Steiner Wildlife 10x42 Binoculars
Steiner Wildlife 10x42 Binoculars
STEINER HAS INCORPORATED a few innovative designs in their Wildlife series binoculars that make using and carrying these glasses a breeze. Weighing only 716g (10x42 model) they are considerably lighter than my old Leica Trinovid 10x42 BN at 890g. This 174g might not seem much but, with any equipment carried on your body, it makes a huge difference during a long day in the hunting field.
Focusing is simple: first turn the central focusing ring to adjust the focus for your right eye; then the left eye’s focus can be fine-tuned using the dioptre setting on the left ocular. The adjuster cannot be locked into position, but rotation is rather stiff which ensures that it stays in place during field use.
Initially the pliable eyecups were an irritation and needed adjustment during frequent use. However, by shielding your eyes from light entering from the sides, they certainly enhance the view – especially when using the binos for viewing the night sky. On a cold, windy night the eyecups also helped to keep the wind out of my eyes; I soon got used to them and enjoyed the benefit they provided. The eyecups can be folded down if unrequired or if you wear spectacles.
The Steiner binoculars come with two lens-covers and have a Clicloc attachment system comprising push-buttons to release or attach the neck strap.
The Wildlife’s central focusing ring rotates less than 1¼ turns to focus on objects spaced from 2m to infinity. The 2m close-focus facility proved valuable because during the test, my garden was fortuitously filled with butterflies and my close-up inspection of these insects has become an enjoyable pastime. The Wildlife presented the insects in perfect colour and detail; even the pollen grains on the proboscides were visible as they fed on nectar.
On a more technical note, roof Schmidt-pechan prisms with phase correction coatings are used on the glass and have fully multicoated air-to-glass surfaces. Steiner claims that the high-definition optics present clear, razor sharp images in full contrast, with maximum resolution right to the edge of the glass. The specialised coatings provide excellent light transmission and diffused light is reduced to a minimum.
I could not fault these claims, although lens edge-to-edge sharpness was not in the same class as the 20-year-old Trinovid that I used as a control. However, the difference was small, and for the price, the Steiner glass is excellent – its low light viewing was mostly better than that of other binoculars in the same price range.
The binos are nitrogen-filled and a two-way valve system facilitates refilling with nitrogen after years of use. Steiner claims no fogging should occur between -40°C and +80°C. To test this I left the binos in a freezer overnight and then used them on a sunny 22°C day, experiencing no problems.
The Wildlife 10x42 is rated water pressure proof to a depth of 3m. I placed the test set outside on a table during a severe thunderstorm; this had no adverse effect, optically or otherwise.
The rubber-armoured Steiner Wildlife 10x42 is robust, small and light enough to carry all day, provides excellent glass and is suitable for all local hunting, game-viewing and birding needs. Included in the box is a neoprene carry-strap, rain/dust lens caps and a soft storage bag.
I found these binoculars available online for R8 995. For stockists contact Inyathi Sporting Supplies on 012-8089911.