Wighttrash
New member
Good evening to the good people of bird forum. I am a newb on the forum but feel compelled to share some info on the Kowa 12 x 50 SV bins.
I originally struggled to find much info/reviews on 12 x 50's in general and I decided on the SV 's due mostly to cost.
Now if you are expecting a complex review on all the specs etc ( I regularly have to google the terms used in bin reviews!) then stop reading now. this is just a users review mixed with my opinions, which may have some use!
I would class myself as a novice birdwatcher, I have had an interest since childhood, which has bloomed into a full on obsession.! I like to do my birdwatching in varied locations and go for long walks that I know I might spot certain species. I learned pretty quick that for most of my birdwatching, lugging around a scope as well as my original bins became pretty tiresome. This lead me down the path to 12 x 50 s which I think gives the best of both world for me. After purchasing the kowa,s I soon stopped carrying my scope everywhere and eventually sold it. It's a decision I have yet to regret!
Out of the box you will notice the build quality, I liked the way the sv's felt in the hand. I also found them to be lighter than other 12 x 50 s out there. From my untrained eye, visually it was a massive difference from my old 10 x 42 s. It was like a light had been switched on! Colours were super bright and everything was that little bit closer. I enjoyed the freedom that these binoculars gave me on the longer walks. I could walk all day and use the optics and neither my neck or eyes would get sore! You get a pretty good wide neck strap which helps with the weight distribution. I purchased extra rain caps for the objectives lens, which coupled with the robust design meant I could throw them in a bag without the case and not be worried about damaging them. You do get a padded case with the SV,s but I just used it for longer periods of storage at home.
I am very lucky where I live, that a range of birds of prey are pretty common. The 12 x 50's make raptor spotting a real treat. I remember going up to an osprey observation area and although I could see the ospreys in the distance, it was a fly by from a buzzard that stole the show for me. For one it was flying below me, so I got the privileged view from above. The buzzard was spiralling around and through the kowas I could see individual feathers rustling as the air pressure changed over the buzzards wings. It was amazing! My partner had my old 10 x 42 s and after a quick swap didn't want to give the SV,s back! To summarise, I think for the money you pay you get a really great set of optics. From a company that make high end scopes etc. I am glad that kowa has made an effort to provide some entry level bins.
Well that's it ! Not overly informative I suspect, but if anyone would like any specific info then just ask and I will endeavour to supply a worthy answer.
If you have read this all the way through then thanks for indulging me! Best of luck. :-O
I originally struggled to find much info/reviews on 12 x 50's in general and I decided on the SV 's due mostly to cost.
Now if you are expecting a complex review on all the specs etc ( I regularly have to google the terms used in bin reviews!) then stop reading now. this is just a users review mixed with my opinions, which may have some use!
I would class myself as a novice birdwatcher, I have had an interest since childhood, which has bloomed into a full on obsession.! I like to do my birdwatching in varied locations and go for long walks that I know I might spot certain species. I learned pretty quick that for most of my birdwatching, lugging around a scope as well as my original bins became pretty tiresome. This lead me down the path to 12 x 50 s which I think gives the best of both world for me. After purchasing the kowa,s I soon stopped carrying my scope everywhere and eventually sold it. It's a decision I have yet to regret!
Out of the box you will notice the build quality, I liked the way the sv's felt in the hand. I also found them to be lighter than other 12 x 50 s out there. From my untrained eye, visually it was a massive difference from my old 10 x 42 s. It was like a light had been switched on! Colours were super bright and everything was that little bit closer. I enjoyed the freedom that these binoculars gave me on the longer walks. I could walk all day and use the optics and neither my neck or eyes would get sore! You get a pretty good wide neck strap which helps with the weight distribution. I purchased extra rain caps for the objectives lens, which coupled with the robust design meant I could throw them in a bag without the case and not be worried about damaging them. You do get a padded case with the SV,s but I just used it for longer periods of storage at home.
I am very lucky where I live, that a range of birds of prey are pretty common. The 12 x 50's make raptor spotting a real treat. I remember going up to an osprey observation area and although I could see the ospreys in the distance, it was a fly by from a buzzard that stole the show for me. For one it was flying below me, so I got the privileged view from above. The buzzard was spiralling around and through the kowas I could see individual feathers rustling as the air pressure changed over the buzzards wings. It was amazing! My partner had my old 10 x 42 s and after a quick swap didn't want to give the SV,s back! To summarise, I think for the money you pay you get a really great set of optics. From a company that make high end scopes etc. I am glad that kowa has made an effort to provide some entry level bins.
Well that's it ! Not overly informative I suspect, but if anyone would like any specific info then just ask and I will endeavour to supply a worthy answer.
If you have read this all the way through then thanks for indulging me! Best of luck. :-O