Kowa Spotter VS. Swarovski Spotter

[SuperiorBowHunter]

Alright guys I need your help on this one! You all out there got me interested in the Kowa TS 88mm spotter but I am having a heck of a time finding anyone that has one in stock so that I can do a comparison! So seriously guy what do you think, would you take the Kowa TS 88mm over the Swarovski 80mm HD? Even the Swarovski 80mm HD was a hard track down. I wanna also know if the Kowa has the same warranty and customer service because I really wanna get it right the first and not regret my choice and you all have never lead me down the wrong path yet! So Help Guys? And Does the Kowa have better long range focus because it is a 88mm vs and 80mm? Let me hear what you all have to say! Like I said price is not an issue! Thank GOD for ALLSTATE! They are replacing everything that was stolen from me! Bear Basin seems to be the only ones that have the Kowa in stock............

[JMP]

if you'll be packing the glass in much I'd probably go with the swarovski, especially the ATM, which is sligthly lighter even that the ATS models. check out the weight differences, both glass is excellent, can't go wrong with either.

[Coach]

Both are very nice scopes. The Swaro 80MM HD is probably the pinnacle of spotting scopes in terms of quality glass at both ends. I'm guessing, if you could set both up in a real-world hunting situation, image-wise you would be hard pressed to tell any real, noticable difference. So then, it comes down to which one has the most comfortable eyepiece and best focusing - for you. I like the big focusing knob on the swaro - at the same time, I think the Kowa adds a smaller, fine-adjustment knob for focusing. To me, this is a pretty big deal.

 

I can't glass for long periods with a spotter, like some guys can. When I DO pull out a spotter, the ability to use the fine adjustment focusing is a big plus. I've glassed some through a Swaro 60, and felt like the focus control was a little too fast. I bought a Swaro 80MM HD and returned it. Not because it wasn't great spotting scope, but because I decided that spotting scopes, for me, were not where I would want to put that much investment. I could pick up the same level of detail through my swaro 15-56 in almost all situations so I couldn't justify the extra weight and bulk to lug any spotting scope and the heavy tripod it required.

 

Personally, the best spotter I have ever looked through is the Zeiss 77 APO. It was very comfortable to look through, and has a fast focus knob, and a fine focus knob. Today, I use a Pentax PF80-ED, which is a phenomenal scope for the price, and given how rarely I really need a spotting scope just makes a good fit. I think I picked mine up for around $900 including the 20-60 eyepiece which is roughly a third of what the best from Swaro, Kowa and Lieca cost, plus it has been the "Better View Desired" (birding website) reference standard for nearly 10 years.

 

My hunting style isn't really one that makes a "top-notch" spotter worth the extra weight and bulk. I've rarely been in a situation where either 10x or 15x Swarovski binocs can't give me enough detail to know whether a deer is worth going after or not. More times than not, I leave my spotter and the big heavy tripod at camp. I guess I like to go light, and I can support 10X and 15x swaro binocs on a 1.5 pound sprint-pro tripod and glass all day.

 

For me a spotting scope means a LOT of extra weight and bulk, so the only times I bring it out is when I'm glassing from a vehicle, or sighting in a rifle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Red Rabbit]

For that outlay of $, I'd be inclined to compare them directly, head to head. Here are the 4 AZ dealers from Kowa's website. Hopefully the Outdoorsman has some.

 

Outdoorsmans

10004 N. Cave Creek Rd.

Phoenix, AZ 85020

Tel:602-944-7121

e-Mail:www.outdoorsmans.com

 

R. Guns & Collectibles

2137 B. McCulloch Blvd.

Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

Tel:928-854-4500

e-Mail:www.aztrinity.com

 

Starizona

5201 North Oracle Road

Tucson, AZ 85704

Tel:520-292-5010

e-Mail:www.starizona.com

 

Tucson Audubon Society

300 E. University Blvd. #120

Tucson, AZ 85705

Tel:520-622-2230

e-Mail:www.tucsonaudubon.org

 

 

The birders put Kowa on top, but not by much

http://www.livingbird.org/netcommunity/bbi...peChart2008.pdf

 

 

 

[Coues79]

I've looked through both. I thought the Kowa was a better glass. I am very partial to swaro too, but they just seemed to be better.

