Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics So what is the consensus on Minox?

Do the za5 have lift and set turrets? I just got a za3 and you have to play w/set screws. Sure hate to see all the quality problems. If all these scopes are put together in America they have a long long way to go to match leupolds workforce!

my ZA5 1.5-8x32 doesn't have lift-n-set turrets

Most of the "scope full of hair" stories come from people who have never seen a scope full of hair but did read about it in F&S.

People having problems with a 6x are the idiots that have NO idea how to shoulder a rifle. Lots of folks out there that have to 'find' stuff through the scope.

Anyone else get a Minox and not like and/or have problems with the rubber power ring thingy??? The more I look and fiddle with it, I don't know if it's something that can be relied upon for long term use.

Well........a call to Minox was both helpful/reasuring, but also a bit discouraging at the same time. Said they are aware of the problem, and said careful application of a good glue would not void any warranty, and therefore didn't recommend a return. However, they would take it back and repair free of charge if I absolutely wanted to, or if it becomes a continual problem.

Needless to say, I just put a few dabs of automotive rubber/plastic trim adhesive on and reattached it........works like a charm now. Still not too thrilled about that one design aspect, but like everything else about it. Especially at the price I payed.

I own two ZA5 scopes a 3-15-50 illuminated and a 2-10-50 both are nice I was a little worried about the 4" eye relief but no problems there so far . You must use high scope mounts on the 50mm objective scope to keep the objective end from touching the barrel. The only problem I have had so far is the 2-10-50 turned all the way down I can see the end of the barrel turn it up to four no problem. Great in low light . For the price can't beat them . Can't wait to see the new ZA HD line.

I know this thread is old, but I thought I'd chime in about the Minox ZA5 3-15 x 42 I have. I bought it last year as a demo from Cameraland and mounted it on a 25-06. Last year I hunted with it a few times and I couldn't warm up to it for some reason or another. all of my other scopes are Zeiss Conquests in 3-9 or 3.5 x 10 and I've been real happy with them.

I took the Minox out again this past weekend and these are the four things I noticed. Has anyone else experienced this with theirs?

1. I was panning some pigs and there's a noticeable "fish eye" effect. As you pan around, you'll see the image get larger as it moves to the center of the view and then decrease as it reaches the edges again.

2. The focus shifts significantly as you change power. I've focused it at 15X, 7X and 3X and it happens in either direction.

3. When adjusted to 3X, objects appear farther away then they do with my naked eye.

4. In low light conditions, there's significant changes in light transmission when changing power. Some of this is to be expected, but I haven't seen it to such a degree with my Zeiss Conquests.

I'm getting ready to send it back to Minox for evaluation/repair as I'm hoping it's just out of adjustment. Either it needs repaired or it's a piece of crap IMO.

Did you happen to adjust the ocular assembly significantly? Also, for #2, are you viewing an object at a distance past 100yds, or in close? Far away is ok, but in close that's just a function of depth of field. So long as #2 is tested using a far away target, I'd definitely send it back. This sounds like what happens when an ocular is off axis with the rest of the optical system, or when it is screwed out way, way too far back. #4 is the only thing that I would suspect to just be normal or inherent to the glass.

The 3-9 Z3 I have is "OK" but I want to replace it, I find the sweet spot on the scope to be smaller than I like, i.e. your head position is more critical than I am used too.

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Did you happen to adjust the ocular assembly significantly? ..... This sounds like what happens when an ocular is off axis with the rest of the optical system, or when it is screwed out way, way too far back. [/quote]

With this being an open box demo, I suspect that may be what the problem is after folks fiddled with it. I'll send it in, because something is definitely not right.

It is a fast focus eyepiece on the Minox scopes

I have one of the za3 3-9x40 models with the #4 reticle and have been happy with its performance. The glass is great and the tracking has been spot on.