Kowa TS2 (1 Viewer)

[2Gunns]

If anyone cares to give me a hand pointer or guide in the right direction... I will be much appreciated.

This is my second post of the first day on any forum and to that regard this BirdForum

I have purchased a TS1or2 that was on the bay from Japan. It is from what I deem to be in excellent condition. It has a 25x rating for TS1&2 and 20x for TS3.

I have read, most likely from some of you all on this particular thread, and I'm my own research on the web that there are possibly two more Eye Pieces EP a larger 30or 35x and a zoom lens of some sort. Additionally, I read there are certain EP TS3 can fit this scope and perhaps a washer is on order to provide some sort of extra focal length from the scope EP reception locality between the EP itself.

I'm very enthusiastic to find this forum as I have been enjoying its knowledge for sometime and to finally sign up and post.

Of some interest to others perhaps... I will aquire the Kowa TSN55A the new version with the attached, non transferable, TW11? WIDE ANGLE 17X-40X EP lens.

Any help or thoughts on finding the original EPs for the TS1 as I would like to have the full set/selection and for posterity and nostalgia sake, will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you much 🦢🐦

2Gunns

Kowa TS-2 Spotting Scope with 25X Eyepiece TS-1 TS-2 25X Monoculars Telescope | eBay

The lens is clean Enjoy the creative use of the lens. No problems with visibility. No major debris. No scratches. The above condition is just my opinion.

www.ebay.com

 

[2Gunns]

Only three, I'm afraid:

Straight Zeiss Diascope 65 with 23x (2005-2011). Nice easy WA view but a bit yellowish and lacking in edge sharpness.
Swarovski ATM65 HD with 30x W (2011 to date).
Kowa 883 with 25-60x zoom (2017 to date).

The Kowa was intended as a replacement for the Swaro, however I couldn't bring myself to part with it and the Swaro is still taken out in good lighting or when I have to carry the scope for a distance. It would be hard to criticize either.

John

Looks like you had a size creep/increase...?
I'm purchasing my first scope Kowa TSN55A the newest 2nd Gen. Should be arriving hopefully before Independence Day 4th of July.
Care to comment on why the jump up? My thoughts are to have this as a regular back packing scope for bird watching but I have 0 experience with scopes and just recently gotten into binoculars in the past few months.

I think I will purchase an 88 in the future. I thought to myself I will have the 55 but talking to Paul the super man at Kowa USA he stated that the eyepiece is permanent and not detachable transferable.

I know what I like and what I want and I'm thinking is a 66A better than the 55a to pair with the 88.

I don't think I will need to ruck around a 99.

But that's my thought.

Thanks

 

[2Gunns]

No longer have (sadly)
Kowa TS1 and Kowa TS2
Kowa TSN4. Think I had a 20x, 30x and zoom. Regret trading this in.

Still have:
Nickle Supra (Draw tube), never use. Nostalgia only.

Still use:
Nikon ED 50 x27
Opticron MM3 50 HD (SDL2 (x2), SDL3, x18, x24)
Opticron MM4 60 HD (SDL2 (x2), SDL3, x23, x32)
Swarovski STS (x30, x45, x20-60, x25-50)
Swarovski 85mm
Swarovski 95mm
Swarovski 115mm
Swarovski ATX
Swarovski STX
Swarovski BTX
(Swarovski 1.7 Extender)

Hi I just purchased a pristine TS1or2

Kowa TS-2 Spotting Scope with 25X Eyepiece TS-1 TS-2 25X Monoculars Telescope | eBay

The lens is clean Enjoy the creative use of the lens. No problems with visibility. No major debris. No scratches. The above condition is just my opinion.

www.ebay.com

Any knowledge will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you

 

[Hermann]

Hi I just purchased a pristine TS1or2

Kowa TS-2 Spotting Scope with 25X Eyepiece TS-1 TS-2 25X Monoculars Telescope | eBay

The lens is clean Enjoy the creative use of the lens. No problems with visibility. No major debris. No scratches. The above condition is just my opinion.

www.ebay.com

The photo shows a TS-1. The TS-2 was the straight version. I actually had both versions until I switched to a Zeiss Jena Asiola. There were several other scopes in this series, however, I felt the TS-1 and the TS-2 were the best. They were also by far the most widespread.

I had three eyepieces: a 20x WA, the 25x shown in the photo and a 40x. The 25x and the 40x are orthoscopic eyepieces - rather narrow but with really good optical quality. The 20x is much wider and also very good optically. I mainly used the 25x myself, that's a magnification that works really well for me. I think there was also a 60x orthoscopic eyepiece which I never used.

Optical quality was very good for an achromat. A very robust scope with excellent build quality.

Hermann

 

[2Gunns]

The photo shows a TS-1. The TS-2 was the straight version. I actually had both versions until I switched to a Zeiss Jena Asiola. There were several other scopes in this series, however, I felt the TS-1 and the TS-2 were the best. They were also by far the most widespread.

