My new Kowa 660 Prominar

wings · Monday 9th June 2008, 01:49

Just received my Kowa 660 Prominar spotting scope and took it to the local lake for a view test. The Kowa 660 came with the 25x LER eyepiece, ordered separately. The eyepiece rubber is removable and is a l-o-n-g piece of attachment, but, true to LER, it has no vignetting. Sharpness is edge to edge (I wear glasses) with no apparent distortion and color is crisp, not on the warm side as described in some other (German) scopes.

Fit and finish is very good, with the retractable lens hood sliding smoothly back and forth, while the focusing knob is smooth and precise. I would have preferred a rubberized coating for the scope as it would give it a better non-slip grip, but Kowa claims that it is waterproof to a high standard (JIS class 6 or 7). The eyepiece has a bayonet mount for quick attachment to the scope body, and the o-ring ensures dust and moisture protection. The 660 is surprisingly light (36 oz. not including the eyepiece) and compact in size.

At a distance of approximately 300 yds across the lake I could easily make out letters on a person's T-shirt, and all indications are that the 25x EP power plus the zoom of the camera should give me plenty magnification for telephoto shots.

As my Canon Powershot 590IS has not yet arrived, I was not able to do a digiscope test, but will follow this up when all equipment is in.

I was pleasantly rewarded for my outing when I saw a leucistic Canada Goose: this one was all white, unlike the half-white ones I have seen at other people's posting in other forums. I had to rush home and return with my 20D camera + 400mm/5.6L lens for some shots. Here are two:

horukuru · Monday 9th June 2008, 10:50

nice shots hehehe and congrats of your new kowa scope :)

wings · Tuesday 10th June 2008, 04:31

Thanks horukuru. Hey I see you are a Celtics FC fan, I'm also for the Hoops. For the EPL, I'm a Man. U fan. hehehehe.

horukuru · Tuesday 10th June 2008, 09:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by wings

Thanks horukuru. Hey I see you are a Celtics FC fan, I'm also for the Hoops. For the EPL, I'm a Man. U fan. hehehehe.

wahaha long live celtic

Mystical Bird · Friday 10th October 2008, 09:47

hello wings,

I hve this problem with my TSN603 with 45x Wide Angle (TSE-9Wide).

I am using Canon G9 for digiscoping with Kowa universal swing away holder.

But unfortunately i hve difficulty in getting full frame on the LCD.

Need some assistance.

Cheers
Mystical Bird

wings · Thursday 25th December 2008, 22:50

Oops, sorry I overlooked your post. I'm not sure what you mean by getting full frame: can you explain? Also it seems you may be using an extremely wide angle eyepiece. Perhaps someone else in this forum can help?

fugl · Friday 26th December 2008, 03:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by wings

I was pleasantly rewarded for my outing when I saw a leucistic Canada Goose: this one was all white, unlike the half-white ones I have seen at other people's posting in other forums. I had to rush home and return with my 20D camera + 400mm/5.6L lens for some shots. Here are two:

I've never encountered a Canada--with no black at all even in the bill and legs--like that either. Interesting bird.

wings · Friday 9th January 2009, 23:18

Well, since there are several of these white ones in our local park I must assume that they are the result of a cross between a Canada goose and a local white goose or a greylag goose.

Neil · Friday 9th January 2009, 23:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mystical Bird

hello wings,

I hve this problem with my TSN603 with 45x Wide Angle (TSE-9Wide).

I am using Canon G9 for digiscoping with Kowa universal swing away holder.

But unfortunately i hve difficulty in getting full frame on the LCD.

Need some assistance.

Cheers
Mystical Bird

If you post your enquiry in the Digiscoping Cameras forum with a sample photograph you should get some responses to your problem. Neil.

Monday 9th June 2008, 01:49	#1
wings Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Rosa,CA Posts: 580	My new Kowa 660 Prominar Just received my Kowa 660 Prominar spotting scope and took it to the local lake for a view test. The Kowa 660 came with the 25x LER eyepiece, ordered separately. The eyepiece rubber is removable and is a l-o-n-g piece of attachment, but, true to LER, it has no vignetting. Sharpness is edge to edge (I wear glasses) with no apparent distortion and color is crisp, not on the warm side as described in some other (German) scopes. Fit and finish is very good, with the retractable lens hood sliding smoothly back and forth, while the focusing knob is smooth and precise. I would have preferred a rubberized coating for the scope as it would give it a better non-slip grip, but Kowa claims that it is waterproof to a high standard (JIS class 6 or 7). The eyepiece has a bayonet mount for quick attachment to the scope body, and the o-ring ensures dust and moisture protection. The 660 is surprisingly light (36 oz. not including the eyepiece) and compact in size. At a distance of approximately 300 yds across the lake I could easily make out letters on a person's T-shirt, and all indications are that the 25x EP power plus the zoom of the camera should give me plenty magnification for telephoto shots. As my Canon Powershot 590IS has not yet arrived, I was not able to do a digiscope test, but will follow this up when all equipment is in. I was pleasantly rewarded for my outing when I saw a leucistic Canada Goose: this one was all white, unlike the half-white ones I have seen at other people's posting in other forums. I had to rush home and return with my 20D camera + 400mm/5.6L lens for some shots. Here are two: Attached Thumbnails

Monday 9th June 2008, 10:50	#2
horukuru Here I Come ! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Near with Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah at Borneo Island Posts: 6,214 My location	nice shots hehehe and congrats of your new kowa scope :) __________________ My Birding In Sabah, Borneo Blog 12 Days Birding and Bird Photography Tours In Sabah, Borneo

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Tuesday 10th June 2008, 04:31	#3
wings Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Rosa,CA Posts: 580	Thanks horukuru. Hey I see you are a Celtics FC fan, I'm also for the Hoops. For the EPL, I'm a Man. U fan. hehehehe.

Friday 10th October 2008, 09:47	#5
Mystical Bird Mystical Bird Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Malaysia Borneo Posts: 10	hello wings, I hve this problem with my TSN603 with 45x Wide Angle (TSE-9Wide). I am using Canon G9 for digiscoping with Kowa universal swing away holder. But unfortunately i hve difficulty in getting full frame on the LCD. Need some assistance. Cheers Mystical Bird

Thursday 25th December 2008, 22:50	#6
wings Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Rosa,CA Posts: 580	Oops, sorry I overlooked your post. I'm not sure what you mean by getting full frame: can you explain? Also it seems you may be using an extremely wide angle eyepiece. Perhaps someone else in this forum can help?

Friday 9th January 2009, 23:18	#8
wings Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Rosa,CA Posts: 580	Well, since there are several of these white ones in our local park I must assume that they are the result of a cross between a Canada goose and a local white goose or a greylag goose.