Kowa Prominar TSN 773 Spotting Scope Review
Kowa Prominar TSN 773 Features and Basic Description:
*Dual focus mechanism (Quick and fine focusing)
*Eyepiece locking mechanism
*Magnesium alloy body
*Prominar Lens
One of the major causes of deterioration of viewing quality in optics is chromatic aberration (color blur). Chromatic aberration occurs due to the dispersion of light and the different wavelengths of light focusing on different positions, resulting in a red or purple fringing around the image. The optimum optical material to minimize chromatic aberration is fluorite crystal.
This technology is the result of many years of optical design and has realized great reduction in chromatic aberration, while maintaining a large diameter lens and high contrast images when compared with conventional models.
The XD lens used in our TSN-773/774 PROMINAR models has characteristics similar to those of fluorite crystal to significantly reduce the chromatic aberration. All lenses are environmentally friendly Eco-Glass. (Eco-Glass is an environmentally friendly glass that does not contain lead or other harmful substances.)
Just the Facts:
10 year Limited Warranty
Waterproof
Nitrogen filled
Magnesium Alloy
XD Lens
12.5 inch length
77mm Objective
My Story:
WOW! Need I say more, probably not, but I am going to anyway
I have been using the Kowa Prominar TSN 773 Angled Spotting Scope since Sept 1st of 2015. During this time I have looked through the spotting scope every day, and some days for many hours at a time. (yes I am still married)
My first extensive use of the Kowa 773 came in mid September. I spent 5 days hunting elk in Idaho with my bow. The early morning and late evenings were spent spotting elk from long distances, and planning the hunt for the day. During this time I averaged about 2 hours of spotting through the scope each day. My average distance of spotting was about 1 mile. At this distance heat waves, bad air etc, can really impact your ability to pick up animals. I was fortunate that my time of spotting occurred before the heat and in an area with great clean air.
My second extensive use of the Kowa 773 occurred in early November in the State of Utah. I was helping a friend on a late elk hunt in the Wasatch Mountains. During this time I spent about 1 hour per day looking at elk at distances of about 700-1000 yards. The air again was clean and crisp! On this trip I spent lots of time taking photos through the scope with a Phone Scope. The 5 guys that helped me on this hunt were all very very jealous of my ability to see so clearly, see at such early and late hours, and my ability to take great long distance photos.
My third extensive use of the scope is happening every day. I spend 30 minutes to 1 hour per day looking through this outstanding scope from my front door. I am lucky to face the mountains in Utah, and I am even more lucky that it is loaded with deer.
So, in Summary, I am a POWER USER of the Kowa 773 spotting scope .
Overall Thoughts:
Like I stated earlier. WOW. The quailyt of this scope in my opinion is second to none.
-The edge to edge clarity of this scope is outstanding. I share it regularly with those hunting with me, and without exception the comments are always the same. “there is great clarity across the entire view field”
-The scope, due to the large objective has unreal light gathering capabilities. I spot with people who have Swarovski, Leica, Vortex…, the Kowa 773 is unrivaled in its ability to gather light, when compared to like objective spotting scopes. Great job Kowa!
-The size of this scope is perfect. I like to rate spotting scopes on the ability to see compared to size. This scope is the clear leader in this area. There is not another scope this small that has the clarity, and overall quality of this scope.
-Clarity through the zoom range. Let’s be honest, there are spotting scopes out there that work well at 15-25 power, and very few that work well above 30 power. You will be thrilled with the Kowa 773 at any power. I have been using this scope and eyepiece combination at 60 power more than any other scope I have every owned. GREAT JOB again Kowa.
Summary:
If you are in the market for a top end spotting scope, you have go to consider a Kowa. The overall quality, clarity, and light gathering is just outstanding. It certainly equals the functionality of the big 3: Swarovski, Leica, and Zeiss. In fact I actually prefer this to my Swarovski scope!
The claims made about Chromatic aberration reduction are absolutely true. This is a well made, and just an outstanding product:
What they could do better:
Get the word out to the hunting community
Slight improvement in the fine focus wheel is needed, it is still not quite fine enough.
GREAT SCOPE!!
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Functionality
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Value
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Ergonomics
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Durability