Zeiss binos vs. Steiner binos
- Thread starter saskcop
- Start date
I have had a pair of Steiner 7x50 Commanders for about 25 years, the original milspec ones, fabulous glasses, exceptional in low light and tough as nails. Don't have any experience with the later commercial models though
I thought Steiner binos were the cats ass until I got a pair of Zeiss Victory binos. The Zeiss Victory's blow every other pair roof prism high end binos I ever tried. Of course price means a lot in the quality optics realm. Go with Zeiss if you can afford it.
I have no experience with Steiner, however I do own a pair of Zeiss Victory RF. In a word, the sight picture produced by these binoculars is stunning. I find myself looking for excuses to take them with me when I am out.
I have not looked through a pair of Conquest binoculars, however I own both a Conquest and Victory rifle scope. The Conquest has a clear picture, however object detail, clarity and colour rendition do not match the Victory.
I have not looked through a pair of Conquest binoculars, however I own both a Conquest and Victory rifle scope. The Conquest has a clear picture, however object detail, clarity and colour rendition do not match the Victory.
I had a set of 8X40 conquests, they were very nice especially for the money. I personally think you would need to go to the Steiner Peregrines to get better glass than the conquests. With that said the peregrines are awesome binos - highly under rated in my opinion.
Apologize for the following - cause you didn't ask this - but I'd keep shopping till I found bino's I liked - that also had magnesium rather than plastic housings. Just a personal bias with optics that need to stay in alignment in order to function properly - for years.
meathunter62
Member
- Location
- Cranbrook/BC
re-bino's
Would buy neither!
I've owned lots of different glasses of wich several Steiners and found them all quite disappointing! Wasted a lot of money on these cheaper- & mid-end glasses in the processe! The worst one by far was the Tasco-'brand'! As you get older, you get wiser: I finally saved-up my money & went for Swarovski & later another Leica and I've never looked back since!
Have looked trough & compared the Zeiss Conquest with my own small 10x28 Leica: altough a nice and reasonable quality glass, it seemed to me it still couldn't match the performance of this smaller bino! In the end I think you would be much better-off saving up a bit longer and go for the real stuff: the Zeiss Victory, any of the Leica's or Swarovski's! Another good value for money deal is the Kahles (if still available), wich is less then half the money of any of the above and yet comes very close to the same quality! Other good ones are the Nikon Monarch and one of the high-end Gold ring Leupolds are not bad either.
*As last: If the quality of their bino's is matching the quality of their rifle-scopes (of wich I own one aswell), then I would also seriously consider one of the new Japanese Mfg. "Sightron" Bino's! Awesome optics!
J.K.
Would buy neither!
I've owned lots of different glasses of wich several Steiners and found them all quite disappointing! Wasted a lot of money on these cheaper- & mid-end glasses in the processe! The worst one by far was the Tasco-'brand'! As you get older, you get wiser: I finally saved-up my money & went for Swarovski & later another Leica and I've never looked back since!
Have looked trough & compared the Zeiss Conquest with my own small 10x28 Leica: altough a nice and reasonable quality glass, it seemed to me it still couldn't match the performance of this smaller bino! In the end I think you would be much better-off saving up a bit longer and go for the real stuff: the Zeiss Victory, any of the Leica's or Swarovski's! Another good value for money deal is the Kahles (if still available), wich is less then half the money of any of the above and yet comes very close to the same quality! Other good ones are the Nikon Monarch and one of the high-end Gold ring Leupolds are not bad either.
*As last: If the quality of their bino's is matching the quality of their rifle-scopes (of wich I own one aswell), then I would also seriously consider one of the new Japanese Mfg. "Sightron" Bino's! Awesome optics!
J.K.
Excellent question - I apologize for my comment - I presumed that the Merlin WAS a synthetic because every Steiner I have examined had a "plastic" housing - and several folks I knew that owned them were disappointed after a few years. Apparently the Merlin line is a metal alloy.
I was surprised to discover that the Zeiss Conquests ARE "plastic" (ie not a metal alloy) particularly since every Zeiss I have examined and used over the years (even the ultra inexpensive "Jena" ones) had alloy housings.
So the answer to your question is .. yes and no....sorry to have incorrectly implied that the Steiner Merlin were not an alloy housing.
This is likely going to cause lots of contention - but my preference is magnesium alloy for binocular housings. I have an excellent pair of Swarvski "SL" binoculars that were constructed from plastic - these at the time were intended to replace their older design "Habicht" line. I also have the Habicht bino's that are constructed of the more traditional magnesium alloy. They are better IMO.
I just replaced the compressor on a 4 year old (VERY EXPENSIVE refrigerator) my service man tells me that the bearings that have failed in the compressor are a teflon impregnated plastic of "special design" ... he explains that the reason my 45 year old "Philco Ford" refrigerator in the basement is still working is because of the bronze "oilite" bushings it has in the compressor. I have yet to be convinced that the use "plastic" (regardless of the clever names it masquerades under) is necessarily a "better" material for the consumer - I do believe it is a "better" material for the manufacturer of course - eg faster, easier, cheaper
I tend to agree somewhat with your point here, but I believe that every GOOD piece of kit is a sum of ALL its parts. Good equipment is only as good as the weakest component used to make it. Now, will the plastic housing make that much of a difference? Not sure. That is where I agree with you in that excellent glass is where it seems to be at.
I have had a pair of Steiner 7x50 Commanders for about 25 years, the original milspec ones, fabulous glasses, exceptional in low light and tough as nails. Don't have any experience with the later commercial models though
I have a set of 8 x 30 steiners I think. t5hey are excellent value and really tough!
gunrunner8
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, B.C.
Me too. Are 8X30 Zeiss 5X better than 8X30 Steiners? Not in my book. If somebody wants to pay for name alone, please be my guest. US military is using Steiners and that is good enough for me.
