[karhu]

I'm planning on launching into Digiscoping and bought a Nikon P5000 in anticipation of buying a scope fairly soon. I had planned to get a ED82 as my once in a life time buy. (only 42 months working left!)

One shop told me about the Kowa as the Nikon seem in short supply. But I have not heard of Kowa and I am not confident in the brand.

Taking the ED82 as benchmark - what Kowa scope meets or beats the Nikon?

[J. Moore]

The new Kowa scopes (883-84) have been found by every review that has considered them to be optically the best available among traditional spotting scopes. Several reviews have found the 773/74 to be second only to the 883/84. Check out the thread discussing the Living Bird scope review (in the general scopes forum) and the links in that thread.

However, the optical difference between the very top scopes is not overwhelming, so that should probably not be your only consideration.

Best,
Jim

[npos]

The zoom ocular for the new 77 and 88mm Kowas is dramatically better than Nikon's in most respects, but digiscopers use fixed power eyepieces, so you won't go wrong with the Nikon, and it is much less expensive than the big Kowas to boot.

Norm P -- Massachusetts, USA

[notatwitcher!]

karhu - got to agree with the guys - I just bought a Kowa 773. I tried Nikon 82, Opticron, Swarovski and the Leica 62 - and the Kowa won hands down - at least for me. It should do as well - its more expensive!. It was a once in a lifetime for me as well - same reason, strangely, and also 42 months to go. Mind you if I can persuade her indoors - kidding - she comes out too.

Dealer/Birder I bought from reckons you can't beat Kowa at the moment - and he really is a UK top. BTW, surprised you say not heard of Kowa/confident in brand - Kowa were the company who developed the modern spotting scope . . .

Now for cameras of course . .

Mike

[Sancho]

Originally Posted by npos

The zoom ocular for the new 77 and 88mm Kowas is dramatically better than Nikon's in most respects
Norm P -- Massachusetts, USA

I´m interested in what you say about the Kowa zoom, Norm....how is it better? Greater FOV would be just fine.....

[npos]

Originally Posted by Sancho

I´m interested in what you say about the Kowa zoom, Norm....how is it better? Greater FOV would be just fine.....

Hi,

The evolution of eyepieces is in the direction of wider views and better eye relief, and this applies to the latest generation of Kowas. The Nikon zoom I looked through was of exceptional quality, if a bit constricted. It has more reach at the high end (75x), which may be useful at times, and as I do not wear eyeglasses, it works OK for me but perhaps not for others. Some of the fixed power eyepieces I have looked through appear to be outstanding.

Norm P

[Sancho]

Thanks Norm! I'll have a look at a Kowa zoom when I get a chance....

[karhu]

Originally Posted by J. Moore

The new Kowa scopes (883-84) have been found by every review that has considered them to be optically the best available among traditional spotting scopes. Several reviews have found the 773/74 to be second only to the 883/84. Check out the thread discussing the Living Bird scope review (in the general scopes forum) and the links in that thread.

However, the optical difference between the very top scopes is not overwhelming, so that should probably not be your only consideration.

Best,
Jim

Jim - many thanks for the advice - I have looked at the living bird site. I found it a very interesting site - excellent review of scopes in "Scope Quest 2008"

[karhu]

Originally Posted by npos

The zoom ocular for the new 77 and 88mm Kowas is dramatically better than Nikon's in most respects, but digiscopers use fixed power eyepieces, so you won't go wrong with the Nikon, and it is much less expensive than the big Kowas to boot.

Norm P -- Massachusetts, USA

Hi Norm,

Pardon my ignorance - I'm just about to take the big step into digiscoping - why do digiscopers use fixed power eyepieces?

cheers

[Pileatus]

Originally Posted by karhu

Hi Norm,

Pardon my ignorance - I'm just about to take the big step into digiscoping - why do digiscopers use fixed power eyepieces?

cheers

Mike doesn't.
http://www.birddigiscoping.com/avian.html

In general, digiscopers need good eye relief, a wide FOV and low magnification. A fixed magnification eyepiece meets the criteria.

[npos]

Originally Posted by karhu

Hi Norm,

Pardon my ignorance - I'm just about to take the big step into digiscoping - why do digiscopers use fixed power eyepieces?

cheers

John T. has it right. I am a "low end" digiscoper and use a point and shoot camera, hand held, through the previously mentioned Kowa zoom eyepiece. The image is vignetted (circular) and I crop it with image editing software. Keep in mind if you want to use an SLR, there is a totally different connection made to the telescope body.

Norman P

[horukuru]

sorry to hijack,

is it possible to use the new kowa zoom eyepiece for my nikon ED82 with some kind of special adapter ?

[Robert L Jarvis]

Horukuru I do not think that is even a remote possibility.

Karhu as for choosing between the scopes, no contest has to be Kowa 883/884.