Meopta MeoPro 80

[goathunter]

Anyone have any first hand experience with the Meopta MeoPro 80? Lots of positive reviews online, all seem to be from bench shooters or birders. It sounds like it's the same quality glass as their more expensive MeoStar 82 and assembled in the US.

 

[goathunter]

Opinions on the specs from optic gurus welcome too even if u don't have firsthand experience

 

[Matt Cashell]

I haven't tested it, but I have looked through one casually (as well as its Nightforce cousin). The optics do seem impressive at first blush. Build quality seemed high. The specs aren't quite as sexy as the S2 with the WA eyepiece, and the Meopro doesn't have a removeable eyepiece at all, but overall, it seems like it could be worth a close look to anyone in the market for a spotter at that price point.

 

[kipper09]

I'm very interested in hearing any input as well. If it is meostar s2 quality and priced that well this spotter would be an absolute bargain

 

[Browninglover1]

My dad bought the Meopro 80 and we looked through it for 10 minutes before boxing it back up and sending it back. Optically it was nowhere near the quality we were expecting. The image would never get razor sharp and it was very underwhelming for its price point. I guess there's a chance we got a bad sample but I can comfortably say I would much rather have a Vortex Razor for a similar price.

 

[goathunter]

My dad bought the Meopro 80 and we looked through it for 10 minutes before boxing it back up and sending it back. Optically it was nowhere near the quality we were expecting. The image would never get razor sharp and it was very underwhelming for its price point. I guess there's a chance we got a bad sample but I can comfortably say I would much rather have a Vortex Razor for a similar price.

I gotta think it was a bad sample? I hope I can tell the difference I am such an optics novice. I did check out a Cabelas Euro 80 and it seemed very nice, but was on a very shaky tripod so I didn't get a good picture. I have compared my Nikon ED50 to a Razor 65, and thought the Nikon was brighter and clearer at the lowest magnification. And I didnt' feel the 65's magnification was enough over the nikon's 30x to justify changing. But I am after high magnification with the big 80 now.

 

[goathunter]

I emailed Meopta for specs; can someone help me make sense of how this compares to the Vortex Razor HD 85? Meopta specs are metric. They also confirmed the glass was the same as what is in their S2!

MeoPro 80

[table="width: 500, class: grid"]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Min[/td]
[td]Max[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Field of View (deg)[/td]
[td]2.06[/td]
[td]1.26[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Apparent Field of View (deg)[/td]
[td]40[/td]
[td]65[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Field of View at (m/1000m)[/td]
[td]35.9[/td]
[td]21.9[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

Razor HD 85

[table="width: 500, class: grid"]
[tr]
[td]Linear Field of View[/td]
[td]117-60 feet/1000 yards[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Angular field of view[/td]
[td]2.2-1.1 degrees[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

 

[Browninglover1]

I emailed Meopta for specs; can someone help me make sense of how this compares to the Vortex Razor HD 85? Meopta specs are metric. They also confirmed the glass was the same as what is in their S2!

We called Meopta and they told us that they were not the same glass and that we would expect to see a difference in optics quality between the two models. I'm not saying we didn't get a bad one but based off our conversation with them they didn't suspect anything was wrong with the Meopro80 we had. Given the price difference between the two you would expect the S2 to beat the Meopro but the difference in our samples was startling and well worth the extra money to get the S2. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Matt Cashell]

"Same glass" doesn't really tell you much about an optic or how it will perform, save that certain types of glass have properties that perform in certain ways.

The optical design, and coating choices are much more important. Two different optics using exactly the same number of elements and identical types of raw optical glass, could have widely different performance, depending on the optical design and coatings.

We can see from specs alone that the Meopro and Meostar are very different designs, although this could primarily be differences in eyepiece design.

As far as lemons go, every manufacturer (even the "Big Three") have them. There are cherries out there too, so it is best to look at a few different units, if you can, regardless of your brand choice.

 

[Browninglover1]

As far as lemons go, every manufacturer (even the "Big Three") have them. There are cherries out there too, so it is best to look at a few different units, if you can, regardless of your brand choice.

This is very true. I've now looked through three of the S2's and they were all phenomenal but only have the one experience with the Meopro to draw off of. In that price range I still don't think I'd buy it over the Razor but that is just one guy's opinion.

The S2 I bought last year is truly one of the most game changing pieces of equipment I own and has quickly made its way to the top of my short list of items that I'm content with and don't want to upgrade. I wish they would make a smaller version as well but the view through the big girl is so nice I don't really complain about the extra weight too often.

 

[Matt Cashell]

In fairness,

I have examined 4 separate S2s (2 angled, 2 straight, all with the WA eyepiece), and haven't found a lemon yet. They were very consistent. Impressive instrument.

 

[tipsntails7]

i bought one and compared it to a razor 85, both to me were even. I am no optics expert so take it for what its worth. between those 2 i would choose the razor based off ergonomics and warranty. you can also get the razor a bit cheaper. I returned it, sold the razor and am moving higher up the food chain.

 

[goathunter]

I guess I'm leaning towards the MeoPro because I wasn't that impressed with the Razor 65. And the MeoPro looks a little sleaker with the built in zoom like a Swarovski. They're both heavy pigs. The Vortex is a better warranty. The Meopta is lifetime transferrable for manufacturer defects, just not a no fault like the Vortex. The meopta seems to be $100 cheaper. I wish I could check them both out side by side but no-one has the meopta around here.

 

[tipsntails7]

I guess I'm leaning towards the MeoPro because I wasn't that impressed with the Razor 65. And the MeoPro looks a little sleaker with the built in zoom like a Swarovski. They're both heavy pigs. The Vortex is a better warranty. The Meopta is lifetime transferrable for manufacturer defects, just not a no fault like the Vortex. The meopta seems to be $100 cheaper. I wish I could check them both out side by side but no-one has the meopta around here.

You can get the razor 85 for 1300 or less

 

[Rizzy]

I wish Meopta would put the S2 quality glass in the TGA 75. The weight to quailty ratio would make it a good option for backpack hunting.

 

[goathunter]

You can get the razor 85 for 1300 or less

Yes and i can get the meopro for $1275 - tough call

 

[tipsntails7]

Yes and i can get the meopro for $1275 - tough call

If that's the case I would ask, am I ever going to want a different eye piece I.E. Fixed? And with X focus mechanism do I like better? Coarse and fine or Cingular on the body, much like swaros.