Spotter decision

[agardner00]

Ok, I’ve narrowed it down to Kowa 773/4 and Swaro A/STS 65mm (25-50 eyepiece). Which one and why? KS whitetail, western muleys, elk, and pronghorn. Thanks, Sliders


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[agardner00]

FYI my other optics gear are 10x42 SLCs and Leica 2800.com


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[Doc Holliday]

I just got back from an elk hunt with my new STS 65 w/20-50 eyepiece. Very happy with it..I have heard nothing but good things about Kowa, but I have Swaro binos and scopes as well (which I also am very happy with), so that's what I went with.

 

[Huntandjeep]

I've never looked at Kowa but love my Swarovski 65 with the 25x50 eye piece . I also have the 20x60 eye piece but use the wide angle more .

 

[Matt G.]

I think at the end of day, do you want a slightly better FOV, magnification, a minute or two low light vs swaro for better price. I think the only real down fall is weight. Either way you get a great product... i went kowa and have not looked back.

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[agardner00]

I might be able to save a couple hundred with the Kowa, but that’s not really a consideration. Straight up, is the Swaro a better piece of glass? FOV and edge to edge are very important.


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[agardner00]

I just got back from an elk hunt with my new STS 65 w/20-50 eyepiece. Very happy with it..I have heard nothing but good things about Kowa, but I have Swaro binos and scopes as well (which I also am very happy with), so that's what I went with. View attachment 232413
View attachment 232414

Those are some great pics


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[willfrye027]

I own the kowa 774 and compared it side by side with the swaro 65mm this fall in Wyoming. It was good light middle of the day. The kowa has a slightly sharper image with better contrast. You had to really try hard to see a difference, but myself and two others felt like kowa has the better image...slightly and definitely not a game changer. The swaro is physically smaller. I like the focus on the kowa better. In low light, I have no doubt the kowa would overtake the swaro with another 10mm additional Objective for light gathering. Can’t go wrong with either one.

 

[BluMtn]

I have the 884 and have looked through the swaro 85. I am not missing anything.

 

[skierhs]

I’d go Swaro. In my experience your resale value is better due to the swaro brand compared to kowa. They’re both solid glass and my eyes prefer the swaro over Kowa. You’ll find the kowa owners always think there glass is better than swaro and vice versa. Look through them and go from there.

 

[pc3]

Just as another option you may not have considered...myself and a few other members use the Meopta S2 with great results, if you can get it on special it is an exceptional deal, I narrowed my choice down to the Kowa or Meopta and CL had the Meopta on special so went that way. The view is exceptional, useable right to 70x and for an 82mm scope is not that bulky.

 

[marktole]

No one else has mentioned this, but I saw you put down the straight and angled options for both scopes. Angled gets my vote every day of the week and twice on Sunday. I have a Swaro ATX 85 and it gets used off the pickup window (also in KS) quite a bit more than anywhere else. Sometimes it takes a little bit to get used to using an angled, but once you’ve got it down you won’t look back. I especially like the angled when I am sitting in my pickup because I can rotate the scope eye piece to either side and comfortably look almost 180 degrees out the window.

As far as the Kowa 77 vs the TS 65, I would personally take the Kowa 77. My buddy has one that I looked through side by side with my ATX 85 and I was impressed with it. I think it is good middle ground between a 65 and an 85 if you’re planning to use it for some hunting where you’ll be carrying it a lot, and other hunts glassing from your pickup or not going far with it.

Good thing is you’ve narrowed it down to two really great optics, so no matter what you choose it will work out for you.

 

[Jralmgren]

Straight glass fits in the pack a little easier. Swaro might be a little easier to sell if you decide you want something different. I’ve looked through both. Low light I give the nod to Kowa, but all other times it’s a toss up. I don’t think you can go wrong with either one.