[TrentSwanson]

I just checked with Terry at the Outdoorsmans... they have both the Swarovski 80mm ATM and STM in stock, plus the Kowa TSN-883 (angled).

 

In addition, they have a great special going on the older Swarovski 80mm straight spotting scope (STS80) with 20-60x eyepiece - only $1999 while supplies last.

 

Head over there to check them out or give them a call at 800-291-8065.

[SuperiorBowHunter]

I understand what you guy are saying but only if i was able to take them out in the field and do a head to head would i be satisfied you guys know that the in the store conparison is tough! Also it wasnt just the glass i was wondering if Kowa waranty is just as good as the Swarovski warranty! I have the 15x56,10x42,and rangefinder all swarovski so i am very pleased with swarovski but i do wanna get the better glass! Honestly guy what would you do your honest opinion bc I live in the QC and cavecreek is far for the Outdoorsman!

[SuperiorBowHunter]

And i also know about the great deal with the older spotters but i really wanted the HD version I really like to take pixs of them in the natural areas! So not trying to be difficult but i have to be picky when it comes to this stuff and if price doesnt matter why shouldnt i right?.....Like i said you all have never given me bad advice yet! I trust you guys you are the best and the worst critics lol......

[Red Rabbit]

At the Outdoorsman, you should be able to set them on tripods and look at mountains from the outside front porch. Short drive for a valuable comparison for a big $ purchase, imo.

[TrentSwanson]

Kowa vs. Swarovski warranty: the warranties are very similar between the two companies. Usually the issue is resolved on a case-by-case basis. The only experience I have with either company's warranty is my brother-in-law, who sent back his Kowa 66mm because he knocked over the tripod with it on top and it landed on the eyepiece, which came loose. He had to pay a little to get it fixed, but it was not a hassle at all. The Outdoorsmans helped facilitate the entire process.

 

Keep in mind, neither warranty is as good as the Vortex unconditional warranty, but if it's their fault they fix it. If it's your fault, they fix it and do the best to take care of you and ensure you're happy.

 

I echo RedRabbit's suggestion: the Outdoorsmans will let you take them on the front porch and compare them side-by-side to look at the mountains or up and down Cave Creek Road. When I bought my first binos from them more than 10 years ago, I must've spent two hours with a Leica and a Swarovski! Bright sunlight in the middle of summer in AZ is not the best time to compare optics, but it's far better than inside the store!

 

Also remember that they are not IN Cave Creek; they are ON Cave Creek Road. It is still quite the drive from Queen Creek, but they are located on Cave Creek Road just north of the 7th St./Dunlap/Cave Creek 5-way intersection. The easiest way to get there would be to take 60 to I-10 to 51 North, head west on Northern, then north on 7th to Cave Creek, then northeast on Cave Creek about 3/4 mile to the shop on the west. They're about 15-20 minutes from the airport depending on the time of day. They're open from 9-6 M-F and 9-5 Sat.

[Coach]

At the Outdoorsman, you should be able to set them on tripods and look at mountains from the outside front porch. Short drive for a valuable comparison for a big $ purchase, imo.

 

+1,

 

You can look from the outside of the building at a nice sized desert moutain - don't remember exactly how far away it is, but far enough to do a good side-by-side comparison at a hillside that looks much like the desert areas where coues hang out.

