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Kowa TSN-883 Angled 88mm Prominar Spotting Scope (Requires Eyepiece)
- Price: $2,450.00
- See cart for product details
- Free Shipping (USA)
- In Stock
- B&H # KOTSN883
- Mfr# TSN-883
Product Highlights
- Waterproof
- Fogproof
- Angled Viewing
- Fluorite Crystal Glass
Remember the Essentials
An eyepiece is required but not included with this item. Please be sure to purchase an eyepiece for this item.
The TSN-883 Angled 88mm Prominar Spotting Scope is a world-class spotter that redefines the standards of color brilliance, sharpness, and brightness.
The TSN-883 uses an element of PFC (Pure Flourite Crystal) glass in its construction, which greatly minimizes chromatic aberration. This ensures maximum efficiency in its light gathering, producing a clear visual range and sharp imagery that traditional glass lenses cannot attain at their highest magnifications and with the strongest of subject/background contrast changes. Flourite is extremely expensive, but the subtle difference between the viewing from the Prominar-equipped TSN-883 and even the very best normal scopes would be apparent even to a novice. Kowa's use of their patented "C3" prism multicoating process increases image brightness significantly over their prior-generation models which featured flourite.
The 883's housing is made of a magnesium alloy that defines maximum durability and lightweight construction, resulting is a compact, ergonomic, and functional design for extreme nature and outdoor enthusiasts wanting only the very best. It sets a benchmark for the combination of large objective with small weight and mass.
As the angled viewing model of Kowa's flagship line, this scope makes sharing the viewing amongst multiple observers quite easy and is also generally considered more comfortable for longer glassing sessions. An angled scope allows for a slightly smaller, shorter tripod, and requires a bit more experience to quickly locate the subject in the scope.
- Extremely-bright 3.5" objective lens garners a better view in any lighting
- Prominar flourite crystal objective lens element
- Magnesium alloy construction aids weight/brightness ratio
- Body's color tone won't alarm wildlife
- Phase-corrected Schmidt-Pechan prism with "C3" dielectric prism coating, superior to aluminum, mirror, and silver-backed prism systems
- Dual-speed coarse/fine focusing system
- Rotating tripod collar with detented intermediate stops
- Extreme waterproof & fogproof performance (JIS protection class 7)
- Multiple available specialty eyepieces
- Quick-aiming sightline aids in object locating
- Sliding, rubber armored sun shade (with 95mm filter thread) shields objective from rain and stray light
- Easily adapted to SLR cameras, digital point & shoot cameras, and video cameras with optional accessories
| Objective Lens Diameter | 88mm |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 16.4' (5 m) |
| Weatherproofing | Waterproof & fogproof |
| Length | 13.5" (343mm) |
| Weight | 3.35 lbs (1520g) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 7 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
83%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Bright eyepiece (6)
- Sensitivity controls (3)
Cons
Best Uses
- Low visibility (3)
- Shooting (3)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (4)
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 7 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-7
Pros
- Bright Eyepiece
- Sensitivity Controls
Cons
Best Uses
- Astronomy
- Bright Conditions
- Low Visibility
- Shooting
Comments about Kowa TSN-883 Angled 88mm Prominar Spotting Scope (Requires Eyepiece):
My TSN-883 yields remarkable bright, crisp razor sharp images. The colors are rendered accurately. There is no false color on bright objects. Even on the moon or brightest stars, there is no false (violet or green) tinging. Surprisingly light due to magnesium alloy tube assembly. The pure fluorite crystal outperforms the far higher priced German optics. Dual focusing system is a delight.The rotating mounting plate has 1/4-20" and 3/8" mounting screws. Extremely pleased with my Kowa scope.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Bright Eyepiece
- Strong Magnification
Cons
- Eyepeice not included
- Eyepiece expensive
Best Uses
Comments about Kowa TSN-883 Angled 88mm Prominar Spotting Scope (Requires Eyepiece):
Bought to digiscope with Canon 5D DSLR. Is great for this purpose and is small enough to use as a "spyglass" by holding in your hands without a tripod.
