Kowa TSN 821M

[Iain Sommervile]

Need some help please - I am thinking of purchasing a Kowa TSN 821m as I have never purchased one before and would like some help on the matter.

I am also unsure of which type of eyepiece to purchase also.

Thanks

Iain

[IanF]

I had the Kowa 823 and was very happy with it indeed. I fact I wish that I hadn't sold it on.

The 821 is the non-fluorite version which will be very good for normal scope use. If at some point you may want to take up digiscoping then the fluorite version may be a better choice if a little dearer.

I had the 32xWA and the 20-60x zoom. For versatility of viewing then I'd suggest the zoom eyepiece as it is a top qulaity lens. It gets a little dull at 60x but enables a closer view if you spot something interesting. The 32x has a wider field of view and so is brighter. There are other fixed eyepieces but I never had experience of them myself.

Kowa have brought out a new range of eyepieces but I suspect are more suitable for digiscoping use.

[Iain Sommervile]

I had the Kowa 823 and was very happy with it indeed. I fact I wish that I hadn't sold it on.

The 821 is the non-fluorite version which will be very good for normal scope use. If at some point you may want to take up digiscoping then the fluorite version may be a better choice if a little dearer.

I had the 32xWA and the 20-60x zoom. For versatility of viewing then I'd suggest the zoom eyepiece as it is a top qulaity lens. It gets a little dull at 60x but enables a closer view if you spot something interesting. The 32x has a wider field of view and so is brighter. There are other fixed eyepieces but I never had experience of them myself.

Kowa have brought out a new range of eyepieces but I suspect are more suitable for digiscoping use.


Thanks very much for your reply Ian

Iain

[scampo]

Need some help please - I am thinking of purchasing a Kowa TSN 821m as I have never purchased one before and would like some help on the matter.

I am also unsure of which type of eyepiece to purchase also.

Thanks

IainThe Kowa is a fine scope, for sure. It's wide angle eyepieces are second-to-none in many people's opinion - the 20x or 30x (the latter is the one I'd go for). The zoom is less good when compared to some top makes, but I know a top Leicestershire birder who chose the Kowa and zoom and he's more than happy with it.

That said - there is a bargain to be had, as many here have discovered, at Warehouse Express, in the form of the Nikon ED78A. This is a discontinued scope now but recently sold for over a thousand pounds. With the 38xW it is a bargain and has top spec ED glass, too. If you're interested, a quick search on Bird Forum will be useful as so many folk have sung its praises, even the other day, there were two threads on it running.

[Iain Sommervile]

Hi Steve

Many thanks for your valued advice and will check out Warehouse Express today.

Cheers

Iain

[scampo]

Hi Steve

Many thanks for your valued advice and will check out Warehouse Express today.

Cheers

IainIf you do buy it, search for a thread on its stay-on case. These are no longer available - but the case for the Opticron iMagic 80 scope seems to fit. These are easily available at a fair price from In Focus and other stockists of Opticron equipment.

[Iain Sommervile]

Thanks again Steve and will have a look @ In Focus too.

Iain

[bill lord]

Thanks again Steve and will have a look @ In Focus too.

Iain

Warehouse Express have the imagic 80 cover that fits the Nikon ED 78 as well.