Meopta or Zeiss? Feedback appreciated.

[Red_Sled]

Just bought another Tikka roughtech 6.5 creed, it will be just extra whitetail/paper puncher added to the collection. I have experience with just about every scope brand except Meopta, I have become pretty loyal to Zeiss over the years accumulating over a dozen from conquests to LRP's to RS's. But I was wanting to branch out more.

How is everyone's experience with Meopta? Specifically looking at either the Optika6 5-30x56 or the Meohunter R5 5-25x56.

Or should I just go with another Zeis Conquest V4?

 

[gr8fuldoug]

Keep in mind, if you need Meopta service it has to go back to the Czech Republic

 

[BamaSE]

I have gone through a little fretting myself of late on this. I have an older model Meopta Meopro that has been a great hunting scope for several years. Looking to add a new SFP scope to a Tikka T1x in .17 HMR. I am leaning towards the Meopta over the Zeiss. Partially because of the brand premium I will pay for Zeiss. And partially because they are closing their German manufacturing facilities this year as they have sold out…..and the brand will be manufactured elsewhere under license…..so Zeiss is no longer Zeiss. And Meopta makes good glass. And who knows, they may be the ones manufacturing for Zeiss from here on out. I just wish they had better reticles. Zeiss has them there. And as pointed out above if you need CS it means shipping back to Europe right now.

 

[Red_Sled]

Keep in mind, if you need Meopta service it has to go back to the Czech Republic

Great point. I have only had to contact CS on 1 vortex which was a cut and dry replacement and leupold which was a call, ship, fix and return right at 30 days in total. Not sure how it would work being in the EU.

 

[Red_Sled]

I have gone through a little fretting myself of late on this. I have an older model Meopta Meopro that has been a great hunting scope for several years. Looking to add a new SFP scope to a Tikka T1x in .17 HMR. I am leaning towards the Meopta over the Zeiss. Partially because of the brand premium I will pay for Zeiss. And partially because they are closing their German manufacturing facilities this year as they have sold out…..and the brand will be manufactured elsewhere under license…..so Zeiss is no longer Zeiss. And Meopta makes good glass. And who knows, they may be the ones manufacturing for Zeiss from here on out. I just wish they had better reticles. Zeiss has them there. And as pointed out above if you need CS it means shipping back to Europe right now.

Brand premium is big in the scope world it seems and maybe Zeiss has been coasting on its name a little too long. I have had such great luck with them when it comes to tracking, light transmission, zeroing and just taking a beating I have a hard time straying from what I know will work. I would hate to pay a premium for a sub par piece of glass and it be made by a cheaper competitor.

 

[Grassymike]

Do some research. Meopta has also been changed around. Either sold or something. They are now getting binoculars made in China not the Chech republic. Was just checking out optics planet and the meopro B1's were cheaper, upon closer inspection ,made in China jumped off the page. Not sure if this compromises the former quality but the Chech made stuff was amazing.

 

[TK161BOONER]

I have gone through a little fretting myself of late on this. I have an older model Meopta Meopro that has been a great hunting scope for several years. Looking to add a new SFP scope to a Tikka T1x in .17 HMR. I am leaning towards the Meopta over the Zeiss. Partially because of the brand premium I will pay for Zeiss. And partially because they are closing their German manufacturing facilities this year as they have sold out…..and the brand will be manufactured elsewhere under license…..so Zeiss is no longer Zeiss. And Meopta makes good glass. And who knows, they may be the ones manufacturing for Zeiss from here on out. I just wish they had better reticles. Zeiss has them there. And as pointed out above if you need CS it means shipping back to Europe right now.

Where did you get this information in regards to Zeiss? Only thing I heard is they are closing one facility in Germany and keeping the other facility open from what I have read on the Birdforum. As in regards to meopta good luck with customer service, as they closed the USA facility and you cant get any customer service anymore via phone.
Personally I would go with Zeiss.

 

[Rich M]

I was gonna buy meopta and found out no us customer dupport and they turned some scope lines over to china. You can have em.

Saw a review where the Zeiss scope only went 15 minutes after sundown. They should be 45 minutes after sunset or more.

I bought schmidt & bender polar.

Good luck w your search.

 

[BamaSE]

Where did you get this information in regards to Zeiss? Only thing I heard is they are closing one facility in Germany and keeping the other facility open from what I have read on the Birdforum. As in regards to meopta good luck with customer service, as they closed the USA facility and you cant get any customer service anymore via phone.
Personally I would go with Zeiss.

Google AI provided the info. Ditto for Meopta. There were several sources and links provided.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Where did you get this information in regards to Zeiss? Only thing I heard is they are closing one facility in Germany and keeping the other facility open from what I have read on the Birdforum. As in regards to meopta good luck with customer service, as they closed the USA facility and you cant get any customer service anymore via phone.
Personally I would go with Zeiss.

Zeiss sporting optics division got fully acquired by private equity. And they are transitioning all manufacturing to china. Its a brand I just don’t trust anymore as there also have been reports of parts shortage and poor customer service on birdforum.