Reviews & Ratings for Steiner 7x50 Commander XP C Binoculars w/ Compass 395 — 3 reviews — Page 1

These binoculars are no lightweight, but the clear, bright images seen through these binoculars is remarkable. Clearer than our 40 yr old Zeiss 7 x 50s that have been well cared for and maintained. Weather proof, very easy to hold, although a bit heavy, optical quality requires some mass to the glass. Lens caps snap on nicely and the tether arrangement has never interfered with visibility. The narrowest inter pupillary distance (about 56 mm) is barely adequate for a petite woman . I am opting to go with the non compass version as the compass adds quite a bit of bulk to the set. The compass is very easy to read and the reticle seems as though it would be useful if navigating without GPS, but for our purposes the smaller non compass version will be the most useful. The individually focused eyepieces have yellow markers that can be set to secure the main users settings, although my recommendation would be to tell other users to use the watch captains binoculars and leave mine alone. The clicklock strap attachments (similar to a pack waist strap) are a nice feature if you frequently bring your binoculars ashore for sight/birdwatching and want to ditch the bulky float strap. The XP model has silver focus knobs, whereas the Commander V has black focus rings and a more ergonomic light button on the compass than the XP. The Steiner site says the new Commander Vs have the same coatings and Nitrogen fill as the XPs, which I am told are no longer in production.

First the good: Excellent optics, by far the best binoculars i've ever owned and absolutely worth every penny if a clear view is important to you. Compass is equal to the optics, excellent graduations, to the degree and settles in nicely for perfect shots. Range reticle also quite useful...and although i'm no mathematician, easily calculated. What was also impressive was the low light condition viewing...compared to my other 50's these things are literally night and day different.

The bad; well, the ClikLoc for the strap on starboard side of mine didn't work...on further assessment was the strap and not the binoculars. I did contact, or attempt to contact Steiner to share the problem with them but no reply in over two weeks. Two possibilities come to mind, either this Clicloc system isn't what it's cracked up to be and theres lots of complaints or there's no complaints and they are taking their time getting back to me. Luckily it appears to just be a bent plastic lug on the strap so if they don't get back to me I'll just order the floater strap.

As for the weight of the binocular that some have issue with...yes, a bit heavier than some but i personally like the feel of something substantial...not heavy enough to cause me grief for sure and certainly quality of the optics greatly "outweighs" any weight question.