Kowa TSN-664ED vs Nikon Monarch Fieldscope 78ED (1 Viewer)

[Larsjen]

I'm looking for a scope that will primarily be used while walking through wetlands.
Can anyone compare the image quality and ease of focus on these? EP will be either 20-60 or 30x.
I'm familiar with the size, weight, and other specs of these scopes.

 

[Alexis Powell]

I'm looking for a scope that will primarily be used while walking through wetlands.
Can anyone compare the image quality and ease of focus on these? EP will be either 20-60 or 30x.
I'm familiar with the size, weight, and other specs of these scopes.

Nikon didn't make a 78ED in the Monarch line. It would be the old 78ED Fieldscope. In my experience, that one is unmatched by any smaller scope, such as the Kowa. I still use my 78ED with 30x WF for almost all birding, despite owning newer and objectively better.

--AP

 

[kabsetz]

Alexis is right. The Fieldscope 82 ED and Monarch 82 are equally good, and all three are better and also more durable than the Kowa 664.

 

[etudiant]

Alexis is right. The Fieldscope 82 ED and Monarch 82 are equally good, and all three are better and also more durable than the Kowa 664.

But also a fair bit heavier, which matters in the OP's use case.

 

[Larsjen]

Thanks for your helpful responses. I'm still doing some research but am leaning toward the 78ED Fieldscope for my first large scope.

 

[Hermann]

I'm still doing some research but am leaning toward the 78ED Fieldscope for my first large scope.

But make sure you know how and where to find the eyepieces you want. The zooms and the DS eyepieces should be no problem. The good old WA ("Widefield") are pretty difficult to find nowadays.

Hermann

 

[Larsjen]

But make sure you know how and where to find the eyepieces you want. The zooms and the DS eyepieces should be no problem. The good old WA ("Widefield") are pretty difficult to find nowadays.

Hermann

Good suggestion, thanks

 

[Larsjen]

I got the 78ED Fieldscope and am very happy with it. Thanks again to those who helped narrow my search.

 

[Hermann]

I got the 78ED Fieldscope and am very happy with it. Thanks again to those who helped narrow my search.

Sounds great. One piece of advice: Do make sure you don't get the scope soaking wet. It's not waterproof. In particular, don't use the focus ring when it's wet.

BTW, I'm curious: Which eyepieces do you use with the ED78?

Hermann

 

[Larsjen]

It came with the 38 WF and I've added the 25-75 MCII. I'm considering adding others. Have any suggestions?

 

[Hermann]

It came with the 38 WF and I've added the 25-75 MCII. I'm considering adding others. Have any suggestions?

I actually think the 25-75x MCII is the most important eyepiece ... What I'd add is the 30x (16/24/30x). All three versions are nice, the old one with the rubber eyecup, the MC and the DS. Optically the DS is probably a bit better than the MC due to newer coatings. The one with the rubber eyecup is hard to find and possibly not quite as good as the other two (different optical formula)- but it's the smallest of the three. Alexis Powell wrote a bit about the three versions on the forum, I seem to remember he prefers the old version on his ED78.

Hermann

 

[Larsjen]

Thanks for your response Hermann. We're thinking the same way. I recently received a 24/30x WF and will try it out today.

 

[Tote]

I have used a 24X/30X MC (the one with turn-slide eyecup) in my 60II and 78ED.
Fantastic optics but I found the eye placement a bit uncomfortable so I relied more often on other eyepieces. I don't know if others have experimented the same.

 

[Larsjen]

I have used a 24X/30X MC (the one with turn-slide eyecup) in my 60II and 78ED.
Fantastic optics but I found the eye placement a bit uncomfortable so I relied more often on other eyepieces. I don't know if others have experimented the same.

Which eyepieces did you like with the 78ED?

 

[Tote]

I can speak of the few that I've had: the old 20/25x and the 25-56x zoom. Both very good. Maybe not the best but fine for me.
Also had the old tiny 40/50x (barely used)