Steiner Commander Global 7x50

Steiner has a long and very distinguished tradition in supplying optics to both the military and navy. Much of this expertise trickles down to their civilian models and as such, they produce some of the best marine binoculars in the world.

At the very top of their impressive range of marine instruments are these Steiner Commander Global 7x50 binoculars. Manufactured in Germany, they take the already excellent Commander series to a whole new level by adding a number of important upgrades:

Firstly, there is the integrated digital compass which has an electronic magnetic field measurement that enables precise readings anywhere in the world.

Next, are Steiner’s Diamond Marine lens coatings that not only reduce glare and increase clarity but the industry leading 96% light transmission improves low light performance and ensures you get the best possible views in misty and hazy conditions often encountered when out on the water.

As with the standard Commander binoculars, Steiner also applies their Nano-Protection coatings to the exterior lens surfaces. This material is aquaphobic and thus water simply rolls off the lens surface allowing you a clear view in mist or even rain.

Fully sealed and thus waterproof, the interior is filled with dry nitrogen gas under pressure using the Steiner N2 injection system which prevents fogging of the internal lens surfaces.

The 7x magnification ensures a wide field of view, which at 130m wide at 1000 meters is impressive and really helps when scanning the horizon searching for an object. The lower power also helps maintain a steady view in rough water, whilst the large 50mm objective lenses are able to capture more light and thus further ensure the brightest views in poor light conditions.

The Commander series also features an individual eyepiece focus mechanism. Steiner calls this their Sports-Auto Focus System which essentially lets you adjust each eyepiece to match your particular vision once. Once this is done, everything you look at from 20 yards to infinity remains in focus without having to make any further adjustments.

Also included with the package are a deluxe carry case and floating neck strap. Bright yellow it uses a 3M reflective trim making it extremely visible should you accidentally drop your binoculars overboard. As well as being comfortable, the strap incorporates Steiner’s famous ClicLoc attachment system which enables the instant release of the strap with just the press of a button.