Minox BV 8x42 BR Binoculars - Opinions???

[270Buck]

Hi,

I have been looking at the Minox BV 8x42 BR Binoculars. They can be bought brand new for <£200 and they seem a good buy.

My old binoculars are not that great and I am waiting for my annual bonus to get some Leica Geovids!! That is still a long way off so in the meantime I would like to get a decent pair of binoculars that won't break the bank!!

Has anyone had experience with the Minox bins? I am also wondering if I should get 10x42 or 8x42?

Cheers

Ross

 

[Mackensen]

Hi,
Had the plain green ones 8 x 42 for two years (£140.00 on Amazon from germany) and they are great value. Took a hammering in all the bad weather last winter with no probs at all. Focus is quite sensitive but OK once you get used to it. I'd love some Swaros, Zeiss or Geos too but theses are fine for my mainly woodlands stalking. Hope that helps.

 

[User00003]

I have the 8x42's and love them. the focus is sensitive, but once you get used to always keeping a finger on the focus wheel, it becomes second nature and you will be able to work sub 50yds out to 500+ yds in a matter of a split second, with exceptional clarity IMHO. Also use 7x50 zeiss now and again, but find myself going back to the minox 8x42's, they're the focus is great, and they are nice and light - waterproof too! I am no expert in optics, but I rate them highly, and have seem many £500-£1,000 bino's in the stores that are not as good.

 

[Yorric]

I also have a pair. The glass & build are fine with a solid feel. Focussing is very sensitive and needs more attention than most bins to get exact so that the view is perfect. Not as good to use as my Leicas but great value for money. Mine came from eb*y at £145 delivered. A guy in Oxfordshire sells them and they come from Slovakia if I remember right.
Before you buy take a look through some Hawke and Bushnell bins - there are some good ones of the 8x42 size in their ranges - then choose.

Ian

 

[270Buck]

I also have a pair. The glass & build are fine with a solid feel. Focussing is very sensitive and needs more attention than most bins to get exact so that the view is perfect. Not as good to use as my Leicas but great value for money. Mine came from eb*y at £145 delivered. A guy in Oxfordshire sells them and they come from Slovakia if I remember right.
Before you buy take a look through some Hawke and Bushnell bins - there are some good ones of the 8x42 size in their ranges - then choose.

Ian

Hi Ian,

I have found the guy on e bay in Oxfordshire that sells them.

They look to be the BF range rather than the BV. Do you or anyone else know if there is a massive difference?

These are certainly cheaper than Harrison Cameras who are charging £169.99 for the BV, the BF e bay ones are coming in at £125 plus P&P.

Cheers

Ross

 

[Apache]

I have a pair in 10X mag and I'm very impressed with them. My budget doesn't stretch to a grand+ for binos

 

[Eric the Red]

Ross,

I have both Minox bins and scopes and find they do the job admirably

E t R

 

[270Buck]

Ross,

I have both Minox bins and scopes and find they do the job admirably

E t R

Hi,

Are all Minox bins the same quality? The BF are considerably cheaper than the BV and I am wondering if it is worth spending the extra £50 on the BV?

Cheers

Ross

 

[Eric the Red]

I think only you can make that judgement - it's a personal perception thing. If you are serious about these being an interim pair, I guess it's more about getting yourt money back?

 

[270Buck]

I have had a look through some of the BV at the Sportsmangun Centre and I was impressed.

I have not had the chance to look at the BF as I can only find them mail order only.

As these should only be an interim purchase I may get the cheaper BF, but my annual bonus is by no means guaranteed so maybe they will be used for a bit longer before I can get the Geovids!?!?!?!?!?

Has anyone personally used or owns both BF and BV so I can make my mind up and order some today?????

Cheers

Ross

 

[Yorric]

Ross
Mine are BV not BF. I've had mine a couple of months. I think the guy sells what he can get cheap over in Europe.

Ian

 

[Eric the Red]

I have had a look through some of the BV at the Sportsmangun Centre and I was impressed.

I have not had the chance to look at the BF as I can only find them mail order only.

As these should only be an interim purchase I may get the cheaper BF, but my annual bonus is by no means guaranteed so maybe they will be used for a bit longer before I can get the Geovids!?!?!?!?!?

Has anyone personally used or owns both BF and BV so I can make my mind up and order some today?????

Cheers

Ross

Impetuous Boy!! Methinks you've talked yourself into the more expensive pair - and either way, you won't go wrong. Are you getting the nice Blaze Orange ones?!

 

[270Buck]

Impetuous Boy!! Methinks you've talked yourself into the more expensive pair - and either way, you won't go wrong. Are you getting the nice Blaze Orange ones?!

I have just e mailed the seller on e bay as looking at his feedback they did sell the BV as well as the BF.

You are probably right I will get the more expensive pair, but I will try to avoid the orange blaze ones as I would look like Robert De Niro in the deer hunter!!!

Cheers

Ross

 

[thomas]

Hi Ross,

I have been using a pair of 10x42's for the last couple of seasons and can't fault them! As mentioned the focussing is very sensitive, not a problem, just something that takes a little time to get used to. I am pretty sure Minox use Schott glass(?) Mine are the cheaper model without the extra glass coatings, can't remember if thats BF or BV, but I am very very pleased with them.

ATB

Tom

 

[tika.308]

Swillington were knocking them out at £129, i got 7 pairs from the sportsman for work and they did them at £100 a pair (blaze camo) but at that price you can soon get a roll of no mar camo tape on them. they are the 8x42 and everyone at work seem happy with them. and they are the BV.

 

[Chris Rob]

Hi Ross

I've used a pair of Minox BV 8x42 BR's for a couple of years now & they are exceptional for the price. Don't know anything about the BF's though but I would imagine they would be pretty good.

I thoroughly recommend the BV's.

ATB

Chris

 

[glogin]

I have a pair of BD 8.5x42 BR ASPH which were a bit more expensive than the BV series (£300-400 I think couple of years back). I cant fault them. For that amount of money you cant find anything better, unless you find yourself a used Zeiss or Swarovski.
I also have two Minox scopes (one for sale, see Classifieds) which has even better glass. Generally I think Minox is still quite new and underestimated mark on the market, but I am a big fan from the beginning. I cant wait when they introduce illuminated scopes.

 

[yorksjt]

I got mine from e bay USA from a high street shop and with the shipping they cost about £110. Just make sure they put gift on the shipping sheet. The 10x42 were the same price too.

 

[270Buck]

I have spoken with Minox in Germany today.

They confirmed that the BF and the BV range are the same binocular. The only difference is the coating and design on the main body of the bins. The glass is the same on both.

So the BF from e bay it is for me then @ £125 plus £10 P&P.

Thanks for all the feedback and advice from everyone.

Cheers

Ross

 

[ytene]

Please refer to "Binoculars and Other Optics " by Seymour Witham, for total product reviews Anton