gooberfish
FNG
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2026
- Messages
- 1
For anyone else comparing the Kowa 553/554 to other compact spotters, it's worth noting that their FOV is quite narrow:
Kowa 553/554: 2.5-1.3 degrees from 15-45x
Vortex Razor 56mm: 3.2-1.7 degrees from 13-39x
Kowa 55a/55s: 3.6-2.0 degrees from 17-40x
Swarovski ATC/STC: 3.5-1.9 degrees from 17-40x
Obviously there's a whole other conversation about usable FOV and edge to edge clarity, as well as $1k+ separating the 550 and Razor from the most recent alpha glass, but definitely still a factor worth considering. It seems like the 550s are the best glass you're going to get in that range by far, but might be a headache if you plan on doing a lot of scanning with your scope.
I'm personally struggling with whether to pick up a 56mm Razor or spend the extra money for the new Kowa or Swaro... I have no reason to think the Vortex wouldn't meet my needs, but I'm worried that I'll just be wasting money if/when I inevitably want to upgrade to alpha glass.
Kowa 553/554: 2.5-1.3 degrees from 15-45x
Vortex Razor 56mm: 3.2-1.7 degrees from 13-39x
Kowa 55a/55s: 3.6-2.0 degrees from 17-40x
Swarovski ATC/STC: 3.5-1.9 degrees from 17-40x
Obviously there's a whole other conversation about usable FOV and edge to edge clarity, as well as $1k+ separating the 550 and Razor from the most recent alpha glass, but definitely still a factor worth considering. It seems like the 550s are the best glass you're going to get in that range by far, but might be a headache if you plan on doing a lot of scanning with your scope.
I'm personally struggling with whether to pick up a 56mm Razor or spend the extra money for the new Kowa or Swaro... I have no reason to think the Vortex wouldn't meet my needs, but I'm worried that I'll just be wasting money if/when I inevitably want to upgrade to alpha glass.
