Kowa TSN-501 20-40x50 vs Vortex Razor HD 11-33x50

ChrisAU

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Really enticed by the 14 oz weight of the Kowa, anyone have experience looking through both? This would be for backcountry elk hunting with long steep hikes. Want to be able to scan tree lines and drainages from 1-2 miles away during day light to look for elk, and then distinguish whether or not its a bull. Not counting points, though being able to see if its a legal bull would be great. I know neither is going to be great at first or last light.
 
I will eagerly await the opinions on this post. I'm interested in the same myself. I love my big spotter but am trying to avoid bringing it on every trip.
I'm really hoping to soon see some good reviews on the little kowa (the cheap ones!).
 
The Minox md50 would do what your asking so I assume the Kowa 501 would, no it’ll not compete with the 55 series but it isn’t meant to.
 
Thanks for your opinion Rob on the Kowa 501. The 553 looks amazing but is unreachable for me at this stage anyways. I haven't been able to find good opinions on the 501. Appreciate the insight.
 
I'll be reading along with this, thanks for starting, I've been contemplating the razor for a few months now. Well, since I saw one of my clients with one, lol!!! I was jealous i was lugging my heavy scope around
 
If you want razor quality at a good price check out the hawke ED 50 mm scope. Make sure it is the ED glass one.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
 
Rob, could you elaborate? I've never seen the 501. What makes it not worth looking at compared to the Razor?

We got one of the TSN-502's in to review and we were very disappointed. It was definitely entry level glass. If Vortex had a Diamondback line of compact spotters it would probably be on par with or better than the 501-502. Now it's possible that the model they sent us was unusually poor.

The Razor 50mm spotter has amazing glass, but I think the limited top end keeps you from seeing much benefit over glassing with a good pair of binos. I did own one for a while, but stopped packing it because when i would find an animal in my binos, i really didn't get much more detail with the scope. I was happy to upgrade to the 65mm Razor at the time.

The reason i bring this up, is simply because a good pair of binos on a tripod is going to be much better than the 501, and I can't think of a single situation where a 501 would be worth carrying.
 
We got one of the TSN-502's in to review and we were very disappointed. It was definitely entry level glass. If Vortex had a Diamondback line of compact spotters it would probably be on par with or better than the 501-502. Now it's possible that the model they sent us was unusually poor.

The Razor 50mm spotter has amazing glass, but I think the limited top end keeps you from seeing much benefit over glassing with a good pair of binos. I did own one for a while, but stopped packing it because when i would find an animal in my binos, i really didn't get much more detail with the scope. I was happy to upgrade to the 65mm Razor at the time.

The reason i bring this up, is simply because a good pair of binos on a tripod is going to be much better than the 501, and I can't think of a single situation where a 501 would be worth carrying.

Thanks! I'm looking to supplement my 10x42's with a light spotter. I may very well just go with binos on a tripod. I've literally never touched a spotting scope, so everything is brand new to me in regards to this area.
 
Chris I am no elk expert, but elk are big and at 1-2 miles a good pair of binos ($1k and more quality) there should be no reason not to be able to make out antlers on an elk head-not counting points. Maybe not able to see a spike. Now if you are talking 2+ miles and needing to see if it has 3 points for sure or brow tines than a spotter would probably be needed.

cannot comment on the kowa vs razor in that range. I have seen many reviews comparing the razor to the bushnell Ed50 and although the razor edges it ever so slightly (mostly because of the fine focus), the little bushnell ed50 would be more than enough for what you are asking for. I have the Ed50 so i can comment on that and have made out forks on our little CA blacktails at 3+ miles away. Only downside with the ed50 is early morning and late evening.
 
The Razor 50mm spotter has amazing glass, but I think the limited top end keeps you from seeing much benefit over glassing with a good pair of binos.

Having owned the Razor 50 and used it next to a set of 15x56 SLCs while coues hunting, I didn't personally find this to be true. The Razor gave me important details that the SLCs couldn't, especially past a mile. Perhaps it would depend on what you're hunting and what each of us would define as enough benefit to be worth the additional 25 ounces in the pack.
 
Ounces are the main reason I'm looking at the Kowa. You can get a refurb razor for $450, so price really isn't that much more for the Razor. Figure $300-$330 for the Kowa.
 
Many places are selling the kowa for $275-299. The thing is tiny. But not a whole lot of reviews on it.

But Doug at cameraland likes it
 
Thanks! I'm looking to supplement my 10x42's with a light spotter. I may very well just go with binos on a tripod. I've literally never touched a spotting scope, so everything is brand new to me in regards to this area.

ChrisAU, at 14oz it might still be worth checking out. Good thing going for you is you haven’t used high end spotters so you will not be as jaded as some of us on how we determine what is crap or not. Also top this off with a KDC Granite Peak tripod and for around 20oz of pack weight you have the possibility of seeing further then your binos on a tripod will allow. If it never comes out of your pack you are not invested in a setup costing thousands.

I have had the Minox md50, Vortex Razor 65, vanguard 80a HD, Swaro 80HD and Kowa 55 spotters over the years, currently I only have the Kowa 55 because it is an optical machine for its size yet it weighs nothing and is less then half the size of the Swaro 80HD I had previous to it. I also have a slik tripod and a granite peak tripod, the KDC granite peak is new to me so over the next year I’ll know if I like it but at 6oz so far initial testing it gets the job done. The KDC vs tripod and head is a 2lb weight reduction.

While I’m sure Rob is accurate in his assessment don’t forget he constantly uses the best of the best so these lower end optics will not look that good.

Guess what I’m saying is at 14oz and 6oz for the KDC you’ll be as light as you can get to have a glassing setup and have only around $400 invested, that is probably worth you trying and get your own first hand knowledge on this possible setup.
 
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Thanks! And yeah a KDC granite peak is definitely on the list. We went this past year without any tripod and just 10x42 binos. It was good for quick scanning but I could not pick apart a hillside like I'd like to have.
 
Thanks! And yeah a KDC granite peak is definitely on the list. We went this past year without any tripod and just 10x42 binos. It was good for quick scanning but I could not pick apart a hillside like I'd like to have.

The KDC is really nice, while not as stable as a standard tripod and head I think it is worth that penalty just for the weight and space savings. It is perfect for the smaller spotters and binos. It’s kind of crazy but your complete setup would still weigh less then my Kowa 55 which is freaking light compared to a 65 or 80.
 
I've used my Razor 50 a lot over the past several years in much the same manner as the OP is suggesting. It has been a huge asset in finding and evaluating post-rut bulls recovering in the steep and nasty stuff. It is the perfect compliment to 8x binos when you're going to be gaining and losing 3-6k feet of elevation per day to find and get in position to shoot bulls after the rut.
 
I've looked through both and own the Kowa tsn-501. I think it's great for the money and weight. I run Nikon Monarch HG's on a tripod 90% of the time but the little Kowa spotter is super helpful for getting a closer look. The glass isn't great but it's good enough that I don't think I'll upgrade anytime soon. I wasn't impressed with the Razor for the price. I think the Kowa is impressive for the size, weight and cost but it's definitely not high end glass.
 
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