Well I finally took the plunge, after much humming and hawing.

My Kowa TSN-4 with 20-60x zoom arrives tomorrow.

I chose the Kowa for the following reasons:

1. The focus knob is better placed than the Swarovski - I have doubts of
being able to properly focus a Swarovski when it is windy at relatively high
magnifications - potentially a problem when trying (the emphasis is on trying,
Don) to read band numbers.

2. The Kowa is cheaper by about $100 than the Swarovski from Eagle Optics.
Comparing list prices it is also cheaper than the Optolyth. So paying extra,
for less performance does not make much sense.

3. The Kowa body is now sealed with a pane of glass, like the Swarovski and
Optolyth. This probably clinched the deal for Kowa.

4. Armoring was not considered that important so the relative advantages if
the Swarovski and Optolyth are diminished - if I am going to drop it the
mechanisms most likely damaged are going to be the eye-piece or the focusing.
Having an armored body is not likely to prevent this. Rubber amoring is going
to protect the focussing but not the eye-piece.

5. Weight. The KOWA is 14 oz lighter than the Swarovski. A stable tripod is
going to be the killer when it comes to weight but every little helps.

6. Uncertainty. I could not get enough information about the Optolyth.
(Michael Price: I phoned the Field Naturalist in Victoria as recommended. The
woman on the phone told me they have never carried Optolyth scopes - sound
familiar ;-)


I got the straight through model, rather than the 45 degees it makes viewing
easier when sitting down and is a bit more sheltered from rain. I will require
a monster tripod to go with it however. Anybody got any recommendations - 72
inches is required, preferably not fully extended as this makes the scope more
stable in wind.

Thanks for listening...

Stuart
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Stuart MacKay AT&T Wireless Services
Consultant Developer Oakhurst Building
Axys V4 14335 NE 24th St.
ph. (206) 702-5151 Bellevue, WA
fax (206) 702-5451 98007

stuart.mackay at mccaw.com
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