KOWA TSN-88 and TSN-99

11 january 2023

Topics:

B R I G H T , W I D E , C R Y S T A L C L E A R

The new KOWA TSN-99mm

Specifications

T H E B E S T
V I E W I N G E X P E R I E N C E

Pure fluorite glass, along with multilayer lens treatments, provides excellent definition, contrast and light transmission, while virtually eliminating chromatic aberration for exceptional color sharpness and fidelity.

The large 99 mm lens ensures a formidable use of ambient light.

F I E L D
O F V I E W

The eyepiece TE-11WZ II has a Zoom magnification ranging from 30 to 70 increases, maintaining at all times a great image quality and a wide field of view.

The innovative TSN-90XW 40x fixed magnification eyepiece is also available, with even brighter optics, which maintains uniform sharpness throughout the image and offers an extremely wide field of view of 80°.

This eyepiece is ideal for digiscoping thanks to its large field of view that minimizes vignetting.

DUAL FOCUS

A convenient dual-wheel focus system allows you to get focused images quickly and accurately.

R E S I S T A N T

The magnesium alloy housing provides strength while maintaining a light weight of the assembly.

In addition, its construction is compact and results in a portable telescope without losing its elegant design.

Watertight and totally waterproof. Additional KR coatings reduce the accumulation of dust or dirt on the lenses. The neoprene cover has just given it extra protection against natural elements.

E X T E N D E R

The TSN-EX16 adapter allows you to multiply the magnification of the eyepieces by a factor of 1.6 while maintaining a high image quality, offering a maximum magnification of 112x with the 30-70x (TSN-11WZ II) eyepiece and 64x with the fixed magnification eyepiece (TSN-80XW).

The field experience from our partner Xavi Riera

Following the trend of the most reputed optics brands to make telescopes with ever larger objective lenses, Kowa has extended its famous TSN series with a 99 mm diameter model.

I had the opportunity to try it in the Cambrils Harbour, taking advantage of the Sabine's Gull and a Common Gull sighting.

At first glance the telescope's design is impeccable, with a combination of green and black with the famous red ring that distinguishes models with fluorite lenses. Although it is obviously a large device, it is not excessively heavy and, furthermore, the balance is excellent, as it has the center of gravity well where the tripod-binding foot is located. Externally, the telescope is not covered with rubber, so it will also be necessary to acquire the neoprene sheath if it is to be kept in impeccable aesthetic conditions.

However, the device is watertight and the eyepiece is equipped with a rubber board that will prevent the entry of water, dust or moisture, so the sink will basically serve to avoid scratches and, as I said, keep it aesthetically impeccable. Another detail that I liked was that the base for on the tripod has two holes and one blind hole that is very useful for preventing the telescope from rotating on the tripod.

As for its performance, the optical quality of the TSN-99A is impeccable. In good light conditions, such as those we had throughout the morning of the test day, sharpness and image contrast are perfect even at 70 magnification, allowing us to read, without any difficulty the names of fishing vessels at a very distance. All this without any perceptible chromatic aberration. The performance of the TSN-99 optics is among the highest in any telescope that can be purchased today for bird observation. Having said that, the importance of mounting this device on a high quality tripod and head in order to avoid vibrations that would make it hard to observe any element in 70x magnification.

It must be mentioned the quality of the dual-focus wheel that allows sharp images to be obtained quickly while accurate. It is noted that this is one of the mechanical characteristics of the device in which the Japanese brand has worked more and better, because it is worth saying that its performance is impeccable.

During the test the eyepieces TE-11WZ II 30-70x, TE-80XW and TSN-EX16 were used, the first being the most versatile and the one that most users will probably choose. In the case of TE-80XW, although image quality and field of view are truly exceptional, for my preference, 40x magnification is too much when you are, for example, observing passerines at a middle distance.