Kowa 82sv or Pentax 80ed

Kowa 82sv or Pentax 80ed

  • Kowa 82sv

    Votes: 9 47.4%

  • Pentax 80ed

    Votes: 10 52.6%

  • Other

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    19
tactical_tech

tactical_tech

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I've finally decided to spend some money on a good spotting scope, I don't even take my current spotting scope to the range anymore as my Sightron SIII does a better job than it. Max I am really wanting to spend is about $1500. The main use for it will be shooting at the range(spotting bullet holes) and occasionally being brought along for 1000yd shooting.

I have somewhat narrowed it down to the Kowa 82sv and the Pentax 80ed. The Pentax seems to stand out since it uses standard 1.25" eyepieces so there's a plethora of choices for that, even with reticle a which may be nice. The Kowa seems to use only Kowa eyepieces. On the other side from what I've been able to read the Kowa seems to have better glass as it appears as a favourite for F-class shooters based on being able to spot mirage very well. Now I'm not shooting competively yet so not sure that will matter. So really it's a toss up and I have no idea who to throw my money at. Feel free to offer other options as well that I may be overlooking.
 
Both are good scopes. That said I chose the Pentax. As you already pointed out Pentax eyepieces are superb and some of the best made, especially the WX fixed series. I have seen .30 cal holes in the white at 500 and 600 yards in light mirage with it.
 
I was in the same boat. I went with the Celestron it's good. It has the American standerd eye piece so I can put a Pentax eye pice in it. But I did really like the Pentax.
 
I just got back from the West Indies Fullbore Championship. Only 4 Canadians went, 3 of us used Kowa spotting scopes and one Votex. Out of the 50+ competitors there, more than 1/2 of them where using Kowa spotting scopes.
 
But which model Kowa? There is a big difference between an 82sv and an 883 for example. I have looked through a Kowa 883 and it was absolutely superb. I have also used the Vortex Razor HD and to me the image was much better with the Pentax and the Kowa.
 
This mountain summit was photographed just before sunset with a Pentax 80ED, Pentax XW 10mm eyepiece and an i-phone 4 (old pos). The mountain was 15 km away.
The picture does not do the actual image justice, there was nothing up there that could not be seen with the utmost clarity. The magnification worked out to 52X fixed.



Pentax has some of the best eyepieces made and they are huge. The 20-60 zoom in the center, XW10 astronomy fixed on right.

 
Last edited:
tactical_tech said:
I've finally decided to spend some money on a good spotting scope, I don't even take my current spotting scope to the range anymore as my Sightron SIII does a better job than it. Max I am really wanting to spend is about $1500. The main use for it will be shooting at the range(spotting bullet holes) and occasionally being brought along for 1000yd shooting.

I have somewhat narrowed it down to the Kowa 82sv and the Pentax 80ed. The Pentax seems to stand out since it uses standard 1.25" eyepieces so there's a plethora of choices for that, even with reticle a which may be nice. The Kowa seems to use only Kowa eyepieces. On the other side from what I've been able to read the Kowa seems to have better glass as it appears as a favourite for F-class shooters based on being able to spot mirage very well. Now I'm not shooting competively yet so not sure that will matter. So really it's a toss up and I have no idea who to throw my money at. Feel free to offer other options as well that I may be overlooking.
Click to expand...

As I have mentioned before, the use of a spotter kind of falls into 2 categories... seeing stuff and seeing mirage.

All F class shooters use their spotter to see the mirage. Our high mag scopes are plenty good to see the target and scoring markers and hole pasters and even small bugs on the target.

For mirage, I use the Kowa 82SV. It works and works very well. Any better then the Pentax? I think they are very similar. The Kowa was less money when I bought. When there is no mirage, the optics of this kowa is stunning even at very LR BUT once the air starts to get "dirty", the ability to see fine detail at distance drops fast. And that is the flip of the coin... for optics to see mirage well, the object image has to degrade. Forget about seeing bullet holes with either of these.

