MINOX aspheric 10x42 - any tests?

[Swissboy]

Hi everybody:

A friend of mine recently showed up with a new pair of Minox 10x42 aspheric binoculars. Unfortunately, I had only a brief chance to look through them. But the brightness and clarity of that first impression still "haunts" me! Are these really that good? If so, they should be a pretty good bargain. The only negative point I noted was some glare or reflection under critical light conditions. But not as strong as in the Zeiss Victory (I).

Has anyone been able to give them a thorough test, comparing them with the top line as well? I notice, they do not show up in the Alula tests.

By the way, Minox is independent from Leica again; for a while they looked like the mid-range Leica line. But they have become independent again, according to their website.

[Atomic Chicken]

Greetings!

I personally think that Minox binoculars are just fine... maybe not quite as bright and sharp as Leica or Zeiss, but VERY serviceable and well built. I have come close on several occasions to buying the 8x32 model, it is lightweight (21oz) and has a wide field of view (400ft@1000yd) as compared to many other configurations in the Minox line - some of which have restricted fields of view when compared to competitors equivalent models. There's a pair of 8x32 Minox on closeout locally for 1/2 price, I'm seriously considering picking them up next week if they haven't been sold.

Overall, in the same price range I think that Kahles is a slightly better binocular for the money, but you really can't go wrong buying Minox.

Best wishes,
Bawko

[ranburr]

I own both the Minox and previously mentioned Kahles binos in 10X42. They are the two best deals available for the money. As I always say you get 95% of what the top of the line gives you at about half the price. I agree that the Kahles is ever so slightly better, but it also cost a little more than the Minox. Incidetally, I got my Minox NIB on Ebay for $400.00 and my Kahles on closeout for $450.00 NIB. They both typically go in the $700-$800 range. Even at list price, I would not hesitate to buy either of these binos.

ranburr

[hinnark]

Hi everybody:

A friend of mine recently showed up with a new pair of Minox 10x42 aspheric binoculars. Unfortunately, I had only a brief chance to look through them. But the brightness and clarity of that first impression still "haunts" me! Are these really that good? If so, they should be a pretty good bargain. The only negative point I noted was some glare or reflection under critical light conditions. But not as strong as in the Zeiss Victory (I).

Has anyone been able to give them a thorough test, comparing them with the top line as well? I notice, they do not show up in the Alula tests.

By the way, Minox is independent from Leica again; for a while they looked like the mid-range Leica line. But they have become independent again, according to their website.


Hi,

I found some binoculars perform good at night but worse at day and some that perform good in daylight for nature watching but worse at night at the stars. Of course top line binoculars like Leica, Zeiss, Swarovski and Nikon perform very good under all circumstances. The 8x32 Minox was one of those that seemed to be quite good at daylight and even in the dawn. I was also impressed by the close focus of these bino that let me focussed my own shoes. But looking at stars a serious weak point was getting obvious. The stars weren´t of pinpoint shape but some kind of soft bubbles. I compared it side by side to the Leica 8x32 Trinovid BN and the Leica showed a noticable sharper image, especially visible when looking at the stars. Glare and reflections were also problems of the Minox and I think they have to improve the backlight/flare properties of their line.
Like you I had only short time possibilities to try the new 10x42. The image seemed to be sharp and bright in the center but the image got soft toward the edges pretty soon IMO. I also noticed the flare and reflection problem again. So I´d like to say to Minox: I can´t see what´s the matter with Argon inside the binoculars but sharper views without reflections would be very welcome.

Steve

[Wehr]

Hi everybody:

A friend of mine recently showed up with a new pair of Minox 10x42 aspheric binoculars. Unfortunately, I had only a brief chance to look through them. But the brightness and clarity of that first impression still "haunts" me! Are these really that good? If so, they should be a pretty good bargain. The only negative point I noted was some glare or reflection under critical light conditions. But not as strong as in the Zeiss Victory (I).

Has anyone been able to give them a thorough test, comparing them with the top line as well? I notice, they do not show up in the Alula tests.

By the way, Minox is independent from Leica again; for a while they looked like the mid-range Leica line. But they have become independent again, according to their website.

The MINOX are well built and the price seems to be attractive, alas optically they are still far away from the best. Therefore the bins are often sold at a greatly reduced price in many countries. I compared the Minox 8x32, the Leica Trinovid 8x32 and the Nikon 8x32 HG. I had the Minox and the Trinovid for a one week test drive. The Minox is a bit less sharp and less contrasty, but this is not the point. Severe is the amount of glare, reflection and stray light coming from both, the objectives and the oculars. This is true not only under critical light conditions. Comparing them in real nature with Leica and Nikon made the Minox useless for me. Optically the Leica was the best, closely followed by the Nikon. I then bought the Nikon, because of best eye relief. The price was only 50 Euro above the Minox.

If you can get the Minox at a reduced price, you decide and you may be satisfied. There are many Minox owners, who liked them very much in the first place. So was I with my MINOX 15x58ED. After comparing them with an old Docter 15x60 I could have thrown them away.
I don't know how other midpriced brands stand up against the Minox, but never compare them with top bins.
Minox is improving their products continuously, so I think it must be very expensive to put them optically on the top of the line. For me it is a real pity that they are not.

Walter