Kowa 66 vs 88

[satchamo]

Looking to upgrade my spotter from my Athlon ares. I’ve pretty well narrowed it down to Kowa. With the current sale going on the price on the 66 is pretty attractive at about ~$700 less than the 88.

I mostly day hunt so size and weight aren’t really a huge consideration for me otherwise I’d probably had just pulled the trigger on the 66 already.

I’m assuming it’s mostly just added glassing time on the front and back of the day with the 88 but I’ve never really seen someone put a number to it. Are we talking like 5 extra minutes? 10 extra minutes? Or less?

For guys that have experience with both, is the 88 worth the upgrade?

 

[sndmn11]

I think probably two minutes difference. The biggest difference in practice will be dark cloud overcast here comes the storm kind of days. For what you guys are doing, and your next 3 decades, that 66 will be great.

If I were playing Kowa, I'd order with the TE-80 eyepiece without question. My phone would be the zoom when needed.

 

[RockAndSage]

Looking to upgrade my spotter from my Athlon ares. I’ve pretty well narrowed it down to Kowa. With the current sale going on the price on the 66 is pretty attractive at about ~$700 less than the 88.

I mostly day hunt so size and weight aren’t really a huge consideration for me otherwise I’d probably had just pulled the trigger on the 66 already.

I’m assuming it’s mostly just added glassing time on the front and back of the day with the 88 but I’ve never really seen someone put a number to it. Are we talking like 5 extra minutes? 10 extra minutes? Or less?

For guys that have experience with both, is the 88 worth the upgrade?

What kind of territory are you hunting?

 

[satchamo]

What kind of territory are you hunting?

Oh wherever I can get tags which is hard to predict these days

 

[RockAndSage]

Are we talking Indiana/midwest mostly, or are you applying a lot in more open, rugged territory, like some of the places out West? Asking, because the 88 might be useful if you're glassing dozens of square miles from a glassing knob, as opposed to brushy, rolling hills, where a 66 might max out a spotter's utility.

 

[satchamo]

Are we talking Indiana/midwest mostly, or are you applying a lot in more open, rugged territory, like some of the places out West? Asking, because the 88 might be useful if you're glassing dozens of square miles from a glassing knob, as opposed to brushy, rolling hills, where a 66 might max out a spotter's utility.

No sorry we’re talking the mountains hunting elk/deer and occasionally on the plains. I will use a spotter a lot during rifle practice here and for glass up summer bucks but it’s mostly for those western hunts

 

[RockAndSage]

Yeah, @sndmn11 pretty much nailed it. The 66 is excellent all-around, especially if you have the two eye-pieces, and are on foot a lot. Nine times out of ten, when leaving camp, you'd probably be reaching for the 66 if you had both as options.

 

[hereinaz]

The 88s are amazing, you won’t go wrong with them for glassing out west if you don’t mind the extra weight. Not sure how they compare to the newer spotters that have come out in the last few years but my buddy’s 88 are awesome.

I want the new 66 to have, cause they would be enough and I could pack them if needed.

 

[Antares]

55s and 88s have the fluorite crystal lenses, 66s and 77s do not. Just something to keep in mind while you’re shopping and looking at prices.

 

[sndmn11]

55s and 88s have the fluorite crystal lenses, 66s and 77s do not.

 

[4th_point]

 

[4th_point]

55s and 88s have the fluorite crystal lenses, 66s and 77s do not. Just something to keep in mind while you’re shopping and looking at prices.

FYI - You're probably thinking about the 660 series. The new 66 series has fluorite.

 

[Jon Boy]

I don’t have experience with 66 but my 88 is incredible and is every bit as good as my old STX 95 but weighs a bit less. I had a great experience buying from Joel @cameraland