Kowa Genesis 8x33

[Pabst]

Just got a pair of Genesis 8x33 from Doug et al., Really impressed with optical quality, fov, size and also price I suppose. The only thing I have to compare them with is a pair of SLC 10x42 and so far in my limited use they don't seem to give much up. I have to compare more, but so far color seems better in the Kowa, but stuff like eyecups and focus knob feel a little higher quality in the SLC.

I got them for to use as something smaller and handier for hiking or day hunts where I found myself leaving my SLCs behind due to size, weight but mostly cost.

Anyone else with experience with the Genesis 8x33?

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

No, but my Kowa genesis 10.5x44 arrive tomorrow. Based on my research the are as good if not better then SLC's. I'll be the judge starting tomorrow.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

I have only had my Kowa Genesis 10.5x44 outside a few times, but have been seriously impressed. I have done no side by side but did use Swaro EL's last year and I would put these Kowa's in the Alpha glass category.

I seriously do not understand how these binos are not talked about. With Swaro SLC's 10 being discontinued these to me seem like the perfect replacement with similar price point.

 

[Hatchet Jack]

kowa makes incredible glass, their marketing department just sucks

 

[eaglemountainman]

I just ordered a pair of Genny 8X33s from Doug on Saturday for back east deep woods deer hunting. I've had a pair of Genny 10.5X44s going on 3 years now. They're just a bit much for that application, but a pure joy on Wyoming's eastern high desert scanning for pronghorns or mulies. Also couldn't be any happier with the 554 spotter.

I think the lack of Kowa awareness is due to the size of their advertising budget. It's nonexistent, and that's perfectly fine by me. If Kowa spent on advertising, what Swarovski does for example, I'd be paying a lot more for my optics. The name might not be hugely recognizable, but who cares? I'm fine with that since the optical quality is second to no one, at half the price.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

I just ordered a pair of Genny 8X33s from Doug on Saturday for back east deep woods deer hunting. I've had a pair of Genny 10.5X44s going on 3 years now. They're just a bit much for that application, but a pure joy on Wyoming's eastern high desert scanning for pronghorns or mulies. Also couldn't be any happier with the 554 spotter.

I think the lack of Kowa awareness is due to the size of their advertising budget. It's nonexistent, and that's perfectly fine by me. If Kowa spent on advertising, what Swarovski does for example, I'd be paying a lot more for my optics. The name might not be hugely recognizable, but who cares? I'm fine with that since the optical quality is second to no one.

Hey great point. ssshhhhhhh!!

Hey everyone this glass sucks, haha. Yeah besides scouting my first hunt up with these bad boys will be high country mule deer hunt and I can't wait to us them.

 

[Spiral Horn]

Just got a pair of Genesis 8x33 from Doug et al., Really impressed with optical quality, fov, size and also price I suppose. The only thing I have to compare them with is a pair of SLC 10x42 and so far in my limited use they don't seem to give much up. I have to compare more, but so far color seems better in the Kowa, but stuff like eyecups and focus knob feel a little higher quality in the SLC.

I got them for to use as something smaller and handier for hiking or day hunts where I found myself leaving my SLCs behind due to size, weight but mostly cost.

Anyone else with experience with the Genesis 8x33?

Were you able to compare the Kowa to a Conquest HD or other 32mm?

 

[Pabst]

I never compared my Genesis 8x33 with any other binoculars of the same size before buying. I guess my purchase was a little bit of a leap of faith based on product reviews and past experience with Kowa spotting scopes (554 and 883).

I've been using mine more since my initial post and like them more and more all the time. They're small and light enough that I don't hesitate to bring them hiking, quality is great and if they go missing it won't hurt as bad as losing a pair of SLCs.

I happened to notice this comparison with the new NL Pure 8x32, reviewer said the Pure was quite a bit sharper edge to edge, but considering the price difference it's not that fair of a comparison.

First Impressions 10 and 8 x NL

Got my hands on a pair of 8 and 10x Swarovski NL's Pure's yesterday and spent about 3 hours with them. I compared them to my 10x42 2011 and 2014 8x32 Swarovisions. I will write a full and in depth review shortly. Just to say I was forensic in my scrutiny of these premium grade Binos. I had...

www.birdforum.net

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

I would like to do a comparison to the conquest HD and meopta as I feel they can’t hang with the kowa.

 

[eaglemountainman]

An internet search of reviews and comparisons proves pretty heavily in favor of your suspicions.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

An internet search of reviews and comparisons proves pretty heavily in favor of your suspicions.

Yes, I feel its like saying are swaro SLC's better than Conquest HDs?

 

[Spiral Horn]

I never compared my Genesis 8x33 with any other binoculars of the same size before buying. I guess my purchase was a little bit of a leap of faith based on product reviews and past experience with Kowa spotting scopes (554 and 883).

I've been using mine more since my initial post and like them more and more all the time. They're small and light enough that I don't hesitate to bring them hiking, quality is great and if they go missing it won't hurt as bad as losing a pair of SLCs.

I happened to notice this comparison with the new NL Pure 8x32, reviewer said the Pure was quite a bit sharper edge to edge, but considering the price difference it's not that fair of a comparison.

First Impressions 10 and 8 x NL

Got my hands on a pair of 8 and 10x Swarovski NL's Pure's yesterday and spent about 3 hours with them. I compared them to my 10x42 2011 and 2014 8x32 Swarovisions. I will write a full and in depth review shortly. Just to say I was forensic in my scrutiny of these premium grade Binos. I had...

www.birdforum.net

FYI - The link was not to a comparison of the Genesis 33 & NL Pure 32s.

I would like to do a comparison to the conquest HD and meopta as I feel they can’t hang with the kowa.

