Got my MINOX scope in. pics

[Model70Man]

Got my MINOX scope in today. I'm impressed. I got the ZA 5 model with the standard plex reticle in the 3-15x power range. First impression was, dang this scope sure is short and light. The ocular is also not gigantic like the Conquests. The power range selector is rubber and is very easy to get a good grip on when selecting the power you want. Turning the power up and down is nice, pretty much the same friction as a Conquest. The reticle is descent. Not too big and not too fine. I still prefer the #20 Z plex or the #4 reticles of Zeiss. The field of view is good. The eye relief is monsterous. It has a huge eye relief. The turret covers are metal of some sort and not plastic. Optically they are very nice. Colors are vibrant all the way out to the edges. The scope is nice and bright as well. I like the fast focus eye piece. It's just like the Conquests. The clicks when turning them are positive with no play.

For now my first impression of the scope is pretty good. Later on tonight I'm going to mount it on my Pre-64 264 Win Mag and then compare it to my Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14 in low light.

In the second pic, the top scope is the MINOX ZA5 3-15x42 and the bottom scope is a Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x44.

 

[skynimrod]

Looks nice!!~!!
Short and Light, can't beat that.

 

[Model70Man]

Well, I just finished comparing both of the scopes, the MINOX and the Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14. Where to begin... At first I thought I liked the #20 Z-plex reticle better, but I could not see the finer crosshairs of the Conquest at 6:40 PM and I could easily see the crosshairs of the MINOX. The Conquest's field of view was pretty much the same to the MINOX. Optically the Conquest seemed "whiter". The lighter colors really popped out and the darker colors were harder to tell where they started and where they stopped. The MINOX had, IMO, a better contrast with the light colors and dark colors. The lighter colors were not as "white" and the darker colors were easier to distinguish. I scoped the neighbors dog walking the treeline with both scopes and I could easily see the dog with both scopes. The #20 reticle didn't perform as well due to the crosshairs disappearing into the background. The MINOX crosshairs were easily seen.

Overall, the Zeiss appreared brighter or the lighter colors were more vibrant at low light. The MINOX has better contrast of colors at low light. Bright colors were not nearly as vibrant. The #20 reticle crosshairs disappeared whereas the MINOX crosshairs were still visible 15 minutes beyond the Conquest. The MINOX crosshairs are not as fine as the Conquest. When both were on the highest power, everything seemed equal optically except I couldn't see the finer crosshairs of the Conquest.

The true test will be to see how well it holds zero at the range. If this scope holds zero as well as the Conquest, Zeiss is going to have their hands full at this price point.

 

[mr.big]

wow

 

[Bertman]

 

[Hatchee]

I did a quick google search and found a Minox 3-9x40 at $399.00.
So you're saying similar price to Zeiss' Conquest but a little better image quality?
I only found one pricing. Don't seem to be widely available just yet. Keep us posted on the tracking.
Thanks

 

[skynimrod]

Cool!
I thought it might be a winner.

 

[BGobbler]

i bet cameraland has them and there prices are usually hard to beat

 

[Model70Man]

i bet cameraland has them and there prices are usually hard to beat

That is where I bought it. They have the whole MINOX lineup. I preordered it in the beginning of January.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

Purdy.

 

[RUGER]

Very nice.