If I were allowed a last wish: Steiner Optics, a number of your binoculars are actually quite usable, please stop devaluing them with claims about “autofocus” that are clearly incorrect. The 7x magnification helps produce a steady shake-free image and allows for the really wide field of view, which along with not having to make any focal adjustments meant that I was easily able to find and follow even the fastest moving birds on the shoreline. The Illusion 7×30 is designed to give a very light weight binocular coupled with exceptional clarity and brightness. When out in the field (on dry land), I usually don't use them much and almost never take the time to attach the rain-guard to the neck strap as it just gets in the way.

And it is a pity, because I agree that there are very few 7x30/32, a format I would die for, if it was presented in contemporary, convenient quality optics. The children’s binoculars come with adjustable features to ensure an optimal image for a wide range of different vision needs. In addition to the intuitive handling thanks to the new "Open Bridge System", it offers well-known properties with the STEINER Auto-Focus that nobody would want to miss on the high seas. Caused by chromatic aberrations, color fringing is generally more difficult to control with high magnifications, so even though the Steiner Navigator Pro 7x30 Binoculars does not have ED glass (which is designed to reduce chromatic aberrations), the level of observable color fringing, even under extremes like viewing a black telephone wire against a bright blue, sunlit sky only showed very little amounts which is impressive and they compare very favorably even against the very best in this area.With this high-tech solution from STEINER, fogging or condensation inside the binoculars is completely eliminated. Very interesting reading your findings about the latest Navigator, and great to hear someone as experienced as you stating the simple facts as they are. I could be mistaken,but I seem to also remember Steiner could have been the only one of several "leading manufacturers" to have welcomed roving cameras into it's factories,which I can remember thinking presented a very "open and positive" impression of the company and it's products,as opposed to undertones of "secrecy and mystery" the viewer was left feeling about two or three of the other giant European manufacturers.

Each ocular is individually focused for precise customization for each user and will maintain that focus from 65′ to infinity, so users can concentrate on the views, not re-focusing.For a lightweight compact, this would be the just about best strap you could ever hope to get, but for these, I would have much preferred wider padded section that would distribute the weight more evenly. So for me, the 7x power on these Steiner binoculars was a good choice and I would say that on the water is generally a good compromise between image detail and steadiness. But on my first inspection after taking them out of the box, I felt they would be fine, they fitted quite easily into my daysack along with all my other gear and then once out on the river and in the kayak, their slightly larger size was really never an issue for me and I do think that the extra performance I got from their larger 30mm lenses was well worth it in this case.