Replacing old Kowa spotting scope? (1 Viewer)

[Marys1001]

long story main question at the bottom. Thanks

Back in the early 90s? I bought a Kowa something in the 6 size with the coatings which were sort of new at the time. I was a bigger birder then for about 10 years. I have not used it much since but periodically would look at the Kowa site to see if they had upgraded or come put with anything new. There was a 7 for awhile I think but didn't pull the trigger. The 6 model seemed to stay the same for years.

5 years ago I bought a bigger Celestron to use on the dock but I'm not happy with optical quality. Can't see much more than with the old Kowa. But I left the Kowa out a couple times and water got into the eyepiece. It always dried out and was ok. Then I knocked it into the lake. Took of the eyepiece off and the scope seemed dry. Then knocked it in with the eyepiece off. Threw up my hands a tucked it away till I could figure out what to do. I can't find it lol. It'll turn up but I had already decided to sell the Celestron and get a new scope. Kowa or Swarovski.

Question. Is the TSN 66A ZM Prominar the sme as it was in the 90s? Have they upgraded it at all? Outdated for the price or a good value compared to Swarovski?

 

[dwatsonbirder]

I think the small spotter in the 90's was the 611/2/3/4 series, still a competent performer these days if fitted with one of the newer 30x eyepieces (see a couple of images below using my old 613 + newer 30x and 12mp Huawei mobile).
The 66 series wasn't released until the 2000's, and was well considered. There were two versions (again 661/2/3/4 depending on angled, straight, standard or ED glass) with the later version incorporating a magnesium body.
The current 66A is an entirely different beast, with fluorite glass and the latest WA zoom eyepiece - if it is anything like the 883's I've seen, it will be a state of the art scope offering the very best performance.

 

[Gzoladz74]

I owne the 88A and love it. I would expect the 66A to perform at the same level bar the lower light gathering capabilities due to its smaller size...but that should not be an issue in normal daylight hours.

 

[kimsrk]

I can't speak for the model in the 90s, but if the new 66a is anything like the 88a I have(and it should be), I would get it in a heart beat. And the Te-11WZ is an awesome eyepiece. I'm pretty sure they are all priced significantly cheaper than the swaro equivalent, too. Of course I doubt anyone would say swaro is worse, it really boils down to preferences. The modular design of the ATX line is pretty interesting and could be practical for some so maybe the extra price is worth buying into that system.

There are dozens of in depth unbiased comparisons of the new kowa scope and just about every one has the optical quality sharing the top with swaro. Each doing some things a little better than the other. But you get a nice discount the kowa.

To put one other way, I brought my scope on a trip and the swaro owner became a kowa convert with one look through the eyepiece, no joke.

 

[Bill Atwood]

Today's 66A is a much better scope than the 90's models. However I don't think a $2,800 scope is for you if you keep leaving it out in the rain and throwing it into a lake.

 

[Marys1001]

Today's 66A is a much better scope than the 90's models. However I don't think a $2,800 scope is for you if you keep leaving it out in the rain and throwing it into a lake.

Ah true. I like nice things but don't take the best care.