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Great experience with Steiner binocculars...

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by bernd1972, Sep 21, 2021.

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  1. bernd1972, Sep 21, 2021
    #1
    bernd1972

    bernd1972 Senior Member

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    Just got the best reason for my Steiner binocculars. I had them in for a complete service, old dirty Steiner Captain 7x50 with broken compass illumination, sticky and worn out rubber coating etc.
    Just 25 years old and pretty much beaten up.

    What they returned looked like a new one, completelly disassembled, cleaned and rebuilt. I allmost did not believe it. All that for a flatrate price of 150,-€. No intention to do advertising here, but I am more than happy with their service.
    Once Steiner, allways Steiner. After all you need just one in you lifetime since they´ll just build a new one off you old stuff when needed.
  2. mapism, Sep 21, 2021
    #2
    mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    Are you positive that they didn't actually replace it with a new one?
    It's surprising that for them it's more economical to rebuild something so worn out, rather than just replace it.
    Even at such very discounted price - which would probably cover their production costs anyway...
  3. bernd1972, Sep 21, 2021
    #3
    bernd1972

    bernd1972 Senior Member

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    Yes, I am pretty sure that a) they don't hold nee old stock of binoculars discontinued 20 years ago and b) they did in fact clean and rebuild exactly the binoculars I dent them.
    They have had a standard service flatrate for their products for quite a long time now and at some point you might expect that their stock of replacements sold for dirt cheap might be deleted.
    Besides that, the new rubber cover CAME without a Type Print for the exact model, so it's a replacement Rubber for the Commander III and IV as Well as for the Captain and the Skipper series binoculars. The compass has the type printed in it.
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 21, 2021
  4. mapism, Sep 21, 2021
    #4
    mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    Good to hear that.
    I love my small Navigator 7x30, and it's by far the bino I use more regularly even if my main tool is a stabilized 14x Fujinon, which is outstanding but more cumbersome to handle.
    It's still in pretty good shape now, but for the future it's good to know of this refurbishing service, just in case...
  5. maldwin, Sep 21, 2021
    #5
    maldwin

    maldwin Senior Member

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    I also have some 7x50 Steiners which I am very happy with, but have been thinking about adding a stabilized pair. I had a pair of Cannons which I was happy with, but have been reading good things about the latest Fujinon so haven’t decided which one to get.
    Best,
    Maldwin
  6. ranger58sb, Sep 22, 2021
    #6
    ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

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    We've used Steiners for years. Got my first circa 1985 when we lived in Germany.

    That binoc was eventually replaced by new -- when I sent it in to the earlier US importer for service maybe 12-15 years later. The compass function on the second eventually crapped out, too, and the new US importer offered replacement at a much reduced price... which was fair enough, in my mind.

    @maldwin Wifey decided on the Compact 12x32 Fuji for her use because the 14x version were too heavy. She likes the Compact model, but if it were for myself I'd have likely chosen the larger/heavier 14x version. When we were shopping, seems I remember all of the 14x Fuji models would stabilize to a higher degree (+/1 5°) than most or maybe all of the Canons. The Compact Fuji is +/1 3°. In my mind, eye relief (for eyeglass wearers) and degree of stabilization (for marine use) were key.

    -Chris
  7. mapism, Sep 22, 2021
    #7
    mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    I agree with all of that, including your wife's view: the 14x40 Fujinon certainly isn't great from a handling viewpoint - not only for its weight BTW, but also its shape isn't very ergonomic.
    Which is the reason why I leave it in its (beautiful) Pelican case most of the time, and I use the small Steiner instead.
    That said, in situations where a non-stabilized binoculars is not enough, it's outstanding.
    Not sure about other Canon models, but I tried both the 10x30 and the 14x32, and neither can hold a candle to the Fuji.