Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics MINOX ZA 3 & ZA 5 Riflescopes

I like that BDC reticle. On most of my scopes I like to use the elevation turret for range adjustments, but having a mark on the horizontal crosshair is really helpful for minor hold-offs for wind. I had a Mark 4 with the Tactical Milling Reticle and I used those horizontal hashmarks all the time.

-Dan

I just received the following from Minox:

Attached you will find a revised Specifications Sheet for the ZA Riflescopes. Please note the changes made in the weights listed for each model. The initial information was developed from engineering design documents. The new information provided was determined by actually weighing production samples. The greatest change is with the ZA 5 4-20x50 SF which was listed at 25 ounces but actually weighs only 18.9 ounces!

Also you will note an added line in the Windage/Elevation section which states the image plane placement of the reticles. All ZA models place the reticle in the second image plane which provides for a consistent (non-magnifying) visual reticle size at all power settings. This is the �classic� placement of reticles in American style riflescopes.

Please let me know if you have questions or require additional information

Technical Data ZA 3 3-9x40
Order Number
With MinoPlex Reticle #66000
With MINOX BDC Reticle #66001
Windage/Elevation
Reticle Adjustment/per Click 1/4" at 100 yards
Windage reticle travel - total 60 MOA
Elevation reticle travel - total 60 MOA
Reticle/Image Plane 2nd
Power Selector
Magnification high power (+/- 5%) 9
Magnification low power (+/- 5%) 3
Objective Lens
Clear aperture (mm) 40
Parallax setting or adjustment range 100 yds
Eyepiece
Eye relief >4.0
Exit pupil high 4.4
Exit pupil low 13.3
Eyepiece - diopter (min) -2
Eyepiece + diopter (min) 1.5
Image
Field of View Low Power - ft100 yds 31.5
Field of View High Power - ft100 yds 10.5
Lens Coating
Fully multicoated w/M* Coating yes
Mechanical
Main tube diameter 1 inch
Overall length (a) 12 3/16"
Main tube length (b) 5 9/16"
Front mounting distance (c) 2 3/16"
Rear mounting distance (d) 2 3/16"
Objective bell length (e) 3"
Eyepiece assembly length (f) 3 9/16"
Objective diameter (g) 1 7/8"
Eyepiece diameter (h) 1 9/16"
Weight 12.8 oz
Finish Matte

Technical Data ZA 5 2-10x40
Order Number
With MinoPlex Reticle #66010
With MINOX BDC Reticle #66011
Windage/Elevation
Reticle Adjustment/per Click 1/4" at 100 yards
Windage reticle travel - total 72 MOA
Elevation reticle travel - total 72 MOA
Reticle/Image Plane 2nd
Power Selector
Magnification high power (+/- 5%) 10
Magnification low power (+/- 5%) 2
Objective Lens
Clear aperture (mm) 40
Parallax setting or adjustment range 100 yds
Eyepiece
Eye relief >4.0
Exit pupil high 4.0
Exit pupil low 20.0
Eyepiece - diopter (min) -2
Eyepiece + diopter (min) 1.5
Image
Field of View Low Power - ft100 yds 47.5
Field of View High Power - ft100 yds 9.4
Lens Coating
Fully multicoated w/M* Coating yes
Mechanical
Main tube diameter 1 inch
Overall length (a) 12 3/16"
Main tube length (b) 5 9/16"
Front mounting distance (c) 2 3/16"
Rear mounting distance (d) 2 3/16"
Objective bell length (e) 3"
Eyepiece assembly length (f) 3 9/16"
Objective diameter (g) 1 7/8"
Eyepiece diameter (h) 1 9/16"
Weight 13.1 oz
Finish Matte

Technical Data ZA 5 3-15x42
Order Number
With MinoPlex Reticle #66020
With MINOX BDC Reticle #66021
Windage/Elevation
Reticle Adjustment/per Click 1/4" at 100 yards
Windage reticle travel - total 60 MOA
Elevation reticle travel - total 60 MOA
Reticle/Image Plane 2nd
Power Selector
Magnification high power (+/- 5%) 15
Magnification low power (+/- 5%) 3
Objective Lens
Clear aperture (mm) 42
Parallax setting or adjustment range 100 yds
Eyepiece
Eye relief >4.0
Exit pupil high 2.8
Exit pupil low 14.0
Eyepiece - diopter (min) -2
Eyepiece + diopter (min) 1.5
Image
Field of View Low Power - ft100 yds 31.5
Field of View High Power - ft100 yds 6.3
Lens Coating
Fully multicoated w/M* Coating yes
Mechanical
Main tube diameter 1 inch
Overall length (a) 12 3/16"
Main tube length (b) 5 9/16"
Front mounting distance (c) 2 1/6"
Rear mounting distance (d) 2 3/16"
Objective bell length (e) 3 1/8"
Eyepiece assembly length (f) 3 9/16"
Objective diameter (g) 2 1/16"
Eyepiece diameter (h) 1 9/16"
Weight 13.7 oz
Finish Matte

