Steiner Military Marine 7×50 Binoculars: See Anything, Anywhere

If you’re an outdoorsman of any kind, a regular at the range, or just like a helping hand when it comes to seeing what can be too far for the human eyes, then binoculars are always an essential. However, it’s important to have the right specifications for your hobby as well as be able to withstand the test of time and a beating. If you’re anything like me, you dabble between several outdoor activities, so versatility is a requirement for a lot of gear. Recently I got to try out the Steiner Military Marine 7×50 binoculars, and they delivered. 

Specifications

Steiner’s packaging for their binoculars, inside holding the binoculars, a carrying case, neck strap, and a lens wipe. (Photo credit: Grace Stevens)

Steiner delivers some powerful binoculars. These measure at 7×50, with a field of view of 302 yards at 1000 feet. But, to the average Joe, these numbers may not stand out. So let’s break it down. 

The ‘7’ is the magnification, meaning objects will be seven times larger using binoculars. The magnification being higher isn’t always the goal, as it can lessen the field of view (FOV). The FOV is based on how much of the picture you’d see at 1000 yards. Steiner’s Military Marine binoculars have a FOV of 302 yards (which isn’t too narrow or wide, it’s a great middle-ground). Overall, the magnification and FOV on these are great for general, unspecialized use (example: birdwatchers may want specific features for their hobby). 

The ‘50’ denotes the size of the objective lens in millimeters. Now, this can be a number that some may seek at a higher number because the bigger the lens, the more light can be taken in, therefore the better the picture. 50mm lenses are pretty big, especially for general use, creating a bright and clear picture. This can be great for multiple environments, including low-light settings which can pose an issue to some kinds of binoculars. 

These binoculars are really light given how strong they are. They sit at about 2½ pounds and are 6”x8”x12”. They fit comfortably in your hands without straining to keep hold due to size or weight. Even with my own smaller hands, I didn’t really struggle — and it’s important to note that I have run into that being an issue before, so it was a relief not to struggle with these. 

The eye relief is 20.2mm, which is how far the binoculars can be before your FOV lessens. If you wear glasses, having eye relief higher than about 15mm is best, so Steiner delivers a great choice for those who will wear their glasses in the field. Though I don’t need my glasses 24/7, I can vouch for this as I tested them both ways.

Features

man in the woods
I feel like I could take these binoculars anywhere, they’re great for just about everything. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]

When it comes to versatility, these binoculars are a great option. They’re up for the challenge of most environments. Resistant to up to 11 Gs of impact, the Makrolon housing is made of polycarbonate and NBR Long Life rubber. It’s even waterproof, so these binoculars can take a beating and will likely make it out just fine. 

Steiner also provides a camo carrying case making it easy to take these binoculars anywhere. If you need them readily available or would like to further protect them from falling during extended use, Steiner also provides a simple neck strap for the user to loop on. 

Keeping your lenses clear is so important but sometimes taking lens covers on and off can be tiring. However, with these binoculars, it’s not as big of a hassle. The objective lens covers are attached with a swiveling button, making it easy to flip them down in a pinch and then put them back on without digging for loose covers. The eyecup cover is loose, but in one piece it’s no problem to keep track of, especially since when you’re active on the field you probably won’t need those as much as the objective lens covers. 

Following moving objects is no problem either with the Sports-Auto Focus System. This allows you to adjust the eyepieces individually and keep that quality focus in check while you use it. So, when animals move unpredictably you don’t have to wrestle with the focus. 

Uses

Man looking through binoculars in the woods
It was so nice to have these binoculars on our camping trip. We got to see plenty of wildlife through the trees. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]

I took these on a weekend camping trip and they were a perfect addition. Carrying them was easy and comfortable using the provided carrying case. It was nice to set the strap and forget it as I carried it cross-body on my hip. Hiking in the Oklahoma mountains, I took a rougher trail which took a bit more agility and rock climbing, and they never really got in my way. Cross-body bags can drive me nuts as I find they slide down my shoulder a lot, but I didn’t have an issue with that this time. Likely that was attributable to the size and style of the strap and being able to adjust it as tight or as loose as I need.  

These binoculars came in particularly handy when we wanted to observe wildlife. I saw several deer, hawks, and smaller birds on our hike. We even got to catch pictures of a hawk and its nest using the binoculars against my phone camera, which isn’t exactly what the human eye would see for several reasons but still shows some of the power these hold. 

These are great for hunting, too. I really had no problem following the deer I saw with my binoculars even as they ran up the mountain away from us. The same goes for the birds we saw; it was easy to find and follow them as they flew. The images I saw were clear as day. 

Hawk flying over nest seen through optic lens..
Here you can see a hawk flying over its nest. This photo is taken with an iPhone through a single lens. It’s not identical to what I saw, but nonetheless, we got a great view of the hawks. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]

The binoculars came in handy when it got darker, too. The combination of the overcast weather and the sun already going down made me concerned about being able to use them. Lo and behold, they worked just fine for a while before it was too dark for even the eye to see well. 

The Steiner binoculars will now be staying in my car or on my person anytime I go hiking. They’re handy to have especially when you never know when you may want to use them. Driving through the countryside of Texas, there are plenty of hogs, coyotes, and deer throughout the year off in the fields that are a great sight. 

Steiner’s 7×50 binoculars will also be a must-have for my hunting trips for the same reason. They’re not too heavy to carry around and can easily take some tumbling in the woods worst-case scenario. It’s good not having to be concerned about a surprise rainstorm ruining them, either. 

The range is a great place to take these binoculars as well. Everyone needs a reliable set handy to check downrange during target shooting. And, if you don’t already take some with you, consider it. They can make your life a lot easier, especially when zeroing a scope. 

Warranty

Steiner offers the Heritage warranty with their binoculars. This is a lifetime deal where Steiner assures they can repair the product for free within reason. If it’s cosmetic, intentional damage, loss, or theft, it’s not covered. But if your binoculars break they’ll get you fixed up in no time. You don’t even need a receipt or proof of warranty. Plus, it is still in effect for future owners if you were to pass them down or sell them. In theory, these binoculars could easily be handed down between generations and kept in the same high quality for quite a while. It’s important to note this covers several of their products but this warranty specifically applies in the US and Canada on products made since 2014. 

Conclusion

man holding binoculars with both hands, squatted to the ground
The Steiner binoculars have a great grip and feel. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]

Steiner’s Military Marine 7×50 binoculars were great to use. The only downside is the price is a little steep, but you truly get your money’s worth (especially with the lifetime warranty). If you spend a lot of time outdoors hiking, shooting, or hunting, I recommend these to cover multiple areas of interest. Who doesn’t need a reliable set of binoculars that you can take anywhere to do anything? 

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