Kowa TSN-601 vs. Athlon Ares ED 15-45x65

[Tac Beard]

I’m looking for a lightweight, packable spotter for sheep hunting and range use. Really just considering these two, but I’m open to suggestions. My budget is fairly tight, as I have more gear to buy before the sheep season.

The Ares has a solid edge in price — under $500 on Cameraland. The reviews I’ve seen for it have been very positive.

The Kowa would end up around $800 or so new by the time I buy the eyepiece (I would get the 20-60x), so it would have to be a pretty significant upgrade for me to justify it. A used one might be an option. I know it’s lighter, so that is a factor in its favor. Higher mag is a plus too, as long as it’s usable.

Anyone have experience with either or both? Thanks in advance.

 

[willfrye027]

I’ve got a 602. It weighs 33 or 34 oz with quick release plate on there. So quite a bit lighter than your other option. It does suffer a little bit in low light, and with that size objective you’re not going to get an amazing crystal clear resolution at 60x. But it’s pretty darn good and definitelty very usable in good lighting and atmospheric conditions. To me it’s crazy light weight for what it can do. Plus you can get away with a lighter tripod. If you do a search, someone did some extensive reviewing of this scope compared to a Swarovski 65mm and it held its own surprisingly.

As for cost, I got mine used for around $500. I’ve seen them on eBay for about that much.

I’m not a sheep hunter though and I expect some of them to chime in here and tell you to buy a swaro 65mm lol.

 

[willfrye027]

I think these are both around 60x. It’s hard to tell much about a scope through a digiscope image but it gives you an idea.

 

[Tac Beard]

I’ve got a 602. It weighs 33 or 34 oz with quick release plate on there. So quite a bit lighter than your other option. It does suffer a little bit in low light, and with that size objective you’re not going to get an amazing crystal clear resolution at 60x. But it’s pretty darn good and definitelty very usable in good lighting and atmospheric conditions. To me it’s crazy light weight for what it can do. Plus you can get away with a lighter tripod. If you do a search, someone did some extensive reviewing of this scope compared to a Swarovski 65mm and it held its own surprisingly.

As for cost, I got mine used for around $500. I’ve seen them on eBay for about that much.

I’m not a sheep hunter though and I expect some of them to chime in here and tell you to buy a swaro 65mm lol.

Thanks for the reply, that’s super helpful. Yep, the Swaro 65 is the holy grail and hopefully that’ll be coming next year. This year there are too many other expenses unfortunately.

 

[Tac Beard]

View attachment 159936View attachment 159937
I think these are both around 60x. It’s hard to tell much about a scope through a digiscope image but it gives you an idea.

Nice buck! Which digiscope adapter do you use?

 

[willfrye027]

Nice buck! Which digiscope adapter do you use?

A cheap universal one from amazon. Around $25 I think.

 

[snowtoy83]

Any other opinions on this?

 

[jabilly]

Love to know TOO!

 

[Highlands Hunter]

I’ve had the Ares and it’s a good scope for the money. It falls off at high magnification especially towards dark.