Kowa 553 vs. Razor HD 11-33x50

[prm]

Has anyone done side by side comparisons of these two? I have the Razor HD, but am interested in how much of a difference you feel there is between them. Thanks.

 

[MtnMuley]

Waiting to do that myself, but with the 554. Won't make a difference compared to the 553 other than it being straight. I have looked through both several times and have the funds ready for the 554, but won't pull the trigger until I side by side em. Latest one I've looked through was the Razor and I dont remember the Kowa impressing as much. I will hopefully get the compared here shortly. Big price difference for sure.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

The FOV on the Kowa is slightly narrower, however, optically the Kowa is far superior

 

[zeroforhire]

Kowa is so much better. Well worth the upgrade.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[Ronb]

Just picked up a kowa from Ryan Avery. I compared its side by side with my swaro ats hd 65mm, and a friends vortex 11-33 50mm. The kowa was so much better than the vortex, I didn’t waste more than 2 minutes comparing the 2. Now I spent two weeks with my ATS and the Kowa deciding between the two.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gr8fuldoug]

With exception of the narrower FOV comparing the Kowa to the Swarovski they are scary close

 

[zeroforhire]

With exception of the narrower FOV comparing the Kowa to the Swarovski they are scary close

I totally agree.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[sneaky]

Biggest thing to compare between that little Kowa and the ATS would be whether you wanna carry almost twice the weight in the Swaro.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Ronb]

The kowa is not quite as good as the swaro, and i didn’t expect it to be. For me, i honestly thought the light gathering was pretty comparable. That really surprised me. Especially at max power. I felt a much larger percentage of the swaros field of view was a bit sharper. Where the kowa had a terrific sweet spot, right there with swaro. Even sometimes looked better. If you’re just going to throw the spotter up to verify what you’re seeing. It’ll do that perfectly, just as good as the swaro. But if you use a spotter for scanning and looking for game. I feel the swaro is the better choice. Believe it or not, the final selling point for me was using the Kowa on my slick 624 tripod, with my outdoorsman micro pan head. It’s the perfect combo, where I kind of felt the swaro was a little too big for it. In the end, I will save about 22ounces. Btw, i had the 25-50wide eyepiece on it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[twall13]

Has anyone done side by side comparisons of these two? I have the Razor HD, but am interested in how much of a difference you feel there is between them. Thanks.

Not specifically but I did compare my little Kowa side by side with my brothers 65 mm Vortex Razor HD with a more comparable magnification range and in both our opinions the Kowa was better in everything except the field of view. Even being a smaller objective it was a bit brighter than the larger Vortex, better color rendition and sharper image through the entire image.

In my opinion the little Kowa has only 3 drawbacks.

1. Field of view. As has been mentioned this may or may not be an issue depending on how you use it.
2. Lack of a rotating collar on the angled model. I would have accepted the weight penalty to have this feature.
3. No rubber armoring. I ended up putting a neoprene stay on case on it, ironically it's for the 50mm vortex you are asking about.

Otherwise I don't think you can beat the little Kowas for size, weight, optics, etc.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[prm]

Excellent inputs, thanks. Sounds like a terrific backpacking spotter! I guess I need to set aside some coin...

 

[Blue72]

how does the lower price Kowa tsn-500 compare to the vortex razor 50mm

 

[tdhanses]

The kowa is not quite as good as the swaro, and i didn’t expect it to be. For me, i honestly thought the light gathering was pretty comparable. That really surprised me. Especially at max power. I felt a much larger percentage of the swaros field of view was a bit sharper. Where the kowa had a terrific sweet spot, right there with swaro. Even sometimes looked better. If you’re just going to throw the spotter up to verify what you’re seeing. It’ll do that perfectly, just as good as the swaro. But if you use a spotter for scanning and looking for game. I feel the swaro is the better choice. Believe it or not, the final selling point for me was using the Kowa on my slick 624 tripod, with my outdoorsman micro pan head. It’s the perfect combo, where I kind of felt the swaro was a little too big for it. In the end, I will save about 22ounces. Btw, i had the 25-50wide eyepiece on it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pretty much exactly my experience, I had the Swaro ATS HD 80 with 25-50, I don’t like to scan with a spotter.

 

[EasilyExcited]

I had the rzr and now have thr kowA. The kowa has way better clarity. No comparisons

 

[Blockcaver]

How is the Kowa eye relief versus the Swaro if you wear glasses while spotting?

 

[gr8fuldoug]

The Kowa ia slightly less

 

[tdhanses]

How is the Kowa eye relief versus the Swaro if you wear glasses while spotting?

I had a Swaro and have the Kowa now, I wear glasses and don’t find it to be an issue but I’m also one that can work within the limits of anything and don’t complain if everything I use isn’t perfect as long as it is reliable, does the job I expect and adds value.

 

[crolfes]

Good info guys....don't mind me, im just racking up my 10 replies so i can go buy stuff in the classifieds

 

[Moosehunter]

I have the kowa tsn 553...absolutely love it! Have had it for about a year now and couldn't be happier. I compared it last year to the vortex razor 22-48x65, my eyes say the kowa wins...not to mention the added packability. I had an Idaho moose tag last year so hunted a LOT and some of my other buddies,I had my 55mm along all the time and their 80mm were in the truck most the time.

 

[mcseal2]

I sold my Swaro STM65 and now run the Kowa 554. I agree with the others, field of view is about the only thing I gave up. I bought the Kowa stay on case for mine to protect my investment, and it weighs 33oz with the case and the Outdoorsmans adapter on it.