Steiner 10 x 50 rallye sport binoculars - Steiner 10x50 Rallye Waterproof Binoculars

I bought these because I've had a pair of Steiner 8 x 30 Firebird II binoculars for years and they are easy to use and have been very dependable. Like my Firebird IIs, the 10 x 50 Rallye binoculars were, I thought, reasonably priced for their power and quality and had all of the features that I like about my Firebird II: eye pieces individually adjust for focus, the front lens covers (not shown in all the pictures on line) are attached to the binocular body so they do not get lost, the eye piece dust cover attaches to the carrying strap so it also is easy to deal with, the binocular case has a sturdy rubber protective coating (which has worked well over the years on my Firebird pair) and Steiner claims the binocular is waterproof and dustproof (again, this has been true for years with my Firebird II pair). So far I am happy with the 10 x 50 Rallye. However, the 10 x 50, while relatively compact for a quality 10 power binocular, hass notably increased size and weight over my 8 x 30 Firebird IIs. My advice to a would-be buyer, now that I have both, is to give serious thought to whether you really need the extra 2 X magnification offered by the 10 x 50 over the 8 x 30. Steiner offers a number of 8 x 30 models (although the Firebird II is no longer in the line-up) and the 8 x 30 models are considerably more compact while still having a bright, clear field of view sufficient for most purposes.
Pros: Steiner quality, waterproof, ease of focus, dust covers
Cons: At 10 x 50 these are a bit on the big side

This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.