there seems to be mixed messages about this...
https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=327757
this post suggests there are no issues. Similarly on Binomania, a couple of users have stated that they have successfully used XW's on their Kowa's.
Not sure which adapters are being used though..
cheers
Jeelan
Hi Jerry , Thanks for that info on the Pentax XW - 14/20 having a problem focusing completely on your Kowa 883. I think the Kowa 77 has the same focal length & if I were to buy another Kowa it would be the Kowa 77. If both have the same focal length ? Would the Pentax eyepieces act similar when mounted with the Kowa adapter on the smaller Kowa. Answering your question comparing the Pentax 65 PF to the now discontinued PR 65 ..... the main difference is the PR has a much more robust build quality along with a fine tune focus wheel which helps get a nicer sharp/clear image. As I stated on a post I wrote about my thoughts when I unboxed it originally I thought man this is a PF 65 on steroids compared to the PF builds thinner rubber armor and overall size having a beefier foot pad & more robust locking collar. As to the optics it was to my eyes just as sharp/clear as to all my previous PF 65 scopes I owned. My opinion of the Nikon EDG 65 compared to the Pentax PF/PR ...... the Nikon EDG outperforms the Pentax in all categories except size & weight. At least in the 65mm class past & present it’s hard for me to imagine any other scope beating it optically, it’s build quality or any of its many outstanding user friendly high quality eyepieces which can be used with EDG 65. One last thing .. price wise the little Pentax 65 PF/PR is hard to beat with its ability to use most 1.25” eyepieces making it optically a cracker of a scope.Gwen,
I have a Kowa 883, the older astro adapter and the 14 and 20 XW - will test in the next few days and let you know. I notice you have two 65mm scopes. Which do you prefer, the Pentax or the Nikon EDG? Also, would you say that the Pentax PR was a step up over the older Pentax 65 or basically the same?
Best to you,
Jerry
Jerry just to be sure ..... your Pentax 21 is the XL version & not the Pentax XW20 right ?On my 883 the 14 and 21mm Pentax eyepieces do not reach infinity focus. It’s not even close with the earlier set screw adapter, a little closer to reaching infinity with the more recent, grub screw adapter. But with this adapter the end of the eyepiece actually rests on the glass window that seals the scope. In short, the 14 and 21 Pentax eyepieces are so long that they cannot completely seat themselves in the 883, much less reach infinity focus.
Best,
Jerry
In relation to Gwen’s specific question about the Kowa adapters, I can only repeat that I tried the 14 and the 21 Pentax XW and they did not come to full infinity focus. With the short(grub screw) adapter the eyepieces did not fully seat but rested on the glass plate.
Hi Jerry,
Jerry .... after thinking more about your quote I slipped the Kowa Astro adapter the one with the short grub screws over the Pentax XW20 eyepiece just to see how much of the eyepiece barrel was left sticking out past the end of the adapter and it made me think about the time I had shorten the length of a Pentax XW20 1.25 barrel length by simply using a small hand held copper plumbing tube cutter. It’s simple/quick with a accurate clean cut. There is a few millimeters that can be cut off the end of the XW eyepiece 1.25” barrel before one touches the inside retaining ring for the next inside lens element. I do not remember any of the eyepiece port depths on either of the 77 or 88 Kowa’s , but maybe just this simple shortening of the eyepiece barrel which by the way does not effect its use again in any other scope port other than removing the eyepiece ability to have a Barlow lens attached. Doing this maybe it would allow the Kowa eyepiece with the adapter to seat flush and come to focus .