Review: Meopta Meostar HD 15x56

[backcountryguide]

No problem Rob we will see how the Meoptas hold up after a full season of guiding and I will report back

 

[robby denning]

we're ready for that!

 

[OKaustin]

Love these binos. Thanks for the review.

 

[AZDC]

I have a pair of these that came up for sale locally for $1K. Is there a steep upgrade with the B1 Plus?

 

[cal30_sniper]

I love my pair. Leaves me desiring nothing more after 3 seasons with them. $1k is a great price.

 

[AZDC]

I love my pair. Leaves me desiring nothing more after 3 seasons with them. $1k is a great price.

Just want to confirm you’re talking about the Meostar HDs? These are the older model. I’m not talking about the newer B1 Plus HD

 

[cal30_sniper]

Yes, I’m talking about the older model. I bought a lightly used pair about 3 years ago.

 

[AZDC]

Yes, I’m talking about the older model. I bought a lightly used pair about 3 years ago.

Thanks for replying! I’m also weighing the option of getting the B1 Plus HD new but it could be up to $700 more. Which at that point i could get the older HDs and still have money to upgrade my 10x also

 

[5MilesBack]

Thanks for replying! I’m also weighing the option of getting the B1 Plus HD new but it could be up to $700 more. Which at that point i could get the older HDs and still have money to upgrade my 10x also

There were three variations of the 15x56 Meostars. They were all HD glass, but had small variations to them. The originals B1's had a flat diopter adjustment. The B1.1's had a bubble type diopter adjustment. The B1 Plus's have the same bubble diopter, they changed the shape and ergonomics of the bino's, and they added some different lens coatings.

Optically........IMO all three were still very close. Personally, I preferred their B1.1 version to the other two. I didn't like the new ergo's on the plus model, and the B1.1's fixed everything that was lacking on the originals.

 

[Lionhound1975]

I had the Meostar B1.1 and sold them to get the B 1 Plus. I compared the two before I sold the B1.1 and I liked the B 1Plus a little better. But not $700 better if you could use that $700 to upgrade your 10x.

I bought the NL 14x and was planning on selling the Meostar B1 Plus but ended up keeping them. The NL 14 are obviously a higher quality optic (at 3 times the price) and are easier to handle but in comparison there are times that the Meostar is better than the NL for my eyes. Examples are glassing an open area with the sun going down behind the area you are glassing. The Meostar handles glare much better than the NL.

A new set of Meostars 15x B1.1 are an incredible investment for $1000. I know there are valid concerns about the warranty, but I used Meostars (7x, 8x, 10x, 15x) for over 10 years in hard environments and never had to send one back. They are built like tanks and feel like bricks but they are tougher than any optic I have found yet to date.

 

[AZDC]

I had the Meostar B1.1 and sold them to get the B 1 Plus. I compared the two before I sold the B1.1 and I liked the B 1Plus a little better. But not $700 better if you could use that $700 to upgrade your 10x.

I bought the NL 14x and was planning on selling the Meostar B1 Plus but ended up keeping them. The NL 14 are obviously a higher quality optic (at 3 times the price) and are easier to handle but in comparison there are times that the Meostar is better than the NL for my eyes. Examples are glassing an open area with the sun going down behind the area you are glassing. The Meostar handles glare much better than the NL.

A new set of Meostars 15x B1.1 are an incredible investment for $1000. I know there are valid concerns about the warranty, but I used Meostars (7x, 8x, 10x, 15x) for over 10 years in hard environments and never had to send one back. They are built like tanks and feel like bricks but they are tougher than any optic I have found yet to date.

Thanks for the reply! Yeah I’m leaning towards doing this. Just gotta go see the pairs of interest in person! Thanks you for your insight though it’ll make me more confident purchasing knowing how many people are outspoken about it being goodx

 

[saddlereaper]

I have a pair of B1.1 15x56 (absolutely love them). Back in 2021 I was at a friend's house viewing his back 40 with them mounted on a tripod about 5' up. We stepped away for some reason, and his dog dumped the tripod. The binos landed on a hardwood floor, breaking an eyecup and tweaking barrel alignment? At the time Meopta warranty had a location in FL. They still had to be sent overseas for repair. Got them back 3 months later and all I paid for was shipping - I did tell them exactly what happend fully expecting to pay. I'm not sure how smoothly warranty issues will go now, having cut out the USA branch, but I'd have faith that Meopta will still take care of customers with the same level of care. Just insure the ride.