Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Minox Porro Binoculars

I am looking for a new bino. Bought a Zeiss 8x40 Victory 5 years ago that has NOT stood the test of time. NO help off Zeiss either. So, I am off Zeiss.
I want a good, dependable bino that does not leave me hurting like the Zeiss if broken. I do have insurance on my equipment, but you know how that goes.

I need:

- 10x40 (or similar)

I want:

- central focusing
- gas filling / waterproof
- robust overall build
- good optics

I found:

Minox BD 10x44BP
http://www.minox.com/index.php?id=114&L=1

Testreports on the net are positive.

I have ordered one for testing and will report. The price: $US 360 (at todays rate).

Note: I am not looking for a bino that costs nothing and delivers more than top dollar svaros.

Any experience with these, anybody?

I have a pair of the Minox roofs (8 x 33 HG) and am real impressed with the build and optics. Based on my limited experiences with mine thus far, I have no reservations in recommending them. Great binos.

I have the 8x44 Minox BD BP porros as well as the Leupold Cascade porro 8x42s. They are, in most practical senses, the same binocular.

Both bins are/have...

- Very bright compared to anything else in this price range
- Very sharp...most certainly sharper than any of the $300 roofs
- Excellent edge to edge sharpness
- Superb (arguably the best I have ever owned) depth of field (for an 8x.)

Negatives for both....

- narrower true and apparent field of view in comparison to other bins of this optical caliber. However, they are very much comparable (in the 8x version) with other bins in this price range.

Differences between the two...

- several ounces of weight (the Leupold is noticeably lighter)
- handling (the Leupold is more ergonomic)
- Brightness (the Minox is a hair brighter)
- Price (The Leupold is about $150 cheaper at the price you quoted for the Minox)

Both are made in Japan if I am not mistaken.

Being on a porro kick lately, I recently tested, in store, mid size porros from Nikon, Leupold and Pentax. I can't remember all of the models, but I do remember being very impressed by those Leupold Cascades. I also know that I was very much unimpressed by the Nikon and Pentax, this did not include the excellent Nikon SEs.

I haven't been able to check out the Minox, if they are in the same ballpark as the Cascades they must be good indeed.
John

Me too Glacier John. I have been looking at nothing but porros. I picked up the Bushnell Legend 8x42's and used them instead of my Wind Rive Pinnacles this season. I found them just a whole lot less trouble. They are bigger and heavier but that trade off was well worth the lack of "futzing" I had to do during any viewing session. Now looking at something smaller and waiting to hear a comparison between the Yosemites and Vortex Raptor's.

My Minox binos have all been roof prisms. I do have a Swaro Habicht 7X42 that I have had for years, you might look at them too.

jim

Jim, I also have teh 7X42 Swarovski Habicht porro prisms and love them. That was the first good binocular I ever owned and should have been the last as the collection has expanded too much. There's not much that bino is lacking in almost any situation. Ward

Am just on the way to the postoffice to pick up the binos.
Will report. Thanks.

First look.

Minox Porro 10x44

Overall impression: Sturdy. Positive. Stressfree watching.

Nice pics! I love actually being able to see what a game animal will actually look like through the bins.

I think it would be smart for other manufacturer's to utilize this when marketing their bins.

FrankD,

thank you very much. Just so their is no confusion. I have no ties with Minox. Just a user trying out stuff. The picture taking through optics is a hobby of mine. I do not digi-scope truly. I just hold the camera (Pentay Optio E 50 - cheap digi) behind the okular. With practice, that works.

In this thread is a pic of a fox though a rifle scope:
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...&topic=0&Search=true#Post2815089

Thanks.

Nice thanks. I understood where you were coming from but thought it an interesting perspective regardless.

I often take some digi-binned shots through my various binoculars. It is fun to do comparisons.

I have owned a couple of pairs of Minox roofy in the past. Overall, the quality is good. I would love to try out some Porros from Minox.

FrankD,

yes, so lets see some off your pics. May be we are on to something here?

Hawker, so far, I would highly recommend them. Hope that lasts, but I am quite convinced.

Thanks.

I notice from other posts by FrankD that the Leupold Cascade is a right eye diopter set up. The obvious similarities in the appearance of these two have raised the obvious questions of how closely related they might be. Is the Minox diopter the same way?

The integral eye adjustment for vision difference on the Minox is on the left side. You first focus the right, then raise the disk on the central focussing dial and adjust for left eye. Lower the disk and the setting is fixed.



The picture shows the disk raised, the left eye cup lowered and the right one up.

If the Leupold Cascades Porros are like these, they are a snap at the prices I have seen them in the US.

From what I could find, they appear the same, execept for the Argon Gas filling on the Minox and slight differences in objective diameter (42 / 44 mm).

The Leupolds are offered (sell?) in continental for around 400 EUR ($US ~ 530). In the US they seem to be on sale for 200 - 250 $.

cmg,
Thanks. My bad. That is like the Cascade, a left eye diopter. I mistyped the location in my query.

From my experience both binoculars offer practically identical optical performance though I did pick up an "ever so slight" color bias difference. I no longer have the Minoxs so I cannot do the comparison further.

Ergonomically they felt a bit different. The Minox's thicker rubber armor was noticeable from this perspective. The weight difference wasn't quite as substantial though in my opinion.

Either of these would be an excellent option out there for someone looking for the benefits of an internal focus design coupled with the benefits of the porro prisms. At the price the Leupold porro is selling at in the US right now it is almost a "no-brainer".

CMG,

I would ask if you could do me a favor. I don't have my Minox's anymore but need some help with the diopter adjustment. Is it the same as the Leupold Cascade in that the center focusing knob "end" pops out and the rotates? I remember the graduations posted on the portion of the knob that is revealed after you pop the outer section out. The graduations section doesn't move, but rather the outside of the knob does, yes? If you get a chance to take a pic of this and post it I would appreciate it.

I am going to send you a pm with the same question but with how difficult it is to see the little red-flashing envelope I thought this would be the smarter route to take.

Thanks.

Frank, and all,

here is a pic of the requested issue. Your memory is correct.