Kowa TSN-883 Prominar Spotting Scope photos by Larry Jordan
I did a lot of research before buying my spotting scope because I wanted to use it for digiscoping as well as bird watching. Being an avid birder and Audubon member, I have been on many bird outings and peered through many a spotting scope.
When I spent the day with Jeff and Dawn of Dawn’s Bloggy Blog at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge and looked through Jeff’s Kowa (pronounced koh-uh) 88mm spotting scope, I was impressed.
I was so impressed with the Kowa TSN 883 Prominar Spotting Scope that I treated myself to this digiscoping setup as a Christmas (and several other occasions, rolled into one) present.
I had purchased the Nikon D90 camera the previous Christmas so I only needed a few accessories to hook it up to the Kowa scope. The good folks at B&H Photo gave me all the information I needed to purchase the correct mounting hardware.
The Kowa 883 is made for digiscoping. The Kowa TSN-DA10 digital camera adapter screws directly on to the eye piece once the eye cup is removed and it attaches to the AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8D lens using the Kowa 52mm digital camera adapter ring.
To make it easier to take the digiscoping gear with me on longer hikes, I decided to go with the Benro C-058EX Carbon Fiber Tripod Legs with the Benro B-0 Ball Head. With the weight of the scope at about 3 pounds, this light weight tripod and ball head add only about another 3 pounds making the entire setup easy to handle for just about everyone. Now for some results.
I decided to engage in my first digiscoping efforts in my own backyard, learn how to set up the scope properly and figure out the easiest way to actually take the pictures. This male House Finch was my first good shot with the Kowa 883 and Nikon D90 combination back in March.
Ok, I think I got this figured out well enough to go out and digiscope some more challenging birds. I have always loved Mergansers, so I made my way to the Sacramento River at Turtle Bay and found this beauty. Not quite as sharp but she was a moving target!
Still in March, I came across this male Cinnamon Teal at Lema Ranch.
In May I digiscoped this male Red-winged Blackbird, also at Lema Ranch.
This last week I had the chance to get in some more digiscoping time in my own backyard and captured a perched Anna’s Hummingbird,
a male Black-headed Grosbeak
and my favorite digiscoped shot so far, this male Acorn Woodpecker.
Ok, I’m hooked on digiscoping now. I really like the fact that you can get good quality images without disturbing the birds by getting too close. This allows more relaxed birding observation and possibly seeing more natural behavior close up.
If you are looking for an excellent spotting scope, I highly recommend the Kowa TSN-883 Prominar. It will give you bright, clear, true color looks at all your favorite birds. The best review of this scope I found was here at Optics 4 Birding.
To see more great bird photos, check out Bird Photography Weekly!
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You are certainly getting the hang of disgiscoping, Larry! Those are awesome shots! Looking forward to seeing more digiscoped photos from you in the coming weeks.
.-= Bob K´s last blog ..Brada Pitta =-.
So that is the camera I need. Nice to come close to the birds, MB
.-= Maria Berg´s last blog ..246. Rutig =-.
That is a most impressive set-up and the photos are fantastic! How do you carry it any distance? and how long does it take you to set it up once you see something you want to photograph?
.-= Mick´s last blog ..Early Morning Light =-.
Great post look like you had fun taking all those photos.
.-= Neil´s last blog ..Leaden Flycatcher =-.
Great digiscoping shots! They are all great and I love the acorn woodie.
.-= Eileen´s last blog ..Bluebirds =-.
@Bob thank you very much. I am trying to get some tips on the best way to get good in-flight shots. I think that will be a challenge.
@Maria I love the Nikon D90 and I believe the Canon equivalent model is just as good, hearing from those I know that use a Canon
@Mick thanks. I have a camera carry bag (backpack style) I’ve had since I bought my Nikon and the 80-400mm lens. It will take all my camera gear and accessories and the scope has its own case with a shoulder strap.
It only takes about a minute to screw on the adapter and change the lens to the 50mm and I’m ready to go.
You may notice in the photo, there is also a “long lens support” made by Manfrotto that attaches to the camera base and a tripod leg that will stabilize the camera/scope setup. If I use the support, I can take the entire digiscope setup with me by carrying it over my shoulder. In that case there is no setup time!
@Neil thank you. I always have fun when I’m out bird watching and photographing. I find it very relaxing.
@Eileen thank you very much. I love that Acorn Woodpecker too
Hi Larry! Great job with the digiscoping! I tried it a few times a couple of years ago, and found it way to difficult. I admire your tenacity at practicing the techniques – you’ve obviously figured it out, judging from these awesome results.
BTW, I’m a Nikon shooter and a B&H shopper too.
Now for the birds…I had no idea that a Cinnamon Teal had such a large beak! When I first looked at the picture, I thought it was a weird-colored Northern Shoveler.
The Black-headed Grosbeak is beautiful. I’ve never seen one, and at first glance, thought “oriole.”
Your fave is my fave – that Acorn Woodpecker is a show-stopper. Love them!
You have such a great variety of gorgeous birds visiting your back yard – its a wonder you can ever tear yourself away to go anywhere else.
Great post!
.-= Amber Coakley´s last blog ..So That’s Why They’re Called Ruby-throated Hummingbirds =-.
That’s an impressive rig Larry! Love these photos, rich in color, sharp and beautiful!
.-= MaineBirder´s last blog ..BPW: Gray Catbird =-.
Nice images! And you’ve helped motivate me to get to digiscoping on my new set-up!
.-= The Zen Birdfeeder´s last blog ..Chickadee Nesting Report #1 =-.
Excellent shots with your digiscope setup! We love the Kowa….
Jeff is still trying to get some good photos with the camera we bought to replace the one I used to use digiscoping..so far it hasn’t been that good.
.-= Dawn Fine´s last blog ..Bluebirds and the tractor =-.
@Amber thanks for your constant support. I do feel very lucky to live where I do, where I can see many different species of birds in my own backyard, and you’re right, sometimes I have a tough time tearing myself away to see birds elsewhere
@John thank you for the compliment! I regard it highly coming from an excellent photographer like yourself
@Nancy, I think once you try digiscoping, you will love it!
@Dawn, you and Jeff were my inspiration to purchase this great scope. Thank you for getting so many birders together, all across the country through Birders Who Blog Tweet and Chirp.
What an impressive new tool 😀
Love the photos & yes, not disturbing the birds is a major plus!
.-= NicoleB, Egypt´s last blog ..Friday birding at the Golf course =-.
Great post. I have been intrigued by digiscoping for some time. I admire your work and have bookmarked this post for when I am ready financially to take this step. Thank you for posting. Fabulous captures btw.
Wow, those are some great shots! I wish I had the money to get a scope like the one featured. For now I guess my zeiss conquest binoculars will have to do. They are great, don’t get me wrong, but man, those shots are amazing.
Hey Larry, you seem to have digiscoping down pat these days! I love your shots of Patriot & Liberty, and their offspring.
I’m in the market for a Kowa scope, I found a used one at B & H and wondered what you thought about buying used? I guess it has a 30 day return, so that helps! The price seems good $829 for scope and eyepiece.
Wondering if there is a set up to use with the Kowa 883 that is easy to attach/detach so the scope can primarily be used for spotting?
Appreciate any advice you could give,
Cara
Great pictures! I have yet to get a spotting scope, but I definitely need to look into it.