Looking for Field Experience with Kowa TSN-550

Rick M.

WKR
Joined
Mar 9, 2018
Messages
531
Location
Upper Midwest
I'm looking for feedback from any folks that may have used this spotter in the field. I've read great things about it on the birding forums, and it seems like a great companion to a pair of 8x binos on the chest. I am currently stuck deciding between the small, lightweight 550 and the flagship 880. Has anyone here used one or both of these? If so, what are your thoughts? Would the 550 suffice for mule deer in the active hours (early and late) or would I be better off sucking it up and packing in the heavier, more cumbersome 880s?

I appreciate any feedback. This forum has separated me from many a dollar, but I've never regretted a purchase thus far :)
 
I own both and have tested them against each other, and written about them here before. In a nutshell, if there's plenty of light and a fair amount of heat distortion, I cannot see much superiority of the 880 over the 550 besides the wider field of view at the same magnification. However, when the sun gets low or looking into shadows, the 550 starts to struggle. Because light gets pretty dim during my hunting season, I usually pack the 880.
 
One benefit of the 77 and 88 series is that you can run the 1.6x extender on them to reach 96x. It transforms both of those into ridiculously capable scopes. I have the 77 and the 55.


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Truthfully you would be better getting a 55 and 77, they serve different purposes but come hunting the 55 is always in my pack.

I also have the 55 and 77.
 
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