KOWA TSN 884 or Minox MD 80 ZR spotting scope

[CalFed]

Will use it out to about 1000 yds.

Anyone able to offer guidance or opinions on which one to go for?

Interested in optic qualities and general robustness. Weight not an issue.

 

[6BRA]

I can only say my TSN883...is the best I've ever looked through. Added the 1.6 multiplier taking it to 96X. Bullet holes can be seen. I initially thought straight eyepiece was the only way I'd ever go. For shooting, I would never have anything but an angled eyepiece now. Ergonomics...

 

[SKWERLZ]

The glass on the 883 and 884 is amazing.

No experience with the minox but my experience with the 883 shows it to not be a glass cannon.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

The Kowa 88x series uses pure fluorite crystal glass and I believe Kowa is the only spotting scope manufacturer that uses that type of glass. This glass virtually eliminates and as I noticed some years back, this property also tends to tame mirage-induced IQ distortion in optics. I have posted here some videos taken at BA in Phoenix last fall through my Kowa 883 depicting this phenomenon. In fact, I bought the 883 BECAUSE it has fluorite crystal glass. And I was not disappointed.

Further, the Kowa spotters are part of a system that you can expand. I have the new TE-80XW ultra-wide angle eyepiece, TE-11WZ 25-60X zoom eyepiece and the TE-20H 25X ELR. I also bought the astronomical lens adapter and added a Baader Planetarium 1.25inch 4.5mm Morpheus eyepiece. I also have the 1.6X extender.

I'm into digiscoping and Kowa has excellent accessories for that. I bought a photo adapter for the Kowa to attach to my Nikon D7500.

And of course, I bought the neoprene stay-on cover to protect the spotter.

I know nothing of the Minox offering and I'm sure it's very good also, but it's not a Kowa.

 

[CalFed]

I had an opportunity to get either a Kowa TSN 884 or a Minox MD80 ZR at great prices at an auction. Ended up getting them both.

 

[DonkeyHote]

I purchased the Kowa 883a, it is an awesome scope, but if you are using it for looking at bullet holes past 400-500 yards/meters, it may not work. For spotting steel hits, looking for wind change , mirage, it is great.
My 2cents....

 

[6BRA]

I purchased the Kowa 883a, it is an awesome scope, but if you are using it for looking at bullet holes past 400-500 yards/meters, it may not work. For spotting steel hits, looking for wind change , mirage, it is great.
My 2cents....

Get the 1.6 multiplier...I saw most holes at 600 today. 96X

 

[CalFed]

Thanks, guys.

Still wondering about the Minox MD80ZR. Could it be better?

 

[CalFed]

Any recommendation on which eyepiece for the Kowa?

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

As I mentioned earlier, I have 3 eyepieces for my 883; the 25X ELR (TE-20H) , the 25-60X Wide Zoom (TE-11WZ) and the new 35X Ultra Wide Angle (TE-80XW). Well, to be complete, I should say four eyepieces because I also have that astronomical Baader 4mm, but I only use that one at night to look at stars and stuff. Breathtaking.

I had been using the 25X ELR when shooting F-Class, but after getting the TE-80XW and looking through it, it stayed on my 883; the image is sensational and the FOV is YUGE. Sure, the eye relief is half that of the TE-20H, but the IQ is worth it and it's not like it will be kicking me in the face. It's a spendy eyepiece for a fixed magnification, but it is awesome, a very nice complement to the superb Kowa 88x.

 

[muleystalker]

Go with the KOWA, the Minox will not be better, That KOWA 882 or 883 is at the top of the heap. If you look through all the the scope reviews the KOWA is at the top heap and head to head with the Best of the Swarovski line, the ATX, and beats it more times than not.

You can get a great deal on the KOWA TSN Prominar 882 or 883 right now because KOWA just recently up graded that line and it's now the KOWA TSN Prominar 88a or 88s. I would go with the KOWA all day long, I love the several I have.

 

[CalFed]

Thanks, guys!

Is the upgrade done for the 88a and 88s significant?

 

[marine52]

As I mentioned earlier, I have 3 eyepieces for my 883; the 25X ELR (TE-20H) , the 25-60X Wide Zoom (TE-11WZ) and the new 35X Ultra Wide Angle (TE-80XW). Well, to be complete, I should say four eyepieces because I also have that astronomical Baader 4mm, but I only use that one at night to look at stars and stuff. Breathtaking.

I had been using the 25X ELR when shooting F-Class, but after getting the TE-80XW and looking through it, it stayed on my 883; the image is sensational and the FOV is YUGE. Sure, the eye relief is half that of the TE-20H, but the IQ is worth it and it's not like it will be kicking me in the face. It's a spendy eyepiece for a fixed magnification, but it is awesome, a very nice complement to the superb Kowa 88x.

oh no!! Why did you have to mention a new Kowa lens. Now I’m looking at it for my 883.

 

[CalFed]

My first step will probably be getting the zoom eyepiece. Seems like the most versatile for my use.

 

[SKWERLZ]

The zoom eyepiece is solid.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

My first step will probably be getting the zoom eyepiece. Seems like the most versatile for my use.

The TE-11WZ 25-60X is an excellent eyepiece, you can't go wrong with it. I still use mine, but the ultrawide angle is the one I use for calling wind and monitoring the conditions when I'm shooting. I no longer use the 25X LER for that.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

oh no!! Why did you have to mention a new Kowa lens. Now I’m looking at it for my 883.

It's a fabulous eyepiece for calling wind and monitoring the conditions. It's so wide I can monitor most of the 23-lane line and the flag line without moving it around. And the IQ is phenomenal.

 

[CalFed]

Just got a Kowa TSN-884. The Kowa protective filter for the objective is a bit pricey. Would a Hoya, Niko, or Sigma 95mm UV filter work just as well? They are much cheaper.

 

[muleystalker]

Just got a Kowa TSN-884. The Kowa protective filter for the objective is a bit pricey. Would a Hoya, Niko, or Sigma 95mm UV filter work just as well? They are much cheaper.

Me myself I went with the KOWA Lens protector/filter, I thought about it and thought it was kind of crazy to buy one of the best spotting scopes out there with arguably the best glass in a spotting scope made and put a cheap filter on it. I cant say that the KOWA voter is better than the others but didn't want to take the chance to save a few dollars then find out they were no good and have to buy the KOWA on top of what I spent on the cheaper one. KOWA made it to work with this scope so I venture to say its not going to hurt the performance of this fine piece of glass, I cant say the same for the others .

 

[marine52]

It's a fabulous eyepiece for calling wind and monitoring the conditions. It's so wide I can monitor most of the 23-lane line and the flag line without moving it around. And the IQ is phenomenal.

Ok, thanks to Turbulet Turtle, I ordered the TE-80XW Extra wide lens and received it last week. I have it on my 883 and I have to say it is remarkable. I didn’t think I could improve on the 25x LER eyepiece for mirage but the XW lens does it. the mirage just seems to be more distinct. I can’t explain it but it just is.

The only negative is the loss in eye relief. I wear glasses and when spotting prone in F-Class, the LER eyepiece moved effortlessly into place. I have yet to try the XW in a match, so I’m anxious to see how fast I can get on the scope and mirage. I did buy the kowa protective eyepiece cover for the new eyepiece and it does take away a slight bit of eye relief for me as my eyeglass lens touches the lens on the protective cover. I tried it with the standard eyepiece cover and gained a bit of eye relief. Hopefully, I can adjust my routine and make it work.