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Kowa 773 or 883? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter crumpman
- Start date
The 883 has 11% better resolving power, is brighter and has less chromatic aberration due to pure fluorite chrystal lens element in the objective. The price, size and weight differences are not big enough to tip the scales in my opinion.
For a tripod, check the tripod threads for recommendations on suitable carbon fibre tripods. It is better to err on the side of stability rather than ultimate light weight or portability.
Kimmo
For a tripod, check the tripod threads for recommendations on suitable carbon fibre tripods. It is better to err on the side of stability rather than ultimate light weight or portability.
Kimmo
If you're buying new then I don't think the 773 is cheap enough in relation to the 883 to justify getting the smaller model. If you're also considering 2nd-hand though then another much-cheaper contender would be to get an 823 (particularly the 823M model if you can) if you can find one, as optically these are excellent full-flourite scopes (the zoom eyepiece options are not as good as the 25-60x on the new models, although the fixed 32x eyepiece is great, in my opinion).
But yes, if you can afford it then go for the 883!
(I guess for travel friendliness the 883 is a big scope; another option would be to look at the 663; I have one of these and it's excellent with the fixed 30x eyepiece and very portable for travel and long walks...)
But yes, if you can afford it then go for the 883!
(I guess for travel friendliness the 883 is a big scope; another option would be to look at the 663; I have one of these and it's excellent with the fixed 30x eyepiece and very portable for travel and long walks...)
Piskeddu
Well-known member
I fully agree even the 663 is a good spotting light and beautiful crisp clearly not to dell'883 levels but also costs the half, I have the 663m to the 30x zoom and the 20x60 I am fine. Good evening.
GiorgioI agree in the resolution and brighter image due to larger exit pupil, but I think the advantage of fluorite in the 880 series vs ED glass in the 770 is offset by the faster focal ratio of f5.8 vs f6.6 and the 11mm more aperture - both will increase CA.
The problem with the 773 is the pricing and the weight difference - it's not a lot cheaper than the 883 and the weight difference is 200g which is not a lot when compared to 4kg or so for scope, EP tripod & head...
Joachim
Joachim,
It is, admittedly, quite a long time since I last viewed with a 773. That was when both that model and the 883 were first introduced, and I had both on loan for testing them and writing a review. The 883 is almost free of CA, while the 773 had some. As I recall, the 773 was like most other "ED" scopes in this regard, and had more CA than my then reference the Nikon ED 82 A, and significantly more than the 883.
So although your argument makes sense from a theoretical standpoint, in actual fact the advantage of fluorite seems to be greater than the drawbacks coming from larger aperture and faster focal ratio, at least in these two scopes.
Kimmo
It is, admittedly, quite a long time since I last viewed with a 773. That was when both that model and the 883 were first introduced, and I had both on loan for testing them and writing a review. The 883 is almost free of CA, while the 773 had some. As I recall, the 773 was like most other "ED" scopes in this regard, and had more CA than my then reference the Nikon ED 82 A, and significantly more than the 883.
So although your argument makes sense from a theoretical standpoint, in actual fact the advantage of fluorite seems to be greater than the drawbacks coming from larger aperture and faster focal ratio, at least in these two scopes.
Kimmo
Just an update. I am now the happy owner of a Kowa 883 with the 25-60 wide lens. I was able to test drive the Kowa and Swarovski 80 side-by-side the the Biggest Week in American Birding. My wife and I both liked the Kowa better. I also got to borrow a Canon 80 with a 70-300 lens. My wife has given me the go for a new camera. I am looking at the Canon and the Sony 6300. Any camera thoughts?
You might want to look at the Sony A77ii, which has a very good auto focus system and good reports for birds in flight.
http://cameradecision.com/compare/Canon-EOS-80D-vs-Sony-SLT-A77-II
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