Meopta is vastly underrated, ive been using the 15x56 and I also have a pair of swaros and the meoptas are just slightly behind no joke. Best kept secret in hunting for the value of glass to price.
I own the angled 20-70x S2 , the Swarovski 30-70x ATX95 and have owned the Swarovski 20-60x ATS80HD. This scope is 95-102% of the ATX95 for around 1/2 the price. It mops the floor with the ATS/STS 80HD. I wish I would of known about it before I moved from the ATS80 to the ATX95. Could of saved $2000. The S2 seems to have better contrast than the ATX95 and a little warmer color. I believe these attributes contribute to it at times actually appearing to out resolve the ATX95 (at 70x). Of course at equal powers the ATX 95 will do better in very dim conditions. Some minor quibbles... It focuses faster than the ATX95, so getting absolute perfect focus is a little tricky. Focus wheel turns: S2 = 1.75 turns, ATX95 = 2.9 turns. FOV is a little smaller than ATX95 at equal power. However FOV is sharp edge to edge. The Swaro eyepiece, being built into the body, is probably more robust.
I agree with everything you said. Nicely done. I've owned my S2 20-70 spotter for 5-6yrs, along with a Swaro ATS HD 20-60. Side by side to my Swaro and a buddies identical ATS HD, the Meopta is in the same league without a doubt. The biggest advantage the S2 has is it's ability to pick out detail at 70x. That's what really separates it from the 60x Swaro. It may not seem like much 90% of the time but having 70x (that's actually usable) has saved myself and my buddies a few miles of hiking. Cause what looked like something good at 60x in the Swaro, turns out not to be so good at 70x in the Meopta. The S2 can be picked up brand new in a package deal for just under 2K$. Nothing comes close to it at that price point. Meopta builds the spotters for Cabela's Euro line and also Nightforce's spotter line. So you can get the S2 spotter dressed up in 3 different exterior looks, warranties, "brands" ect. Meopta makes a nice "Meopta" branded neoprene cover for the S2's. Surprised they didn't send one out to you, knowing you'd be pounding ground with it on your back. The cheap ass lenses covers are garbage without the actual scope cover. The Nightforce branded cover is a little more bulky but will fit just fine since their TS-82 is an S2 in different clothing.
A couple of days ago, I tested a Swarovski ATX 115 against the NightForce TS 82 (MeoptaMeoStar S2) and I can say from my feelings, at 750 meters, that the NightForce Ts was 10% better in the picture. Contrast, sharpness, colors, details were much better in NightForce (Meopta MeoStar S2). I was positively surprised by the much cheaper product if you don’t see it I almost wouldn’t believe it. I observed nature, houses, trees, roofs, canopies ... everything I could compare with the details. I’m digging a spotting scope for ELR competitions so I can watch the hits as a spotter. The only thing missing from the NightForce (Meopta MEoStar S2) is a magnifying lens-like Swaro or Kowa has to raise the magnification. I hope Meopta does this missing part in the future. Please support my desire for a magnifying lens at Meopta or NightForce so we can enjoy looking through the spotting scope for half the money of Swarovski or Zeiss. Thanks Best regards
Can you make a comparison and review between Meopto S 2 and Zeiss Harpia 95? It would be interesting to see how they relate to each other, both using the same lens manufacturers. German product made in Japan, the only difference between them is the coatings that manufacturers assign to their products. www.schott.com/advanced_optics/english/products/optical-components/lenses/overview.html Swarovski uses lenses from the Japanese manufacturer Ohara www.oharacorp.com/ Thanks Best regards
My buddy just got this scope for Christmas. I tested it against my Swarovski STS. It is NOT as crisp. The remaining 10x is not a factor. At 60x, my Swarovski can resolve lettering on a nameplate on the transformer down the street. The sharpness it does have is sharp right up to the edge. The focus ring is very smooth and tight. It just doesn’t get quite as crisp as the Swarovski. It is a very nice scope but if you want the best, just get the Swarovski. Cabelas neoprene cover is excellent. As far as customer service goes, I somehow got something in my scope. Swarovski fixed it free of charge, no issues.
The new kid on the block is TRACT Optics, first up several types of rifle scopes. Then next up is scopes for long-range shooting. The Tract Toric 4-20x50mm tube 30mm MOA/MRAD reticles, I picked up the MRAD - love at first sight. For this year, Tract spotter - 27-55x80mm with no middle man, so priced at $1394.00 veteran discount $1184.00, free s/h.
