Handy and tough - Steiner 8x30 Predator Pro Compact Binoculars

I tried this one because I could no longer tolerate 2.5 lb binos. These were a pleasant surprise, especially for the money. The optics are excellent, comfortable to view for long periods and quite sharp. There's no focusing knob in the center, instead you reset your eyepieces individually. Steiner says you only need to set this once, however, I found I need to change it for long distance vs. medium distance for best sharpness. It does have very good depth of field, so this zone focusing works reasonably well without too much fuss. The plus side is, the simpler construction keeps the weight down and the strength up. It has a very nice rubberized housing, and quality front lens caps you can't lose. A pleasant surprise for hunters, the image is brighter than your naked eye. I could see details in shadow right up till dark. A 3 lb $1000 bino might beat it optically, but this is the ideal combination of light weight, handiness, and optics in my opinion.
Pros: Lightweight, Solid Handling, Excellent Optics
Cons: needs resetting for best sharpness

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