If you are looking for a good pair of compact binoculars for bird watching or similar activities, check out the Steiner Champ 10×26 binoculars in the review below. I think you’ll be pleased with what you find.
If you just want to check the pricing and availability of the Champ 10×26 binoculars now, click this link to go to Amazon.
You can always come back later to read the rest of the review below. To skip to a specific section of the article, click on a link in the box just below.
Contents
What Do Owners Say about Their Champ 10×26 Binoculars?
Rather than starting with the features and specifications, let’s quickly look first at what a few people who have already bought the Champs have to say about them.
If this is your first pair of binoculars, you really don’t have much to compare them to. Some people actually own more than one pair and so can tell you more from that perspective.
One such owner says this.
“They are far superior to any of my other ‘pocket-size’ optics.”
The Steiner name is highly respected in the world of optics. These German-made binoculars are well-crafted as this user found out.
“Steiner just plain delivers on this one, with sharp optics and no noticeable eye strain.”
Eye strain can be a problem with some binoculars, especially when doing certain tasks such as hunting or birding. Fortunately, we can tell from this owner that birding shouldn’t be a problem, as he simply says this.
“Great for bird watching!”
You can look for more comments elsewhere if this isn’t enough. You’ll find an overwhelming amount of them are positive.
Now we can move on to the nitty gritty facts about the Champ 10×26 glasses themselves.
What Are the Main Features of the Steiner Champ 10×26 Binoculars?
There isn’t a whole lot to talk about with the Champ compact binoculars. In a way, that’s both good and bad at the same time.
If there aren’t many features, you might think that it’s not a good pair of binoculars. On the other hand, few features means a simple pair of glasses where not much can go wrong.
The 10x magnification is about as powerful as you would want for things like bird watching. If you magnify your target more than 10 times, it starts to get too difficult to hold the binoculars steady enough to keep them on point.
The 26 millimeter objective lenses aren’t very big, but that’s part of what makes these compact binoculars. They won’t bring in a lot of light, and so they won’t be extremely useful in low light conditions – such as those found at dusk and dawn.
If you need binoculars for those circumstances, I would suggest something larger like a pair of 8×42 or 10×42 binoculars.
The field of view (FOV) for the Champs is 302 feet at 1000 yards. That is quite good for a small pair like these. You should be able to quickly find your target at a distance.
At the other end of the viewing range, you can focus these as close as 10 feet. Again, this should be fine for birding and hunting. If you need to get closer for butterflies, insects, and the like, you’ll want to look for a pair with a shorter close focus.
Steiner says the lenses have “High-Contrast” coatings. The best you can get is something known as fully multi-coated. Since Steiner doesn’t make that claim for the Champ 10×26, my guess is that “High-Contrast” means something less than the very best. That’s part of what keeps the cost down though.
These binoculars are waterproof but not submersible. So it’s okay to take them out in inclement weather, but don’t drop them in a puddle.
What About Physical Size and Accessories?
The Champs measure 4.1 inches by 4.9 inches which is really small. Anything under 5 inches is very compact. Combine that with the materials with which they are made and they only weigh 10.5 ounces. Not only can you tuck them into just about any jacket pocket, but you should never have a problem holding them for any significant length of time.
Speaking of holding them (to your eyes), they have eye cups that fold down so you can easily use them with eyeglasses if you prefer or need to.
You get a padded travel case and neck strap along with the binoculars themselves. Don’t expect anything really fancy here, but both of these accessories should serve their purpose adequately.
What Is the Verdict on the Steiner Champ Binoculars?
As noted, these are a small pair of binoculars. They won’t set you back much for several reasons. So while you shouldn’t expect a lot out of them compared to fancier sets, you will still be very pleased with what you get. (Remember the comments above by current owners.)
If what you want is a lightweight, easy-to-use set of binoculars that are especially good for birding, the Steiner Champ 10×26 should fit the bill.
If for any reason you have found that the Champs are just not for you, check out this article on other Steiner binoculars. You might find another model that is more to your liking.
