Steiner 20x80 Senator Binocular

Great quality - you DO need a trip-/mono-pod to use these to not shake on such mag... or rest on solid surface!

I have wanted one of these ever since I found out they exist. The reason for the 4 star rating is because they are designed as if they were 2 separate 20X80 tubes joined together to represent binoculars. Each one operates independently of the other. They both have to be refocused individually each time you change distances. They don't operate together as other binoculars do. Usually after you focus each side there is a wheel that keeps both sides aligned for distance changes but these don't have any connective wheel or any other way of operating in focus together. So every time you change distance each "eye piece" has to be refocused individually. Other than that the optics are great and once I got used to the time and procedure of changing focus distance, I like them. I would love to have a focus wheel but like I said I like them as they are. That's why 4 stars instead of 5 stars. They have been around for a long time, excellent optics are the reason. High quality built like a tank. Precision at its best.

I went to the beach and was seeing things beyond the horizon from shore. Incredible!

Steiner 20x80 binoculars are amazing. I have only borrowed a pair from time to time, but having used them for a variety of tasks from birdwatching to target shooting, I can vouch for their claimed optical and handling qualities. They are tack-sharp, well constructed and a pleasure to use.I own five pairs of binoculars - my two favourites of which,  Steiner Wildlife Pro 10.5x28 Binoculars  and 10x42 Hunting, similar to  Steiner Police Series Binocular - Choose Size ), are both Steiners - as well as a 20x spotting scope by another maker. I have used many top brands of binoculars, but the Steiner range is my hands down favourite and the 20x80s are the largest and most powerful in the range. Their huge objective lenses and large prisms give them excellent low light performance.One of the quick tests of quality in prismatic binoculars like these is to hold them up and away from you so that you can see the exit pupils in the eyepieces. First, the bigger the exit pupil, in comparison to other models, the better as an indication of low light performance. Secondly, the exit pupils of cheap prismatic binoculars often show something you'll never see in a pair of Steiners or other top brands: the edges of prisms too small for the design.These are very big binoculars - too big for the glove compartment, and not the handy size most people want to carry around hiking. But for static long range observation, like target shooting and wildlife watching from hides, they are hard to beat. Definitely better sight picture than any telescope I have used of comparable magnification.