Is this a genuine Minox?

[Santi]

8-25 power seems nice for the size.
The logo looks weird to me, but I'm new to binos, maybe it's an old logo?

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/5550/realminoxtg8.jpg

Does Minox has this model?
Or is it a fake?

Thanks!

[ceasar]

I suggest, quite seriously, that it really doesn't matter if this particular binocular is genuine. With an 8x to 25x Zoom and 25mm objective lenses it will be very dim and have a very narrow Field of View. It is not very practical or useful. You will be much better off getting a straight 8 x 25 compact binocular. Zoom binoculars have earned their poor reputations.
Cordially,
Bob

[davem]

This is a fake / passing off / etc whatever you want to call it and totally illegal.

As Caesar says, the optical quality from whoever made a compact bino would probably be poor with those specifications.

If ever you're in doubt about a model's authenticity, the manufacturer / brand's own website will have the current models on there for comparison.

HTH

Dave.

[Kevin Purcell]

If ever you're in doubt about a model's authenticity, the manufacturer / brand's own website will have the current models on there for comparison.

But they don't keep older models ... which is a bit of a shame. Even Minox doesn't keep the recently discontinued but still widely availible bins. Adding the confusion recently over the BD and BD Asph, for example. So using the web site to distinguish between fakes and non-fakes is not so helpful ("Oh, yeah. It's not a current Minox model. From a couple of years ago", says the hypothetical seller.).

But I suspect a lot of bin makers don't have a great sense of history even the ones that have a great history. That's left to the amateurs.

[Veracocha]

I too have seen these (exact pair) on a well known auction site. I can see no reason to suspect fake.

[davem]

If you do ever suspect a fake (and there are LOTS out there, usually eminating from Gran Canaria with that logo in italics, and not like the straight edged Minox logo always has been) then drop info@minox.com an email along with a photo if you have one.

Admittedly, they do not keep every bino model details on the site but a quick search of their site does give bino details going back well over 8 years such as the 10x20 CP opera glasses.

Contrary to this they do seem to keep details of every digital camera they have ever put their name on for some unknown reason - I'll see if they would be interested in changing this around!

[Santi]

Thanks a lot. :)

[Santi]

Thanks a lot. :)