Kowa TSN-773 Prominar XD 3"/77mm Spotting Scope (Requires Eyepiece)

Comments about Kowa TSN-773 Prominar XD 3"/77mm Spotting Scope (Requires Eyepiece):

I decided on the 773 over the 883 mainly because of the ligher weight and slightly smaller size, but there is a significant price difference as well. I use only the 30X eyepiece and it's excellent. I prefer the wide easy view of the 30X over the zoom and it shows you all the detail you need to see 95% of the time. For me the trade off is worth it.

Materials, appearance and image quality are all first rate. The only minor knock is that the coarse focus is a bit stiff, though I expect that will change with more use. The size, weight, optical quality and ease of use make this a near perfect birding scope. Optically the 773 has been rated equal to or above all but the 88mm Kowas, and considering that it's actually something of a bargain.

Comments about Kowa TSN-773 Prominar XD 3"/77mm Spotting Scope (Requires Eyepiece):

I just received the Kowa a few days ago. I have used it to view eagles from distances of 100 yards to 500 yards away. The air was crisp and clear and I was able to compare to my smaller 50mm 12x-36x scope (not Kowa) as well as my Canon 5d mkII with 100-400mm zoom and 1.4x teleconverter combo. I know...not apples to apples, but I figure it might be interesting comparison for photographers or for owners of budget scopes to compare to a high end scope.

First off, the economical 50mm 12x-36x is very nice at 12x in good light. That is where it ends though. Zooming into the 24x-36x range or viewing things in low light are simply not that great. The loss of sharpness and brightness as you zoom makes you want to just view everything at 12x. It seems you get what you pay for. For the money though, it is good optics at 12x and will fit easily in a backpack so light as if it wasn't even there.

Next the Kowa 773. Wow. superb sharpness through the entire 20x-60x zoom range and hardly a noticeable decrease in light at the 60x range. Very quality feel and construction. Make sure you have a sturdy tripod because 60x magnification will show any vibration. Sharpness is perfect edge to edge and so much brighter than the little 50mm 12x. but you do pay considerably more for the Kowa and it is bigger and heavier. The detail on an eagle at 60x at 200 yards is so impressive, you can see every feather distinctly as if you were standing next to it. Compared to the 50mm at 36x....well there is no comparison.

Next the Canon setup. My pictures are fantastic, make no mistake, but looking through the viewfinder is dark and fuzzy by comparison at 560mm (400mm w/1.4x), which is not even close to the magnification of the Kowa at 20x. The Kowa is much brighter and sharper and a bigger image to look at.

Comments about Kowa TSN-773 Prominar XD 3"/77mm Spotting Scope (Requires Eyepiece):

I use the scope for spotting game and in the 300 meters shooting range. I was thinking on buying an European one because a need a very crispy optic to see the holes that 6,5mm bullets makes on the paper, and this scope is perfect .