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Tiny Kowa 8x22 (1 Viewer)

wachipilotes

Well-known member
Hello,
Anyone have using this tiny binoculars for birding ?
It´ve good contrast and Sharp image ?
In comparison with the Alpha compact binocs, like Zeiss or Swarovski ,Leica and others...a good candidate?
Thanks
Wachipilotes
 
Hi wachipilotes,

The smallest of the “Genesis” models (Kowa’s top line of binoculars) is quite a bit larger than the very small 8×20 pocket binoculars such as the Trinovid or Ultravid, on the other hand it is a bit smaller than the recently more popular 8×25 models, such as the Victory or Swarovski Pocket.
With its double hinge design, the Kowa is foldable to small size and still fits a regular coat pocket. It belongs to the upper part of the pocket bino market, both in terms of price and performance. It is very nicely designed and finished; optically, however, I would rate it a bit lower than today’s top pocket binoculars such as the Zeiss Victory 8×25 or Swarovski CL Pocket 8×25, in terms of contrast / sharpness. I find it‘s image actually more comparable to the smaller Trinovid 8x20 or Ultravid 8x20, which both are quite a bit less costly.

My personal view: if you can, get an 8x25, either the Zeiss or the Swaro. Just my 2 ct.
Canip
 
Thank you Canip for your kind response.I think that they have a similar price...I did, Zeiss, Swarovski,Leica Ultravid..and this tiny Kowa.
In the other hand, the Kowa 8x22 have fluorite lens?
Wachi.
 
In the other hand, the Kowa 8x22 have fluorite lens?

Apart from the Kowa 550 and 880 series scopes I know of no birding optics with fluorite (calcium fluoride) lenses. In an 8x binocular it would not provide any significant advantages. The 8x22 Genesis does however use low dispersion (XD) glass.

John
 
Apart from the Kowa 550 and 880 series scopes I know of no birding optics with fluorite (calcium fluoride) lenses. In an 8x binocular it would not provide any significant advantages. The 8x22 Genesis does however use low dispersion (XD) glass.

No, but the Zeiss Victory FL and the Zeiss Victory Pocket have fluoride glass (silica glass with fluoride added, not pure calcium fluoride), as do some Meoptas.

The discontinued Takahashi 22x60 Astronomer binoculars did use fluorite lenses.
 
The true fluorite is a mineral if I am not mistaken, the fluoride glass gives some advantage over the low dispersion glass XD, ED ..?
Thank you
Wachi
 
Hello,
Anyone have using this tiny binoculars for birding ?
It´ve good contrast and Sharp image ?
In comparison with the Alpha compact binocs, like Zeiss or Swarovski ,Leica and others...a good candidate?
Thanks
Wachipilotes

Were these the ones you were thinking about?

https://www.kowaproducts.com/kowa-bd-range/KowaBD258xBinocular/

If so then they are nice Bins - especially for the money. Naturally they give up a lot to the larger (more expensive) models but for pocket compacts mine work very well.
 
No, but the Zeiss Victory FL and the Zeiss Victory Pocket have fluoride glass (silica glass with fluoride added, not pure calcium fluoride), as do some Meoptas.

Zeiss SF binos and Harpia scope also have fluoride-doped glass lenses, but this is different from the artificially grown fluorite crystal lenses used in Kowa scopes.

Lee
 

No, John, it's this one: https://www.kowaproducts.com/kowa-genesis-binoculars/Kowa-Genesis-2-28x22/

It is all metal construction and of excellent mechanical quality. I briefly looked through one and it absolutely slaughtered a 30 year-old P-coated 8x20 Zeiss. I can imagine it would be strong competition for the 8x25 Victory or Pocket CL, but then it's also in the same price category :C.

John
 
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..... I can imagine it would be strong competition for the 8x25 Victory or Pocket CL, but then it's also in the same price category ....

It is in the same price category, but for my eyes, in terms of optical performance - particularly sharpness/contrast and image brightness - I clearly don’t see it as competition for the Victory and Swaro 8x25s, rather for the (smaller and cheaper) Ultravid 8x20.
 
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