In a world of changing climate, rising seas and global temperature changes, more and more attention is being given to the seas.
With politicians and scientists alike saying that some marine species days are numbered, people are flocking to see the creatures of the deep in a real life setting.
To do this, you’re going to need a good pair of binoculars, with a wield field of vision, decent magnification and crystal clear imagery.
Click here for more reviews of Steiner Marine Commander XP Binoculars
Enter the Steiner Marine Binoculars.Where they carry a hefty price tag, arguably, it is deserved.
With auto focus as standard, water proof to 10m depth and an armored durable construction, these binoculars are built to last.
They are a one-time purchase and have the potential to fulfill all of your binocular needs.
Steiner Marine Commander XP Video Review – Watch Below
Image stabilization is also built in, meaning you won’t miss that whale breaching off the coast or the bird diving to grab an unsuspecting fish.
In this review, we address whether the Steiner’s live up to the hype, or if they are just a wet fish….
Steiner Marine Commander XP Specifications
| Steiner Marine Commander XP 7x30 | Steiner Marine Commander XP 7x50 | |
|---|---|---|
Size | 7x30 | 7x50 |
Optics System | High Definition | High Definition |
Field of View | 392 ft. | 390 ft. |
Close Focus | 20 | 39 |
Eye Relief | 17 mm | 22 mm |
Weight | 20 | 39 |
Dimensions | 2.4 x 6.7 x 4.5 | 3.8 x 8.1 x 6.2 |
| READ REVIEWS | READ REVIEWS |
Main Usage Steiner Marine Commander XP Binoculars
There can be no prizes for guessing what the purpose was for the Steiner Marine XP Binoculars when it came to design. That’s right, they are designed for marine use.
There are numerous features that make these Steiner binoculars ideal for use on boats or in and around bodies of water.
For a start, these are the most waterproof binocs I have come across.
Where many binocs advertise themselves as waterproof, what they really mean is water resistant, as they fall apart when submersed beneath one metre of water or after extended periods under running water.
The Steiner’s however, are submersible up to 10 meters, as well as being completely weather proof.
This isn’t going to save you if you drop them off the side of a boat into the Atlantic, but if you’re near shore, or wading, that feature could prove invaluable.
Furthermore, these binocs feature auto sport focusing. This brings moving targets into instant focus, without having to adjust a central focusing knob.
Combine this with the extremely large field of vision, your chances of clearly seeing a breaching whale, or a diving bird are significantly increased, bringing you closer to the action than ever before.
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Glass/Lens
The Steiner Marine Binoculars feature a 50mm objective lens, giving a massive field of view that you won’t find in another set of binoculars.
The lenses are also coated with Steiner’s patented nano-protection.
This fives the lens a dirt and water repellent surface that protects them from environmental damage. This hydrophobic surface coating maintains the high quality image for many years.
You can gauge Steiner’s confidence from their 30 year warranty as standard.
Magnification
The Steiner Marine Binoculars offer a seven times magnification through a 50mm objective lens (7×50).
This gives an unparalleled field of vision, with stable image tracking.
Boasting a 390 feet field of vision from just 100 yards away, these crisp, clear and durably constructed binoculars are the unrivalled when it comes to marine use.
Image Quality
With a price tag of over $1000, you are entitled to expect a certain amount of image quality from these binoculars.
It’s safe to say, that you will not be disappointed with the Steiner Marine Binoculars.
They feature a phenomenally wide field of vision, combined with precision engineered high quality optics to bring sharply contoured images.
Very little color aberration occurs, and there is the added bonus of a high definition image stabilizer, meaning any movement you find through the 50mm objective lens is going to be crisp and clear, rather than blurred and inaccurate.
Eye Relief
Equipped with ergo flex eyecups, these binoculars are easily adjustable and leave ample space for even the largest of glasses.
Comfortable for extended viewing periods makes these the ideal choice for those lengthy marine mammal observations.
Combined with the lightweight exterior, these binoculars are versatile as well as comfortable, and leave no gaps between the eyecups are your skin.
Pros
In terms of standout features, the Steiner Marine Binoculars are its durability.
Waterproof up to 10 meters, and highly weather resistant as well as a certain degree of buoyancy means that these are the only choice for use at sea.
With full frame clarity and auto-focus, these are ideal for the inexperienced user as well as the seasoned veteran.
Cons
The main fault with these marine binoculars, is that where they boast a wide field of vision there’s an apparent field of focus.
This can prove a problem when being used for activities such as marine mammal observation, as you may miss breaching marine mammals which are in the blurred outer fields of the binoculars field of vision.
Conclusion
There’s no denying the quality of the Steiner Marine Binoculars, however, their price tag is much higher than many other binoculars that could perform similarly on land.
The deciding factor on whether to purchase or not, is whether you will make the most of the waterproof features.
If you are going to be observing marine life from the sure, you could find a cheaper pair of binoculars that will do just as stellar of a job.
However, for the sea going individual, the price is definitely justified, and you can rest assured you’ve made a safe purchase from the included 30 year warranty.
In short, these are a must have for any seafarer, but probably a step too far for the land loving observers.
