Roger Vines Meopta 12x50 HD Review (1 Viewer)

[tenex]

Sheep farming in the hills of Scotland is widespread and when we roam the hills and coasts of the Scottish islands or mainland there are always, always, sheep nearby. They are our constant companions on the hills and exhibit interesting behaviour.

Perhaps more surprisingly, sheep can be seen sometimes in the summer high in the Rocky Mountains as well. When traveling backcountry trails in our Defender (hey Jan, I keep forgetting to mention that!) we've seen flocks of sheep grazing in a number of areas. The shepherds are Basque, living alone up there alongside them for months, often with just a horse tethered next to a white canvas tent with a chimney that looks exactly like photos of 150 years ago. And a really big light-colored sheepdog, I don't know the breed.

 

[14Goudvink]

Yes George you are right but I am sure that is an error. There are many references to AKs being used in the 56mm models for example https://www.houseofoutdoor.com/wp-c...-en-Zeiss-Conquest-HD-8x56-def-april-2016.pdf , but I will try to get confirmation from Meopta.

Lee

Thanks, Lee, would be nice to get confirmation from Meopta.


George

 

[Troubador]

Thanks, Lee, would be nice to get confirmation from Meopta.


George

Just received word from Meopta that at the present time none of their binos have Abbe-Koenig prisms only SPs.

So apologies to all (and in particular to Dennsi) for repeating what is stated elsewhere in error.

Lee

 

[14Goudvink]

Just received word from Meopta that at the present time none of their binos have Abbe-Koenig prisms only SPs.

So apologies to all (and in particular to Dennsi) for repeating what is stated elsewhere in error.

Lee

Thanks for checking, Lee

 

[Alaska4me]

Not having any experience with the 12x50 HD's, I have been using its bigger brother, the 15x56 HD's for several years now, and am still profoundly impressed with them. Alpha all the way.

Kudos to Meopta very big time!

FWIW, this message is brought to you by a dyed in the wool Leica guy...

 

[JerryLogan]

Can anyone here say when the Meostar 12x50 B1 changed to Fluoride glass or has it always been so?

Thanks,
Jerry

 

[John A Roberts]

Hi Jerry,

The HD versions of the 12x50, and the 15x56, were first listed in the 2015 Meopta catalogue
They replaced the non-HD versions

All HD's have a gold coloured 'HD' badge on the outside of the right barrel


John


p.s. on the B1 production the first 2 digits of the 6 digit serial number indicate the year of manufacture e.g. 19xxxx would indicate 2019

 

[Willfrye027]

Great review! I am strongly considering the 12x50 instead of my Leica duovids to simplify things a bit.

 

[Alaska4me]

Great review! I am strongly considering the 12x50 instead of my Leica duovids to simplify things a bit.

I think you will be very happy with the 12x50's.

 

[NY_Birder]

Thanks for the review. If I ever want more magnification, Meopta seems the way to go.

 

[gcole]

Hi Jerry,
John


p.s. on the B1 production the first 2 digits of the 6 digit serial number indicate the year of manufacture e.g. 19xxxx would indicate 2019

I have a B1.1 8x32 purchased from SportOptics.Com on 3-28-2020 New with Serial # 160428 .... either there are a lot of older(not current) stock being sold from this authorized dealer or the production date with the redesigned 8x32 B1.1 first two digits indicate Something altogether different. Seems odd this dealer would be receiving stock dating back to 2016 to be sold given their website is continuously either stating low stock or call for availability.

 

[John A Roberts]

Hi GC,

I primarily based my statement on the comments by the various B1 owners in this thread: https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=360032

The B1.1 version dates from 2019, see https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=378035
(as Rob indicated in post #15, the B1.1 is first featured in the 2019 catalogue - the 2018 one lists the original B1)
So it seems that Meopta has modified it’s numbering practice with the 1.1 version - though how and why is unclear

And then of course, earlier this year the B1 Plus was announced, see: https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=387471


John

 

[gcole]

Hi GC,

I primarily based my statement on the comments by the various B1 owners in this thread: https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=360032

The B1.1 version dates from 2019, see https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=378035
(as Rob indicated in post #15, the B1.1 is first featured in the 2019 catalogue - the 2018 one lists the original B1)
So it seems that Meopta has modified it’s numbering practice with the 1.1 version - though how and why is unclear

And then of course, earlier this year the B1 Plus was announced, see: https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=387471


John

Thanks John for the additional references ..... maybe we just add the 2nd set of numbers (04) to the first two (16) ? for the year 2020. The last set of numbers (28) can not be weeks, maybe days ?