[Daz]

I have made the decision to buy myself a Scope. It looks like I will be getting a Kowa TSN 823 M, after getting advice and reading various reviews. I hope to do digiscoping in the future (when my credit card recovers). I have been looking on Warehouse Express. I want the 20-60 zoom. There are 2 advertised, one is the standard 20-60 zoom, the other is the 'New' model with twist up eyecup and 5 position zoom. Which is the better option. The new zoom is £40 dearer.

Also what tripod would anybody recommend. Bearing in mind I will be using the zoom to it's full extension at times and will want to do digiscoping in the future. I am thinking about the Manfrotto 701 RC2 190V(£129) Or would the carbon fibre version be better (701RC2 190 MFV at £229) Then there is 'Bill Oddies favourite tripod' The Slik D3 Master classic with the Slik D3 head (£119).

Any advice would be appreciated.

My head is done in

[mrpjdavis]

As far as the Manfrotto tripod is concerned, I understand that the carbon fibre version weighs only 200 grammes less than the standard version. Unless you are desperate to save every last bit of weight, it is probably not worth the extra £100. Having said that, I do have the carbon fibre version - when I went on holiday last year my case weighed in at 19.9 kilos!

I used to have a Kowa 820, with the 20-60 zoom and it was more or less useless over 40X (lots of purple fringes and very dim). Whether this is the same as the current "old" version, I don't know, but if you do a search on this forum I'm sure you will find tons of info - even more to do your head in!

Cheers
Pete

[chris_ly]

Originally Posted by Daz

I have made the decision to buy myself a Scope. It looks like I will be getting a Kowa TSN 823 M, after getting advice and reading various reviews. I hope to do digiscoping in the future (when my credit card recovers). I have been looking on Warehouse Express. I want the 20-60 zoom. There are 2 advertised, one is the standard 20-60 zoom, the other is the 'New' model with twist up eyecup and 5 position zoom. Which is the better option. The new zoom is £40 dearer.

Also what tripod would anybody recommend. Bearing in mind I will be using the zoom to it's full extension at times and will want to do digiscoping in the future. I am thinking about the Manfrotto 701 RC2 190V(£129) Or would the carbon fibre version be better (701RC2 190 MFV at £229) Then there is 'Bill Oddies favourite tripod' The Slik D3 Master classic with the Slik D3 head (£119).

Any advice would be appreciated.

My head is done in

I have a Kowa 824M with 20-60 zoom. As far as I can make out, having looked through one, the newer more expensive zoom, with twist-up eyecup, is optically no different at all to the older version with the rubber fold-down eyecup.

It has the same field of view & eye-relief

I would suggest you save forty quid!


Chris

[Sidor]

The 701RC2 head would probably be a better choice, particularly if you use the Kowa for digiscoping.
You should also take a look at the Velbon sherpa Carbon tripods, which are lighter than the Manfrotto. I use a CF631EL, which will take the 701RC2 providing a solid yet light combination for your Kowa.


Sidor

[postcardcv]

I have heard from some Kowa users that the older zoom is actually better optically than the new one, so unless you wear glasses I'd go for the older version.

[Millhaven8]

Hi Daz
Your choice of scope is excellent - I know I have one

But - lens choice - I went for the 32W with the twist up eyecup again excellent and just about perfect for didiscoping - I use a Canon A95.

Now - here is the rub - I just felt that I would like a little bit more power, so I got the 20-60 Zoom - the new one And I am a little disapointed - at anything over about 40X light goes off and you really don't get a good image. Better people than me in these pages will tell you that most viewing will be done at less than 40X and if you wish to digiscope go for the 32W - and if you wear specs like me its a no choice answer.

Look up Andy Brights threads on this - every question you ever wanted to know about digiscoping has already been asked and the answers are there ( a personal thanks to Andy and all those who contributed to digiscoping with a Kowa 823 and Canon A95 - you know who you are?)

regards Tony M

[Daz]

Thanks for all the replys. I bought the Kowa TSN 823M with 20-60 zoom. I didn't get the new zoom. I also got the Manfrotto 190v with the 701RC2 head.

What can I say, I absolutely love the scope. The eyepiece is amazing. On a calm sunny day even at x60 it is absolute perfection, okay when it is low light and windy it is not so good. The best grand I have ever spent. It iso much easier IDing birds now.