stereotruckdriver
Well-known member
Been awhile since I have had much to do with optics! Although I was down and out for quite a bit still tried to keep up with reading the forum! I have pretty much had to sell most of my optics just keeping a few! Anyways about a week ago I went into a little sporting goods store to get a couple of things. The guy behind the counter knowing me asked if I would check out some new binoculars he had picked up and let him know what I thought of them!!! First thing that popped into my mind Yosemite's and to top it off 6x30's! Now before even looking through them I was ready to start telling him about the binocular having owned a 8x30 Leupold in the past! But, figured I would humble myself and have a look before passing any kind of judgment! Hum, was my first reaction pulled them down twisted the eyecups back and forth very firm and possitive dedents, 20mm of eyerelief! Next focused them huh??? Nice and smooth no catching no backlash??? Next view, seems sharp good color!!! I was expecting these to be identical, I mean cheap porro made in China they should be the same right? Ok,I left the shop with a new in box 8x30 Kowa YF! Now a week has past and I have had a chance to evaluate them! The nit picks! Can't use a standard size neck strap no biggy the one that is provided is plenty they only way 16.7 oz or 475g! Objective covers are pretty useless I had a pair of Swarovski 8x30, 8x32 covers that fit perfect, these are the older ones that plug in the objective instead of around the barrel. Now sitting on my deck with the sun high and reflecting from the side off the widows did cause some reflection. Other wise they have good blackening inside with good muticoatings and glare was not a factor! Some softening and pinchusion on the edges that does not detract from the overall view. The view this is interesting because I thought the Yosemite was always a touch warm not bad but, it was there. The Kowa on the other hand is bright and a little cooler in contrast. Colors seem very natural with no byass one way or the other but, cooler then what I remember the Leupold being. Fov is average 393ft and eyerelief is rated at 16mm. Very user friendly with four possitive detents that are solid and stay put. I don't have the finicky problems generally associated with the smaller exit pupil and eyerelief that I had on the Yosemite? I don't remember what the eyerelief was on the Leupold? Build quality, they feel solid. Looking inside they are clean a little rough machining here and there but, they are cheap! Do I think they are as durable as my Swarovski's or Leupold, no! But, with reasonable care don't think it would be a problem, Kowa warrants them for lifetime??? Focus and diopter, diopter is friction ring with white + & -, focus!!! This is where Kowa got it right in this design!!! Very smooth no backlash, sticking, rough spot's. Resistence is a little tight not bad one finger focuses just fine! Focus wheel??? Don't quite understand it!? It's smooth metal on the inside with a rubber cover over it, it has oblong oval cut out's on it, I personaly don't like it but, maybe it's designed so children with smaller fingers can get a better grasp! Beings that this particular design is for kid's also! So, I think Kowa has changed the things that were the Yosemite's achille's heal's, they look the same but, perform differently. That's all for now will post some pictures tomorrow.
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