Kowa or Champion Choice house brand spotting scope???

[pric...@my-deja.com]

I am looking at buying a spotting scope for around $200. After reading
this and the bird watching newsgroups I've learned that Kowa and
Champion's Choice seem to be the big names for this price range. I can
get a close out Kowa TS-501 ZG, 50mm, 20-40x zoom for around $200, or I
can get the Champion's Choice 22 - 60mm.

Which do you folks prefer? I'll be shooting to a maximum of 300 yards.

Also, which is better - a 45 degree view or a straight view?

Thanks in advance.

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[gregory garland]

I have looked through the high - end Kowas, and they are brilliant. That
said I am quite happy with my Champion's Choice brand scope. I have both
the 22x and a 40x eyepiece. The 22x eyepiece is just fine.

I like the 45 degree eyepiece as it works well for shooting from position,
and it can be made to work well for shooting from a bench as well. I would
not hesitate to buy another if I needed one.

I do not know how well the lower end Kowas work. However, if you go to Jim
Owens' website he may have some used, trade-in Kowas for a reasonable price.

Regards,
Gregory.
<pric...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:8jkr30$f75$1...@xring.cs.umd.edu...
> ...

[Pjtg0707]

On 1 Jul 2000 09:18:24 -0400, pric...@my-deja.com <pric...@my-deja.com> wrote:
#I am looking at buying a spotting scope for around $200. After reading
#this and the bird watching newsgroups I've learned that Kowa and
#Champion's Choice seem to be the big names for this price range. I can
#get a close out Kowa TS-501 ZG, 50mm, 20-40x zoom for around $200, or I
#can get the Champion's Choice 22 - 60mm.
#
#Which do you folks prefer? I'll be shooting to a maximum of 300 yards.
#
#Also, which is better - a 45 degree view or a straight view?
#
#Thanks in advance.
#

I've just ordered a Kowa 612, which is quite a bit over your budget of $200.
I opted for the Kowa because I can also get accessories to fit the thing over
my SLR to take nature/bird pictures with as well, which is not a choice for i
lesser scopes.

If I factor in the cost of a telephoto lens, then Kowa seemed like a bargain
when it serves double duty as high power telephoto lens and as a spotting scope
at the range.

I figure I just want to buy quality once and be done with it.

YMMV

[Iambudtoo]

What I strongly urge you not to do is buy a Tasco spotting scope. What they're
selling in this range is junk and they don't even reply to customer complaints.

Bud

[Bill Barott]

Between these two scopes, go with the Champions Choice scope. A 60 mm
objective is the minimum required for good serviceablility on a highpower
range, IMO. Their 30 power eyepiece is a nice $50 accessory you will
probably eventually want to have.

The Kowa is a high quality scope (fwiw I own a TSN-821) but the smaller 50 mm
lens just doesn't have the clarity and light-gathering ability required, IMO.

You

pric...@my-deja.com wrote:

> ...

[pric...@my-deja.com]

Thanks for the reply,

I've not seen any accessories advertised for the Champion's Choice
scope. Where did you find the 30 Power eyepiece?

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[stey...@yahoo.com]

# range, IMO. Their 30 power eyepiece is a nice $50 accessory you will
# probably eventually want to have.

One reason many shooters stay with the 22x eyepiece is that when you go
to higher magnification, you also magnify the mirage and narrow the
field of view.

Having said that, if there's low mirage, sometimes one can pick out
your bullets holes at 300 yards after the first clip with the higher
power, better.

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[Christopher Morton]

On 1 Jul 2000 09:18:24 -0400, pric...@my-deja.com wrote:

#I am looking at buying a spotting scope for around $200. After reading
#this and the bird watching newsgroups I've learned that Kowa and
#Champion's Choice seem to be the big names for this price range. I can
#get a close out Kowa TS-501 ZG, 50mm, 20-40x zoom for around $200, or I
#can get the Champion's Choice 22 - 60mm.
#
#Which do you folks prefer? I'll be shooting to a maximum of 300 yards.
#
#Also, which is better - a 45 degree view or a straight view?

I've got a Champion's choice angle spotting scope. I use it for rifle
and pistol. It was a good value for the money at the time, but it
isn't a Kowa. If it's a real Kowa, and about the same price (hard to
believe), get the Kowa.

---
Gun control, the theory that Black people will be
better off when only Mark Fuhrman has a gun.

Check out:

http://extra.newsguy.com/~cmorton

[Ken Marsh]

Hi,

First of all, ditch the idea variable eyepiece and get the long eye
relief fixed power. Fixed has better resolution and clarity, plus
they're cheaper or the same price for better quality.

Secondly, definitely get the 45 degree body, unless you are only
using it as a coach. The angled body lets you set it up sideways
alongside your shooting position.

I don't know anything about the Champion's Choice scope, but the Kowa
will always have good resale value, and some places let you trade-up
Kowa's. Consider the 60mm TS-611 body if you are really using it at 300
yards.

Ken.

[bob4...@my-deja.com]

I had to make the same decison a few months ago,
and bought the Champions choice without a chance
to compare them. This Saturday I got a chance to
compare my CC with one of the 50mm Kowas (I'm not
sure it's the exact one you mention, it was 50mm,
with a variable zoom, it had a shorter body than I
expected, shorter than the CC brand). Anyway,
several people looked through both and we all
agreed that the CC was crisper and
clearer. This was at 100 yards, on a perfect day,
so YMMV under other distances and conditions.

Bob

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