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Kowa TSN-501 20-40x50 Spotting Scope (Angled Viewing)

BH #KOTSN501 • MFR #TSN-501
 9 reviews
Kowa
Kowa TSN-501 20-40x50 Spotting Scope (Angled Viewing)
Key Features
  • Compact and Lightweight Design
  • 45° Angled Viewing
  • 20-40x Zoom Eyepiece
  • 50mm Objective Lens
At less than 10" long and weighing under a pound, the 45° angled-viewing Kowa TSN-501 20-40x50 Spotting Scope is designed to be your constant companion wherever you go to glass. The moderate 50mm lens and fully multi-coated optics provide bright and clear high-contrast images with accurate color rendition for an immersive observational experience. Its powerful wide zoom range allows you to take in a wide field of view for general viewing purposes, with the ability to draw subjects in close for more detailed observations. This version of the TSN-500 is configured with the eyepiece set at a 45° angle relative to the optical tube to place your head in a comfortable viewing postion whether you're standing, sitting, or lying prone.
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$399.00
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Viewing Angle
45° Angled Viewing
Straight-Through Viewing
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Kowa TSN-501 20-40x50 Overview

  • 1Description
  • 2Optical Performance
  • 3Use and Handling
  • 4Construction Details

At less than 10" long and weighing under a pound, the 45° angled-viewing Kowa TSN-501 20-40x50 Spotting Scope is designed to be your constant companion wherever you go to glass. The moderate 50mm lens and fully multi-coated optics provide bright and clear high-contrast images with accurate color rendition for an immersive observational experience. Its powerful wide zoom range allows you to take in a wide field of view for general viewing purposes, with the ability to draw subjects in close for more detailed observations. This version of the TSN-500 is configured with the eyepiece set at a 45° angle relative to the optical tube to place your head in a comfortable viewing postion whether you're standing, sitting, or lying prone.

Engineered for performance in all conditions, the chassis is made of a lightweight and strong polycarbonate material wrapped in a slip-resistant armoring, with a rubberized and textured zoom collar and focus wheel that make adjustments fast and easy, even when wearing gloves. The optical tube is nitrogen filled and O-ring sealed to be waterproof and resistant to internal fogging when moving through extreme temperature changes or environmental conditions. To increase your mounting options, the TSN-501 comes outfitted with both a 1/4"-20 and 3/8"-16 tripod attachment—making it compatible with most photo, video, and field tripods on the market.

Optical Performance
  • Powerful 20-40x zoom eyepiece
  • 50mm aperture
  • Porro prism optical path
  • Fully multi-coated optics maximize light transmission through the lens to improve image brightness, color rendition, and contrast
  • 131-92' field of view at 1000 yards
Use and Handling
  • Eyepiece set at a 45° angle to the optical tube for more comfortable viewing when seated, standing, or lying prong
  • Integrated aiming sight
  • Rubberized and textured zoom collar and single-speed focusing wheel
  • 55mm objective lens filter threads
  • Twist-up eyecup for comfortable use with or without eyewear
  • 3/8"-16 and 1/4"-20 mount to accommodate most photo, video, and field tripods
  • 14-12.5mm eye relief
  • 2.5-1.25mm exit pupil
Construction Details
  • Lightweight and impact-resistant polycarbonate chassis
  • Nitrogen filled, IPX6 rated to be waterproof and resistant to internal fogging when moving through extreme temperature changes and conditions
  • Extremely lightweight: 14 ounces
UPC: 879110005058

Kowa TSN-501 20-40x50 Specs

Design
Viewing AngleAngled
Performance
Magnification20 to 40x
Objective Lens Diameter50 mm
Field of View20x: 131.0' @ 1000 yd / 43.6 m @ 1000 m
40x: 92.0' @ 1000 yd / 30.6 m @ 1000 m
Minimum Focus Distance8.2' / 2.5 m
Exit Pupil Diameter20x: 2.5 mm
40x: 1.25 mm
Eye Relief14.0 to 12.5 mm
Features
FogproofYes, Nitrogen Filled
Water ResistanceWaterproof
Environmental ProtectionAdvertised as Water Resistant
*Test Methodology Not Supplied
General
Filter Thread55 mm
Tripod Mounting Thread1/4"-20 Female, 3/8"-16 Female
DimensionsL: 9.4 x H: 9.4 x W: 2.8" / L: 23.9 x H: 12.4 x W: 7.1 cm
Weight14.0 oz / 396.9 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight1.65 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)11.9 x 5.8 x 3.7"

