Endurance test of 8x42 binoculars
18. Steiner Ranger Pro 8x42
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The Steiner company, being a serious optics purveyor for the police and the army, was supposed to produce devices able to withstand the most harsh environmental conditions. We simply couldn’t wait to check that claim in practice and we did regret that in the chosen class of parameters, 8x42, we didn’t have any of the top-of-the-range Steiner instruments. We had to make do with the Ranger Pro 8x42. In the optical test it didn’t impress us much, reaching 124 points, but we hoped it would improve its performance in the endurance test. Find out whether or not we were right.
Low temperature
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Low temperature didn’t immobilize any of crucial mechanisms of the binoculars but it caused a noticeably higher resistance than in room temperature – it was so in the case of the central focusing wheel, eyecups and the dioptre correction ring. The tripod mounting blockade was very difficult to unscrew but finally we managed to do that. There were no problems with the tubes’ gauge regulation.
High temperature
The Ranger got better results in this category – the central wheel was well-damped although we could hear some squelching when we turned it. The gauge of the tubes regulation was more loose than in room temperature but there weren’t any slacks. There were no reservations concerning the eyecups performance, the dioptre correction and the tripod mounting exit. We also didn’t notice any grease leakages.
Waterproof qualities
No reservations in this category. One hour submersion the binoculars managed to survive without any problems.
Falls
Two falls from different heights didn’t cause any problems. The binoculars remained perfectly collimated and the eyecups weren’t damaged. No traces of any damage on the casing.
Optics cleaning
Fingerprints on the front elements can be removed efficiently after a dry cloth swipe. Water residue, which got stuck after the exposure to high temperature, was a bit difficult to clean but after a while we managed to remove it. The drops of rain dribble down smoothly. A big grease stain on an objective element didn’t change for a long time and was removed with several swipes of a dry cloth, without the necessity of using an optics cleaner.
Other
No other problems.
Summary
The chart below shows the results the tested pair of binoculars got in particular categories:
| CATEGORY | POINTS |
| Low temperature: |
7/10 |
| High temperature: |
9/10 |
| Waterproof quality: |
10/10 |
| Falls: |
10/10 |
| Optics cleaning: |
3.5/5 |
| Other: |
5/5 |
| OVERALL: |
44.5/50 |
If it weren’t for several minor problems in low temperature the Steiner Ranger Pro could actually win our endurance test. Let’s remember that we deal here with a pair of binoculars in the price range of 2000 PLN so four times cheaper than the most expensive models we tested here. We can say without any hesitation that, with this test, Steiner confirmed its position of a producer of very durable optical instruments. The appearance of the binoculars is also very persuasive – after all these tortures it is in prime condition - it could be taken back to a shop window and nobody would notice. A round of applause!
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