Yes, I feel its like saying are swaro SLC's better than Conquest HDs?

Glad you are enjoying the Kowas. But that‘s a typical issue with many reviews seen on the net - conclusion prior to any comparison, followed by selected points to reinforce the pre-conclusion.

I think the lack of Kowa awareness is due to the size of their advertising budget. It's nonexistent, and that's perfectly fine by me. If Kowa spent on advertising, what Swarovski does for example, I'd be paying a lot more for my optics. The name might not be hugely recognizable, but who cares? I'm fine with that since the optical quality is second to no one, at half the price.

This is partially true. Advertising certainly makes a big difference in initial demand, especially when repeated in almost every corner of the target market. Although they are certainly an engineering marvel and exceptional binocular, I’ve never seen greater initial hype and comparison speculation than with the introduction of the NL Pures. Tons of claims from spec sheets, marketing materials, etc - many sight-unseen. Over the years I’ve become less susceptible to hype and like to direct compare whenever possible.

I‘ve done some hands-on with Kowa spotters and been fairly impressed with the image quality. Only handled the Genesis series at sportsmans shows but still may end up buying one - jury is still out. Not signing on to the comment “quality is second to no one, at half the price.”

Every optics purchase is a bit of a compromise of optical quality and fitness to the intended function. There is a lot of ink here comparing the 10.5x44 Gen to the 10x42 SLC HD, concluding that the Genesis is the natural successor. But it is very different optical device in so many ways. I have the SLC - even if the optics are very close, the Kowa is much larger, heavier, and cannot take a tripod stud. As primarily a hunting binocular, the SLC‘s optics/feature combination make it the clear winner to me (and there may be others).

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

Fins_N_Tines said:
Yes, I feel its like saying are swaro SLC's better than Conquest HDs?

Glad you are enjoying the Kowas. But that‘s a typical issue with many reviews seen on the net - conclusion prior to any comparison, followed by selected points to reinforce the pre-conclusion.

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Really? Also a typical issue now a days is people hear and read only what they want to. I stated that I wanted to do a comparison to find out if the Kowa was better. Did you miss that part? So, although I feel strongly about the Kowa I did not make a conclusion prior to comparison.

As compared to SLC's all valid points. The kowa is bigger and heavier and needs a special adaptor for tripod. There are two products that mount around the barrel of objective which actually works pretty sweet, and has made the lack of mounting stud irrelevant.

And FYI the link does compare the NL to the genesis you just got keep reading further down. Trust but verify!!

 

[Spiral Horn]

I would like to do a comparison to the conquest HD and meopta as I feel they can’t hang with the kowa.

OK - maybe my reading comprehension should be further tested, but someone saying a competitor “can’t hang with the Kowa,” while it may very well prove correct it’s just not a good way to begin an honest comparison.

Personally I’m most interested in the 8x33 and am in the market for that size glass. According to many the 8x32 is the cherry of the Conquest HD line and I was hoping someone had done a head-to-head on them. I only know of one place that carries them both that is within any reasonable distance but it is a very long drive. Have some family and friends nearby to there so now that we’ve all been vaccinated guess I’ll have to plan a field trip. Already looked at the Meopta Meostar 8x32 and wasn’t crazy about it. Probably going to stay with $1k or less glass in this size, but there is always the possibility I’ll go nuts and get either a 32mm SF or NL. Already looked at the SFs - pretty sweet, but a bit larger than I’d intended and more than double the price.

 

[eaglemountainman]

I‘ve done some hands-on with Kowa spotters and been fairly impressed with the image quality. Only handled the Genesis series at sportsmans shows but still may end up buying one - jury is still out. Not signing on to the comment “quality is second to no one, at half the price.”

Every optics purchase is a bit of a compromise of optical quality and fitness to the intended function. There is a lot of ink here comparing the 10.5x44 Gen to the 10x42 SLC HD, concluding that the Genesis is the natural successor. But it is very different optical device in so many ways. I have the SLC - even if the optics are very close, the Kowa is much larger, heavier, and cannot take a tripod stud. As primarily a hunting binocular, the SLC‘s optics/feature combination make it the clear winner to me (and there may be others).

You're absolutely right. You shouldn't sign on until you do your own head to head comparisons. I did mine. I wrote the statement. I stand by it.

 

[Pabst]

Actually the Genesis 8x33 is compared with the 8x32 NL Pure in the link I posted, hidden a ways further down in the thread, but easily found by searching the page.

One interesting thing to note with the Genesis 8x33 is that it does have a stud for mounting to a tripod, whereas the 10.5x44 version of the Genesis does not.

 

[CootControl]

One interesting thing to note with the Genesis 8x33 is that it does have a stud for mounting to a tripod, whereas the 10.5x44 version of the Genesis does not.

Which outdoorsmans stud fits the 8x33?

 

[bird35]

I have been looking into the the Kowa Genesis 8x33 for about 6 month and finally decided to oder a pair this week. Should be here Monday. Hopefully they are as good as all the reviews say they are.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

Actually the Genesis 8x33 is compared with the 8x32 NL Pure in the link I posted, hidden a ways further down in the thread, but easily found by searching the page.

One interesting thing to note with the Genesis 8x33 is that it does have a stud for mounting to a tripod, whereas the 10.5x44 version of the Genesis does not.

Awesome! Man thats weird they didn't make it on the 10.5x44. I wonder what the thought process is behind that.

 

[TX_Diver]

I sold the 10.5x44 genesis and picked up 10x42 SLCs. I like the size/weight of the swaros but everything else went Kowa.

The Swaro's are nice too and potentially have a bit more depth (not sure if that's what it's called but switching distances doesn't require as much movement of the focus wheel), but the Kowa's are definitely a superb value if you don't mind the size.