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Kowa Genesis Prominar Binocs |
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JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
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Posted: June/28/2010 at 08:46 |
What's the consensus on the Kowa Genesis 8.5x44 and 10.5x44 prominar binocs? For the guys who have looked through them, what would you compare the view to? Does anyone know how good Kowa's customer service is? Thanks.
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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I've only seen them inside, but as best I could tell in indoor lighting, they looked comparable to some of the best binos you can buy. The few reviews I've read have placed them in the "alpha competitor" category. I would expect they would be very good based on their pedigree.
I believe Koshkin has tested them. He told me once that he thought they had excellent resolution and contrast, but I believe they are lacking a little in FOV.
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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I have not done a full blown test on them, but I have looked at them a fair bit and was impressed. They have a very contrasty image and the colors really "pop".
ILya
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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I wonder why they aren't more popular than they are, especially given the accolades given to their spotters.
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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Beats me. Perhaps, I should do a full test. Maybe there is something I am not aware of. ILya
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lucytuma
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: November/25/2007 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 5389 |
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Ilya, I think you should.
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"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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I second that motion!
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
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CLICK HERE FOR SPEC'S
Edited by Bird Watcher - June/28/2010 at 22:48 |
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NDhunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/15/2006 Status: Offline Points: 601 |
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I see the specs state XD lens elements, now I have heard of ED and HD glass in binoculars,
so does this really mean anything, or is it just a marketing thing?
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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It's just another term for the same thing. XD = "extra low dispersion."
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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stickbow46
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/07/2009 Location: Benton, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4678 |
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+1 with Ted,I would like to add that the Prominar glass has a very high level of florite in it & that supposedly is what makes the color stand out above the rest.I'm sure the DLoO can be give alot more info on this subject.Kowa 88mm is rated as the best spotting scope in the world & I beleive it's because of the florite glass!
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Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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88mm Prominar actually uses a Fluorite crystal element in it, rather than Fluorite glass. That is one of the reasons for its excellence.
The binocular uses some sort of ED/XD glass in it. ILya
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stickbow46
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/07/2009 Location: Benton, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4678 |
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Dark Lord yud the man
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Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken
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