For that you need to enter the wonderfully expensive world of ED glass.... say double your budget. Here, you give up being able to see the air but the target remains far more clear and readable. If you were a sheep hunter, this is what you would want.

BUT can any of this see bullet holes beyond say 300yds? I would suggest you would have just as much luck with a quality rifle scope from Sightron, NF or March, S&B or tangent Theta vs a spotter. It is really really hard to see anything in the black... better if you drop the bullet into a white page BUT mirage and distance, this becomes iffy.

SO.... if you need to see the target at distance to know where you are hitting, get a LR camera system and just view the target on your IPad. The Caldwell system I am bringing in works very well and dirt cheap for what you get. Then regardless of weather and distance (suggest useable to a mile????), you will be able to see your target clearly like you are "6 ft away".... literally

If you are spotting with another shooter while LR shooting, I bet your sightron will do all you want and then some. You already have a comfy set up, great glass AND a ranging reticle so you can help call in adjustments easily.

Today, the spotter is really in limbo. Rifle optics have gotten so good that they are usually better then most spotters until you spend big bucks. The camera systems are head and shoulders better and easier when you need to see holes in target.

If you need to see game, better quality binos are so much easier to use. For those rare times when you need high mag to resolve the target at longer distances and don't want to 'aim' at it, you need to see through all weather between you and the target and that requires super pricey glass.

YMMV.

Jerry
 
I was hoping you'd weigh in on this Jerry. You actually raised one of my fears about buying either of the scopes. I didn't want to spend the money on one only to find out that my SIII does just as good a job at spotting bullet holes in the white at 300y, which honestly it can do most of the time.

You commented on ED glass, from what I read the Pentax is supposed to have ED glass components. Could you shed any light on the truth to that?

I also should have said that I would also be using it while shooting iron sights on some of my rifles. Most the time when I shoot milsurps I don't bring a scoped rifle as a spotting scope would be more useful, hence the thought of upgrading from the Redfield.

Would you recommend either of them or something else around that range. The Pentax does stick out to me just for the choice of eyepieces which would allow me to use it for other purposes then shooting like digiscoping or spying on the neighbours and such lol.
 
Pentax for the wide range of utility and options. Very nice glass and right on par with the Kowas. Does it have ED glass? No... very good but like the Kowa, these pick up mirage well making them great for open sight or prone shooting competition... any competition where you need to see the air

That is a great winter picture and in the winter, you will get some amazing views using either 82SV or pentax. Add some heat and mirage.....

Again, I go back to the LR camera system. If you need to see the target regardless of weather or distance, this is it.

If you want to 'glass' stuff far far away, the spotter wins.... just don't be discouraged if the view is weather dependent.

Jerry
 
Thanks Jerry for your advice, greatly appreciated. I think I'm still going to upgrade to one of the two spotting scopes as it will get other uses then just shooting.

I've always been interested in the target cameras and I looked a little more into the Caldwell system you spoke of. It seems like a perfect solution for me when I'm out shooting at a friends property where we can go past 1000yds, as long as we don't shoot it. I'll have to keep my ear open when you start getting them in.
 
Mystic Precision said:
Pentax for the wide range of utility and options. Very nice glass and right on par with the Kowas. Does it have ED glass? No...
Click to expand...

Hi Jerry,

Pentax's website says that the PF-80ED does indeed have ED glass.

ricoh-imaging.ca/en/products/sport-optics/PF-80EDA/

Is this not the case?

EDIT: I have a PF-80EDA, and love it. It has been a stellar performer for me. I've had the chance to compare it with a few similar options at my local range (Kowa, Vortex), and don't feel under scoped in the slightest.

Thanks,
Cal.
 
There is ED glass and then there is "ED" glass.

The pentax is good but not as good as other mega dollar "ED" glass spotters.

I put the Pentax 80's in the same glass as the Kowa 82SV... yes, the glass for either is very good and most will have zero issues with them. Both pick up mirage well... I feel the Kowa is better.

Compare to a Leica Trinovid and you will understand the difference a couple more thousand$'s can make.... when you want to see an object at LR through "dirty" air.

Jerry
 
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