Would I be giving up too much?

[Rackseekers]

I Currently have a Kowa 884, and I love the scope itself but lately have been deciding of possibly selling it and getting smaller and lighter. I live in southern Arizona and spend most of my time packing in for Coues deer. The 884 is an amazing scope and the quality of the images and video I can get is amazing. After doing a lot of research it seems something like the STS 65 with the 25x50 Wide angle or the Kowa 66 would be a great choice without sacrificing too much on the optical side. I don't have any real-world experience with the other optics so figured I would see if anyone on here has, and what their thoughts where. I do have a pair of NL 14s as well I use as my main glass.

Thanks in advance for the input.

 

[4th_point]

I could post a bunch of technical/optical mumbo-jumbo, but I think the best thing you could do is rent a 66 and compare it to your 88 over several days. Multiple days under different lighting conditions and different landscapes if possible. And avoid areas of mirage.

If Coop here still rents gear, I'd try to talk to him about getting his best 66 if he's got any 4rent.

 

[Rackseekers]

I would definitely agree that would be the most ideal solution. I may have to look into that. I know alot of stuff ive come across say the new 66 is only a smidge behind the 88. I know everyone's eye is diffrent. To me if its even close I think I would benefit more from the packabulity. The 88 takes up quite a bit of space in the pack, when packing in would be nice to have alittle more room to have options for gear placement.

 

[Bubblehide]

I completely get a lighter 65-ish spotter, as I've been considering it for a few years. I think there are 2 main things 2 consider; are you after trophy animals, and the distance your spotting animals at. Cows deer, as you know, have the smallest of racks of the continous North American states deer. Even boner coues bucks don't get close to the width and height of nice blacktail, whitail and mule deer. So I'm sure you're worried about detail in many cases. If you're not after trophy animals, the 65 will likely serve you well. If you want to see small kickers at distance and ..., you may want to stick with the 884.

With that said, I've been fortunate to put my tag on a few really nice bucks, including Coues (properly pronounced cows). I have never actually needed an 80-80+ mm spotter to decide to chase a particular buck, even from 2 miles. But it sure is nice to see them through a good large objective spotter. But, as age catches up to me, I've gone to the ultralight side, if I'm packing in.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

You would just need the TSN-66 Tube as your current eyepiece will fit