Kowa 663 vs 773

1shot1

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Mar 14, 2019
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The Kowa 663 vs 773 compare optical ? Also maybe The 601? I'm trying nor to spend $2000.00 the only think to these to are my Swaro SLC's .
 

gr8fuldoug

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The TE11WZ 25-60x wide eyepiece for the 773 is far superior to the TE9Z 20-60x eyepiece on the 66 series

We do have demo TSN-662's with new TE-9Z eyepieces for only $799.99

FYI, we just got in a couple of mint like new demo Meostar S2 spotters with 20-70 eyepieces for $1,999.99
 
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1shot1

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Mar 14, 2019
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How much more superior are the 773 ? I would also like to hang these on my truck window for sizing up mule deer and antelope ?
 
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1shot1

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How do the 664 compare to swaro. slc for clarity and sharpness ?
 
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I just got a 602 and am very happy with it. I thought the 20-60 would be pretty bad above 40x but was pleasantly surprised with how well it does. Mostly will be used to evaluate game rather than searching. Weighs a little over 2lbs, usuable at 60x, and cost me $500 used. Haven’t looked through many spotters but for me I think it will be perfect. Better than I expected based on lack of ed glass, few reviews, etc.
 
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1shot1

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Mar 14, 2019
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I probably will use mine for both, won't be thanking any pictures with them. I have a pair of Leitz bios a Leica made from the 1980's and just about as good as the SLC's but color probably better with Leitz.
 

jmden

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The Kowa 773 should be a big jump up optically, if you are willing to pay the additional cost and pack the weight. Besides a larger objective that will let in ore light and naturally give better resolution, it has the pure fluorite crystal (not optical glass) objective lens and for quite awhile (until the 553/554 came along) was the only spotting scope ( (along with Kowa 883/884) in the industry with a pure fluorite crystal objective lens. Basically, pure fluorite crystal is what all the HD/ED, etc. glass of other manufacturers is trying to grow up to be. Kowa is the only company that figured out how to make it synthetically, apparently, it is not typically in large enough, unbroken quantities in nature to use it for lenses. The reason they use it? Better than any other lens material at reducing chromatic abberation, one thing HD/ED glass is trying to do, and does pretty well. But the standard is fluorite crystal.

I've got the 664 and 554 and like them both, but the 774 or 884 would be awesome!! I like straight scopes as I'm typically looking downhill and the straight scope design seems to work well for that. They tend to pack with a little less bulk too.
 

notchfir3

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Oct 29, 2018
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Heavier weight and greater bulk are negatives. May want a heavier tripod as well.
Need an adapter to use the other Kowa lenses, according to their website. Of course, you may not want to in any case, but note the new lenses will surely be more costly.
The opportunity cost of not having 700.00 free to fill other gaps is substantial.

The gain in twilight observation time from the larger objective is perhaps 15 minutes.
 
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1shot1

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Mar 14, 2019
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What eye piece are you using on the 664 ? I found a 773 angled at a good price but still $2000.00 with eye piece vs $1280 for a 664 . I feel the straight would be better also. Also 554 for 1632.00. How does the 554 compare to the 664 ?
 

jmden

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TE-9ZZ, I think it is on the 664. 20-60x and I was surprised how often I used the 60x. Pretty clear. As is typical with Kowas, folks complain of narrow field of view. The 664 is definitely a little better than the 554--larger objective gives slightly better resolution and lets in a bit more light, but depending on hunt, I'll likely take the 554 more.
 
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1shot1

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Mar 14, 2019
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Most of my hunting is hilly and prairieland so will go with the 664 for now .
 
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