Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Minox vs Pentax DCF SP and Nikon venturer/superior E.

Hi,read a few reviews from people here that have purchased the Minos 6.5x32 or the 9.5x42 from Doug at Cameraland.Has anyone compared the Minox to a Nikon venturer/superior E, or Pentax DCF SP?.If so how would you rate these 3 binoculars.Thank you.

I'm guessing the Minox are less expensive?

For optical quality and durability, I would rank them in this order.

Nikon Venturer/LX
Minox
Pentax DCF SP

This is from my own personal experience. I have a pair of Nikon 8x42 Venturer/LX and Minox BD 8x32. I sold my Pentax 8x43 SP's a few months ago. My take on each one.

Nikon Venturer/LX - Fantastic optics, nice design/ergonimics, very durable. Kind of heavy, but it also helps stabilize them.

Minox BD - Very good optics, durable, and ok ergonimics. Good value.

Pentax DCF SP - Very good optics, light, and very nice design/ergonomics. Not very durable. I sent these back to Pentax to fix a ocular locking ring that bent from a very minor fall. Nearly lost a little screw that worked it's way loose that guides/stops the rotating eye cups.

I also have a couple of Leica BN/BA's and a pair of Leica 10x42 Ultravids. I would put the optics of the Nikon Venturer/LX equal to the Leica BN/BA's. I feel the Leica Trinovid BN/BA's have to be the toughest binoculars ever made. I don't see how the Ultravids could be as tough, but I haven't broken any of them, yet. The optics on the Ultravids are the best (to my eyes) and the ergonomics are better than the Pentax SP's. I rank the Ultravids number 1 in every category except durability. Durability is where I would give the Trinovids the edge. How can any bino be as tough as the Trinovids? It would be like tearing up an avil with a rubber mallet.

Hope this helps.

I bought both the Minox and the Pentax DCF SP's from doug. The pentax's did not have enough eye relief for me. so i sold them and ordered another pair of Minox's. I found them both to be very clear and bright . You couldnt go wrong with either one.

I would agree with Longbob.....the Leica Trinovids are truly a fantastic package all the way around. Unsurpassed optics and bulletproof construction. Mine should last a lifetime.

Well, I bought one of the DCF WP models from NY Camerland (this was way before Doug came on board) and it has looked and worked well for me since then. The Pentax WP was 8*42.

Then I got one of the Minox models from Doug last year. Comparing them both side by side, its hard to say which is better. They both are about equal to me.

Note: I do not get any of the blue tint that some have experienced with their Minox's but I do notice if I was looking out the side of my eyes the blue tint show up. And sometimes if I push the binos away from my eyes they show slight blue. But when pushing up to my eyes they are good and clear.

I initially thought the Minox's would really outshine my Pentax but they don't so I am happy with both of them.

Snowchase61 do you wear glassess?.Heard that the Minox9.5 may have bluish tinges on the edges,especially for those who wear glasses.
Longbob,thank you for the detailed report.I really like the Pentax DCF SP.You list the Minox above them.Did you see any blueish tinges on the edges.Appreciate the info on the Nikon.I have handled a Leica Trinovid.Agree with you that they seem extremely well built.The optics were wonderful.If the Nikons match them,then they must be very good.Sad to say that the Leicas are almost twice the price of the Nikons <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Valad thanks for the info.So you liked the Minox even with the bluish tinge,guess they were not too distracting.Was the build quality better than the Pentax's?.

Raj,

I have not noticed the bluish tinge. I ranked the Minox above the Pentax because they are much more durable and the optics were equal to my eyes. I do like the design and lighter weight of the Pentax, but they may be too light because they seem somewhat flimsy to me.

Yes, the Leicas are priced at twice the amount unless you are able to find a nice used pair. I have an excellent pair of Leica 7x42 Trinovids that I don't use and really should sell. I'm trying to limit my inventory to just a few top quality binos. I currently have three pairs of Leicas. Just how many could a person possibly need? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

1. Top of the line Nikons good resolution, bright and clear and easy to use.

2. Minox fine optics but not real thrilled with the indivual focusing.

3. Pentax DCF SP just not the best lense for my eyes!
The view through them sort of reminds me of when my eye glass prescription gets old and becomes time for new lenses.

The Pentax SP's, like the latest Leicas, feature super hard coatings, which are a real plus in resisting the damage to the coatings that occur whenever the lenses are cleaned.
I wouldn't worry about the Ultravids being any less rugged than the BA/BN series. They are lighter, but that's just becuae they use lighter materials. I understand they were tested for about five years before release to the public to make absolutely sure they were both just as tough and just as waterproof over the long haul as the BA/BN series. E

E,

I don't doubt that the Ultravids are tough. I wouldn't expect anything less from Leica. Just by "feel" the Trinovids appear to be over the top in toughness. I don't think you could break them unless you ran over them with a truck. A 1/2 ton wouldn't do it. It would have to be 1 ton or a Dodge. A Dodge will break anything. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Raj,
I do not wear glasses, I have not noticed any blue tinge on the edges of my 9.5's. I have not used the 9.5's as much as i have used my 6.5's. Which were my constant companion all fall. I like the individual focus a lot . It is not 100% set it and forget it , but it is pretty close.
Snow

Maybe, TOBYJOETRUBY will chime in. I think he tested out your theory with a pair of 10x50 BN's.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well if he tested the 10x50 BN and it had the passport warranty then Leica will cover it under warranty <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I will have to agree with Longbob.The Nikon has the best optics.I tested the superior E porro prism versions and they are very very good.Have not looked thru the LX or the LXL Nikons.These are said to be optically as good as the superior E porro prism models,but are also waterproof.The porro prism version unfortunately is not waterproof.May not be the number one choice for hunting in bad weather.The Nikons come with detachable covers/caps for the objective lens.Can lose them easily.
The Minox are very good.Are roof prisms and waterproof.The objective lens covers are fixed and is a slightly better way of overall construction.I checked out the 6.5 and they are a bargain at the special price Doug at Cameraland has them for.
The Pentax also has fixed objective lens caps.Very nice binoculars.
Doug had recently stated that Pentax has a new no fault warranty on their binoculars.The Minox have a 30 year warranty.Just depends on which company is customer friendly with their warranty.
The Leicas may be the best overall but are also more expensive.The Nikon superior E porro prism(and maybe the LX) version may be optically as good as the Leica or slightly lagging.The Minox and the Pentax are also very good but one step lower.

The Superior E is the best (optically) glass I have ever used. Period. They may not be waterproof, but they are pretty dang water resistant. I am a big Porro fan- they are better glass for the money, fit any eye spacing and the sky's the limit for magnification and Objective lens size, plus they provide noticeably better depth perception. If the European and now American people weren't in love with roof prisms, more resourses and technology would be put into making even better porro glasses.

Many of the new large Objective roof prisms will not close tight enough together to accomodate a lot of the population. The Leica 12x50 Trinovids are a classic example as are the 15x56 Swaros. There are three guys on my street alone that can't use my 15x56s and they aren't as bad as the Leicas. Oddly enough, the ultravids are OK.

Don't sell the porro prism glasses short.