MINOX BL 8x56 BR Binocular Review

[addicted]

Alright, I've had these for a few months now and I guess i better do a full wright up and share the wealth. I'll start with all of Minox's shpeal then so you can see the specs and then i'll continue with my experience with these fantastic binos.

From Minox.com

The successful MINOX BL line has been expanded to include two real light giants for game and nature observation in moonlight or early dawn. Reasonably low in weight, maintaining the established BL optical quality coupled to an at-tractive price are the main elements of the BL line that the MINOX engi-neers have put into the new BL 8x56 BR and the BL 13 x 56 BR. In spite of their extreme light-gathering power the two latest members of the BL family weigh in at just over 1000 grams.

With tough rubber armoring and an ergonomic design the new BL bin-oculars are comfortable and convenient to hold, this being helped in par-ticular by their relatively low weight. The new metal focusing wheel with ridged rubber armoring provides a good grip and is easy to use with a finger-felt marker for the infinity setting. Thanks to this feature those out observing game can find their subject quickly from long distances, even in twilight, by just feeling the focus setting.

The newly developed, light gathering optical system of the BL binoculars have multicoated lens elements which guarantee quality optical perform-ance and natural color rendition of the subject in view. With their roof prisms with phase correction coating the user is given an image of ex-ceptionally high detail rendition and rich in contrast, even in poor lighting conditions.  Nitrogen gas filling prevents fogging of the optical surfaces on the inside, even with extreme temperature fluctuations.  Based on a sophisticated sealing technology developed by MINOX engineers the BL 8x56 BR and the BL 13x56 BR are also fully watertight down to a depth of five meters.
 
MINOX naturally accounts for the specific needs of people wearing glasses. The extended exit pupil allows wearers to enjoy the full field of view which is sharp right to the edges. Twist-up rubber eyecups with click stops are a very convenient feature for spectacle wearers.

Included with the new BL binoculars are a wide Neoprene strap, rain-guard and case


Technical data

Magnification:
8x

Front lens diameter:
2.20 inch / 56 mm

Exit pupil:
0.28 inch / 7 mm

Field of view:
326 ft at 1000 yds, 6.2°
109 m / 1.000 m, 6.2°

Eye relief:
0.82 inch / 20,8 mm

Close distance:
29.5 ft / 9 m

Over run diopter adjustment:
+/- 3 dpt

Geom. twilight number:
49.0

Operating temperature:
14° up to 122° F / -10° up to +50° C
Waterproof:
yes, up to 16.4 ft / 5m

Heigth, depth, width
6.65 x 5.7 x 2.59 in. / 196 x 145 x 66 mm

Weight:
approx. 1040 g / 36.9 oz.

Order number:
62165

[addicted]

Alrighty then, its a little longer than i expected. Still, i hope you will find my experience informative.

I purchased these binos for use primarily in German tree stand hunting conditions including both day and night hunting.  I really wanted some European binos as well as needed something quality that would perform under all light and weather conditions 364 days a year.  For this the German standard until about 10 years ago was a 7x50 binocular however these days with the concept of bigger is better many companies are making an 8x56 for these conditions.  I wanted European optics not only because I'm in Europe at the moment but also because due year round hunting and a long standing tradition of quality many European companies quite possibly make the best optics in the world. I started with a pair of bushnells which i thought were adequate until i borrowed some euro glass as well as the bushnells crapped out on me going to double vision. 

When I began my search for a pair of binos I had lots of options, Zeiss, Sworovski, Docter, Meopta, Steiner Nighthunters, the list goes on. However, all of these had one fatal flaw...... they were out of my budget.  I found a few options for used 20 year old zeiss's(still fantastic glass) but nothing that stuck. I eventually came down to a few options that I could fenagel into my(wife's) price range. Steiner ranger's Minox and Nikon.  Even though Nikon was not in my primary standing for a pair of binos for hunting germany they did have the qualifications and the price tag to fit.  The Steiner's are very popular due to price and the sport focus option which is very handy for night hunting when light conditions may be so poor that it might be hard to tell if you are focusing in or out of your target.  The Minox have a good history and great reviews but it was hard to get my hands on a pair for testing.

Just as what usually happens i found a Deal and i went for it. I found a Pair of Minox BL 8x56 BR display model on line for 400 US dollars.  Upon arrival and ripping open the shipping packaging like a Christmas story i was absolutely at a loss for words with the feel of the binos as far as weight, grip, and over all quality.  I took them outside quick as i could get the dam German backdoor to open and took a look out through the back yard.   Now, ya know when your walking through the electronics section and they have transformers playing in HD on some ridiculously priced TV set up,?  Well it was like that....... and more. Every thing that simply seemed clear through my other binos now appeared vibrant and three dimensional. I though clear was clear and that was fine, but I was very pleased to be wrong.  Not only was the clarity excellent, but the color rendition made the colors more vibrant than ever.  Hell, I was so excited I might have even popped a woody.

