Steiner Xtreme and Ranger 8x30

Testfires
Fiona glassing the
Kaweka foothills
with the Cobras
Steiner’s Latest
8x30 Ranger, 10x42 Cobra Binoculars
WRITTEN BY ~ GREG DULEY
Steiner Optics of Germany are well respected
throughout the world for their binoculars
Their simple robust individual eye Sports Auto Focus porro prisms
have been the first choice of many of the world’s military and
hunting guides, especially in the Dark Continent.
I had the advantages of these pointed out
to me by a PH in Africa a few years ago.
He maintained they were faster to use
in pressure situations. You set the focus
for some middle distance, and then they
are near enough to use from near to far
without refocussing. There is some merit
in that particularly in bush or scrubby
country like that encountered in most of
Africa.
In NZ the Steiner Ranger 10x42 roof
prisms have proved popular since their
release a few years ago, and now we have
some new models to add to the lineup.
There’s a porro prism 8x30 version of the
Rangers, and an in-between roof prism
model called the Cobras.
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NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE ~ February / March 2014
» Ranger
8x30s
These are an
affordable set of
lightweight porro
prism binoculars with
Steiner’s Sports Auto
Focus system with the
individually focusing
eyepieces.
They have a Makrolon fibre
reinforced polycarbonate body, instead
of the alloy or magnesium chassis used
in more expensive models. Steiner has
used a version of their Game Sensing
Lenses in the Ranger 8x30s, but
more on that later. They have roll out
eyecups, and Steiner’s centrally attached
individual objective lens covers. They
are waterproof and dustproof, and have a
10 year warranty.
season. They are superb for this
application. They are small, light, green,
and are always in focus when you grab
them in a hurry to identify a bird flying
past. Unlike most porro prisms, they
have no fragile centre focusing system
and are very robust and more likely to
stay waterproof. They do have a very
short eye relief and everyone who tried
them used them with the eyecups rolled
up. I feel they are an ideal knockabout,
truck glove box or second set of binos
when you need them, especially as they
are very easy on the wallet!
» Cobra 10x42s
The Cobras are a new model
exclusive to Hunting & Fishing NZ.
They are a roof prism model that is a
step up from the Ranger Porros. This
is the model in which Steiner have
released their Game Sensing Lenses their Dynamic Contrast Coating that
they claim enhances the contrast
between game and the cover around
it. They have a fast close focus
system that will focus down to
two metres. The diopeter is the usual
friction adjustment in the left eyepiece.
They have twist out eyecups with simple
fold-out side-light shields. They also
have a simple hinged eyepiece cover
with individual objective lens covers.
Also waterproof and dustproof, and a 10
year warranty.
» Optically Speaking
This is where all optics live or die,
in the resolution and flatness of
field tests. Against the test patterns
in the daylight test there was about a
half level improvement stepping up
from model to model. Flatness of
field wise each step up provided an
improvement. The Ranger porros
had more than the usual pin cushion
distortion, but all other alignments
were good as expected. Steiner seem
to have low light angle induced
info@
green
stoneh
el
The Cobras are a step up again,
but I couldn’t really say I could
distinguish a big difference with
their game seeker lenses. If the light
glare well controlled in all these models,
something they weren’t always good at.
The depth of field tests were interesting.
Not surprisingly, the Sports Auto Focus
system in the Ranger Porros gave them
the greatest DoF. Once focused at about
40m they were then in focus out to
infinity. They did need extra focusing at
20m to achieve a sharp image. The centre
focus roof prism Cobras needed more
refocusing as you changed the range of
your observation.
was just right, there possibly was some
slight advantage in their ability to pick
out the summer coat colours. We have
given them a good workout with our
hunting over the Christmas period, and
they have performed well and spotted
more than their fair share of game.
If you’re in the market for some
binoculars, check out the
updated Steiner range at your
local hunting shop.
We used the little Ranger Porros
extensively during the last Gamebird
Resolution
Flatness
of Field
Twilight
Performance
Glare
FoV
m/1000m
Weight
RRP
Ranger
8x30
8.75
8.75
9
9
120
486gm
/17oz
$399
Cobra
10x42
9
8.75
9
9
100
798gm
/28oz
$799
.nz
.c o
opters
icopters.co.nz | www.greenstonehelic
February / March 2014 ~ NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE
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