Hey gang!
My thread spamming continues in the Meopta part of the forum, but it will slow down and I will run out of steam, I promise.
This is however a thread which is not exactly a very nice representation of the Meopta brand - but I feel it warrants a thread and a caution to potential buyers.
I have been very keen on getting the B1 Plus version of the 8x32 Meostar. The B1 and especially B1.1 has a very good report both here and out there. Since I have no experience with the former B1 series and only very good experiences with the B1 Plus I have been set on the B1 Plus version of the Meostar 8x32.
I am seriously starting to think Meopta dropped the ball on this one. The focusing wheel starts out "ok" but feels a bit oval and after a few minutes of use it develops a intermittent clicking/ticking which you can feel on the dioptre adjustment knob. When this occurs there is a countdown to failure as the focusing wheel gets harder and harder and then gets stuck. On the second sample it came unstuck and worked perfectly - but only focusing one side of the binocular!
After ordering not one, but TWO brand new B1 Plus 8x32's with the same focusing wheel problem you would assume I would grow wiser. Well, you would assume wrong.
I really liked the little one, it works great with glasses and it is a joy to use. Optically it definitely performs and comparing to the Zeiss 8x32FL which is my benchmark 8x32 it is not far behind. Sure, a little CA but not at point of focus and there is none of that ocular glare I unfortunately have with the Zeiss. It is a little warmer than the Zeiss wich I consider "neutral" but the imaging is top notch at near and at far.
It would be a keeper for sure and as a whole I rank it as one of the top three/four 8x32 binos regardless of price I have looked through - and in the most attractive size and handling of them all.
So I went ahead and ordered a THIRD one. The seller in Germany checked the Meostar prior to shipping and confirmed smooth action and that sealed the deal.
Paid, waited anxiously a few days and this afternoon the little brick arrived at the collection point, I was there within the hour to pick it up.
Already from the first turns I thought it was a bit stiff, and not uneven - but perhaps a little of that "oval" feeling. Gave it a few minutes - just enough to build up hope and I started to really like the little bugger. Went in and got the Zeiss 8x32FL for some side by side comparisons and even though it never would best the Zeiss the little Meopta held its own and I got to thinking that it would be a viable replacement and that I could very well live with the slight optical trade off. A happy minute later the focusing wheel started acting up, with that proverbial doomsday tick of the focusing wheel before it got stuck. I had to really restrain myself from throwing it deep into the woods in frustration and disappointment. Gently tried to work the focuser but it got worse and worse and I head back inside to calm down, notify the seller and *bay about the problem and return.
Got a swift reply that the return was "accepted" which eased my mind but still I can't help to think and wonder how THREE out of THREE brand new 8x32's can ship out from three different vendors in two different countries and with serial numbers well apart and ALL of them break down in less than five minutes!!?
I hereby solemnly pledge not to order a fourth. Ever. I have give up on this model.
There is something seriously wrong with this specific model. I did email Meopta after the first two - with serial numbers - but have not heard anything back in a month or so. Not that I expect them to reply to a consumer but they will have to react when three (and perhaps a drove of others) start trickling into the service department.
It is very bad for the Meopta reputation.
If you consider ordering a Meostar B1 Plus 8x32 manufactured from the inception date up until now - just don't.
My thread spamming continues in the Meopta part of the forum, but it will slow down and I will run out of steam, I promise.
This is however a thread which is not exactly a very nice representation of the Meopta brand - but I feel it warrants a thread and a caution to potential buyers.
I have been very keen on getting the B1 Plus version of the 8x32 Meostar. The B1 and especially B1.1 has a very good report both here and out there. Since I have no experience with the former B1 series and only very good experiences with the B1 Plus I have been set on the B1 Plus version of the Meostar 8x32.
I am seriously starting to think Meopta dropped the ball on this one. The focusing wheel starts out "ok" but feels a bit oval and after a few minutes of use it develops a intermittent clicking/ticking which you can feel on the dioptre adjustment knob. When this occurs there is a countdown to failure as the focusing wheel gets harder and harder and then gets stuck. On the second sample it came unstuck and worked perfectly - but only focusing one side of the binocular!
After ordering not one, but TWO brand new B1 Plus 8x32's with the same focusing wheel problem you would assume I would grow wiser. Well, you would assume wrong.
I really liked the little one, it works great with glasses and it is a joy to use. Optically it definitely performs and comparing to the Zeiss 8x32FL which is my benchmark 8x32 it is not far behind. Sure, a little CA but not at point of focus and there is none of that ocular glare I unfortunately have with the Zeiss. It is a little warmer than the Zeiss wich I consider "neutral" but the imaging is top notch at near and at far.
It would be a keeper for sure and as a whole I rank it as one of the top three/four 8x32 binos regardless of price I have looked through - and in the most attractive size and handling of them all.
So I went ahead and ordered a THIRD one. The seller in Germany checked the Meostar prior to shipping and confirmed smooth action and that sealed the deal.
Paid, waited anxiously a few days and this afternoon the little brick arrived at the collection point, I was there within the hour to pick it up.
Already from the first turns I thought it was a bit stiff, and not uneven - but perhaps a little of that "oval" feeling. Gave it a few minutes - just enough to build up hope and I started to really like the little bugger. Went in and got the Zeiss 8x32FL for some side by side comparisons and even though it never would best the Zeiss the little Meopta held its own and I got to thinking that it would be a viable replacement and that I could very well live with the slight optical trade off. A happy minute later the focusing wheel started acting up, with that proverbial doomsday tick of the focusing wheel before it got stuck. I had to really restrain myself from throwing it deep into the woods in frustration and disappointment. Gently tried to work the focuser but it got worse and worse and I head back inside to calm down, notify the seller and *bay about the problem and return.
Got a swift reply that the return was "accepted" which eased my mind but still I can't help to think and wonder how THREE out of THREE brand new 8x32's can ship out from three different vendors in two different countries and with serial numbers well apart and ALL of them break down in less than five minutes!!?
I hereby solemnly pledge not to order a fourth. Ever. I have give up on this model.
There is something seriously wrong with this specific model. I did email Meopta after the first two - with serial numbers - but have not heard anything back in a month or so. Not that I expect them to reply to a consumer but they will have to react when three (and perhaps a drove of others) start trickling into the service department.
It is very bad for the Meopta reputation.
If you consider ordering a Meostar B1 Plus 8x32 manufactured from the inception date up until now - just don't.
