We were putting together a review of a Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 Synthetic and went searching for a scope that would deliver solid optical performance, complement the good looks of the rifle and carry a price that would not induce sticker shock. Attributes not easy to find these days as many pricey scopes are actually repackaged low-end scopes. Scopes that look great, but functionally fall short with: poor light transmission, short eye relief, non-linear increment of adjustment, low contrast images, and substandard quality of assembly. The Minox ZA scope was not one of those products.
Yeah, yeah. I know, Bond, James Bond…
Minox began producing miniature film cameras in 1936. Introduced as a luxury recreational photographer’s product, Minox also became synonymous with the spy camera. In fact, there was a time when any respectable movie with a clandestine theme had to include a scene where a spy switched on a desk lamp in a darkened office and began to use a tiny push pull Minox camera to copy top secret documents. My perspective on Minox is slightly different. As a past manufacturing manager of a company that made quality consumer cameras, the Minox B set the bar high for compact camera design. It was a precise, miniature, optomechanical work of art that was capable of excellent photographic performance. Today, Minox is still going strong, building upon a foundation of seventy-five plus years of successful design and manufacturing experience.
ZA Series Riflescopes
Minox offers two categories of ZA rifle scopes, the ZA 5 and the ZA 3. The ZA 5 products have a five times magnification range, the ZA 3 products have a three times magnification range. As an example, the ZA 5 scope we selected for the Weatherby project has a magnification range of 2x-10x. While the product design and Schott optical glass originate in Germany, the scopes are assembled in the United States, Oregon to be precise, and serviced out of New Hampshire.
The ZA 5 and ZA3 lines combine for a total of nine models that range from a ZA 5 1.5-8×32 to a ZA 5 6-30×56 SF that vary in: magnification range, reticle type, objective lens diameter, fixed or side focus parallax adjustment, and height of adjuster knobs. The 6-30x model has a 30mm tube, all others have a 1″ tube diameter. All models are sold with a lifetime, *No Fault factory warranty. The details and specifications for all models can be found on the Minox site, but I want to offer some first hand impressions of the Minox ZA 5 2-10×40 XR-BDC.
I like the combination of 2-10x magnification, one inch tube and a 40mm objective lens. That is about all I need or want to carry on a rifle slated for medium and big game hunting. The combination provides bright optics with good contrast, wide field of view at low magnification and more than enough magnification out to 350 yards at the high end.
The scope’s optical design makes for a short objective bell. Subsequently, the scope is an inch or so shorter than competitors’ products, but it has a longer span of 1″ tube to affix rings; 5 ¾” span versus slightly under 5″. More latitude when optimizing scope position for comfortable eye relief.
The ZA’s body is seamless and formed from aircraft grade aluminum alloy, which contributes to the sub 14 ounce total weight. I really appreciate the anodized finish, rather than the powder coating which is becoming more prevalent in scope production. It’s just nice to be able to install and remove rings and handle the scope in a field setting without marring or scratching its finish. The optics are multicoated, the scope is argon purged and water and fog proof.
The ZA has a boot or soft ring over the magnification adjustment ring that makes for a positive gripping surface and weather and dirt proofs the mechanical union. It is a rapid set system with only a half turn to cover the full magnification range.
Exit pupil is 0.16″ – 0.79″; high to low magnification. Eye relief is a whopping constant 4″ which makes for improved scope mounting and more natural head positioning.
The eye piece reticle focus diopter range is -2/+1.5 which is more than enough to work with my eyeglasses or with eye glasses removed. The soft eyepiece ring is appreciated.
The dust covers have soft rubber gripping surfaces, which can come in handy for wet weather or sweaty hands.
The adjusters on this model are low profile, while other models have target style adjusters. The adjusters are zero setting; after the firearm is sighted in, set screws in the body of the adjuster are loosened, indexed to zero and retightened. There are three set screws to loosen before the cap can be lifted and indexed to zero. A lot to hold a cap on, but then they won’t be falling off.
Increment of adjustment, with tactile feel, is 1/4 MOA with a total range of 72 MOA range for both elevation and windage. Adjustment is fingertip.
Comparatively speaking…
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Compared to another popular scope in the same price range, the Minox gives up a little bit in weight to the Leupold, 1.4 ounces, but for the same money picks up an expanded magnification range, 50% more windage and elevation range of adjustment and a bit more eye relief. Both products have etched reticles and both carry a life time warranty.
In comparison to the Zeiss Conquest, the Zeiss carries a dated specification that was more applicable to good scopes in the 1990s; narrow magnification range, high weight, overly long, and limited range of adjustment.
In comparison to the Schmidt & Bender’s $1,500 low end scope, what can I say? To some, scopes may be a fashion statement, which is OK, but it’s a whole lot better when quality and function come before price. On the other side of the price spectrum, there are a number of companies that have taken lower end scopes, repackaged them and now sell them for $250 – $350. The optical specs and performance remain unexciting, but they are now loaded with exaggerated and irrelevant mechanical gadgetry and assembled in places not known for quality of assembly. So the Minox is a standout.
Conclusions, not jumping, but at the end of a long day…
The Minox is a good scope. Good quality, good image and good performance. I can understand why someone who is on a tight budget and has purchased a sub $300 rifle might be reluctant to spend $500 on a scope. When you’re on a tight budget and want to hunt, there is always a compromise involved in rifle selection and in scope selection. But for all of the folks carrying rifles above that price point, and on up to a couple of thousand dollars, the Minox fits in well. I put a lot of rounds through a Weatherby Vanguard and some rounds through a 378 Weatherby Mark V. The Minox didn’t blink, didn’t lose adjustment and stayed in one place. Something to check out.
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