Kowa TS-613 (1 Viewer)

[O.Reville1989]

Hey all,
About to purchase a Kowa 613, I had a brief look through a 603 a few months ago and fell in love! How do the 2 compare?
Does anyone have any further info on the 613? Trawled the net and found very little!
Just out of nosyness really.
Thanks

 

[AdrianP]

Hi there

Don't drop by here all that often so only just now seen your post. I've got a Kowa TS 613 Prominar which I bought used about 5 years or so ago. I've not got much to compare it to scope wise but when I take it out with my Zeiss Victory T*FL 8X42s, I don't feel like I'm going from a premium product to something of lesser quality (whichever way you care to take that analogy!) Fitted with the 30X Wide eyepiece, it does everything I'd want a small, portable, ED scope to do.

Hope this helps.

Adrian

 

[O.Reville1989]

Hi there

Don't drop by here all that often so only just now seen your post. I've got a Kowa TS 613 Prominar which I bought used about 5 years or so ago. I've not got much to compare it to scope wise but when I take it out with my Zeiss Victory T*FL 8X42s, I don't feel like I'm going from a premium product to something of lesser quality (whichever way you care to take that analogy!) Fitted with the 30X Wide eyepiece, it does everything I'd want a small, portable, ED scope to do.

Hope this helps.

Adrian

Hi Adrian,
Thanks for your reply. Had the scope for a while now and I love it, got the new 30x wide eyepiece with it and its fantastic.
Thanks
Oli

 

[mayoayo]

Hi Oli...Nice scope...always wanted to try the 613!...You still have the Helios fieldmaster?..
Can You make a comment about the way those two scopes compare?...I expect the Kowa to be a bit better optically,although not waterproof..am i right?

 

[O.Reville1989]

Hi Oli...Nice scope...always wanted to try the 613!...You still have the Helios fieldmaster?..
Can You make a comment about the way those two scopes compare?...I expect the Kowa to be a bit better optically,although not waterproof..am i right?

Hiya,
I sent back the Helios Fieldmaster, focus wheel was notchy and tripod plate screw thread wore down within a couple of uses! Not good.
Optically the Kowa is vastly superior, but as you say not waterproof.
I have mated mine to the 30x eyepiece for the 600/660 series and its now even better than before.

 

[mayoayo]

Still a pretty decent scope for O'Couple of hundred!..By the way...There were some member s wondering ,in a thread about the saker,If this fix power eyepiece that was mentioned a while ago was going to be sold by Helios..Have You heard some more on that?

 

[O.Reville1989]

Still a pretty decent scope for O'Couple of hundred!..By the way...There were some member s wondering ,in a thread about the saker,If this fix power eyepiece that was mentioned a while ago was going to be sold by Helios..Have You heard some more on that?

Not heard anything I'm afraid to say. I can only assume it will happen but no real time span is known.

 

[DB_Bouzouki]

I have the 612 ... does anyone know what is the significant difference between them?

 

[Jaff]

The 613/4 have ED glass.

 

[ceasar]

I have the 612 ... does anyone know what is the significant difference between them?

It is mentioned in this review. Scroll down to read it. It does not have ED Glass in the objective lens.

http://betterviewdesired.com/Scope-Fever.php

 

[Irvo52]

I've had the 613 with x30w eyepiece for a while and I'm very happy with it in all types of conditions. Mine has an all weather cover. I'm thinking about getting a x20-60 eyepiece for greater reach. Anyone got any views on that eyepiece?

Brian

 

[Jaff]

I've had the 613 with x30w eyepiece for a while and I'm very happy with it in all types of conditions. Mine has an all weather cover. I'm thinking about getting a x20-60 eyepiece for greater reach. Anyone got any views on that eyepiece?

Brian

Which 20-60x are you referring to?

 

[Irvo52]

The Kowa TSN 1-4

 

[mayoayo]

I had a TSN-2 with the Zoom,.A bit dated ,I would say..It was definitely an old school Zoom, Not great overall,compared with other zooms..,Pretty basic AR coatings(maybe just coated optics,versus Multi-coated)..Short eyerelief,IIRW...A bit murky at high power ,...but It was used in a NON-ED model....Maybe in the small ED 613 performs better...

 

[normjackson]

Believe there are several different Kowa 20-60 zooms with the appropriate bayonet fit from over the years. My understanding is that they improved over time particularly as regards eye relief and performance at the upper end of the zoom. The latest (last?) model, the TSE-Z9, is supposed to be very good but retailing at £349 guess it should be.

There has been a fair bit of discussion on BF about the Opticron HDF zoom working on the TS-61x models; works best with the help of a little rubber washer. That's a more economical way of getting to try a reasonably modern zoom eyepiece with decent eye relief throughout the zoom range. Not sure about its exact magnification range but it probably reaches towards the upper end of what is satisfactory with the 60mm models for day use. Maybe Jaff could give an estimate. Also wonder are the two Opticron SDL zooms useable with the TS-61X models? I've seen mention of them being used with the TSN-1/2/3/4 models.

 

[dogfish]

I had a TSN-2 with the Zoom,.A bit dated ,I would say..It was definitely an old school Zoom, Not great overall,compared with other zooms..,Pretty basic AR coatings(maybe just coated optics,versus Multi-coated)..Short eyerelief,IIRW...A bit murky at high power ,...but It was used in a NON-ED model....Maybe in the small ED 613 performs better...

I'd say definitely avoid the old TSN zoom, poor at higher mags even with my old 77mm TSN3.

Sean

 

[Jaff]

As has been said the older style zooms are very much outdated now but the 613 can accommodate the latest 20-60x zoom made for the 600 series (TSE-9Z) or the Opticron HDF, both will make a world of difference and give the scope a new lease of life. Sadly not the SDL's when you're talking about the 610 series.

The TSE-9Z should maintain 20-60x mag on the 613 but the Opticron HDF being a 20-60x on an 80mm might be more like 18-54x.

 

[normjackson]

The TSE-9Z should maintain 20-60x mag on the 613 but the Opticron HDF...might be more like 18-54x.

That looks right :t: Based on figures given on Opticron website the HDF zoom is ca 8-24mm and the TS-61x series has an effective fl of 420mm.

 

[mayoayo]

Since We are on the subject,..I have an 823 now, and would like a Zoom as well..Would any of the Opticron models work with it?...And How Do these models attach to Kowa fittings?
Thanks

 

[normjackson]

The idea is that the Opticron zoom eyepieces can attach to a thread surrounding the eyepiece bayonet socket:
http://www.longrangehunting.com/for...1-spotting-scope-20-60x-eyepiece-img_5419.jpg
which I guess is for attaching a cover for the scope body or even something to protect the eyepiece :
http://www.longrangehunting.com/for...1-spotting-scope-20-60x-eyepiece-img_5420.jpg
Similarly I see BFer johnf3f uses an SDL v2 on his TSN-4.
From this page it looks as though there might be a similar thread on the TSN-822 but am afraid have no idea what size it is :
http://www.longrangehunting.com/for...2x-wide-angle-21x-wide-angle-eyepieces-95397/