Meopta is an opto-mechanical and optoelectronic products manufacturer known for producing a wide range of products for industrial, sport, military and police applications since 1933. With manufacturing facilities in both the Czech Republic and Florida, Meopta has several products of interest for those who enjoy the outdoor sports. I recently received a pair of rangefinding binoculars that could be of use for home protection.
Who Needs Rangefinding Binoculars?
The answer is not everyone. Like with some other tools, the need for rangefinding binoculars — or even monocular rangefinders — is specialized. But there are people who could benefit from them. For example, if you live on a larger tract of land, rangefinding binoculars may prove to be a valuable piece of gear. The protection of home and property is often left up to the citizen, as emergency services can take too long to arrive. (Plus, with all the new 6mm and 6.5mm cartridges available in long-range semi-automatic AR-15s and bolt-action tactical rifles, a pair of rangefinding binoculars could be very helpful.)
About the Meopta Optika LR 10×42
It is remarkable how far optical technology has come in 30 years. Modern spotting scopes, rifle scopes and binoculars are much brighter and sharper than previous generations of optics. But the first thing I noticed about the Meopta Optika LR 10×42 Binoculars I received as a test sample was the solid construction.
The body of the Meopta Optika is made from magnesium and weighs in at 32.6 ounces without caps and straps. It has been a long time since I purchased a set of binoculars. (The last set I purchased was from Bushnell some 30 years ago.) So I was surprised at the light weight when I hoisted the Meopa Optika LR for the first time.
The binoculars feature almost straight cylindrical construction, meaning the eyepieces are almost the same diameter as the objective lens end. Measuring with a standard ruler, I found that the eyepiece measured 1.5 inches in diameter and the objective lens measured 2 inches. There isn’t much taper to them. So the eyepiece lenses of the Optika are a larger diameter than on traditional binoculars. More lens creates a better optical image.
Specifications for the Meopta Optika Rangefinding Binoculars
Magnification: 10x
Objective lens: 42mm
Field of view at 1,000 yards: 325 feet
Shortest focusing distance: 11.8 feet
Field of view: 6.7 degrees
Daylight transmission: 85%
Height: 6.1 inches
Width: 5.4 inches
Measure range: -2,603 yards
Tripod mount: Yes, located at front of central joint under a cap
The optical part of the Meopta Optika is superb. It is more than a rangefinder that works as binoculars. It functions as a great stand alone set of binoculars, eliminating the need for separate rangefinders.
About the Rangefinder
There are two pressure switches that sit atop the Optika. The on/off switch is on the left-eye side. Press once for the red display to appear and press again to turn it off. The laser also has an automatic shutoff. There is another pressure switch on the right-eye side. Pushing it activates the laser and measures the range. The laser is emitted through the right lens and recaptured through the same lens. The distance readout can be displayed in either meters or yards. The battery is a single CR2 3v lithium cell, which is shorter than the CR123. According to Meopta, the battery will last for 1,200 measurements.
The Optika LR can also be set to auto, hunting or golf through the menu. Not being a hunter, and certainly not a golfer, I left it on auto. Auto is more appropriate for tactical work. The Optika display also shows incline data, which is particularly important for hunting and tactical use.
Testing the Optika Rangefinding Binoculars
I tried the Meopta Optika LR out for several days, noting that distances could be measured through the windows of our home. I also checked the distances to neighbors’ houses and to smaller objects like road signs from the outside. Then came the fun part.
Ohio SR-16, a fairly busy two-lane road, is located about 150 yards from our property. I decided to check the distance to moving cars, traveling anywhere from 55-70 MPH. I was surprised that I could verify the range to the moving vehicles as they passed across a treeless space, which turned out to be 644 yards. Impressive.
I wish these easy-to-use binoculars had been available when I was still a sniper. But, having left the position of sniper at the sheriff’s office 10 years ago, I’ll just have to add the Meopta Optika LR 10×42 Rangefinding HD Binoculars to my societal emergency gear.
The Meopta Optika LR is available online for around $1,700. As a two-for-one product, that’s a great price. For comparison, a pair of rangefinding binoculars from the Vectronix company online was $24,988 (not a misprint).
Sources:
Meopta: MeoptaSportsOptics. com
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