Alpha spotters, help me understand..

[Grassymike]

Yep on probably upgrading again if I get the older 66. I worked my way up to Swaro binos after trying about 6 others. I need to skip any more steps and just buy what I want to end up with. What does a 773 weigh ?

 

[Wapiti151]

Yep on probably upgrading again if I get the older 66. I worked my way up to Swaro binos after trying about 6 others. I need to skip any more steps and just buy what I want to end up with. What does a 773 weigh ?

Don’t remember exactly, but I’m pretty sure it’s 6oz more than the new 66…or something like that.

 

[Pinkes]

following

 

[Rock’N Tacos]

I have had several - Leupold, Vortex, Maven. A couple years ago I went to a Kowa 554 - its is amazing. You can throw it in your pack and never know it is there. Holds its own against spotters much bigger. A couple weeks ago I upgraded to the new Kowa 66a - WOW! Its pretty awesome, noticeably better than my buddies 65mm swaro, but even then it is not by a large margin. Very small increases in glass quality cost $$.

 

[Grassymike]

If your main use was solely backpack hunting in the mountains for 9-10 days which one would be in your pack ?

 

[5MilesBack]

You should have bought that Kowa 88 I sold. You’d have seen how awesome they are.

In my defense......I tried. I was ready to send money. I believe the issue was on your end.....other buyers be damned.

After reading Matt Cashell's review on here comparing the 88 and 66, I ended up buying the 66A. I think it will be "close enough" to the 88 for my uses, and I save ~12oz.

 

[madcalfe]

If your main use was solely backpack hunting in the mountains for 9-10 days which one would be in your pack ?

this is a loaded question. i use a 65mm for stones in bc. some people like to walk less and use 85's
look on canadiangunnutz you might be able to find a used spotter.

 

[dtrkyman]

I have used my Kowa 77s side by side against Swaro several times, I really saw no difference, even against the 85s, they of course were slightly better in low light but it was really close. Kowa for the money are tough to beat!

 

[Pinkes]

I am trying to decide between a Kowa 66 or a 773. When I looked through a buddy's Swaro ATX 85, it looked like a 3d image. Does the Kowa's also have that 3d effect?

 

[JO.]

If your main use was solely backpack hunting in the mountains for 9-10 days which one would be in your pack ?

If it was me and wanting to spend some money and get good glass that was going to stick around for a while I'd be looking at a 65mm Swaro ATS. I had a cheap 80mm spotter and it was miserable using it. I moved to the Razor 50mm spotter. It was a good spotter for the money and weight. I then went to the Meopta S2 82. I chose the Meopta because I could see very little difference between it and a Swaro. I was able to purchase the Meopta for about the price of a used Swaro in 85. Only reason I went with the 82mm was light for digiscoping.

 

[Grassymike]

I have often wondered why Meopta did not make a 65 mm scope. I have been trying to buy a Swarovski ATS 65. Seems like the most stable brand always consistently really good ,no service/warranty horror stories, made only in Austria . Kowa is also on my short list. With Kowa having a bit more trouble narrowing it down to exactly which one. Probably a 66a, but the 55's are appealing weight and size wise. What does the S2 weigh ?

 

[5MilesBack]

What does the S2 weigh ?

My S2 was 67oz.

 

[dmm08300]

Been really happy with my Kowa 773 and have no complaints. I think it is the happy medium if torn between a 65mm ish and 80mm ish spotter. I know it doesn't have the fluorite glass, but I don't find the image quality lacking even at the upper end of the mag range. I think the 77 series and the new 66 will be optically very close.

 

[Grassymike]

773's are only available used now ,right ?

 

[Ram94]

Hey Mike, check out S&S Archery for the Kowa 66. Right now they’re 15% off and you can stack the Rokslide 10% discount on top. Takes a good chunk of change off the price. I should get mine in the mail today, upgrading from an Athlon Ares.

 

[dmm08300]

773's are only available used now ,right ?

I believe that is true

 

[Wapiti151]

773's are only available used now ,right ?

Correct, seem to go for $18-1900 used w/eye piece.

 

[Blockcaver]

Sold my Swaro ATM 20-60x65mm HD this spring (for about what I paid for it new in 2011). Had purchased a Swaro ATC 17-30x56 and in side by side comparisons looking at Cali bighorns on the Mt above the house until total darkness it beat out the ATM 65mm. Maybe due to new coatings, maybe because older eyes don’t dilate as large…not sure but am sure the ATC is a better scope for me. That’s to say nothing of the much smaller size and lighter weight. The little thing performs great!

 

[TheMcRazor]

Hey Mike, check out S&S Archery for the Kowa 66. Right now they’re 15% off and you can stack the Rokslide 10% discount on top. Takes a good chunk of change off the price. I should get mine in the mail today, upgrading from an Athlon Ares.

Wow! This is amazing if it works out for me. What is the rokslide discount code? Thanks in advance!

Edit: Found the discount code on the gear deals forum, it totally worked makes a 66A just north of $2500 pre tax. Killer deal, going to purchase in coming days.

 

[Grassymike]

So if you had a choice between a Leica APO televid 25-50 asperical eyepiece new in box complete with unfilled warranty card or a used in excelllent shape Swarovski ATS 65 HD with a 20-60 eyepice for the same money which one would be "the one".