Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials. |
steiner 8x30 nighthunter vs steiner 210s |
Post Reply |
Author | |
Exoman
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/16/2006 Status: Offline Points: 37 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: October/15/2006 at 17:36 |
|
|
Roy Finn
MODERATOR Steiner Junkie Joined: April/05/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4856 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
The Nighthunters feature a broadband lens coating and is the brightest of all their lens coatings. A word of caution if I may. Using luminosity (relative brightness) and twilight factor to determine a binocular performance is ill advised. These are simply mathematical figures that do not take into consideration a binoculars glass/coatings quality and stray light management. An example would be to compare a 8x42 Tasco and a 8x42 Zeiss FL. Both will have identical relative brightness and twilight factor numerics.
|
|
Exoman
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/16/2006 Status: Offline Points: 37 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Thanks for your input, I agree that twilight factor and luminosity dont mean much when comparing different classes of binoculars. And I know it would be ludicrous to assume the low light performance of a tasco 8 x 42 exceeds that and a zeiss 8 x 32 merely because of twilight factor. However I am comparing one steiner to another steiner which are complete equals in design and craftsmanship, the only variables being aperture size and coating. this is why I ask if this nighthunter coating is effective enough to make a bino with a 3.75 exit pupil and a 30mm objective brighter than a non coated same class bino with a 5mm exit pupil and a 50mm objective. as a side note I am kinda stumped why steiner didnt go ahead and throw in a 10x50 210 style model into the night hunter lineup. they go from 8 x 30 to 8 x 56 with extnded objective, the 10x50 seems like a shoe-in. |
|
Roy Finn
MODERATOR Steiner Junkie Joined: April/05/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4856 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Check out item # 510. It is a 10x50 Nighthunter XP. It was also made in the previous Nighthunter models bearing the same catalog number. It would probably be unlikely that the coatings alone could make-up for that big of a difference in exit pupil. The Nighthunter series use higher resolution glass as well compared to the Military/Marine series. I'm not trying to sound vague, but it is difficult to compare two different bino's altogether. I can tell you that I own a 8x30 Hunting series bino and they are surprisingly bright for their class. Also, you must take into consideration that the chassis is smaller on the 8x30 Night hunter which means that a smaller prism system is being utilized than that of a 10x50 bino. Lastly, the Nighthunter series uses a different stray light management system than the MM series. So, in this comparison, you have different grade glass, coatings, stray light management and prisms.
|
|
Exoman
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/16/2006 Status: Offline Points: 37 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I didnt realize they used different grade glass as well as different stray light management. Also i didnt realize how much larger the 210 chassis is in comparison to all the other 8 x 30's. As much as the 510's appeal to my senses they arent jiving with my wallet :( Judging by the price difference from the MM 8x30's to the MM 10 x50's it would be fair to say if they did offer the 210 style in the night hunter line it would be out of my price range anyways. Its funny when i began looking for binoculars I started out looking at some $279 leupolds and have worked my way up to $500 steiners , whichever ones I go with I hope they are worth it |
|
Roy Finn
MODERATOR Steiner Junkie Joined: April/05/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4856 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I feel your pain. I bought my first pair of Steiner's almost 20 years ago, a pair of 7x50 Military/ Marines. Since then, I have owned 7x50 Whitetails (discontinued), 6x30 Whitetails, 8x30 Hunting, 8x42 Predators, 8x42 Peregrines and a pair of 8x56 Nighthunter XP's. It doesn't get any easier. I guess that answers your question regarding satisfaction with Steiner's. Yep, I like um.
|
|
Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Roy suggested that you look at the Steiner Nighthunter 10x50 & your response was that it was out of your price range($500). Unless I missed something the Samplelist shows the Nighthunter 10x50 at $499.95.
|
|
Exoman
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/16/2006 Status: Offline Points: 37 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
wow I never looked at the samplelist til today. i may go for some 8x56 or 10x50's. so do these samplelists binoculars maintain some kind of warranty? are they subject to the same swfa return policies? |
|
Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Ten day return policy & 5 yr. warr. for Steiner refurbished Nighthunter binoculars.
|
|
NDhunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/15/2006 Status: Offline Points: 601 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I bought a set of the Steiner 10x50 Nighthunter XP's earlier this summer off the sample list, and I must say that I am impressed with the low light ability, and when I have been scouting for deer in the late day to dark I have been reaching for these first. The other pair that I carry along is my Kahles 8x42's which I like very much. I would get the 10x50's, I like the extra magnification. These are light in weight, but are a little bulky. |
|
Exoman
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/16/2006 Status: Offline Points: 37 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I think I am definately going with a 10 x 50 or an 8 x 56 off of samplelist. are your 10x50 nightunters brighter than your kahles at night? how do they compare optically? |
|
Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Keep in mind that the 8x56 has an exit pupil of 7mm,
and the 10x50 has an exit pupil of 5mm. The 8x56 will be best for those low light situations at dawn or dusk, which is what you were looking for in the first place. |
|
Exoman
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/16/2006 Status: Offline Points: 37 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
My ranges vary from 100-400, and while I definately want the best light transmission possible, im not sure at what range its advisable to step from 8x to 10x |
|
Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
From past experience, what distance are the majority of your shots? 200yds & under/200yds & over?
|
|
Exoman
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/16/2006 Status: Offline Points: 37 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
well so far the majority have been under 100 yards because I have been hunting the forests. this is my first year to actually have some long range shots. I have noted some hot spots at 170, 220 and some further. theres a couple of 60-100 yard opportunities. but I know Ill see this one group at 170 yards. ill definately want to glass the whole area regardless of whether I decide to take a longrange shot in low light conditions. there are ta handful of 300 yard spots as well as 420 yards. http://www.photodump.org/stored8/tripod14.jpg http://www.photodump.org/stored8/tripod11.jpg http://www.photodump.org/stored8/tripod12.jpg http://www.photodump.org/stored8/tripod8.jpg http://www.photodump.org/stored8/tripod9.jpg http://www.photodump.org/stored8/tripod6.jpg |
|
Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
This is obviously why so many of us have more than just one binocular. Nobody makes one binocular that does everything.
Just as a matter of conversation, the only thing that comes to mind is the Leica Duovid in either 8+12x42 or 10+15x50. Of course these are both way out of your price range. As Roy Finn says, "I feel your pain". Myself, I prefer the extra magnification of the 10x50's. Advice is free, solutions are expensive. |
|
Exoman
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/16/2006 Status: Offline Points: 37 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Aint that the truth :) |
|
Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I had an experience, a few days ago, at BassProShops that I thought was noteworthy. I was looking through different binoculars & one was the Steiner Nighthunter 12x56. The hinge in the middle was extremely loose & the binocular wouldn't stay in place. I told the salesman about it & he said that this particular binocular had been in the display case approx. six months. I know that this "one" binocular does not represent the entire Steiner line, but, it was not a very good representation of this particular model. I was also told that they were all marked down & were being phased out of the store.
|
|
claytonkolb
Optics GrassHopper Joined: December/01/2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 22 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Ok I'm new here, what is the samplelist?
|
|
Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
www.samplelist.com
See for yourself. Products for sale by SWFA. |
|
Post Reply | |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |