Optics4Birding.com: Kowa Reviews

The following comments are the opinions of the writers. We're publishing them here with the permission of their authors, with minor edits for clarity or brevity. If you would like to submit a comment, send me an email.

For a bit less than the Leica's $1,100, the $200 Kowa 8x45 was superb. I have tastes and preferences that made the Burris my choice, but for someone with other tastes the Kowa could easily be the best value in birding binocs. Forget the National Audubon Society-stamped Bushnell. They weren't even close to the Kowa in clarity and color.

Robert Lane, 21 September, 1998.

Sir, I agree with the gentlemen regarding Creedmoor Sports as an ideal supplier of the Kowa scopes. He (Greg) has many on hand, and the price is the best I've found. My particular use for the TSN-1 and TSN-821 series scopes is for rifle competition. THey are great for looking at wind changes using the mirage. A product that has found wide use among the competitors is a See- Through Eyepiece cover. As you may know even the new 821 series which claims to be waterproof is still susceptible to fogging. Many times I was at the range in a drizzle or driving rain and was plauged by the dredded fogging. I have made a product that not only protects the eyepeice, but can remain in place during use. It is an Aluminum tubing threaded to the scope just like the normal cover, but has a sturdy pocket watch crystal attached to allow unobscured viewing. These cover will no doubt be useful to your subscribers. The cost is as follows:

for TSN-1 25 LER $30.00

for TSN-821 27 LER $30.00

Shipping and handling $5.00

I can be reached at :

Ted Janacek

11 Eagle Ridge Drive

Gales Ferry, CT 06335-1905

or email TNE Janacek@aol.com

I appreciate you taking the time to read this, and passong on as appropriate.

Ted Janacek, 2 January 1998

Just received my Kowa TS 611 via mailorder and I'm extremely pleased. My previous spotter was a Bushnell Spacemaster with 15-45x eyepiece, it was a good scope for the money, but it was lacking an angled eyepiece, long eye relief, and I thought the optics could be better. After a considerable amount of research, I ordered a 611 with a TSN 25x LER eyepiece. I chose a 60mm scope because they're cheaper, smaller, lighter,and since 99.9% of my spotting is done in daylight, I didn't need a giant objective. Images through the 611 are CRISP and BRIGHT all the way to the edges. Focusing is smooth and precise. The sliding sun shade is a nice touch. Both TS and TSN series eyepieces fit the 611. I'm told that TSN eyepieces are much better and worth the extra $. I would avoid the TS20-60x eyepiece as it only has 3mm of eye relief.

Price for my 611 body: $270.98, TSN 25xLER eyepiece:$131.98, cordura cover : $28.98. Bottom line, if your looking for a great spotter at a great price call Creedmore Sports Inc. 1 800 273 3366 . www.creedmoorsports.com

Curt Brown, 22 July 1997

Yesterday I finally had a chance to do a scope comparison that I've been waiting for. I have a Kowa TS-614 (60 mm fluorite objective). I have compared it with a Kowa TSN-4 (77 mm fluorite objective) in normal light several times, and found that I couldn't tell a difference. Yesterday I was able to compare them in twilight. Conclusions:

• 1/2 hour before sunset, I couldn't tell any difference.

• just before sunset, the TSN-4 was a little brighter.

• 15 min after sunset, the TSN-4 was definitely brighter.

So the question is, is the extra size, weight and cost of the 77 mm objective worthwhile for the narrow range of lighting conditions when it helps? Myself, I don't think so.

When I was buying the scope, I spent some time in the store comparing the TS-614 with the TS-612 (standard glass). Looking at phone lines against a bright overcast sky in the TS-612, there were definite color fringes around the phone lines, which disappeared in the TS-614.

One warning about looking through other people's scopes for field comparisons - the scope with the cleaner lenses wins. The first time I compared the TS-614 with a TSN-4, the 614 looked noticeably brighter and sharper. We concluded that the TSN-4 needed its lenses cleaned.

Wayne Fisher, 11 Sep 1996