 

[SuperiorBowHunter]

Again you guys don't disapoint! All solid info! Where is it exactly on cave creek? I am familiar with that area around Cave Creek and 101 near the Greenway and Cave Creek area. Can you guys give me cross roads? And also I was told it takes some getting used to with the angled scope? With the more I read and the more you all tell me about these scopes I am leaning towards the Kowa because fo the more fine adjustment knob but I also really like the big adjustment knob on the Swaros! I think really it is preference because really does it make a really big adjustment in the end not really and I am guessing when I set them next to each other there is going to be little or no way to really tell a difference. I think it will come down to what is more comfortable and what feels better in the hands and to be honest I may pack it but i may not I have my 15s that will be good enough when I pack into somewhere. Can you imagine the weight of the spotter,k my 15s, the 10x42s the 8x30 rangefinders and the tripod stable enough to handle the spotter plus knives and water and my bow or gun? ohh my I going to need a pack mule for all that! But please keep all the info coming in still all the stories and advice help me alot! Trent and all the others thanks for checking with the Outdoorsman for me that was above and beyond you all are freaking awesome thats why I come here with all my questions and concerns! Also there is a big diffenece in the 80mm hd spotter vs, the non hd spotter right because I have only checked them out indoors at the sportsmans and i think there is but i could be wrong plus like i said i love to take pics! Please guys keep the info coming! The Sportsmans was willing to take off 5% off my total purchase because I will be buying the 10x42s, the 8x30 rangefinders and the 15x56s and the Spotter (all Swarovski)with a tripod and the jim white head all at once do you think that Terry over at the Outdoorsman will do better if not match the 5 % that Sportsmans offered!

[Coach]

For starters, when it comes to matching prices, I approached Outdoorsman's with a price I had found some Swaro SLC 10x42 on sale online. They not only matched the price, they actually beat it, by a significant amount, and that was for a single pair of binos. Keep in mind, I'm not speaking on their behalf, just on personal experience, so I have NO idea what kind of deal they can put together for you, but I would be willing to bet that they will match or beat their competitors' price - especially given all the optics in the package you described.

 

You are also doing business with guys that hunt AZ and all over the West, are great resources for any hunt, have been there for a long time, and take pride in how they treat their customers. I'm not saying Sportsman's won't do the same, because I've never made a big purchase from them. But I do know I can vouge for The Outdoorsman's on this subject, as they have always taken a very customer-centered approach when I have bought from them, or was just comparing products.

 

As for finding them, here's what I get from Mapquest...

On N. Cave Creek Rd between E. Mountain View Road (south) and E. Cheryl Dr. (north) - so for major X-roads, Cave Creek, North of Dunlap.

 

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Phoenix&...geocode=ADDRESS

 

As for angled scopes vs. straight, that's just a matter of personal choice, IMO. I prefer the straight WAY over angled, because I don't use my spotter for glassing so much as zooming in on something I've already found. For me, it's easier and faster to acquire the animal/target with a straight scope. On the other hand, I know guys who use their scope more for glassing (and birders who spend a lot of time behind their spotter) who say the angled lense is more comfortable when used for extended periods. I just find it harder to line up and get on a particular area with an angled scope - but apparently, when you get used to it, it's easier to look through, because you are only bending your neck 45 degrees, like looking through a microscope, as opposed to squatting down and looking through a straight scope, line of sight, at 90 degrees.

 

Best of luck with your purchase. Let us know what you decide on, and how it works out for you.

[youngbuck]

Dont be scared of angled scopes, I hated them at first untill I got used to them. It is just as easy to find stuff now as a straight one. While you are there, try out an Outdoorsmans pan head. Outdoorsmans are great guys to deal with, always easy to talk to and super helpfull. You might as well look at the Zeiss and Leica spotters as well, maybe even the Vortex, killer warranty and easier on the wallet.

[SuperiorBowHunter]

Still need all your info guys please keep bloging! Does anyone out there have the Kowa TSN-88mm let me know what you think and also you guys out there that have the Swarovski HD 80mm? Guy I really need to hear pros and cons for both everything I read online says the Kowa but what do you guys think do you agree with that?