Kowa Spotting Scopes

Kowa have one of the widest ranges of scopes available and produce scopes in 6 main sizes with 88mm, 82mm, 77mm, 66mm, 60mm and 50mm objective lens diameters. Each size forms part of a series and are available in either angled or straight body designs.

Kowa Prominar Scope
You will often see the Prominar brand name used with their high end spotting scopes, this is because on some models Kowa use the very high spec XD Lenses from Prominar for a higher optical performance.

In all Kowa have 20 spotting scope models, most of which are sold as "body only" and eyepieces are purchased separately.

Kowa TSN-880 Series Angled Body Spotting Scope
One of the most high-performance spotting scopes you will ever find, it comes in two versions: TSN-883 and TSN-884. The objectives lens is 88m, an extra-large aperture with a tremendous light-gathering ability. You need to buy the eyepieces separately. These scopes offer legendary build quality with polycarbonate materials. The best thing about this scope is its Prominar pure fluorite lens, letting you say goodbye to the chromatic aberration and color fringing. You will see a dramatically improved resolution, higher contrast, and sharper image. Weighing only 53.6 ounces and measuring 13.5 inches in length, this scope is the paradigm of an ideal spotting scope for regularly spotting beyond 500 yards. However, they are very expensive, but if you need the performance, you have to pay the price.

 
Kowa TSN-770 Series Straight Body Spotting Scope
Another high-performance spotting scope from Kowa. Features a 77m objective lens, and they are made of Prominar fluorite crystal lens. This scope, almost identical to the previous one, cost lower than the TSN-880 series. However, don’t expect any performance degradation. The only difference is the objective lens, and you won’t notice it until you go for spotting beyond 500 yards. They are also waterproof and fog proof, so you can take them anywhere with you in any weather. They also come in two models, the angled TSN-773 and the straight TSN-774.

 
Kowa TSN-550 Compact 15-45x55
If you need both the power of a top-notch spotting scope and want pack it anywhere, this is king. Weighing only 28 ounces and measuring less than a foot, this scope will produce tack-sharp high contrast images with flawless color rendition capacity for an immersive experience. The zoom range is impressive, and you will have a 15-45x wide fixed-zoom eyepiece, providing a field view of 132-69' at 1000 yards. The eye relief, however, stands on 14-12.5mm, and it can cause a little bit trouble for eyeglass-wearers. This scope also has Prominar fluorite glass, and you will have several other standard features. There is also the straight TSN-554 version available.

 
Kowa TSN-501 50mm Angled Spotting Scope
This is an entry-level spotting scope from Kowa. So, don’t expect features like the one I’ve reviewed above. The eyepiece provides a zoom of 20-40x. The lens is fully multicoated; however, don’t expect a Prominar fluorite glass. It weighs only 400g, letting you take this scope to anywhere, even on the longest treks and expeditions. An added bonus is the close focus of 2.5 meters. In fact, you will get a very nice performance from this scope. However, you may notice performance drop as you magnify higher on a bright sunny day and in low-light conditions. Have a look at TSN-502 if you prefer a straight version.

 
Kowa TSN-600 Series Angled Body Spotting Scope
Another brilliant scope from Kowa with a reasonable price tag. In fact, in this class of scope, Kowa has delivered something unprecedented. The lens, prism, and dustproof glass are fully multi-coated, ensuring bright and sharp image. The scope weighs less than 745g even with a larger 60mm objective lens. Most importantly, these are very durable scopes made to withstand the toughest weather. They are waterproof to JIS class 7 protection and nitrogen filled to save from fog. However, you may find some color fringing at higher magnification.