I had three eyepieces: a 20x WA, the 25x shown in the photo and a 40x. The 25x and the 40x are orthoscopic eyepieces - rather narrow but with really good optical quality. The 20x is much wider and also very good optically. I mainly used the 25x myself, that's a magnification that works really well for me. I think there was also a 60x orthoscopic eyepiece which I never used.

Optical quality was very good for an achromat. A very robust scope with excellent build quality.

Hermann

Thank you very much Hermann!

I'll be on the hunt for some of these EPs!
And looking up some new definitions of words and technology!


Such cool knowledge

 

[jring]

Hi,

first of all, welcome to birdforum!

My knowledge of Kowa TS scopes is quite limited as most of them were sold before I was born and I am not really a collector... I do have a cheap straight TS-9 with 20x EP, the last of the series before the TSN scopes started showing up, which I bought out of interest for 50€ or so. View is ok for me, could be a bit wider.

From reading a thread on the german Jülich forum it seems that the EPs of the TS series were interchangeable and there also was a 25-50x zoom and a 60x apart from the ones listed by Hermann above and the 20x of the very short TS-9 (which might be the 40x or even 60x of the TS-1 in disguise or sth different).
The thread on my TS-9 EP is some 28mm very fine pitch - finer than the x0.75 on the TSN accessory thread. I don't have the tools to measure the pitch, sorry.

The zoom was described as mediocre would be a euphemism, so it's probably only of interest to a hardcore collector and the 60x will start to show the limits of the achromat design (in this slower than normal instrument - f7 would be my guess rather than the ususal f5.5-f6), 40x would probably still be quite usable.

Here is the thread from the Jülich forum mangled by google translate:

https://www-osj--forum-de.translate.goog/read.php?9,436880,436880&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Joachim

 

[jring]

Hi,

just remembered my Opticron HDF 40861 (5mm 56 deg) as a possible candidate. But alas, the thread is 29mm, so no instant win - pitch looks similar to the original one. We probably can ask Pete Gamby about the exact specification of the Opticron HDF male thread...

I held it in place and could reach focus out to about 1km with some left, will try infinity later. The view at 40x or so was about the limit of what is usable on this very fast f5 achromat, but of course the tiny 50mm aperture helps...

The could be a candidate for adaption...

The HDF 40858 (12mm 67deg) from the same series showed a nice and sharp wide angle view... up to about 10m... tough luck here...

Joachim

 

[Hermann]

I do have a cheap straight TS-9 with 20x EP, the last of the series before the TSN scopes started showing up, which I bought out of interest for 50€ or so. View is ok for me, could be a bit wider.

The 20x of the TS-9 isn't really a very good eyepiece. It's OK, but no more than that. The scope works better with the 25x or the 40x of the bigger TS scopes, albeit with reduced magnification.

From reading a thread on the german Jülich forum it seems that the EPs of the TS series were interchangeable and there also was a 25-50x zoom and a 60x apart from the ones listed by Hermann above and the 20x of the very short TS-9 (which might be the 40x or even 60x of the TS-1 in disguise or sth different). [snip]

The zoom was described as mediocre would be a euphemism, so it's probably only of interest to a hardcore collector and the 60x will start to show the limits of the achromat design (in this slower than normal instrument - f7 would be my guess rather than the ususal f5.5-f6), 40x would probably still be quite usable.

The zoom ... Well, I got it at the time, never used it. It was pretty bad. I only used the 20x, 25x and 40x. The 40x actually works quite well on these f7 scopes (the TS-1 and TS-2 have a focal length of 420mm). However, the ER is quite low. Not the most comfortable eyepiece to use.

I never found any other eyepiece that fit these old Kowas. And I sure did look.

Hermann

 

[Tringa45]

Care to comment on why the jump up?

A couple of failed IDs served as justification for acquiring a scope with more aperture and higher magnification.
However, I'd go along with Hermann, that 25x will serve you very well most of the time and my personal opinion is that exit pupils under 1,5 mm, i.e. a magnification of 2/3 of the objective diameter in mm, are about the lower limit (upper manification limit) of usability in the field.
Below 2 mm the resolution of one's own observing eye begins to suffer.
Bear in mind too that the larger scope demands a more stable and heavier tripod, which restricts mobility for some.

John

 

[2Gunns]

Thank you John.

Dutifully noted.

I was able to pick up a used Sirui Traveler VC with a pan fluid motion Sirui VA-5 head. Carbon fiber, twist lock 4section legs. The head came wth a plate that will attach to the nearest Kowa TSN 55A that should be here in the next week! I'm very excited as I've spotted an Indigo Bunting for the past month on one of my first posts pictures, in that area on the falls. It's about 150m out across the water with a 50m incline from my position. I'm guesstimating it's the size of a small Robin, but this guy sings and sings and it's blue all over, at least from what I can see with the Kowa BD II XD 8x42. On the third occasion he was in some slightly different trees on a Ridgeline but I got a momentary glimpse of his compatriot singing in competition is what I assume, on an adjacent ridge. Fleeting it was but I did catch the other for a half second.


