Kowa Spotting Scopes - The clearest view yet
If you're looking for a new spotting scope for nature watching, hunting, bird watching or general observations, then you really need to give our range of Kowa spotting scopes some serious consideration. Manufactured in Japan with the finest materials, Kowa puts great thought in to their range of scopes, providing offerings designed to suit the differing price brackets of its customers.
We introduced you to the Kowa brand and spoke about their awesome range of binoculars back in late 2015, and now it's time to take a closer look at their spotting scope offerings. In our article below, we'll give you information about the key differences between each product line, and summarise expert reviews from well respected world wide optical experts so you know exactly what to expect from your new Kowa spotter.
Top of the line - Kowa Prominar Series
Kowa Prominar TSN-99A spotting scope
The largest of all Kowa spotting scopes, indeed one of the largest spotting scopes on the market period, the 99A spotting scope is constructed with a fluorite crystal lens that many birders or nature watchers can only dream of. This exceptional spotting scope is packed with features that make it optically incredibly, as well as ergonomically impressive.
Key features:
- Large, fluorite crystal lens
- Large zoom range
- Ergonomic design
- Fast and smooth focus
- Magnesium body
- Waterproof and fogproof
- Made in Japan
Kowa Prominar TSN-880 Series spotting scopes
Kowa's Prominar TSN-880 spotting scope models are built with pure fluorite crystal to achieve optical characteristics unattainable with glass. They represent the gold standard of scopes for the most serious of users and are packed with high end features to boost performance and make for easy and comfortable viewing.
Key features:
- Available in a brand new angled design (TSN-88A) or a straight version which is available by special order only (please contact us)
- Prominar, fluorite crystal, concave lens with extremely low light dispersion characteristics reduces chromatic aberration to produce unprecedented colour brilliance
- Thixotropicly moulded magnesium alloy body for lightweight yet high strength design
- Dual focus system has two knobs. The quick focus knob is large and easy to turn, with just two revolutions allowing you to focus from infinity to 5m. The fine focus offers pin point accuracy in smooth movements and is great for use at high magnifications
- Compact design uses 5 lens elements in 4 groups to shorten the overall length of the scope, whilst keeping the large lens
- Eyepiece locking system keeps eyepiece secure
- Fully multi-coated lenses, prisms and dustproof glass
- Nitrogen purged and completely waterproof
- Tripod mounting screw allows for use with 1/4 and 3/8 inch tripod threads
- Made in Japan
Kowa Prominar TSN-770 Series spotting scopes
Also part of Kowa's flagship Prominar line of spotting scope models, scopes in the 770 range incorporate almost all of the same features as the 880 line, but are built with XD lenses rather than fluorite crystal. XD (eXtra-low-Dispersion-lens) lenses offer outstanding optical performance, close to that of fluorite models, however as these lenses are easier to manufacture and work with, they come with a more affordable price tag. Spotting scopes from the 770 range continually impress experienced users and beginners alike.
Key features:
- Available in an 77mm with either a straight (TSN-774) or angled (TSN-773) body
- Extra low dispersion XD lens paired with a concave lens reduces chromatic aberration to produce colour brilliance close to that of fluorite models
- Thixotropicly moulded magnesium alloy body for lightweight yet high strength design
- Dual focus system has two knobs. The quick focus knob is large and easy to turn, with just two revolutions allowing you to focus from infinity to 5m. The fine focus offers pin point accuracy in smooth movements and is great for use at high magnifications
- Compact design uses 5 lens elements in 4 groups to shorten the overall length of the scope, whilst keeping the large lens
- Eyepiece locking system keeps eyepiece secure
- Fully multi-coated lenses, prisms and dustproof glass
- Nitrogen purged and completely waterproof
- Tripod mounting screw allows for use with 1/4 and 3/8 inch tripod threads
- Made in Japan
Kowa Prominar TSN-550 Series spotting scopes
Designed to offer the same exceptional quality glass as the 880 and 770 series of scopes, this ultra compact spotting scope packs heaps of features into a tiny body. The 55mm lens is paired with either an angled (TNS-553) body or a straight body (TSN-554 - special order only) and has a 15-45x zoom. At less than 900g, this tiny scope is easy to hold in the palm of your hands and is the perfect companion of hunters and birders short on space.
Key features:
- Fluorite crystal lens
- Fully multicoated lenses
- KR coating
- Dual focus
- Compact and lightweight
- Built in powerful zoom eyepiece
- Nitrogen filled and waterproof
- Angled body
Kowa Prominar TSN-660 Series spotting scopes
Kowa has put great thought in to designing a scope suitable for the differing price brackets of its customers. Not everyone can afford the gold class features offered by the 880 range, but scopes in the 660 range are much more attainable for many birders and hunters and still incorporate XD glass and many of the other features showcased in Kowa's flagship line.
Key features:
- Available in an 66mm with either a straight (TSN-664) or angled (TSN-663) body
- Extra low dispersion XD lens paired with a concave lens reduces chromatic aberration to produce colour brilliance close to that of fluorite models
- Fully multi-coated lenses, prisms and dustproof glass
- Nitrogen purged and completely waterproof
- KR coating protects lenses for dirt and grease
- Made in Japan
Kowa TSN-82SV Series spotting scopes
Available exclusively in an angled design, this awesome spotting scope from Kowa offers a large 82mm lens which has fantastic light gathering power and bright field of view. Popular with birders, hunters and target shooters who want a Japanese made scope, but don't have the budget for a scope from Kowa's 880 series, these sophisticated scopes don't fail to impress.
Key features:
- 82mm lens
- Angled body
- Standard Kowa lens
- Fully multi-coated lenses, prisms and dustproof glass
- Nitrogen purged and completely waterproof
- KR coating protects lenses for dirt and grease
- Made in Japan
Kowa TSN-600 Series spotting scopes
Kowa 600 series scopes boast an unprecedented lightweight design, making them ultra portable and ideal for out in the field.
Built with a 60mm standard Kowa lens that is fully multicoated, scopes from this series are ideal for a range of applications are Kowa's most affordable spotter offering.
Key features:
- Available in an 60mm with either a straight (TSN-602) or angled (TSN-601) body
- Standard Kowa lens
- Fully multi-coated lenses, prisms and dustproof glass
- Nitrogen purged and completely waterproof
- KR coating protects lenses for dirt and grease
- Made in Japan
Kowa TSN-500 Series spotting scopes
Kowa 500 series scopes boast an unprecedented lightweight design, making them ultra portable and ideal for out in the field.
Built with a 50mm standard Kowa lens that is fully multicoated, scopes from this series are ideal for a range of applications are Kowa's most affordable spotter offering.
Key features:
- Available in a 50mm objective lens with either an angled (TSN-501) or straight (TSN-502 - special order only) body
- Standard Kowa lens
- Fully multi-coated lenses, prisms and dustproof glass
- Nitrogen purged and completely waterproof
- KR coating protects lenses for dirt and grease
- Made in Japan
- Ultra compact
Kowa Spotting scopes - quality and value
The key thing that we'd really like you to take away from reading this article, is that all Kowa spotting scopes, regardless of their price range, are manufactured in Japan.
If you want the best of the best, then opt for one of Kowa's Prominar spotting scopes. If you want fluorite crystal lenses, then look no further than the TSN-99A, TSN-88A or the TSN-770 and TSN-550 scopes from the Prominar range. If you're budget doesn't stretch that far, then take a look at the scopes built with Kowa's XD lenses, namely those in the 660 series. Still want exceptional quality, Japanese made glass, but don't have the spare cash for the higher end scopes? Then something from the 600 or 500 ranges, or the 82SV should put a smile on your face.
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