Kowa lenscope warning (1 Viewer)

digiscope09

Well-known member

• Jun 12, 2013

• #1

I purchased a Kowa lenscope around 18 months ago. It is a great piece of equipment however if you are thinking about buying one to use as both a manual lens and spotting scope with prism, adapters etc in preference to the Kowa TSN883 AND you may want to sell it down the track, I advise not too.

The resale market for this item appears to be almost non existent and offers to buy are almost at give away prices.

I have learned my lesson about buying quirky items the hard way so be warned.

 

RJM

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

• Jun 12, 2013

• #2

Basically the Kowa lenscope is an excellent low cost MANUAL focus camera lens with little crossover appeal as a visual spotter. The prism unit and eyepiece options are primarily to facilitate small compact camera digiscoping. FWIW, offers of 30%-50% off typical retail sale prices for used equipment would not seem unreasonable in my experience.

 

H

hinnark

Well-known member

• Jun 12, 2013

• #3

I hope this isn't just another covered advertising (=negative advertising) posting in favour of one of the Kowa competitors. I'm wondering because there was just an interesting report at binomania website where the Kowa lenscope turned out to be quite a good performer.

Steve

 

digiscope09

Well-known member

• Jun 13, 2013

• #4

hinnark said:

I hope this isn't just another covered advertising (=negative advertising) posting in favour of one of the Kowa competitors. I'm wondering because there was just an interesting report at binomania website where the Kowa lenscope turned out to be quite a good performer.

Steve

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My post is genuine Steve. I have read the post regarding the report at binomania and agree that the lenscope is very good, hence why I thought that it would be easy to resell. I would be happy to receive an offer of 30-50% off retail price suggested by RJM but unfortunately, after many attempts to sell via various means, I cannot see that happening.

Also, the prism unit and eyepiece options are specifically promoted to convert the lenscope into a spotting scope along with the option of using in conjunction with a compact camera.

Thanks

Digiscope

 

B

Bowlander

Well-known member

• Jun 13, 2013

• #5

That's solved a mystery for me! id never heard of lens scopes. Saw a guy the other day with decent bins and scope taking pics with what looked like a massive old 500mm lens.

 

binomania

Well-known member

• Jun 24, 2013

• #6

Bowlander said:

That's solved a mystery for me! id never heard of lens scopes. Saw a guy the other day with decent bins and scope taking pics with what looked like a massive old 500mm lens.

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Hi i send you two image taken with Kowa Telephoto lens

 

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mayoayo

Well-known member

• Jun 24, 2013

• #7

digiscope09 said:

the prism unit and eyepiece options are specifically promoted to convert the lenscope into a spotting scope along with the option of using in conjunction with a compact camera.



Digiscope

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Here is an interesting thread about using a regular astronomy erector prism and astronomy eyepieces with this lens..http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=253994
the Kowa lens uses a Nikon fit bayonet by default(!!!!!)so a nikon-1 1/4 adapter is all you need ,plus your choice of prism/diagonal and eyepiece..Probably considerably cheaper and more versatile ,insome ways,that the Kowa own prism/eyepiece...

 

Last edited: Jun 24, 2013

binomania

Well-known member

• Jun 24, 2013

• #8

It's also possible to use lens2scope http://www.binomania.it/wordpress/?p=2513
Obviously you don't take advantage of the quality of Kowa Tele Photo Lens. The original Porro Prism has an incredible quality( IMHO.)

 

mayoayo

Well-known member

• Jun 24, 2013

• #9

You can see photos of the set up that member "stefano.sec" is using in His blog,http://hobbydigiscoping.blogspot.it/2013/03/un-lento-ritorno-al-digiscoping.html
He uses the Baader hyperion Zoom and a standard amicci 45º prism..That ,if not as good as the Kowa porro ,should be a bit better than the lens2scope,and also offers more control on magnification/FOV that is fixed in the lens2scope with its fixed 10mm eyepiece(56x in the kowa lens)..Kowa only offers a straight porro..What is amazing is that no other offer in that direction with High quality optics has been produced yet in the current market,including the Astronomy market... ,A high quality erecting prism ,or a module like the lens2scope with better optical qualities ..

 

Last edited: Jun 24, 2013

N

Neil

Well-known member

• Jun 25, 2013

• #10

Sorry to hear that you're getting no offers. It's a great bit of kit.
One of the advantages of the 850/9.6 lens module is for matching with the Nikon 1 cameras for long range photography, especially HD video.
I don't use mine as much these days as I have the Swarovski STX 95 , which is more "robust"and waterproof as I tend to be rough with equipment.
I will keep it for long range videoing of Peregrine's nests.
Neil.

 

M

Maximus_XXIV

Member

• Jul 20, 2013

• #11

Is it a Lenscope 1 or 2? I read somewhere the 2 has better focusing. This is an interesting device for me.

 

digiscope09

Well-known member

• Aug 6, 2013

• #12

Lenscope 1 or 2?

Maximus_XXIV said:

Is it a Lenscope 1 or 2? I read somewhere the 2 has better focusing. This is an interesting device for me.

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Sorry about late response.... computer issues. I did not know there was more than one lenscope model?

digiscope