New MeoStar B1 Plus Binoculars (1 Viewer)

[lmans66]

Hi Jerry,
I am just curious as to what Meopta has in store for the B2. As mentioned by others, maybe they’re saving their latest and greatest coatings for a B2 and the B1 Plus is more of a stop-gap?
Time will tell.
Thanks and stay well all,
John.

John....like many, I have enjoyed following Binoculars manufacturers thru the years and picking up information on them etc. Meopta is a rather recent favorite of mine but I have thought of the B1Plus line and why they even are bringing it out. A stop gap? Not sure any manufacturer would invest 'just in a stop-gap'.

My thinking is that the Meopro line is their new $1000 line (which is a bit subpar over their old $1000 line of the Meostar B1.1). Then the B2 will possibly be priced just below $2000. This would offer competition for the Alpha's but not 'quite' and yet giving the buyer a feeling of 'almost Alpha, good enough Alpha'. Looking at the current B1 Plus, the whole design has been changed from the B1.1, thus paving the way 'design wise' for the B2. All they have to do now is upgrade the glass and the coatings of the B1 Plus to become that new B2.

The B2 would be on the same outward design/appearance as the current B1Plus (different all told from the old B1.1) so in that sense, the stop gap isn't so much a stop-gap, but a half-way point to the end game. I think I read where the B1 Plus will be phased out, thus making sense as no need to have it, as it will become the B2.

 

[Swift802]

John....like many, I have enjoyed following Binoculars manufacturers thru the years and picking up information on them etc. Meopta is a rather recent favorite of mine but I have thought of the B1Plus line and why they even are bringing it out. A stop gap? Not sure any manufacturer would invest 'just in a stop-gap'.

My thinking is that the Meopro line is their new $1000 line (which is a bit subpar over their old $1000 line of the Meostar B1.1). Then the B2 will possibly be priced just below $2000. This would offer competition for the Alpha's but not 'quite' and yet giving the buyer a feeling of 'almost Alpha, good enough Alpha'. Looking at the current B1 Plus, the whole design has been changed from the B1.1, thus paving the way 'design wise' for the B2. All they have to do now is upgrade the glass and the coatings of the B1 Plus to become that new B2.

The B2 would be on the same outward design/appearance as the current B1Plus (different all told from the old B1.1) so in that sense, the stop gap isn't so much a stop-gap, but a half-way point to the end game. I think I read where the B1 Plus will be phased out, thus making sense as no need to have it, as it will become the B2.

I enjoyed lurking on here for a long time before joining recently for the reason you mentioned, lots of valuable information to be gained. Meopta are a company I like to keep an eye on because I really love my old Meostar 10x42. I’m sure that the coatings have been upgraded since mine were made so the newer models should be even brighter. I was contemplating getting a B1.1 10x32 but a combination of them being difficult to source and possible issues with the new lockable dioptre tempered my enthusiasm for now. I think you have the equivalent model in 8 power? I’m kind of attached to my 10x42 anyway. Can’t wait to see what the B2 will be like though.
Thanks and stay well,
John.

 

[lmans66]

I should have picked up a 10x32 B1.1 at the same time I picked up a 8x32B1.1 The B1.1's are very good.
The B1 Plus's not so....the MeoPro's not so good. I have a feeling the B2's will be really good though if one can wait.

 

[Troubador]

Hello Lee,
No MeoLux coatings for the B1 Plus as per the product poster that John Roberts posted. That’s a shame. They show MeoBright, MeoShield and MeoDrop for the B1 Plus range.
It seems that MeoLux is still reserved exclusively for the top of the range sights only? That’s what I gather from the most recent product poster anyway.
Thank you and all the best,
John.

Yes John, you are correct. Looks like the earlier information from Meopta was either wrong or they changed their mind.

Lee

 

[Swift802]

Yes John, you are correct. Looks like the earlier information from Meopta was either wrong or they changed their mind.

Lee

Hello Lee,
It is strange to my mind that they have the Meolux for the rifle scopes and not for the binoculars or their spotting scope. I can only speculate myself because I haven’t looked through Meopta‘s latest optics to be honest. I do have a 2005 Meostar 10x42 and the view has been improved since mine were made through coating improvements (gathered from what I’ve read on this forum from various users experiences).
I do love my Meopta’s though. Yellow tint and all.
By the way, thanks for the time and effort that you put into your various reviews on here. They are a great read and very helpful. I appreciate it.
Take care all,
John.

