KOWA TSN-82SV w TE 9Z-20-60x Zoom Eyepiece

Mudduck

Mudduck

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Looking at upgrading my spotter for target shooting because at 400 yards it gets dang hard to see those 223 holes. Im considering this combo for just over $1000. At this price range is there anything else I should be considering? or for the $$ is this going to be about as good as it gets.
My one option would be to go with a different eye piece that has much greater eye relief - TE-17HD Magnification 25x, Apparent Field of View 52.5 degrees Exit Pupil Diameter 2.6-2.4mm, Eye Relief 32mm Field of View at 1000yds/m 36.7m/yds ...... but then will I have a hard time seeing them little 223 holes :eek:(

Anyone have experience with this setup? Any feedback is appreciated

I should add, I currently have a Vanguard Platinum VSH-66 15-45x60 mm
 
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well, seeing further is all about aperture, but for day time observing, you're limited to 40x...anything past that and you start to really see atmospheric distortion, so perhaps you want to do what I did.

buy a Celestron C90 (90mm Maksutov Cassegrain) scope with finder...about $250 and get a nice tripod. in my case, I'm using the Sky Watcher AZ3 mount...it's actually a telescope mount with slow motion controls for vertical and horizontal movements (very useful!). That will run you about $200...so all that's left is a good zoom eyepiece. you can get a piece of crap for about $40, a reasonable unit for about $80 or a top notch one from Baader, the MkIII, for about $300. My dad has one of these for astronomy and it's his favorite. uses it for planetary viewing all the time. but I digress... LOL!

if you want spots you can buy these at, PM me and I'll be happy to point you in the right direction.

I can see out to 300 yards with no problemo.
 
Mr. Friendly said:
y a Celestron C90 (90mm Maksutov Cassegrain) scope with finder...about $250 and get a nice tripod. in my case, I'm using the Sky Watcher AZ3 mount...it's actually a telescope mount with slow motion controls for vertical and horizontal movements (very useful!). That will run you about $200...so all that's left is a good zoom eyepiece. you can get a piece of crap for about $40, a reasonable unit for about $80 or a top notch one from Baader, the MkIII, for about $300. My dad has one of these for astronomy and it's his favorite. uses it for planetary viewing all the time. but I digress... LOL!
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Hi mr Friendly, thanks for the suggestion , wished you were closer so I could look through it.
Another spotter I'm considering in the $1000 price range is the Vortex Viper HD 20-60x80.
Any idea how it compares quality wise?
 
Kowa spotters are the top of the heap. The glass is incomparable which is why you see serious target shooters and bird watchers using them. I wouldn't look at anything else.
 
Mudduck said:
Hi mr Friendly, thanks for the suggestion , wished you were closer so I could look through it.
Another spotter I'm considering in the $1000 price range is the Vortex Viper HD 20-60x80.
Any idea how it compares quality wise?
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Celestron has a new non mirrored piece out that comes in an 80mm for around $700 and a 100mm for around $850, with ED prime glass and the same XLT coatings they use on their expensive telescopes. Excellent optics that not a lot of folks know about yet. Kowa also make very good gear. FS
 
Bullseye camera would be a great idea ( if I had my own range) but when Im on a public range I would be concerned about shot placement of other people :eek:(

Anyone looked through this one Celestron Regal M2 100ED Spotting Scope with 22-67x Eyepiece How is their quality?
 
wish I could show it. it's quite the kit. feel free to give Nick or Harout a call at Van Tel though...they're going to be amongst the most honest guys you can talk to. they will talk you out of buying something, just so you don't waste you money.

that said Kowa makes the very best of glass, but I've only looked through their Highlander products with fluorite for an apochromatic lens system. That's a $3000+ scope with eyepiece. out of your budget...but simply said, there is no better. anywhere on the earth. period.
 
that said Kowa makes the very best of glass, but I've only looked through their Highlander products with fluorite for an apochromatic lens system. That's a $3000+ scope with eyepiece. out of your budget...but simply said, there is no better. anywhere on the earth. period.
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I have the Kowa TSN 883, and it is the clearest ,brightest spotting scope that I have had the pleasure of using. I did compare it to top of the line Zeiss and Swarovski scopes, and I preferred the Kowa. Unfortunately, like with most high end optics, the price isn't cheap.
 
I also have a KOWA spotting scope, the TSN-774 Prominar XD it's really sharp and bright. Kowa has now released a new wide angle eye piece TE-11WZ 25-60x Prominar which will make it even better, I want one!
 
Unless I am missing something Kowa is top notch glass but obviously not in the $1000 price range. When it comes to glass, unlike some other stuff you do actually get what you pay for.
 
EC said:
Unless I am missing something Kowa is top notch glass but obviously not in the $1000 price range. When it comes to glass, unlike some other stuff you do actually get what you pay for.
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Agreed but in that price point some tend to outshine others to a certain extent. I was not familiar with this particular model and could not find many reviews on it but had seen some Kowas at the target range
 
Would have loved a Kowa TSN-883 ... but alas it was out of my price point.... However I did get a Razor 20-60x85 HD, so Im looking forward to seeing what it looks like when it arrives
 
BigUglyMan said:
Kowa spotters are the top of the heap. The glass is incomparable which is why you see serious target shooters and bird watchers using them. I wouldn't look at anything else.
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Same here I have a Kowa and ave tried other brands like Bausch & Lombe and Celestron not bad spotting scopes but have IMO average performance levels not well suited for long range rifle shooting . I love my Kowa 82mm and I have never regretted getting it , yes I have two eyepieces a fixed power 32x wide angle and a 20 -60 zoom it is a great eye piece and not all the time can you us the the 60x when the conditions are in your favor it is great feature to have .
 
Well I ended up with a KOWA TSN Prominar 883 with a 20-60 Kowa eye piece. ...... And a Vortex Razor 20-60x85 spotter ... Going to need to sell one of them ... And I think it's the Razor that will be up for sale ... But both are amazing spotters

The Kowa is an amazing spotter ... Wish I could put cross hairs on it and mount it on my rifle!,
 
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