Steiner binoculars

[Ram]

Hello everyone, I am new to binoculars,so if my questions seem "in the dark", please excuse me. I have been looking around birding forums for info on binoculars and have noticed that Steiner binoculars are not liked at all ! Why ? I was looking to buy a small compact binocular and the owner of the local hunting store said that Steiner offered the lowest quality at the highest price ! Is that true ? I have a pair of 8x22 predators and they are great. I think the optics are BAK4 and multicoated, so how is this low quality ? I am looking to get educated. I have a thing about buying "made in china" binoculars, so when it comes to optics I prefer German made. I also wanted to stay in the sub $200 range, so Steiner just came to mind because that is what we used while working for the military. What other German made optics in that range would you consider "better" and for what reasons ? Look forward to reading any info you might have.
Thanks, Ram

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[MrMurphy]

Yeah, Steiners suck so bad they use them in the military..... not everyone has a good opinion.


Having used them, they're fine. Leica, Nikon, Zeiss are all high grade along with Steiner.

IOR Valdada is a Romanian company, using German equipment and Swiss glass, that makes stuff for their military among other people, and has a fairly low cost with very high quality glass. Friend of mine has a 10X IOR scope on his countersniper rifle and it's got EXCELLENT vision. Very high grade glass. Their binoculars are about as good.

[gator378]

I have a pair of Steners 12 x 56 Nighthunters. No complaints. A little heavy and bulky, but night vision is good and they reach out a long way. 12 power is about max without a rest. I even backpack with them, and use often in the woods. I traded weight for power and light gathering of the 56 mm objectives.

There may be better out there, but I am happy. I paid $600 through SWFA.

In addition, I wear tri-focals, but use the binoculars without glasses and can still get good focusing.

[Mr.Niceguy]

I "stole" a pair of Zeiss Victory Compact 8x20s for $230 from my local Galyans. Love em alot! Look at the Minox and Docter optics, both have compact binoculars in or close to your price range. I have handled a pair of Minox 10x25s and liked them alot.

[EAGLE I]

I have a pair of 12x40 and a pair of 8x30 Steiners and I am very happy with the quality. The 8x 30 pair was less than $200.I think they are called Safari's

[trapfan]

I have a pair of 8X30 Predators that I like just fine. They held up good against the Leupold/Wind River, Nikon, and Burris 8X30 binos. I was told they are on the lower quality of German glass but better than the higher end Japanese and American glass. JMTCW....Trapfan