 

[Troubador]

Hello Lee,
It is strange to my mind that they have the Meolux for the rifle scopes and not for the binoculars or their spotting scope. I can only speculate myself because I haven’t looked through Meopta‘s latest optics to be honest. I do have a 2005 Meostar 10x42 and the view has been improved since mine were made through coating improvements (gathered from what I’ve read on this forum from various users experiences).
I do love my Meopta’s though. Yellow tint and all.
By the way, thanks for the time and effort that you put into your various reviews on here. They are a great read and very helpful. I appreciate it.
Take care all,
John.

Thanks John. Meopta's MeoStars were an eye-opener for me when I first reviewed one. I hadn't tried their binos but had picked up gossip that they built scopes for Zeiss and Leica so I gave them a try. The B1 MeoStars (and B1.1s) are really nice IMHO but subsequent MeoStar development and especially the continued lack of the long-promised B2s rather suggests to me that with the death of Mr Rausnitz the sports optics side of Meopta's business seems to have lost its way. I would love to be proved wrong on this.

Lee

 

[lmans66]

Lee... I agree...sad to see if this is the case but I am hoping that COVID set them back and the B2 is out next year, jim

 

[lmans66]

I wrote Meopta and this is what they replied in regards to the B2 Binocular line.

Thank you for contacting us.Unfortunately the development of B2 series is in process yet. We may have them ready for serial production in the end of 2022 maybe 2023.

Kind Regards,

Katerina Gavendova
Account Executive
Meopta Sport Optics

 

[kestrel1]

I wrote Meopta and this is what they replied in regards to the B2 Binocular line.

Thank you for contacting us.Unfortunately the development of B2 series is in process yet. We may have them ready for serial production in the end of 2022 maybe 2023.

Kind Regards,

Katerina Gavendova
Account Executive
Meopta Sport Optics

Hmm.. so enough time to adjust budget planning for saving little bit

 

[Troubador]

Hmm.. so enough time to adjust budget planning for saving little bit

If only B2 hadn't been coming in 'a year from now' for the last 5 years (at least)...........

Lee

 

[Ries]

According to a friend of mine in the know,
The MeoPro Air is the next evolution in the MeoPro binocular and will replace the current MeoPro HD series. Much better glass and better design. The B2 is going to be the next evolution of the MeoStar binocular out in 2022 and will take the place occupied now by the B1 Plus.

Now that's something to look forward to, nonetheless all the secondhand B1's that will become available gheghe

 

[lmans66]

The older B1.1's or B1's are the ones you want. The current Plus models ($1300-1400 retail) are more costly and heavier. The current MeoAir ($1000 or about) is indeed better than the current MeoPro (close to a $500) , but at the cost of the older' B1.1 models (also around $1000) but not nearly of the caliber of the B1.1. Availability of sizes vary as the current Plus or MeoAir models are not the complete lineup as the past B1.1 series so the entire Meopta line is confusing.

In my thinking this is how I might place Meopta if I had a wish list:

B1.1 or B1
B1 Plus
MeoAir
MeoPro

B2?.... will wait and see on this one. It will be costlier than the current B1 Plus I am sure. Probably around the SLC model in cost is what I think ($1500-1600). All thinking based on conjecture.

 

[adhoc]

Meopta's website says that compared with B1.1 "B1 Plus features enhanced optical tolerances to provide even sharper images and greater optical performance."

Has anyone in BirdForum or elsewhere yet detected this?

Jim, it's only on reading your post (#112) that I learnt MeoStar Plus is heavier than B1.1. The 15x56 is 70g heavier. Any idea why? That's surely not just in the armor.

Regarding price, OpticsPlanet a couple days ago offered the Plus 15x56 at $1210 after coupon code and another discount/s; now it's back to $1600.

