Meopta Meostar 8x32

Fully multi-coating of all air to glass surfaces and phase corrective coating of the half pentagonal and Schmidt design roof prisms for maximum light transmission, superior edge to edge image clarity

Meopta Meostar 8x32 Description:
 

• Magnification 8x
• Optical lens diameter (mm) 32
• Field of view 7.9 degrees
• Field of View (M/1000m) 138
• Eye relief (mm) min.15.4
• Dioptric correction(dpt) min +-3
• Minimum observing distance (m) max 1.8
• Weight (g) 598
• These Binoculars offer superior light transmission
• Accurate colour rendition
• Crisp edge to edge clarity
• Waterproof
• Lens utilizing the latest cold coating technology
• R.R.P £559.00

Customer comment

I have bought a pair of Meopta 8x32 Binoculars from Focus Optics and tried them out for three days on Lindisfarne, Northumberland.  I have to say that these are no ordinary binoculars, meeting all my requirements better than anything else on the market.  I hate the really small compact bins so these score full marks on size, weight, handling, close focus, optical clarity etc and cost.  I am sure they will sell really well once the word gets around.  Richard Mearns.

Review

In 2005, Czech company Meopta introduced the Meostar B1 range. The 42mm Meostars are highly praised for their optics, but, at pushing 900g, have been held back by their weight. This year saw an addition to the line, the 8x32, at under 600g. But does it have the heavyweight optics of its chunkier siblings? 

What I liked

• This is a small, lightweight binocular that felt very good in my hands. The aluminium alloy body is covered in green rubber armour, with some stippling to improve grip and with thumb indents underneath. The thumb indents were well-positioned.
• Build quality feels and looks impressive, and given Meopta’s history of manufacturing for the military, I suspect this binocular can take some abuse. It’s stuffed full of nitrogen, is waterproof and fogproof and will work from -45°C to +55°C – adequate for most bird watching!
• The moving bits are good too. Dioptre adjustment is via a click-stopped, uncalibrated wheel on the focuser. It offers three dioptres of adjustment in either direction, works well and couldn’t be moved inadvertently once set.
• The rubber-covered eyecups have a good action, twisting up and down to three positions.
• Focusing is smooth and precise, with moderate resistance. The 1.5-finger-wide-ridged focusing wheel provides good grip, even with gloves on, though it sometimes stuck at closest focus. It takes about 1.5 clockwise turns from up close to infinity, but for most birdwatching you won’t need to move it more than 60-70°.
• The package includes a strap like no other, and that’s not a criticism. It’s wide, and neoprene, with lumps on the neck side, added to increase airflow and reduce the sweatiness of your neck! Strap attachment is simple, the lugs don’t get in the way and the binoculars hang well. However, it’s reasonably hefty, and may be more than you really need for these.
• So are the innards as good as the outers? Meopta use cold coating on their lenses, rather than vacuum coating, which means you can put more, thinner layers on. Silver is used for the mirrored prism surface – this isn’t ‘di-electric state of the art’, but does a very good job.
• The view is impressive and bears comparison with the acknowledged top names. It is wide, very sharp and bright, with just a hint of a yellow cast, but nothing to be concerned about.
• Contrast is good, and, hand held with a resolution chart, the Meoptas resolved similarly to an 8x32 from one of the ‘big four’. I tried hard to find some colour fringing, but found very little, certainly nothing that put me off.
  They did well in low light and have very good close-focus – I could get them down to just under 1.7m. Eye-relief is quoted as 15.4mm.

What I didn't like

I did find some edge softness, but don’t go looking for it – the normal way to use binoculars is to put the bird in the middle!

• The accessories are well made, but the rainguard locks on to the eyepieces and can be a real pain to get off – I’d change it.
• The case is too big – I’d find an alternative.
• The tethered objective covers hang by a thread, literally, so the covers don’t flap up over the lenses. It works, but they can be removed and that’s what I would do.

Overall Verdict

A very nicely put together binocular which delivers a very good view via some lovely ergonomics. Try them alongside the acknowledged ‘top-gun’ 8x32s. Then compare the prices. This Meostar could be a neo-star!

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