Thus it brings me to my pack consisting of water, chair, snacks, tea, binoculars x2, various stuff, thermal, flashlight, and then! The scope. And the tripod. Oh and a pocket stove.

The 2 scopes should be interesting I read somewhere the T1 is about 17inches I think the 55A is about 10.7inches but who knows we won't until they both arrive.


Thank you for the knowledge of the effective exit pupil of 2 mi think I need a little more clarification on the 2/3 ratio against the 1.5mm exit pupil? What is the math in looking for in regards to the objective, FYI I don't know the objective size on the Kowa T1, the Kowa 55a is self explanatory.

If you want to give your two cents on what I may want for digiscoping to catch this Indigo Bunting then please I'm all ears!

Back to the task at hand... I think the tripod is despite its light size very sturdy and well built. I think in total it has 2 or 3 bubble levels. A weight hook on the central shaft. There is also the ability for one leg to screw detach off and become a monopod or walking stick.
In total I'm guesstimating about 32~36 pounds when all said and done. The thermos, heavy duty hold hot water for well over 24hrs for my tea leaves, so that's extra weight but a nice luxury, the extra binos a 10x30 P7 Prostaff are really not that much extra weight but not necessary at all against the Kowa 8x42.
I don't think it's a lot but others may especially in such deathly hot weather high 90sF at the moment.
All in all the real thoughts in the long term are this.

I get the Kowa55a when I should be getting the 66a instead. And then to have a pair as well as interchangeable Eye Pieces get the Kowa 88a. It almost seems as if I get the 66a 25x60 compared to the 55a 17x40 that it will be redundant and I sold just get the 66a and the I can get the 88a without the EP.
The other argument is having the 88a and pairing that with the 55a is excellent. as the 55a is so compact that it will be perfect to pair wth a much larger 88a thus they balance each other out in a team up.

I really don't know I've never really had a spotting scope so that's about what I can think of to expound upon.

Thanks again John

In the attached picture, upper left corner you can see the general distance and orientation of the ridge across from my spot.

 

[Tringa45]

Thank you for the knowledge of the effective exit pupil of 2 mi think I need a little more clarification on the 2/3 ratio against the 1.5mm exit pupil? What is the math in looking for in regards to the objective, FYI I don't know the objective size on the Kowa T1, the Kowa 55a is self explanatory.

The diffraction effects of small pupils are mentioned here: Visual acuity - Wikipedia (2nd. § under the graph).

Magnification is Objective aperture/Exit pupil, so a 90 mm scope at 60x would have an exit pupil of 1,5 mm and your 55A should be useful up to about 35x in good light. The scope is probably much better than that, but your eyes may not be able to make full use of its abilities.

Enjoy your 55A. Its introduction evoked an itch as it rectifies the shorcomings of the 553, but I think I'll desist.

John

 

[2Gunns]

Thank you Tringa45

That does help bring the concept in to practical focus, pun intended.

It further helps to give me a fervor to use the T1 when it arrives from Japan with its fixed EP. As opposed to it be a novelty and to some degree nostalgia vintage collecting idea.

I'll take pictures quite literally, of the set up and give my best assessment of the Kowa 55a. Really the best I've looked through is my own Kowa 8x42 BD II XD, which I always am amazed.
The only other high quality terrain based optics I've used which were geared towards targets were a multitude of rifle scopes and yet there was one that really pulled me into the AHA moment of binoculars and birdwatching was the Vortex Fury 5000 10x42 w applied ballistics package.
That Vx F5k really caught me by surprise. I was so focused, no pun intended on targeting and wind age and trajectory and so on that visual appreciation was not even a thought. And I like to fancy myself an artist. I enjoy oil pastels art typically landscape flowers and fauna. It just so happened my freind told me to take a look at a particular tree. It caught me of guard as we were zeroing and I was like uh ok. I turned off the ballistics functions and was like wow that's pretty cool! I could see details that I wasn't t necessarily concerned for previously.
Quite literally that was the moment it all came together. I go on holes and enjoy sipping my tea I nature. Of course with all my gear no need for magicfiresticks🔫 🤣 I need some awesome binoculars!
And there you have it!

I'll definitely update if you or anyone cares to know how the latest greatest optic Kowa55a performs on tripod.

Hopefully I can still digiscoped catch that Indigo Bunting on what I assume to be full blue plumage. Just need to figure out the best cell/digiscoped mount for it.

In that digiscoped regard I have discussed, with Kowa top brass, read and found that the company "OnGlass" is being sponsored? Promoted by Kowa. With this. The EP of the 55, 66, 77 now discontinued?, 88,and 99 with the proud Kowa Prominar seals all having the XD glass Twz 11 was EPs that.......
The On Glass company makes the "Gulf" edition ring magnetic centering device which when paired with the sticky applied and magnetic holder will auto center for Saudi attached optic capturing device ie Cell Phone.

If you Tringa45, Hermann or any other gracious persons care to suggest outside of my own study feel free.

Again thank you John!