Meopta Somet Binar 25x100

Mfr: Meopta, Czechoslovakia (Now Czech Republic)

Serial Number: 881

Date: circa late 1940's

AFOV: ~90 degrees

TFOV: ~3.6 degrees

Eye Relief: ~13mm

Prisms: 60 degree inclination

The Somet Binar 25x100 is believed to be made from leftover Zeiss parts soon after World War II.  I believe Somet at one time was part of Meopta.  Note that the sample shown is marked with the Meopta logo, but the case is marked Somet.  During the war, Meopta had a relationship with the German firm of Feinapparate-Bau (code flm), which itself had a relationship with Zeiss*.  There were versions of the Zeiss (blc) 25x100 marked with the flm code, so that may explain how Meopta or Somet managed to produce the Binar for civilian use after the war.  The Somet Binar has been used by amateur and professional astronomers, for example, refer to the July 1992 Sky & Telescope article "The Forgotten Comet Hunter of Skalnate Pleso".  There was also a monocular version, the Somet Monar, but I have not seen any samples of that model.

Optically, the Somet Binar appears to be identical to the Zeiss 25x100.  Mechanically, many parts appear identical, but there are a few differences.  My sample has no reticle or filters, though a filter selection knob is still present.  The headrest and related mechanism are not present.  The same long objective shade with rotating 50mm aperture reduction plate is used.  Even the wooden case appears to be the same or at least copied from the original.  Note that the mount shown is not original.

I found the Somet Binar to have pleasing wide field views.  There is some astigmatism and distortion present towards the edge of field but it does not seem as disturbing as seen in the Deltarem, which is believed to use a similar eyepiece design (4 element aspheric othoscopic type).  The hard and deep eyecups detract from comfortable viewing for me, but they can be unscrewed.  The lightweight aluminum construction makes for a very easily portable instrument compared to heavier models such as the modern Chinese 25x100.

*Information on history of firms obtained from Stim Tools web site.