I added pictures of the eyecup modification. There are other, more sophisticated mods possible but this one has the charm of simplicity and keeps the adjustability intact as well. To make the ridge a bit softer, and add a few (welcome) millimeters to the height of the eyecup, I decided to drop in a Swift eyecup (Audubon HR/5, post-1985 type, still readily available). The Swift eyecup fits snugly so it won't drop out on its own.
Eyeglass wearers don't need all this, but for the bare eye users this mod can be just the thing. I learned for instance that the initial impression of a restricted view was completely related to the (for me) too wide eyecups, which uncomfortably fixed the binoculars to the eyes. Smaller eyecups facilitate some movement in front of the eyes, a kind of freedom one needs for a satisfying view. At least for me the angle of view has never felt restricted since.
After using this Kowa for a year and a half, I'm convinced it definitely belongs to the best binoculars made today. Suppression of CA is superb, it has ideal mass for the majority of conditions (wind!) and its transmission of color is unusually fine. That is, I've yet to encounter a binocular more color-neutral than this one.
Renze
Eyeglass wearers don't need all this, but for the bare eye users this mod can be just the thing. I learned for instance that the initial impression of a restricted view was completely related to the (for me) too wide eyecups, which uncomfortably fixed the binoculars to the eyes. Smaller eyecups facilitate some movement in front of the eyes, a kind of freedom one needs for a satisfying view. At least for me the angle of view has never felt restricted since.
After using this Kowa for a year and a half, I'm convinced it definitely belongs to the best binoculars made today. Suppression of CA is superb, it has ideal mass for the majority of conditions (wind!) and its transmission of color is unusually fine. That is, I've yet to encounter a binocular more color-neutral than this one.
Renze