Kowa TSN-501 20-40x50 Reviews

Great travel scope

By Keith
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-03-13

Truly a tiny scope but the image is bright and clear. I wanted a scope for a foreign trip with a chance to see waterbirds. It's actually smaller than the monopod I want to put it on. Seems perfect.

Great lightweight scope

By Andrea
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-11-01

This is a great little scope, helps out when I need a little more distance than my leica 8X32 provide. Totally recommend it for that situation, very light weight, I used it when hiking and keep the heavy swarovski for car birding.

Bullseye

By Vinny
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-01-17

I have this mounted in my bullseye pistol box. Fits with room to spare and it's lightweight. Set it on 20X for 50' indoor. 22LR holes are easily seen. Bright and highly recommended.

Good compact scope.

By Donald
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2020-10-13

I use the Kowa TSN 501 spotting scope for birding in areas that are too far to carry a large spotting scope and tripod. The 501 is small enough to easily fit into a small backpack with a monopod and a fold-up camp stool which I find useful to have for long observation sessions. The 501 is light enough to be easily stabilized with a monopod. Optical quality is good. The focus knob and the zoom work smoothly. The magnification range of 20 to 40X works well for observing shorebirds, wading birds and ducks at moderate distances. One aspect of the 501 that could be better is eye relief. Eye relief of 14 to 12.5 mm is too short for someone wearing eye glasses. The view through the scope is fine if you do not wear glasses or can remove them when using the scope, but there is a tunnel vision effect when wearing glasses even with the eye cup down.

Tiny scope packs a punch

By Jeremy
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2020-06-04

I don’t pretend to be an expert on spotting scopes, but after my research, this seemed like a good, lightweight pick. When I began using it, I was amazed at the sharpness in focus and the extreme telephoto. My only complaint is a small one: I had a tiny bit of Chromatic aberration when looking at detailed subjects (on 40x zoom pointed in the sky ONLY), such as pine needles. This is a quality scope for the money, and I would recommend this product.

Small, Very Light, & Useful

By Alexander
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2019-10-24

This little scope weighs less than a pound and can be handheld at the low magnification of 20x. But at higher magnification, it needs a tripod, or at least a sturdy support. Using it with a tripod, even a small, light one, kind of defeats the point of lightness and portability, so I will probably use it almost exclusively handheld at 20x. The optical wuality is quite good fir this price point.

Kowa TSN-501 Spotting scope.

By Warren J.
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2022-09-08

Extremely lightweight spotting scope. (I needed an inexpensive spotting scope for children's use at Birding Festival's. Just encase they knock it over? I am a part time Birding Guide.) Unfortunately it does not have a rotating collar, or a retractable sun shade. It has a small amount of light falloff around it's edges, and a bit of color fringing on it's highest power. As would be expected on an inexpensive, small objective lens spotting scope. It has a course focusing wheel, and a fine focusing wheel. A nice, needed feature. Unfortunately: it is so lightweight that it easily moves about with any vibration! Overall; it isn't a bad small spotting scope for the money. [I put a top end B W UV Haze filter on it, and have on order a short, metal sunshade for it. I also purchased a needed Sensei center pinch objective lens cap for it.

Lightweight scope

By Ellen
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-05-19

Perfect lightweight scope for birding when walking/hiking longer distances. Great optics for such a small scope.

See any errors on this page? Let us know

YOUR RECENTLY VIEWED ITEMS

Does the TSN-501 come with lens covers?

Does the TSN-501 come with lens covers?
Asked by: Donald
It comes with Objective Lens Cover
Answered by: John
Date published: 2020-11-03

Where is this scope made?

Where is this scope made?
Asked by: Robert A
The Kowa TSN-501 20-40x50 Spotting Scope (Angled Viewing), is from the country of China.
Answered by: Moe
Date published: 2021-12-22
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