A lot of options out there now a days. Many, if you look close, are nearly identical from magnification all the way to form. There are few though that set themselves apart. In a world full of choices, i think Meopta is a standout with this spotter, specifically. Here is why. The optical quality of this spotter puts it in a small segregated group. Among that group, most of them are a lot higher priced. So, this makes this particular spotter standout. Top tier optical quality for a lesser price than it's competitors, imo. The reason i think this is the case is Meopta knows glass, not so much marketing to the hunter. Because of that, they are not as widely known. At any rate, i appreciate you watching and id like to try Tract optics and see what i think, see how they stack up to those in the market.
Hi. Can tell you this of Meopta. I have spoken to them at length at the Birdfair in the UK. They are a more interesting company than Swarovski and Leica. They made some optics for Leica in the 90s. As someone who works in the optics industry I can say their equipment is about as good as it gets. Rather have their equipment than Swarovski. The Austrian company do make excellent equipment, but at a price. Meopta are equal or better on quality, and much better on price. The marketing guys have not performed for Meopta as they have at Swarovski, hence the reputation amongst birders. People loved to be told what to think. However, as an optical technician, Meopta stuff would be my choice if I were in the market for buying a scope. I may sound like an advert for the company but I can assure you you I am not. I am an optical enthusiast that pays no attention to marketing bull. I hope sincerely that they do not succumb to modern marketing and get taken over by western money and market forces. That will destroy them. Keep that East European /Russo attitude to optics that gave rise to LZOS, Santel, Intes Micro et.al. That 20-70x zoom eyepiece is sharper than any eyepiece at the high magnification end than any eyepiece made by the other top European companies. I have used it on a high resolution astronomical Russian Maksutov telescope, so know what it can do. As a refracting spotting scope with a zoom eyepiece, I don't think there is a better one.
The head is the Manfrotto Be-Free 2-way pan head. It is light weight and portable but it isnt the most stable, especially at the base where the pan function is. thanks a lot,
Meopta is vastly underrated, ive been using the 15x56 and I also have a pair of swaros and the meoptas are just slightly behind no joke. Best kept secret in hunting for the value of glass to price.
I love the 15x56 bino but dang are they hard to find.
I own the angled 20-70x S2 , the Swarovski 30-70x ATX95 and have owned the Swarovski 20-60x ATS80HD. This scope is 95-102% of the ATX95 for around 1/2 the price. It mops the floor with the ATS/STS 80HD. I wish I would of known about it before I moved from the ATS80 to the ATX95. Could of saved $2000.
The S2 seems to have better contrast than the ATX95 and a little warmer color. I believe these attributes contribute to it at times actually appearing to out resolve the ATX95 (at 70x). Of course at equal powers the ATX 95 will do better in very dim conditions.
Some minor quibbles...
It focuses faster than the ATX95, so getting absolute perfect focus is a little tricky. Focus wheel turns: S2 = 1.75 turns, ATX95 = 2.9 turns.
FOV is a little smaller than ATX95 at equal power. However FOV is sharp edge to edge.
The Swaro eyepiece, being built into the body, is probably more robust.
I agree with everything you said. Nicely done. I've owned my S2 20-70 spotter for 5-6yrs, along with a Swaro ATS HD 20-60. Side by side to my Swaro and a buddies identical ATS HD, the Meopta is in the same league without a doubt. The biggest advantage the S2 has is it's ability to pick out detail at 70x. That's what really separates it from the 60x Swaro. It may not seem like much 90% of the time but having 70x (that's actually usable) has saved myself and my buddies a few miles of hiking. Cause what looked like something good at 60x in the Swaro, turns out not to be so good at 70x in the Meopta. The S2 can be picked up brand new in a package deal for just under 2K$. Nothing comes close to it at that price point. Meopta builds the spotters for Cabela's Euro line and also Nightforce's spotter line. So you can get the S2 spotter dressed up in 3 different exterior looks, warranties, "brands" ect. Meopta makes a nice "Meopta" branded neoprene cover for the S2's. Surprised they didn't send one out to you, knowing you'd be pounding ground with it on your back. The cheap ass lenses covers are garbage without the actual scope cover. The Nightforce branded cover is a little more bulky but will fit just fine since their TS-82 is an S2 in different clothing.
Thanks for OP and you for sharing ur insights on the S2, I am waiting patiently on my firrst Meostar S1 75 apo, how does it stand to the newer model?
A couple of days ago, I tested a Swarovski ATX 115 against the NightForce TS 82 (MeoptaMeoStar S2) and I can say from my feelings, at 750 meters, that the NightForce Ts was 10% better in the picture.