Technical Data ZA 5 4-20x50-SF
Order Number
With MinoPlex Reticle #66030
With MINOX BDC Reticle #66031
Windage/Elevation
Reticle Adjustment/per Click 1/8" at 100 yards
Windage reticle travel - total 80 MOA
Elevation reticle travel - total 80 MOA
Reticle/Image Plane 2nd
Power Selector
Magnification high power (+/- 5%) 20
Magnification low power (+/- 5%) 4
Objective Lens
Clear aperture (mm) 50
Parallax setting or adjustment range 25 yds-∞
Eyepiece
Eye relief >4.0
Exit pupil high 2.5
Exit pupil low 12.5
Eyepiece - diopter (min) -2
Eyepiece + diopter (min) 1.5
Image
Field of View Low Power - ft100 yds 23.6
Field of View High Power - ft100 yds 4.7
Lens Coating
Fully multicoated w/M* Coating yes
Mechanical
Main tube diameter 1 inch
Overall length (a) 13 1/8"
Main tube length (b) 5 13/16"
Front mounting distance (c) 2 7/16"
Rear mounting distance (d) 2 3/16"
Objective bell length (e) 3 13/16"
Eyepiece assembly length (f) 3 9/16"
Objective diameter (g) 2 3/8"
Eyepiece diameter (h) 1 9/16"
Weight 18.9 oz
Finish Matte

I was disappointed by this also. 15x scope with no side focus is fairly unusual, isnt it?

Zeiss had one a while back and I don't think it did all that well either.

Doug, hope Santa was good to you. I got the email on the Minox intro and that was news to me.

SKane, 'Decent Glass?' In today's competitive market, I would think we can expect OUTSTANDING glass to be in most any new intro from a major mfg. Look thru a Leupold Yosemite proves that....but agreed to your comments.

Being a Fixed Power fan, I am w/Don, and would like to see fixed powers i.e. a good 4x and a 6x of some sorts. Knowing the masses like variables I will not hold my breath, but if they mfg. one and it's quality, I will take a hard look, as I will if Conquest line intro's a 6x via Zeiss.

Doug, nice to see a clean quality well spec'd scope w/o a price tag of one major mfg. I saw intro'd at last years SHOT.

My gut impression is this truly will get the attention of the other optic players, and competition is always a great thing for the consumer, better quality products at ever better value pricing.

Hate I cannot get to SHOT this year to see them. Agree to the PA would be a very nice addition on any glass that is 12x or higher on the high side.

Happy New Year's to all! It looks like an exciting time in new products, already off to a nice start

Hmmmm, if no Minox fixed, would a 1.5-6x42 be too much to ask?

Good comments all the way around but I wondered about your above statement. Really how much better is a 1.5 x 6 than a 2 x 10?? Seems you'd be giving up a lot on top for only a .5 reduction on the bottom end. I'm not a magnification freak but I'd take a 2x10 anyday over 1 1.5 x 6. But a fixed 4x would be nice . . .

I am thinking I'll have to try a 2-10 as well.....
I actually unlike most like the BDC they offer. Don't know if as much as the Lupy LR-dot but would have to use it to see..

Cfran, good point - though if the top end of a 1.5-6x is only 60% of a 2-10x, would it not make sense to price the former at $288? (Afterall, Minox is offering the 3-9 at 87.5% of the cost of the 2-10, to accept a 10% reduction in top end power). A 1.5-6x42 at $288 would only be fair

If not, a nice 4x and/or 6x at a Leupold 6x or Zeiss 4x price point would really be a nice option to have IMO.

I think Minox will be selling their share of these new scopes and expect the durability to be consistent with other brands.

If they are taking requests I agree on the 4x, 6x, and 1.5-6....as follows:

4x40 at about 10.5 oz's
6x42 at about 11oz's
1.5-6x42 at about 11.5oz's
...all on 1 inch tubes.

I don't have much use for more than 6x and I like LARGE exit pupils. The 2-10 could be turned up to only 6x, but for simplicity (my preference) I'd prefer it stop there. Understand that others prefer to crank it up though.....and that's ok.

JCM

Im wondering if you can get any specifics about the dimensions of the reticles. The BDC crosshairs look a little heavy but hopefully they arent!

I spoke with my contact at Minox and his reply was:

"We can provide specifications (and will) as to the reticle subtension for all of the scopes. That information is of course useful for making ranging estimates and �holdover� approximations. However, those specifications can only give an approximation to the visual appearance (weight) of the reticle stadia markings when making scope to scope spec comparisons � unless the magnification and field of view of the scopes are identical.

I do not have a Zeiss Conquest plex reticle at hand to make a visual (subjective) comparison. However, to my eye the MinoPlex appears to be of about the same weight of a Leupold standard plex and a bit lighter/finer then the heavy section of a Rapid-Z in a Zeiss 3-9.

A chart with subtension approximations for all the scopes will follow soon".

So, if you're looking through one, does that mean there might be one in the mail to me?

It means you are getting the first one I get to send out + because you contacted with the first pre-order you will be EXTRA pleased when you receive it.

Doug,
How many do you think you will get in? I am seriously considering the 3X15X42....man that looks sweet.....

You da man Doug! I'm very anxious to put this one through the ringer. I'm thinking it's first assignment will be atop my braked 7WSM.

-Dan

I will get in a few of every version

Well, I am very impressed with the ProMaster Elite ED bino's I got from you this year......now looking for a good scope.....

Great, Doug, just great.

Here I'm about to order a Conquest from you, and you go and confuse me!

Jeff,
I can only imagine what you'd say if I sold you the Conquest and then after you mounted it I informed you about these Minox' Better I make sure you're all in the know up front.
I think Zeiss is in for some real competition

I'm glad you told us so quickly. Choices are a good thing.

I've come to trust my Conquests as far as holding zero, tracking repeatability, etc. The things that only use over a period of time will prove out... If the Minox riflescopes are optically as good as my 13x56's, then they'll have THAT covered... The other stuff remains to be seen. Though it'd be a surprise if a major brand new design screwed those things up; plenty of good products out there to reverse-engineer.

Pretty exciting scopes! Glad you are out on the bleeding edge on these, Doug. Thanks!!