Kowa Tsn-82sv

[Twinson]

Any opinions on the new Kowa 82SV replacement for the 821M? They are using an eye piece from the 66mm scope line. Why try to reinvent the wheel???

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[Mudcat]

I have an 821M that I have had since I started HP and as it still looks pretty much new, I will keep on using it. Not sure why they changed the line either as the 821s were pretty much bulletproof.

John

[PBrown]

I contacted Jim Owens at Jarheadtop.com by phone. He said that Kowa was streamlining their product line. They made the changes so that they could use the same eyepiece for more base models. Up to now, from what I understand the TSN821 series had eyepieces of their own, but now with the TSN82SV, it will accept eyepieces used in other base models. So I guess it's a business decision based on whatever sales models that KOWA has and uses. The new LER eyepiece offered is a 25X power as opposed to the old one which was a 27X power. The field of view of the new one is correspondingly wider than the old one, from what he told me.
It figures they would change the product right when I was planing on purchasing one!
Now I have to re-thing the whole thing over again.

[ratter]

There is nothing to re-think. The Kowa quality is still there. I think does not hurt anything because the eyepieces are interchangable. A lower priced excellent alternative is the Konus 80mm. Optics are fantastic. About $225 free shipping at Planet Optics.

[Mudcat]

Yes, if you want a much less scope/optics, get the Konus, which probably is the best of the el cheapo scopes. BUt it AINT NO KOWA, by any stretch of the imagination.

Buy right, buy once...try to go cheap, you just end up being frustrated and buying twice down the road. Been there, done that. Also know a lot of guys that have tried the same. Some still clinging to their Konus, Celestron or whatever other lesser priced, less quality optics, swearing they are just as good.....never admitting they aint.

Check out the threads on National Match....we have beaten this one like a rented mule.

John

[TAB]

There is nothing to re-think. The Kowa quality is still there. I think does not hurt anything because the eyepieces are interchangable. A lower priced excellent alternative is the Konus 80mm. Optics are fantastic. About $225 free shipping at Planet Optics.

Ratter,

Have you used a Konus 80mm? How's the eye relief? Can't find the spec for it anywhere.

TIA,

TAB

[Mudcat]

I have used the Konus 80mm side by side with the Kowa and its NOT even in the same league. It IS a good scope for el cheapo dollars, but, like most stuff we use in our sport, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! The Konus glass is ok, eye relief SUCKS, and it aint gonna take a beatin like the Kowa and its gonna leak sooner, rather than later.

I started with a similar scope, its now sitting out in the garage in a pile of dust somewhere. I learned my lesson the more expensive $200 waste of money way. I now have a Kowa and its on its 6th season and you would still think its brand new and I guarantee you that the glass is better.

Ok, done harping....if you insist on wasting your money on cheap glass, please, by all means, do so. You wont hurt my feelings....but sorry if I hurt yours stompin' on the cheap scopes (we will usually have some Konus devotee get all tweaked cause we hammered on their baby.....sorry, but sometimes the truth hurts.).

My 4 cents......
John

[hagar in SC]

The Kowas have great optics, but they are by no means bulletproof. I know of quite a few that snapped in half, or melted their O-rings in a hot car. I have a Tasco armored model (bought before I started shooting highpower) that I can pound stakes with, and it will not break. Too bad it has such bad optics!