In this video, I describe for you some of the features of the KOWA TSN-82SV spotting-scope.
I bought this spotting scope about 2 years ago to use it at the shooting range. At the range, you
can shoot a rifle from about 50 metres through to 500 metres. A spotting-scope is very useful because
it minimizes the number of times you have to walk from the firing point to the target in order to
check the target. It especially saves effort when shooting up to the longer distances of the range.
I bought several accessories to go with this spotting-scope. And I built a simple support
platform you see here that I use at the firing range - when I put this scope on the table - to
support the scope. So join me in this video, as I walk you through a review of the spotting-scope.
This is the Japanese made KOWA TSN-82SV spotting-scope. KOWA also manufactures
several high-end spotting-scopes. I bought this spotting-scope to use at the shooting range.
It just minimizes the number of times I have to walk from the firing point to the target
in order to check my shots. A spotting-scope like this would be useful for animal lovers, for bird-
watchers, for people shooting at the range. I do think it is a little bit too big & heavy for
hunters to take on their backpack hunts. The length from the front of the lens to the tip
of the eyepiece is 383 millimetres. The weight is 1.49 kilograms or 52.5 ounces. The front objective
lens has a diameter of 82 millimetres. And the minimum focus distance is 6 metres or 20 feet.
When you buy the product, it comes as you see with the factory objective lens cover. It's
a screw-on cover, so it's a bit troublesome. It does not come supplied with any eyepiece.
users have a choice of buying a few different eyepieces to suit. Comes with a eyepiece cover. I
built this simple platform to use this spotting-scope at the shooting range when I put it on the
bench. So I've mounted a simple camera base to it. Makes it easier to clamp it on & off. At
the front, there's a sunshade. You can pull it in or out. That's a view of the front of the lens. I've .
installed an optional B+W 86 millimetre T-PRO UV-Haze MRC Nano 010 lens-filter. That's just to protect
the objective lens from damage. This is a locking screw. If I unlock it somewhat, I'm able to rotate
the entire body so that makes it easier for me to find a good orientation.
When you're happy with where you want the orientation to be,
just lock the locking screw. But to be frank , it's very stiff. It doesn't just slip off orientation.
This is what the rear view looks like. A cover. And this is where you mount your optional eyepiece.
Note that inside, there's actually a glass that protects the lens system inside. So
that if anything falls in, it doesn't just go inside to the lens system. That's good.
This is a Sighting-Tube because when you have the lens zoomed, it is difficult to see where
you're aiming. So you use this Sighting-Tube to roughly aim in the direction where the
lens should be looking at. This is a Focus-Knob. That's it. It's very simple.
So now, I'll show you the accessories that I've purchased to add to this spotting-scope. The first
thing I changed was I replaced the screw-on lens-cap with a Snap-On lens-cap. That just makes it
less frustrating. So this is a 86 millimetres diameter lens cap. Let me just show you.
So it clips onto the internal thread. Next, I need an eyepiece. So I bought the TE-9Z.
It gives you 20 to 60 times zoom. And it fits a few other series spotting-scopes; the TSN-660 & the
TSN-600 series. Let me show you how it fits. Remove the cover. This is what the TE-9Z eyepiece looks
like. Very well built. So you see a 20x marking, & a 60x marking. So when you turn the dial,
you can zoom from one range to the other.
Made in Japan. Remove the cover.
What you have is the eyepiece is supplied with a see-through. There's no glass & it just screws on.
I take the red line. I line up with a red-dot, & it will slot in. Then hold the eyepiece in.
Turn clockwise to lock. Don't overforce it. It comes to a limit, you feel it stop -
it stops. Otherwise, you damage it. So this is what the eyepiece looks like fitted.
If I want it to be set on 20x zoom, I turn the 20x to the dot. If I want it to be 60x zoom,
I turn it anti-clockwise, & the 60x will be on the dot. So it's a very high magnification.
Very smooth operation. The next thing I bought was the TSN-CV66. This is what it looks like.
All it is,
it looks like the eyepiece cover that comes standard,
except there's a glass. So I opted for this protective glass in order to protect that eyepiece
there. To mount it, just need to unscrew it anti-clockwise.
Comes off. Take the TSN-CV66, & screw it in clockwise. S now there's a glass protecting
that eyepiece. I wanted to take photographs with this spotting-scope. I did not want to use
a smartphone. I wanted to use my Canon DSLR camera. To do that, I bought this adapter TSN-PA8.
This is what the digiscoping adapter looks like. It comes with the Outer-Tube - this big part.
Then if I loosen the locking screws, I can remove the Inner-Tube. You see the Inner-Tube has a groove.
If I unscrew this, this is the Conversion-Ring.
This Conversion-Ring is required on some eyepieces, & not on
all. Now let me install this digiscoping adapter to the eyepiece. I first have to undo the eyepiece.
Turn it anti-clockwise to remove it.
Done! This Conversion-Ring is not needed because the Inner-Tube screw thread fits directly onto
it. I'll just show you. So it fits but the way to install it is to fit this Inner-Tube
to the eyepiece. Align the dash to the dot.
And lock the eyepiece in. Then screw the Inner-Tube to the body. That's locked & that's locked. Now
take the Outer-Tube - with the locking screws facing the spotting-scope body - put it in that way.
And then there's a groove where the screws will lock into it. Doesn't have to be very tight.
There you go. That's good. And because there's so many types of DSLR, I have a Canon DSLR. There
could be others with Nikon - for instance. I have to use the TSN-CM2-CE
adapter - which will adapt this digiscoping kit to a Canon EF lens-mount. So open this up,
& this is what it looks like. KOWA TSN-CM2-CE.
This part of it mates exactly to a Canon EF lens-mount. This side has to face the camera.
Now the threads are very fine. So never use force because they're so finely machined.
They either fit or they don't. So there's never any need to use force.
That's it. The digiscoping adapter is completely installed. All it needs now is the camera body.
I have here a Canon 5D Mark3 camera. I will remove the lens.
There's a red-dot here in the ring. There's a red-dot here on the body. I will align the 2 dots so
that it can mount. There, there's a click. Now that the body is installed to the adapter, this is heavy.
And so that will turn because I haven't locked this. So I'll get this into an upright position,
then lock the screw.
And then unlock these ones here on the adapter ring, & align the camera so it's horizontal.
And that's it. That's finished. It is ready to take photographs.
I will take some photographs, & include them in the video. You're now ready to take long
distance photographs of animals, birds you're watching; or take pictures downrange. Well,
that's it from me. I do hope you've enjoyed this video, & found it informative. Do hit the LIKE
button, & SUBSCRIBE to my channel for more, & to help the channel grow - thank you so much.