The eyepiece is the best one I've seen on a scope ever, it is bright and there is none of the usual vignetting when using high zoom. The optional DSLR eyepiece works great for digiscoping, it projects a unmagnified, very bright image at a great angle to photograph
Pros
- Bright Eyepiece
- Sensitivity Controls
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Birding
- Digiscoping
- Low Visibility
Comments about Kowa TSN-883 Angled 88mm Prominar Spotting Scope (Requires Eyepiece):
I am a birder learning to digiscope. I am also a professional nature tour guide. This is the fourth spotting scope I have owned and easily the best. I find it is bright, sharp and focuses easily. It is heavier than many scopes, but I find the extra margin of clarity, contrast and brightness provides a significant edge in identifying birds in dim light and allowing digiscoping at higher speeds and magnification. The zoom eyepiece is well adapted to digiscoping.
Pros
- Bright Eyepiece
Cons
Best Uses
- Shooting
Comments about Kowa TSN-883 Angled 88mm Prominar Spotting Scope (Requires Eyepiece):
I was enthusiastic about my Kowa scope and set it up quickly for a view of the mountains. The reviews I had read about this scope raved about the clarity and brilliance of the image. I found the scope to be of beautiful quality, just what I expected. When viewing however I found the image to be less than what I was expecting. At 60x it was not producing quality images and compare well to my 30 year old Swift 20 – 60x. I was not impressed. I am now looking at the Zeiss.
Pros
- Bright Eyepiece
- Solid construction
- Water proof
Cons
- none
Best Uses
- Birdwatching
Comments about Kowa TSN-883 Angled 88mm Prominar Spotting Scope (Requires Eyepiece):
I use this scope for birdwatching and the clarity is the best ive seen. Cant reccomend it enough
Pros
- Best in class color
- Bright Eyepiece
- Hight contrast
- Sensitivity Controls
- Strong biuld
- Strong Magnification
- Very sharp
Cons
Best Uses
- Best for Wildlife
- Low Visibility
- Shooting
Comments about Kowa TSN-883 Angled 88mm Prominar Spotting Scope (Requires Eyepiece):
I did months of research before buying this spotting scope, testing all of the other top brands in the field in Yellowstone. It's the best out there for wildlife watching bar none! I use it to watch and study the Wolves and Grizzley in Yellowstone in all types of weather, from frezzing snow to hot it shines above all other scopes. I have set it up next to some of the other top scopes on the market watching Wolves and it had much better performance than ALL other top brands and they were all there(we know who they are). The Kowa was sharper, better contrast, true'er colors and alot brighter more so into the evening hours. The biuld is best in class, the eye pice is the best I have seen. A home run Kowa!
Comments about Kowa TSN-883 Angled 88mm Prominar Spotting Scope (Requires Eyepiece):
I have been seeking a replacement for the original Swarovski AT80 for some years. I had bought & returned 2 of the new ATS80 which simply aren't as sharp as the old AT80, the fault appearing not to be with the zoom eye-piece as I'd put the new one on the old body without diminution in performance so apparently it's with the body design.
So I bought the new Kowa & tested it over a period of hours birding in the field against both the new & the old Swarovski. I think it's better than the new although there's not that much in it but it's definitely not as sharp as the old. It just doesn't have the precision focus of the old Swarovski, even the 10 year old well-used example I tested it against. The zoom eye-piece has a wider field of view at 20x but is narrower at higher magnifications. I should say I'm less influenced by a scopes rubber armour, weight or size than others might be. For me ultra-sharp easy focus is the most important & the Kowa doesn't do it. Please Swarovski, bring back the old AT80!
I returned the Kowa & sent my old Swarovski for cleaning.
Displaying reviews 1-7
Eyepieces & Accessories
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- Price: $400.00
Cleaning & Anti-Fog
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- Price: $4.99
Cases
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- Price: $70.00
Filters
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- Price: $178.95
Digiscoping
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- Price: $175.00
Tripods
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System Accessories
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- Price: $90.00
Tutorials
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- Price: $6.95
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