It's around 3200 now because of their winter sale, it's 3400 normally. There's no way they'll put pure fluorite in the 66 series and have it at the 773 price point. Hell, the 55 isn't much cheaper than a 77 series and it has a fixed eyepiece. It'll be $2700+ on a conservative estimate with the TE-11 eyepiece.
I used to have the Kowa 773 and I have an ATX65 now. The 773 is just as good as the atx and the 773 is a good deal cheaper. The only advantage of the atx is packability and versatility with different lens options. In my opinion of course.
How much more does the 77 give you? I’ve got the 77 and very happy with it but considering downsizing to the 55
The 77 is better but the 55 is perfect for hunting unless your sheep or goat hunting then I’d use my 77. Where it shines is weight and bulk, it is always in my pack. It weighs nothing compared to the 77 and takes up half the space in the pack. The optics are clear all the way from low to high magnification. The biggest downside to the 55 over the 77 is fov, the 55 has a narrow fov but it’s the perfect combo for glassing with your binos and then once something is spotted getting a closer view, all using the same tripod and head, no need for a 2lb+ tripod and 12oz+ head.
As stellar as the 55 is, there’s no cheating the limited light gathering of a 55mm. If you glass with limited light, you’ll wish you didn’t downsize.
I haven’t done the comparison in a long time but when I first bought I did against my swaro 80hd, it doesn’t fall off 15 mins earlier, it’s mins difference, the diff wasn’t material to me enough so I sold the swaro, since then I added the 77 with extender but to me the 77 is for the range, scouting and play, the 55 is for hunting. You may lose a little detail at a mile at last light but it’s not where you’ll miss an opportunity at an animal during legal hunting hours.
My opinion was based off my 553 vs 883. To me, there was a significant difference during the last hour of light. It wasn’t just that I could glass longer, it was during anytime of less than bright midday sun, the picture in the 553 was dimmer and I was less confident with discerning detail.
I can understand that, think it really depends on what you are hunting and where, also that 88 is much better then the swaro I had.
When my wife sees the credit card bill I will tell her it’s all your fault
Haha, you wouldn’t be the first!
