Minox X-PRO 8×42

Specifications:

Objective diameter (acc. to spec.): 42  mm
Free aperture (measured): 41 mm
Magnification (acc. to spec.): 8 x
Magnification (measured): 7.9 x
Exit pupil (acc. to specs.) :  5.25 mm
Exit pupil (measured) :  5.2 mm
Eye relief (acc. to specs.): 18 mm
Eye relief (measured): 19.5 mm
Usable eye relief (measured from rim of eyecup): 18 mm
IPD (acc. to specs.):  56 – 76 mm
IPD (measured):  55 – 75 mm
RFOV (acc. to spec.):  8.8  degrees = 154 m
RFOV (measured ):  9.1  degrees = 159 m
AFOV (measured, rounded): 67 degrees
Minimum focus distance (acc. to spec.): 1.5 m
Minimum focus distance (measured):  1.35  m
Focus type: CF (direction of rotation from close to infinity: < counter-clockwise)
Degrees of rotation of focus wheel from minimum focus to infinity (measured): 500 degrees
Range of diopter adjustment (acc. to specs.): +/-  4 dpt
Excess travel of focus wheel beyond infinity position (estimate): > 6 dpt
Prism system:  Schmidt-Pechan
Waterproof: yes
Weight ( acc. to spec.): 899 g
Weight (measured, with eyepiece and objective cover and strap): 1’003 g
Made in: “Germany” (??)

Remarks:

Minox: started in the 1920s by Baltic German engineer Walter Zapp, Minox produced its “Riga” subminiature camera in Riga, Latvia in the late 1930s, and Minox “spy cameras” were used all through WWII. After the war, Minox moved to West Germany and produced its cameras, with increasing use of electronics over the years, in Wetzlar. In 1996, Minox became part of Leica, but Leica’s management buyout returned Minox to independent status. Today, Minox is part of the Blaser group (hunting and sporting arms, based in Isny). Since the 2010s, when Minox made and sold binoculars also in the premium segment (see e.g. https://binocular.ch/minox-apo-hg-8×43/), the portfolio has been significantly moved towards the medium segment of the market.

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Ratings:

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Review:

Big and heavy – that’s the first impression of the X-PRO. Much bigger than expected from the product photos. Body appears very robust; the finish quality is okay, but definitely not premium level. Haptics of the armour are pleasant, and grip is good both dry and wet. Ergonomics are good, the binocular is well balanced and fits well into small or large hands. With over 1 kg (fully equipped), the X-PRO is not a lightweight bino. It comes with the usual accessories; the strap is not elastic and could be more comfortable.

Mechanics work fine, everything gives the impression of solidity. The central hinge is very stiff; we find that okay, but it may not be to everyone’s liking.

The eyecups are wide! Even wider than e.g. on the SRBC 8×42; with an outer diameter of 50 mm, they are not ideal for people with small to medium IPDs who like to fit the eyecups into their eye sockets. But they are soft and comfortable, and you can find a technique to make them work (our own technique:  position the eyecups against the lower part of the eyebrows). The eyecups extend with three positions (in, one intermediate clickstop, out), but they hold position well also between the clickstops.

The central focus wheel is made of metal, the focus mechanism is quite slow (500 degrees from close focus to infinity), focusing (anti-clockwise from close to infinity) is smooth and precise. Plenty of excess travel beyond infinity (estimate: over 6 dpt). The diopter adjustment ring on the right tube has no lock, but operation is quite stiff; rotation is not as even as we would like it to be, but the “O” position is properly set.

Inspecting the bino from the front and back end: there are some light structures around the exit pupil, but no false pupil; looking at the oculars from an angle, there is little vignetting. The tubes appear well baffled and darkened (not 100% though). The inside of the tubes show some oil drops, hopefully this is oil that does not diffuse over time. The quality of the coatings appears okay (Minox claims >90% transmission).

Eyebox (“Einblickverhalten”): the Minox eyecups are really wide (50 mm diameter) and may be problematic for people with narrow IPD.  Otherwise, the eyecups are soft and comfortable  and allow us to view the entire field of view with plenty of eye relief (18 mm usable) even for spectacle wearers.

Close focus is good (the spec says 1.5m, in my sample: 1.35 m).

Image quality:
The X-Pro has with a measured 9.1 degrees a very wide FOV! Central sharpness is good, the image brilliance does not reach premium levels, but the wide flat-field image impresses with excellent off-axis sharpness.
On the other hand, almost zero rectilinear distortion goes hand in hand with a clearly noticeable globe effect. People who are sensitive to a globe effect might want to check before buying. Also, there seems a bit of a variation of sharpness as you move your eyes through the field of view, so the image can appear slightly “uneven”.
Chromatic aberration is very well corrected.
Stray-light appears well suppressed; on bright light sources, however, slight spikes (reflections on the prism roof edge) become visible, though not intrusive.
Color fidelity is okay; the image exhibits just “a hint of warm”.

Minox offers a 2 year full and 10 year limited warranty.

The X-PRO out in the fields:

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