safaridreaming
Well-known member
I own a Swaro ATS 80 (current model) and lately I've had the opportunity to use it several times a week at local wetlands because kids enjoy heading out there for walks and the playgrounds...
I use the Swaro with the 25-50x eyepiece.
I've always found eye placement on this combination very finicky - very prone to kidney beaning and blackouts...
Previously I've put this down to just my lack of use and inexperience in getting used to the scope. However I'm still having the same issues now after using the scope almost daily for the last 4 months..
As such, i'm mildly considering the Kowa TSN-883 as a replacement. There's a couple of reasons for this....
- Seems to have a bigger range of photography accessories which are CHEAPER than the Swaro accessories
- The 1.6x extender allows me to push beyond 50x on those rare occasions when 50x just isn't enough.
- base eyepiece itself has the additional 60x zoom (on the TE-11WZ)
The swap isn't a given, its just a thought i've been entertaining for about a month now... but I have no access to a unit in Perth and none of the members of my birding group (or affiliated groups) have a Kowa with the TE-11WZ eyepiece so i'm just wondering if someone here has had an opportunity to try this combo and what their thoughts are, particularly with respect to a comparison with the Swaro 25-50?
thanks
Jeelan
I use the Swaro with the 25-50x eyepiece.
I've always found eye placement on this combination very finicky - very prone to kidney beaning and blackouts...
Previously I've put this down to just my lack of use and inexperience in getting used to the scope. However I'm still having the same issues now after using the scope almost daily for the last 4 months..
As such, i'm mildly considering the Kowa TSN-883 as a replacement. There's a couple of reasons for this....
- Seems to have a bigger range of photography accessories which are CHEAPER than the Swaro accessories
- The 1.6x extender allows me to push beyond 50x on those rare occasions when 50x just isn't enough.
- base eyepiece itself has the additional 60x zoom (on the TE-11WZ)
The swap isn't a given, its just a thought i've been entertaining for about a month now... but I have no access to a unit in Perth and none of the members of my birding group (or affiliated groups) have a Kowa with the TE-11WZ eyepiece so i'm just wondering if someone here has had an opportunity to try this combo and what their thoughts are, particularly with respect to a comparison with the Swaro 25-50?
thanks
Jeelan