 

[John A Roberts]

To illustrate Jim’s and adhoc’s comments about the listed weights of the B1.1 and B1 Plus lines, see the specifications for the:
• B1.1 line, that I previously included in post #14 at: Meostar B1.1 plus , and

• B1 Plus line, from the US version of the 2020 catalogue at: Meopta Sports Optics | Download

Both are for the US market so the weights are in ounces (various European market catalogues can be found at: Meopta Sports Optics - Download ).

As can be seen, both the x50 and x56 versions of the B1 Plus are slightly heavier, with an extra: 0.4 oz for the 12x50; 0.7 oz for the 15x56 and; 1.0 oz for the 8x56. In contrast, others are slightly lighter. But as to what that means?

- - - -
Back in post #51 on this thread, I included what I’d found about the optical construction of the B1 series, including two cutaway images. Since then a 2011 catalogue downloadable as a 5.6 MB PDF has become available at: Meopta sportoptics catalog eng 2011

The catalogue has a clearer version of the first cutaway image than is found elsewhere. When enlarged, it can be seen from the focuser marking that it’s the 7x50 version (so not a x42 as I incorrectly indicated).


John

 

[adhoc]

The data in the attached image shows that in 15x56 the B1.1 is at least 70 g lighter than the B1 Plus.

 

[adhoc]

John, the figure in the table of B1.1 (non-Plus) by Meopta in your image works out to 1240g so probably includes caps+strap. The figure of 1150g has also been noted down separately by me (in a comparison table to guide me in selection) some time back.

Regarding price, that retailer currently does not show Swarovski but three other major US retailers show the 15x56 at USD 2350. So, the Meopta 15x56, new version, was available in the US a few days ago, and perhaps will again be now and then, at a hair above one-half of the Swaro! PS. I pounced!

 

[John A Roberts]

Hi adhoc,

Excellent! It's always good to hear when someone gets a bargain. And I'll be interested to read your observations.


John

 

[gcole]

Meopta's website says that compared with B1.1 "B1 Plus features enhanced optical tolerances to provide even sharper images and greater optical performance."

Has anyone in BirdForum or elsewhere yet detected this?

Jim, it's only on reading your post (#112) that I learnt MeoStar Plus is heavier than B1.1. The 15x56 is 70g heavier. Any idea why? That's surely not just in the armor.

Regarding price, OpticsPlanet a couple days ago offered the Plus 15x56 at $1210 after coupon code and another discount/s; now it's back to $1600.

I used to be a regular buyer of OpticsPlanet, they would have a huge discount drop in price off their regular price of a particular item, then when the sale price went off you would see a significant jump in price back up and often even higher if they offered this item in conjunction with a cross the board coupon percentage off say binoculars. Now with the new sales tax collection law in the state of Florida where I currently reside, I now have to pay sales tax on everything I purchase on line. Before July of this year OpticsPlanet was a really good place to buy a binocular for really good prices especially if they were running’s a sale combined with a coupon discount. For instance in late June of this year I could have purchased a New Fujinon Hyper HC 8x42 for around $585 shipped on Sale with coupon discount with no sales Tax. I hesitated ….. then the New sales tax law went into effect in July. At the same time the sales price /discount coupon offer discount disappeared, that Fujinon Hyper HC 8x42 will now cost almost $300 dollars more today if purchased.

 

[gcole]

Meopta's website says that compared with B1.1 "B1 Plus features enhanced optical tolerances to provide even sharper images and greater optical performance."

Has anyone in BirdForum or elsewhere yet detected this?

Jim, it's only on reading your post (#112) that I learnt MeoStar Plus is heavier than B1.1. The 15x56 is 70g heavier. Any idea why? That's surely not just in the armor.

Regarding price, OpticsPlanet a couple days ago offered the Plus 15x56 at $1210 after coupon code and another discount/s; now it's back to $1600.

I briefly had a chance to handle the Meopta Meostar B1 Plus 8x32 in the field, other than it’s different armor look and feel I like the Optics(view) thru my Meostar B1.1 8x32 more.

 

[adhoc]

...had a chance to handle the Meopta Meostar B1 Plus 8x32...I like the Optics(view) thru my Meostar B1.1 8x32 more.

The tables are turned on me. Have others too had that experience, then? I'd like to know about this at any configuration though especially 15x56.