kwikstaart
Well-known member
As I could only find older threads I start this new one. Since a few hours I am the proud owner of a Kowa Genesis 8,5x44 and very, very happy with it. Finally, I must say! I have used my Swaro el 8,4x42 sv with great joy since 2012and I saw it as my ultimate birding binoculars. Before that I owned a Nikon EDG 8x42 and I would still have it if the dioptre would have stayed fixed. And alsof there was a Zeiss Victory 10x42 but I found the view too "white". Just a little background. Back to the Kowa. The Genesis had been in the back of my head since 2012 bit it's rather hard to find in Holland and I do not see them in the field. But since I own the Kowa 883 scope I am just a Kowa fan. And now even more as I love the view of the Genesis, the smooth focus and the stable hold in my hands. I can't say they are better than Swaro but the view looks equal to me and that for almost half the money! And the visible print "prominar" when looking through the frontlenses is awesone!! the fact that Kowa doesn't (or almost) associates with hunting is big pro to me! So all in all: I will keep my Swaro but now I will use the Kowa as a first and the Swaro as a nice backup
I won't het into specifications or details: the view through the Kowa is bright, rich, detailed and with beautiful contrast. Maybe the field of the view and edge sharpness could be a little bigger or better but I honestly can't see it as a disadvantage.
I will compare it to a NL Pure and Zeiss SF as soon as I meet some birding friends. But even without comparing I know they will be a little brighter and with a much bigger FOV but for me now it isn't worth it. So although the Genesis is quite an older model it still stands its ground firmly against any other alpha and must be worth considering seriously on either optical and ethical grounds (I know, that's a discussion on its own )
PS I have also looked through a Conquest HD and Trinovid HD. And although I liked the Leica better than the Zeiss (felt plastic and cheap) the Kowa just felt right and better
I won't het into specifications or details: the view through the Kowa is bright, rich, detailed and with beautiful contrast. Maybe the field of the view and edge sharpness could be a little bigger or better but I honestly can't see it as a disadvantage.
I will compare it to a NL Pure and Zeiss SF as soon as I meet some birding friends. But even without comparing I know they will be a little brighter and with a much bigger FOV but for me now it isn't worth it. So although the Genesis is quite an older model it still stands its ground firmly against any other alpha and must be worth considering seriously on either optical and ethical grounds (I know, that's a discussion on its own )
PS I have also looked through a Conquest HD and Trinovid HD. And although I liked the Leica better than the Zeiss (felt plastic and cheap) the Kowa just felt right and better
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