Hi Ron --

We own a Kowa 824 and find it to be an excellent scope (we have the 20-60
zoom eyepiece). However we recently obtained a new Zeiss 85 mm Diascope to
take to our guide in Bhutan and were extraordinarily impressed with its
quality. It is getting rave reviews as well (see
www.birdwatching.com/optics/zeiss_diascope.html as well as
betterviewdesired.com for reviews of these and other scopes -- a great place
to start).

One piece of advice is to try these and other scopes out, as each person has
a different opinion -- not only the optical qualities but ease of use etc.
For example, I personally dislike Swarovski scopes' focusing mechanism (you
turn a ring around the tube) but several friends have told me they prefer it
to the knurled knob that the Kowa and Zeiss use.

Gail Mackiernan
Silver Spring, MD

on 03/22/2005 2:37 PM, Davis, Ron at  wrote:

> I'm new to this listserv and hope that my action is appropriate. Pls forgive
> otherwise.  
> 
> I am looking to buy a spotting scope and wish to buy one while avoiding
> mistakes.  Kowa has had a great name over the years, so that's where I
> believe I should be.  I know I'm priced out of the Kowa 820 series.  However
> the Kowa TSN-3, also having the fluorite lens was a fine predecessor from
> what I know.  Am I on the right track and does anyone know where I might get
> one?  Thank you.
> 
> Ron Davis
> Towson, MD 21286
> 
>