shop had them for $999, but you might be able to get them grey market from a NY camera store for under $700, I'm told. Put em on a tripod next to the other binos and compare.

 

[crazyaboutcoues]

I agree 100% with Bull. I've owned a pair of 12x40 Steiners for eight years. They are good nocks but the individual eye focus sux. If I had to do it all over again I would rather have a pair of 8x Zeiss than the 12x Steiners for around the neck.

The good thing about Steiner is the warrenty. My initial pair were the 9x40s and I ran over them with my four-wheeler and distroyed them. I sent them in and they sent me a new pair of 12x40 for 50 bucks. This last year I dropped them at Diamond Backs game and broke them again. Sent them in two weeks later they sent me a brand new pair for another 50 bucks.

Later

 

[TAM]

I know it's grey market but go to www.hotbuyelectronics.com and take a look at the Minox 15X58's they are priced at $664.98 or look at the Docter 15X60's they are priced at $579.98. Anyone here will tell you that for the money either of those brands are the next best thing to Swarovski, Zeiss, & Leica. In fact the Mionx are made by Leica.

I currently use the Swarovski 15X56's and have used both the Minox and Docter's and there is really not that big of a difference.

 

[ghost hunter]

Dodger,

I have used Steiner's for about 15 years now. I have the 10X50 Military style. I've enjoyed them over the years and they are certainly better than the 10X50's I was using prior (Bushnell) but they do have some problems.

As Bull said, the smaller objective lense will fail sooner in low light than the 50. I hunted with a guy who had the 12X56 Steiners. One day we saw some deer in the shadows at dusk. I could see them but couldnt tell if there was a buck or not. With his bino's you could clearly tell that one was a buck. His had more magnification, but it was the better performance in low light that helped the most.

As for the individual eye focus, I prefer that because not every ones eyes are the same, particularily if you wear glasses. One eye might be 20-20, the other 20-15, for example. The way Steiners are designed is once you get each eye piece focused, they are set and good for 20 yards to infinity. Thats why there is no center focus knob.

Again, Bull's friend is correct. Steiner just doesn't seem to think people will want to use their binos with a tripod. Finding an adapter is a pain. Everything you get will have to be an 'after market' item. But I mentioned this before.

Just one Steiner owner's thoughts....

Ghost Hunter

 

[Bura Nut]

Matt: If I was in your position, I would go towards big glass like 15X and look at the Minox or Docter's as stated above. I would compare the weight of the two and how easy each brand adapts to a tripod, then make my decision from there. I know Minox makes a good bino, I have looked through their 10x. I think if you get the big glass, and then use your existing 10x, you will be set up. I would also listen to the advice regarding low light. You really need bino's that work good in low light, that is the critical glassing time for coues....Allen......

 

[Dodger]

Trust me, I'm taking all this to heart. Last year I was on one side of a large canyon right at dusk when I could see deer through my binoculars across the canyon from me. That's when it hit me that 1) I need stronger binoculars for glassing long distances and 2) I need better binoculars for those low light situations. I couldn't tell if the deer were bucks or does. Of course I just told everyone that they were does since I really couldn't tell what they were. The same thing happened when I glassed up my brother's buck the next morning. Only then we able to wait for enough light to tell that he had horns. I'm in Tucson, is there anywhere down here that I could go to look through a pair of Minox? I really want to look through them before I buy a pair.
Thanks for the advice
Matt

 

[Bura Nut]

Matt: I know that Arizona Sportsman owns a few stores down in Tucson, or you could call toll free to Eagle Eye outdoors 1-877-232-4534 or 602-275-1726 up here in Phoenix and maybe Rick Long knows where to go test out some of the bino's down in Tucson. Also, when you call Rick at eagle eye, he really knows the binos, so ask him all the questions you have, he will help you out. He also knows alot about hunting, tripods etc....He may know if Minox is better than Docter in low light situations.... Allen......