W
WhiskeyMan
Guest
I saw some interest in these on the other thread and didn't wanna hijack it but thought I would offer my experience. Kowa is a Japanese Company that has been making hunting optics for decades. Their high-end optics are very equivalent to the Big 3 European makers in clarity, reliability, precision, and toughness. I would definitely consider their products, even the lower price ones, if I was in the market.
I bought the higher-end Flourite model (they make two levels) with the standard 32x eyepieces from Outdoorsmans in Phoenix 1.5 years ago. I had never looked thru them, but the salesman set them up in their parking lot where I could look into the nearby hills. I had my doubts about the clarity of 32x anything given I've never even been a big fan of high-dollar spotting scopes. Then.......WOOOOOOOW.....I could see an ant on an anthill half a mile away.
These are terrific! You can get additional 20x and I believe 20-50x variable eyepieces, which I haven't found the need for yet. These are monstrous heavy, so are pretty much "near the truck" glasses, although some hunters are lugging them around on a packframe. I bought the heavy duty Bogen tripod with the big panhead to hold these up. This setup is smooth and terrific.
The biggest issue is filling a true hunting need or developing a new tactic with these Big Eyes after paying so much for them. I'm happy I got 'em, now......but still had some doubts at the time of purchase. I now glass easily up to 3-4 miles out and reach out past the range of my 15x. I use these more for scouting than actual hunting. Obviously, heat wave distortion is still a problem when the air heats up.
Glad to answer any and all questions.
Glassing the Arizona Strip in November 2009.
Still on the Strip, I spotted a 170" buck bedded under a Juniper at the top of the first ridge (not the farthest ridge in this photo) where the PJ gets thick. he had one doe....and was 1.5 miles away according to my topo map. I was impressed with these glasses on this day!
I bought the higher-end Flourite model (they make two levels) with the standard 32x eyepieces from Outdoorsmans in Phoenix 1.5 years ago. I had never looked thru them, but the salesman set them up in their parking lot where I could look into the nearby hills. I had my doubts about the clarity of 32x anything given I've never even been a big fan of high-dollar spotting scopes. Then.......WOOOOOOOW.....I could see an ant on an anthill half a mile away.
These are terrific! You can get additional 20x and I believe 20-50x variable eyepieces, which I haven't found the need for yet. These are monstrous heavy, so are pretty much "near the truck" glasses, although some hunters are lugging them around on a packframe. I bought the heavy duty Bogen tripod with the big panhead to hold these up. This setup is smooth and terrific.
The biggest issue is filling a true hunting need or developing a new tactic with these Big Eyes after paying so much for them. I'm happy I got 'em, now......but still had some doubts at the time of purchase. I now glass easily up to 3-4 miles out and reach out past the range of my 15x. I use these more for scouting than actual hunting. Obviously, heat wave distortion is still a problem when the air heats up.
Glad to answer any and all questions.
Glassing the Arizona Strip in November 2009.
Still on the Strip, I spotted a 170" buck bedded under a Juniper at the top of the first ridge (not the farthest ridge in this photo) where the PJ gets thick. he had one doe....and was 1.5 miles away according to my topo map. I was impressed with these glasses on this day!