Contrast, sharpness, colors, details were much better in NightForce (Meopta MeoStar S2).
I was positively surprised by the much cheaper product if you don’t see it I almost wouldn’t believe it.
I observed nature, houses, trees, roofs, canopies ... everything I could compare with the details.
I’m digging a spotting scope for ELR competitions so I can watch the hits as a spotter.
The only thing missing from the NightForce (Meopta MEoStar S2) is a magnifying lens-like Swaro or Kowa has to raise the magnification.
I hope Meopta does this missing part in the future.
Please support my desire for a magnifying lens at Meopta or NightForce so we can enjoy looking through the spotting scope for half the money of Swarovski or Zeiss.
Thanks
Best regards
What dp you mean by magnifying lens?
Can you make a comparison and review between Meopto S 2 and Zeiss Harpia 95?
It would be interesting to see how they relate to each other, both using the same lens manufacturers.
German product made in Japan, the only difference between them is the coatings that manufacturers assign to their products.
www.schott.com/advanced_optics/english/products/optical-components/lenses/overview.html
Swarovski uses lenses from the Japanese manufacturer Ohara
www.oharacorp.com/
Thanks
Best regards
Thanks! Excellent thoughts, considerations, and pointers!
Thanks
My buddy just got this scope for Christmas. I tested it against my Swarovski STS. It is NOT as crisp. The remaining 10x is not a factor. At 60x, my Swarovski can resolve lettering on a nameplate on the transformer down the street. The sharpness it does have is sharp right up to the edge. The focus ring is very smooth and tight. It just doesn’t get quite as crisp as the Swarovski. It is a very nice scope but if you want the best, just get the Swarovski.
Cabelas neoprene cover is excellent.
As far as customer service goes, I somehow got something in my scope. Swarovski fixed it free of charge, no issues.
The new kid on the block is TRACT Optics, first up several types of rifle scopes. Then next up is scopes for long-range shooting. The Tract Toric 4-20x50mm tube 30mm MOA/MRAD reticles, I picked up the MRAD - love at first sight. For this year, Tract spotter - 27-55x80mm with no middle man, so priced at $1394.00 veteran discount $1184.00, free s/h.
A lot of options out there now a days. Many, if you look close, are nearly identical from magnification all the way to form. There are few though that set themselves apart. In a world full of choices, i think Meopta is a standout with this spotter, specifically. Here is why. The optical quality of this spotter puts it in a small segregated group. Among that group, most of them are a lot higher priced. So, this makes this particular spotter standout. Top tier optical quality for a lesser price than it's competitors, imo. The reason i think this is the case is Meopta knows glass, not so much marketing to the hunter. Because of that, they are not as widely known.
At any rate, i appreciate you watching and id like to try Tract optics and see what i think, see how they stack up to those in the market.
Hi. Can tell you this of Meopta. I have spoken to them at length at the Birdfair in the UK. They are a more interesting company than Swarovski and Leica. They made some optics for Leica in the 90s. As someone who works in the optics industry I can say their equipment is about as good as it gets. Rather have their equipment than Swarovski. The Austrian company do make excellent equipment, but at a price. Meopta are equal or better on quality, and much better on price. The marketing guys have not performed for Meopta as they have at Swarovski, hence the reputation amongst birders. People loved to be told what to think. However, as an optical technician, Meopta stuff would be my choice if I were in the market for buying a scope. I may sound like an advert for the company but I can assure you you I am not. I am an optical enthusiast that pays no attention to marketing bull. I hope sincerely that they do not succumb to modern marketing and get taken over by western money and market forces. That will destroy them. Keep that East European /Russo attitude to optics that gave rise to LZOS, Santel, Intes Micro et.al. That 20-70x zoom eyepiece is sharper than any eyepiece at the high magnification end than any eyepiece made by the other top European companies. I have used it on a high resolution astronomical Russian Maksutov telescope, so know what it can do. As a refracting spotting scope with a zoom eyepiece, I don't think there is a better one.
Looks like a killer spotter, what head is it mounted to?
The head is the Manfrotto Be-Free 2-way pan head. It is light weight and portable but it isnt the most stable, especially at the base where the pan function is.
thanks a lot,
How is clarity of this scope at higher magnification?? Is it crystal clear?? No loss in brightness and contrast at higher magnification that is 70???
Can any one tell is Swarovski better than Kowa?? Or Kowa is better than Swarovski?? Who is the King???
Kowa is King regardless if they're much cheaper compared to the top end Swarovski.