Before taking them out in the Field i picked up a Bino Harness by Crooked Horn as I did not want to drop my investment out of the stand. (Wife would have killed me if I broke them) On their first few day hunts out in the stand I was further amazed by the pure razor sharpness of the images.  Made the little birds, creek, insects, and terrain all look completely new and complex in design compaired to my previous viewing standards.

I also noticed that they were...... i guess you could say auto focusing.  Once adjusted to my eyes They quickly become sharp at any distance i could see from 5-500 yards. No focusing adjustments for Distance.

On one of the first few Field uses i sat in a stand about 30 minutes on  grown clear cut with plenty of chest high trees and bushes before I reached in my pack and pulled out the binos.  After a quick scan i realised that there were 3 deer in the Field in front of me, one of which was only about 40 yards away. Although none of them had moved much since the start of my hunt(not enough movement to move into any bit of a clearing big enough to show a body part.) and there was only small patches of fur showing, each small patch of fur showed up like a flippin sonar ping due to the pure contrast in colors that the binos offered. 

On another hunt I pulled the binos off and placed them on the seat next to me while I put on my jacket. While slipping my arm through the jacket i bumped my binos and felt them tip off the bench. MY HEART LITERALLY STOPPED. I heard the thud of them hitting the ground some 12 to 15 feet away.  I instantly had visions of my wife never letting me buy anything nice again. As I climbed down the latter one slow rung at a time I could see it in my head. A dislodged lens. Double vision..... as i had never dropped the Bushnell's like that.  As I slowly turned away from the ladder and bent to pick up the last expensive toy I would ever get approved through my accountant I wanted to kick myself for not just sweating it out for the sake of my final piece of non tasco glass and just wore the damn jacket into the stand with the perfectly good and brand new Bino system that my wife had suggested I buy(a twist of the knife) to protect my eyeball investment.   As I raised my 700$(MSRP) European paperweight to my eyes to see the damage done I......... I ....... I about jumped out of my skivvies. Still in perfect condition. Just as bright and clear if not more than before.   

Low light
Once again I was befuddled by the detail that the binos portrayed to my eyeballs. With a quarter moon on a semi cloudy night the only thing I ever owned that came close was the Meopta scope I had purchased for similar reasons. I had felt before that I did not need the binos as much as my (much older) hunting buddies because I still had young good eyes but now I wonder how many animals i had missed that had walked through the shadows nearby.

I have had these side by side with Steiner police 10x50's(kicked the crap out of them). Steiner Ranger 8x56's (easily noticeably clearer)and older zeis 8x56's with the long classic tubes(on par with light transmission and possibly clearer).


Over all, I would give it 5 stars on all accounts. Especially at the price I got them at.

Thanks for reading. Post some questions if I didn't mention anything you wanted to know.

-Josh

[addicted]

Some pictures

[addicted]

The case they came with was a semi nice kinda cushioned pleather deally bob. It came with the Rain guard caps but i don't like to have them hanging from my face while I glass.

[addicted]

If anyone wants to try them out, just come on over to the house. PM me for directions.

[Cascade_Sherpa]

Is minox a spin-off of leica's? i thought that i'd read that somewhere. i'll have to check out some on-line, i'm not even sure who carries them retail in the states..........

[high country]

the best bu you will find in the us is through doug at cameraland. they really are a great buy. those are some largo binos for sure. isn't it crazy how colors are brighter through the binos then through your bare eyes.

[addicted]

definatly crazy new bright colors.

as far as i understand Minox broke away from leica almost 10 years ago taking their very popular tiny camera patent with them.

[addicted]

*update*

My binos were featured in the optics portion of the german hunting class the other night so i got to put them next to a few other sets of glass. They were the best on the table.  Steiner night hunters they beat out no question. they were very close to the 1500$ zeiss conquests. I continue to be pleased.

[addicted]

update**

The price on these have gone up around $800+ so if i were you i would snag up a pair of the smaller minox while you can still get them for a deal.

[smdave]

I just found these picture. I wish I took more pictures while we were there. That was a very nice seat to be in.

Some pictures

[addicted]

I think i'm gonna get up early tomorrow mornign before church and go take pics of the deer with the canon.