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taw1126
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Reged: 24/07/07
Posts: 290
Loc: Texas
Minox ZA3 Scopes
      #181195 - 10/05/11 04:39 AM

Anyone have direct experience with the newer Minox rifle scopes? I was looking at Leupold VX-2 & VX-3 (I've got a Nikon 4x on a rimfire but everything else I own is Leupold FX, VX-2, VX-3, or VX-7) and Zeiss Conquests in 3-9x40 range. Zeiss has rave reviews but is long, bulky & heavy compared to others; scope is going on a lightweight 7mm-08 and I don't want a monsterous optic on it.

Minox appears to be a good compromise between the Zeiss & Leupold, still at a great price. Anyone used them?

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FATBOY404
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Reged: 14/11/09
Posts: 1730
Loc: QLD
Re: Minox ZA3 Scopes [Re: taw1126]
      #181202 - 10/05/11 07:01 AM

I asked this question a little while ago but didn't get any "They are great replies".

I dont know if this helps you but a very good value scope at the momment is the "Nikon Monarch" 2-8x32. It has 3.8 to 4" eye relief and is $289 at SWFA and Optics Planet.

Think I will grab one myself.

--------------------
"WHATEVER BLOWS YOUR HAIR BACK"

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taw1126
.333 member


Reged: 24/07/07
Posts: 290
Loc: Texas
Re: Minox ZA3 Scopes [Re: FATBOY404]
      #181210 - 10/05/11 11:39 AM

Thanks. I can actually get the Minox for that price, which is why I'm considering it over a VX-II for the same money.

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500Nitro
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Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
Re: Minox ZA3 Scopes [Re: taw1126]
      #181211 - 10/05/11 11:46 AM


I think Nikon is certainly getting the runs on the board over the last few years.

Don't hear much about Minox.

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tophet1
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Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
Re: Minox ZA3 Scopes [Re: 500Nitro]
      #181219 - 10/05/11 05:21 PM

They aren't great, but they are great value for the money. They rate about the same optically as a VX-3 from memory.

Our test (four of us looking through different scopes) was at dusk, against higher end euro optics whilst under the mild influence of a few steadying lagers.

My next optics purchase will be a Minox because of the value.

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gryphon
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Reged: 01/01/03
Posts: 5487
Loc: Sambar ground/Victoria/Austral...
Re: Minox ZA3 Scopes [Re: tophet1]
      #181220 - 10/05/11 05:40 PM

There were Minox bino`s on UG`s last week and I rang the fella so as to get into the queue that were trying to buy them. They were for my mate that subsequently purchased them..he brought them up to my home and I did a job of looking far and wide at roo`s laying about on spurs across the valley at a ranged 1100 m`s and less and they were superb! I was impressed with their light weight also.Dunno `bout their scopes but if the bino`s are indicative of quality they should be bloody good.

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taw1126
.333 member


Reged: 24/07/07
Posts: 290
Loc: Texas
Re: Minox ZA3 Scopes [Re: gryphon]
      #187823 - 12/08/11 03:09 AM

About 6 - 8 weeks ago I bought an "open box" Minox BL 10x44 binocular and was very happy with them...certainly not the quality of my Leica 8x40's, but very good and far less expensive (also much lighter and a little easier to handle with the "comfort bridge" design).

This week Cameraland NY emailed an open-box special on their Minox scopes: $249, shipped, for the 3-9x40 ZA3 with a plex reticle. I've seen some direct comparisons to the Zeiss Conquest (both have Schott glass) that were very favorable; while I like the Zeiss design and the fact that it's got a history, I think the Minox is a steal at this price. It will be mounted on an HS Precision 7mm-08 for one of my sons to use in the upcoming deer season and I'll let you guys know if there is anything particularly good or bad about it.

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gryphon
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Re: Minox ZA3 Scopes [Re: taw1126]
      #187829 - 12/08/11 04:56 AM

I got that mail also and nearly clicked the buy button too.

--------------------
Get off the chair away from the desk and get out in the bush and enjoy life.

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kamilaroi
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Reged: 18/12/04
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Re: Minox ZA3 Scopes [Re: gryphon]
      #187839 - 12/08/11 10:01 AM

Schott glass is the key. btw google their web site for some good info.

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taw1126
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Reged: 24/07/07
Posts: 290
Loc: Texas
Re: Minox ZA3 Scopes [Re: kamilaroi]
      #188192 - 20/08/11 07:04 AM

Tuesday evening the Minox showed up. We mounted it to eldest son's rifle in Talley lightweight mounts (I really like that design) and took the whole rig outside at dusk to adjust eye relief positioning before torquing it all down. There was no particular target in mind, just scanning certain tree trunks 60 - 100 yards out, so this was a limited test. But the immediate thought was that the scope is very clear and bright, eye relief is beyond generous, and eye position is no terribly critical. In fact, my son commented that it was easier to use both eyes open sighting technique because the Minox was so much clearer/brighter than the Leupold he was used to.

Thursday afternoon my uncle helped the boys sight the rifle in (104 F south Texas heat, and no shade). He told me there was one instance where an adjustment to the right didn't initially "take" at 50 yards: remaining left of center at the first shot, and then "setting" due to the rifle's recoil and getting in the right spot. I arrived in time to observe/help with final adjustments at 100 yards. I went 5 clicks to make a 4-click adjustment (e.g., over-run & back up to ensure adjustments are set) and everything tracked right where it should. So I don't know if the adjustment issue was a fluke.

My two oldest boys shot for awhile so we got to compare the Minox against a 2-7x33 Leupold VX-II. Yes, that's unfair and no, there is absolutely no comparison: Minox beats it many times over. But I think the comp is relevant because a new 3-9x40 VX-II is $300.

Too early to make any big predictions on longevity, but I was very impressed with the scope's design and build quality. The one thing I would change is the height of the caps on the windage & elevation adjustment knobs...they just look bulky on what is otherwise a well-proportioned scope (BFD).

At this $250 - $300 price point I think it would be hard to go wrong with a Minox.

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tophet1
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Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
Re: Minox ZA3 Scopes [Re: taw1126]
      #188193 - 20/08/11 07:54 AM

Here is my review over on optics Talk Forum. As I posted earlier, your impressions matched mine.

I've compared one Minox owned by a mate with other (unmounted) scopes one evening on dusk. It was a 3-9x40/42 (?). He took it to Namibia and the grub screws came loose on the windage turret. When tightened up, it performed flawlessly on his .300WSM. He still has it.

All scopes we compared were set on 6x. We also had:

Zeiss Victory 2.5-10x42 #8
Zeiss 6x42 #4
Kahles AH 3.5-10x50 Plex
Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 (?)
Minox 3-9x40

I would rate the Minox last out of those, but then the competition was higher end and the conquest had not been to Namibia. Compared to the others the Minox lacked some definition around the edges. It was certainly ahead of a Leupold.

For the price it did impress me though and I thought it outstanding value. I will be buying a Minox next. I believe the difference on the short research I've done on the web, is in the coatings. As noted, the lenses are Schott glass.

I should say that we consumed 2-3 stubbies of lager during the test and this may have affected the outcome.

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FATBOY404
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Reged: 14/11/09
Posts: 1730
Loc: QLD
Re: Minox ZA3 Scopes [Re: tophet1]
      #188367 - 23/08/11 11:17 AM

My mate bought a 3-9x40 last week and I fitted it to his 6-223.

Very good value and it "looks right" on the gun.

Would like a go at the 1.5-8x32.

--------------------
"WHATEVER BLOWS YOUR HAIR BACK"

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