Kowa Optics: Kowa Binoculars & Scopes
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About Kowa
The Kowa Company has been around since 1894 and has in that time grown into becoming the 5th largest trading company in Japan. Now a multi-national company, Kowa have a presence in the world's three largest markets, Asia, Europe and the Americas.
The Electronics and Optics division of Kowa began producing quality spotting scopes in 1952 where they were designed to be used in shooting events and were the official spotting scope used in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.
It was not long after this that they were discovered by bird watchers and became very popular throughout the world. With this success Kowa took much of this technology and applied it to other forms of optics including binoculars. Kowa binoculars are now some of the finest produced anywhere in the world.
As well as the Electronics & Optics Division Kowa have a Pharmaceutical Division, Textile Division and the Non-Textile (General Merchandise) Division.
>The Kowa Binocular Range
Kowa established itself amongst birders and nature lovers with their excellent line of Kowa TSN spotting scopes which are very highly regarded, this then spurred them onto producing high quality binoculars most of which are aimed at birders and nature viewers.
Kowa Prominar Binoculars
You will often see the Prominar brand name used with high end Kowa Binoculars and their spotting scopes, this is because on some models, including the Popular Genesis binoculars, Kowa use the very high spec XD Lenses from Prominar.
Most popular Kowa Binoculars:
The Prominar Genesis line of binoculars (Sometimes known as XD Binoculars) which currently contains the Genesis XD44 Binoculars (8.5x44 and a 10.5x44) and the new Genesis XD33 Binocular Series (8x33 and a 10x33) are intended to challenge the high end contenders of Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski and Nikon.
Their BD25 Binocular Series that contains two magnifications (8x25 and 10x25) are not only very compact and portable, but also very popular.
Kowa Genesis Binoculars
Due to copy write reasons the Kowa Genesis binoculars were called XD binoculars in Europe, this I think has now been sorted, but you will still often see it referred to the XD series in Europe.
Roof Prism Binoculars, designed to take on the high end of the market, competing with brands like Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski and Nikon the Genesis range of binoculars come in two different objective lens sizes, each with two different magnifications.
Kowa Genesis XD44 Binoculars
The specifications of the Prominar Genesis XD44 binoculars are impressive: Produced in Japan, the binoculars have an objective with 4 lens-elements (two of them made of Prominar XD lenses, made from extra low dispersion glass), a 5 lens-element ocular, and the Schmidt-Pechan prism system contains a dielectric reflective surface with C3 Coating and 99% reflectivity. A close focus of 1.7m is specified, and there exists a filter thread at the objective end which takes standard 46mm photo filters. The entire construction is embedded into a magnesium alloy frame, is fully water proof and nitrogen filled. If there has been one slight criticism, then it is the weight.
Sizes Available:
- Kowa Genesis XD 8.5x44 Binoculars
- Kowa Genesis XD 10.5x44 Binoculars - >> Read Full Review
Kowa Genesis XD33 Binoculars
The newer Genesis XD33 Series was developed in a response to customer feedback where many felt that whilst the Genesis XD44 Binoculars were fantastic, they were too heavy for some people. These are far lighter than the XD44's, but maintain the quality Prominar XD lenses, Schmidt-Pechan prism system with Kowa's own C3 Coating, for a brighter sharper image. They have reduced the magnifications slightly to a more conventional 8x and 10x and thus have increased the fields of view, making them ideal birdwatching binoculars.
Sizes Available:
- Kowa Prominar Genesis XD 8x33 Binoculars
- Kowa Prominar Genesis XD 10x33 Binoculars
Download Kowa Genesis Catalogs:
Kowa BD 25 Series - Compact Binoculars
One of the most popular ranges of Kowa Binoculars are their ultra compact BD 25 Binoculars that come in two configurations: 8x25 and 10x25
Becuse of their compact size, combined with quality optics, they are very versitile and can be used for numerous applications, including sporting events, hiking, traveling, and bird watching.. but also with a close focus of only 6 feet (1.8m) they are also ideal for close observation of things like plants and insects.
All lenses and prisms are within the binoculars are fully multicoated and the prism is phase-coated producing images that are sharp and have excellent contrast. Fully waterproof and filled with nitrogen gas, they also come with twist up eyecups that have good eye relief for comfortable viewing.
Sizes Available:
- Kowa BD 8x25 Binoculars (BD25-8GR) 8x25DCF
- Kowa BD 10x25 Binoculars (BD25-10GR) 10x25DCF
Download Kowa BD Catalogs:
>Where to Buy Kowa Binoculars:
>>Featured Kowa Binoculars
Below are a few featured Kowa Binoculars: View >> All Kowa Binoculars reviewed
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View >> All Kowa Binoculars reviewed on The Best Binoculars & Reviews website.
Kowa Binoculars on Amazon:
Amazon USA
Amazon UK
>Kowa Spotting Scopes
It is probably true to say that spotting Scopes are what put Kowa on the map in terms of world wide recognition. Kowa began producing quality spotting scopes in 1952 where they were designed to be used in shooting events and were the official spotting scope used in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. Soon after that they were discovered by bird watchers and became very popular. To this day Kowa produce some of the finest spotting scopes in the world.
The Kowa Spotting Scope Range:
- Kowa TSN-880 Spotting Scopes
- 88mm Objective Lenses
- Waterproof
- Fluorite Crystal
- Kowa TSN-770 Spotting Scopes
- 77mm Objective Lenses
- Waterproof
- XD Lens
- Kowa TSN-82SV Spotting Scopes
- 82mm Objective Lenses
- Waterproof
- Normal Lenses
- Kowa TSN-660 Spotting Scopes
- 66mm Objective Lenses
- Waterproof
- XD Lenses
- Kowa TSN-600 Spotting Scopes
- 60mm Objective Lenses
- Waterproof
- XD Lenses
- Kowa TS-500 Spotting Scopes
- 50mm Objective Lenses
- ED Lenses
Kowa C3 Coating
Kowa's roof prism binoculars, that include the Genesis, High Lander and BD series of binoculars use the Schmidt-Pechan prism. One surface of the Pechan prism does not provide total reflection, so Kowa have applied a highly reflective multi-coating called C3 coating.
This lens coating allows for a higher reflectivity than with silver or optically enhanced aluminum, offering a reflectance of 99% or higher across the entire visible spectrum (400 to 700 nm). This gives bright and sharp images and also more accurate color reproduction.
On top of this the roof prism of the Schmidt prism is phase coated to prevent the loss of contrast and image resolution.
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Fig.1 Prism Construction |
Fig.2 |
> Kowa Catalog Downloads
>Kowa Contact Details
Electronics & Optics Division
4-14 Nihonbashi-honcho 3-chome,
Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8433, Japan
Tel: 81(3)5623-8062
Email: info@kowa-prominar.com
Kowa Optimed. Inc
20001 South Vermont Ave.
Torrance, CA 90502
Tel: 310-327-1913 / Fax: 310-327-4177
Email: kowa-usa-info@kowa.com
Kowa Europe GmbH
Immermannstrasse 43B
40210 Duesseldorf, F.R. Germany
Tel: 49(211)1793540
Email: Scopes@Kowa-Europe.com
Nikon EDG Promotion
Buy a Nikon EDG binocular or spotting scope and Nikon will send you a free D3000 camera kit with 18-55VR Nikkor lens >> More Details.
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