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Minox BP 8X44 Porro's |
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ebow86
Optics Apprentice Joined: September/19/2011 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 72 |
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Posted: September/19/2011 at 01:22 |
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I bought a pair of these years back and they have been my primary glass everday since then. They are excellent binoculars on many different levels, however, it seems as though these binos never made a very big impact on the forums and community, I wonder why? Does anyone else have a set of these Minox Porro's? If so what are your thoughts on them? Thanks
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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I always heard positive things about them. If I could find a pair at the right price, I would add them to the quiver.
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-Matt
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FrankD
Optics Journeyman Joined: November/11/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 686 |
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They are very good binoculars. This design actually presented itself from three different companies. The previously mentioned Minox BD BP 8x44 porro, the Leupold Cascade 8x42 Porro and the Opticron HR WP 8x42 porro. They are all unique in that they are the only internal focus porro prism models introduced to the public market. I did own several units of the Leupold version and one of the Minox models. Coincidentally I just had the chance to pick up the Opticron version at a local trade show where Minox was represented. I hope to do a review of it some time in the next week.
All three models offer some exceptional features. The images are surprisingly bright and sharp with excellent contrast and color representation. They do have a little more CA than properly executed ED glass objective roof prism models but notably less than non-ED glass roof prism models in the same price range.
Their selling points were their wonderful ergonomics overall for a full-sized porro prism binocular plus their outstanding 3D-effect. These porros actually offer more of the 3D effect than many of the other porro prism models currently on the market. Of course, their internal focus design (similar to a roof) was what really set them apart and which allowed for a higher level of waterproofing than the the O-ring sealed models also advertised as such.
Their drawback? Well, their field of view (around 335 feet for the 8x) was narrower than their other porro prism competitors but comparable to roof prism models in the same price bracket (until recent years that is).
The Minox was probably the least ergonomic of the group as its rubber armor was thicker and less streamlined but it did have an advertised larger objective diameter. It was also the most expensive (around $600 new if memory serves me). The Leupold sold for around $300 and the Opticron went for just under $400. The Leupold and Minox are discontinued (know for sure on the former but not entirely sure on the latter). The Opticron model is the only one in current production from what little information I could gather.
All in all an excellent binocular design that never caught on because of the marketing focus of almost all companies on the roof prism design.
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Frank
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JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
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The narrow FOV has been the biggest drawback to all Minox binoculars except for the expensive APO version.
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Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
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ebow86
Optics Apprentice Joined: September/19/2011 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 72 |
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I bought mine from B&H when they very first came out, I paid around $369 US Dollars, that was the going price when they were introduced, I don't know why the price was raised so high. I find the ergonimics to be superb, they are the closest a porro has come to the design and feel of a good roof if you know what I mean. Plus, the interal focusing and excellent optics don't hurt either. A superb optics on so many levels.
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