Second scope

[peterk1234]

I am proud owner of a kowa 883. Love the thing. It's used at the range, for hunting and photography. The image quality when I'm taking pics is incredible. But, with a tripod in lugging around 8 pounds.

I'm seriously considering a lighter compromise when going on farther and carrying stuff like sleeping gear.

Very tempted to get the kowa 553. But the price is giving me pause. Since I have is big brother, maybe I would be happy with a slightly lower quality. It would only be used for hunting. And it would/ should take over where my meopta meostar binos max out. Considering the vortex 50mm.

Bad idea? Or do you guys think it would fit the need? I would pair it with a lighter tripod as well. I think I can shave four pounds.

 

[std7mag]

While way below your price range, & probably your optics quality, i have a Celestron C70 Mini Mak.

Large diameter, short body length, and doesn't weigh near as much as a conventional spotter.
Add the fact that the eye piece is standard telescope threads & dimensions. You can taylor the eyepiece to your needs. Along with color filters for weather/ambient light conditions.

I typically watch deer, elk, bear about 600 yards to about 2 miles.

Where it sucks is seeing 22 caliber bullet holes on off color paper when there's lots of mirage.
The different eyepiece lenses help, but take away the zoom ability.

 

[klampson]

The two spotters I hunt with the most are the Kowa 773 and Vortex Razor 11-33x50. While the Razor is a good scope, and it fits my needs as a pack scope, the Kowa is just way better glass. I‘ve contemplated selling my Razor to buy a Kowa 553.

 

[peterk1234]

The two spotters I hunt with the most are the Kowa 773 and Vortex Razor 11-33x50. While the Razor is a good scope, and it fits my needs as a pack scope, the Kowa is just way better glass. I‘ve contemplated selling my Razor to buy a Kowa 553.

Is clarity the issue or the fov?

 

[PorterHouse]

Get either the Kowa 553 or check out the Leupold Gold Ring HD 12-40x60mm. I was between these two options when upgrading spotters last year and have been very happy with the Gold Ring I got.

 

[klampson]

Looking through the Kowa the image quality is brighter and crisper.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I have a meopta s2 82 and a kowa 553. The kowa and a sub 2# tripod/head combo are what comes with hunting if I have considerable walking to do. I don't have experience with the competition but I know the kowa has ranked considerably above the others at that size/weight class in comparison.

The little Kowa can get impressively sharp images but there is a notable compromise between it and the 82 meopta in the form of FOV and sensitivity to perfect eye placement. There is just a much tighter window to where your eye needs to be to get a good image compared to the bigger scopes.

Since I have is big brother, maybe I would be happy with a slightly lower quality.

For me it'd be more like "since I have a sweet 883, its hard to be happy looking through a smaller budget spotter".

That said, i have no experience with the 50 razor and know quite a few people were happy with them when the choice was between it and the 50 nikon before the 553 release.