I have some input re: scope ruggedness.

I have a Kowa TSN-4, the straight Flourite (ED) glass model. It is mounted
on a Bogen 3221 tripod with a quick-attach type head. I take meticulous
care of it -- the only scratches occurring when other people get their
grubby hands on it. Until recently. . .

I was unloading the scope (on tripod) from my trunk. I extended the
tripod legs and very dumbly forgot to lock one of them. I stood the whole
thing up on the concrete in back of my car and turned to grab my camera
bag. The far leg collapsed completely, leaving the scope sitting on a
two-legged <G>, tripod. Of course the tripod fell backwards, pivoting the
scope nearly 6 feet, in a free-fall, to the concrete.

WHACK!!!! ...which my wife heard from within the house!

The scope hit exactly on the edge of the objective lens mount area. The
hood was not extended, and the canvas cover was open, so they were of no
help. The metal barrel was dented just in front of the objective lens. The
hood was very hard to extend, because of the dented barrel underneath it. I
was certain that when I looked through it, I would see a kaleidoscope of
little broken bits of lenses, prisms, screws, shafts, pullys, valves,
pistons, tires, carburetors, etc.

Not So! Optically and mechanically the scope is perfect!!! The only
problem is that I have to work a little to extend and retract the sun
shade, and the lens cap fits funny on the bent barrel.

This is one person's experience, with one incident, of one model of
Kowa scope. Trusting that Kowa is as careful in the design and
construction of their current models, this may be helpful information re:
your current search for a scope.

Re: focus mechanisms -- think very carefully, and test scopes, before
buying one with a helical focus mechanism, the kind with the big ring
around the barrel. Make sure that is your cup of tea, especially in quick,
or very precise, focus situations. Some like it, many don't. In my
~opinion~, many don't know what they are missing by having it instead of a
focus wheel of the Kowa/Leica type -- I watch them struggle. Others swear
by it...

Jerry Blinn


E-mail from: Jerry Blinn

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