Telescope Reviews: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline!

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Stellarfire
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/10/11

Loc: Switzerland

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

new

[Re: Tamiji Homma]
#5412762 - 09/10/12 03:54 AM

Quote:

If Kowa is going to make a new eyepiece for Highlander, I would like them to make something as good as Docter UWA (11mm-ish, yielding 40x) optically but does not weight as much as Docter UWA 12.5 does.

Tammy

Tammy, I fully second that idea.

Apart from that, what would you like to see as new "high-power" eyepieces for the Highlander? (Personally, I would be happy to see at least one Kowa h-p eyepiece yielding about 80-100x.)

Stephan

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CosmicEclipse
member

Reged: 06/10/11

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

new

[Re: Stellarfire]
#5416611 - 09/12/12 02:53 AM

Quote:

As we know, Kowa offers to the users of the terrific Kowa Highlander 82mm binocular three eyepiece models:
21mm 21x/63°
14mm 32x/70°
9mm 50x/67°

Apparently, Kowa Japan - finally! - is understanding that a lot of astro-minded Highlander users worldwide are desperately awaiting some "high-power" eyepiece additions, yielding magnifications up to 100x, or even more. I too proposed the idea directly to Kowa Japan.
(Anyone who wants to forward Highlander-related ideas and wishes directly to Kowa, for example eyepiece focal lengths, aspherical lens design, eyecup design, etc.: Just use the Contact Form.)

Last week, I got good news directly from Kowa's Optical Systems Division, International Sales Department, in Tokyo, Japan: They informed me that actually, their optical designer was just travelling to Europe to research the astronomical market and discussing the needs with several dealers and distributors. He will be there again this month (September).

Kowa Japan confirmed me that also in Japan itself (a market with 127 million inhabitants), a lot of folks are enjoying astronomical observations with their Highlander giant binocular, and they are requesting Kowa the same eyepiece model addition. The demand reached the point to be heard and accepted by Kowa.

Kowa informed me that "new products may be expected" , without yet giving an exact timeframe. Anyway, things are rolling on now.

Thank you Kowa for hearing us!

Stephan

I am a little confused now because the person who responded to you said one thing, and now the person who contacted me said the following:

I'm Jim Danzenbaker, Sales Manager for the Americas at Kowa Sporting Optics.
I received your communication where you stated that you need more
magnification than 50x for the High Lander binocular. I do not foresee us
manufacturing eyepieces that go beyond the current maximum of 50x. However,
I have a solution that may meet your needs. I have a dealer in Arizona who
has created a digiscoping adapter that fits onto the Kowa High Lander
eyepieces. With that said, when you attach your camera to the adapter, you
can use any zoom feature on your camera which would magnify the image
through the High Landers. Benefits to this method are that you could see
the image through the LCD screen of your camera. However, it is only fitted
onto one eyepiece so you lose the "binocular" view. I don’t remember if
the adapter is for a point and shoot camera or an SLR. The contact
information for that account is:

Gila Valley Archery/Gila Outdoors
3660 W. Main Street
Thatcher, AZ, 85552
928-348-0710
www.gilaoutdoor.com
derek@gilaoutdoor.com

I still think it's great that there are additional toys to get for the Highlander, but that's not what I'm looking for personally.
Guess we'll have to wait for Kowa Japan for more info.

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Stellarfire
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/10/11

Loc: Switzerland

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

new

[Re: CosmicEclipse]
#5416645 - 09/12/12 04:07 AM

Quote:

I still think it's great that there are additional toys to get for the Highlander, but that's not what I'm looking for personally.

The same applies to me, no need for that digiscoping adapter toy.

Quote:

Guess we'll have to wait for Kowa Japan for more info.

Yes. My information in the OP came directly from Kowa Japan. For updated news, let us wait what Japan says.

Stephan

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Mark9473
Postmaster

Reged: 07/21/05

Loc: 51°N 4°E

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

new

[Re: CosmicEclipse]
#5416676 - 09/12/12 05:24 AM

Quote:

I have a solution that may meet your needs. I have a dealer in Arizona who has created a digiscoping adapter that fits onto the Kowa High Lander eyepieces. With that said, when you attach your camera to the adapter, you can use any zoom feature on your camera which would magnify the image through the High Landers. Benefits to this method are that you could see the image through the LCD screen of your camera.

I wonder if that person has ever looked through binoculars.

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mark8888
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 09/24/10

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

new

[Re: Mark9473]
#5416697 - 09/12/12 06:02 AM

Quote:

Quote:

I have a solution that may meet your needs. I have a dealer in Arizona who has created a digiscoping adapter that fits onto the Kowa High Lander eyepieces. With that said, when you attach your camera to the adapter, you can use any zoom feature on your camera which would magnify the image through the High Landers. Benefits to this method are that you could see the image through the LCD screen of your camera.

I wonder if that person has ever looked through binoculars.

Ya that solution isnt gonna meet toooo many needs.

The pictures of the Docters on the Kowa are awesome, too bad they don't work!! They look like they are made for it

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18UCinVA
professor emeritus

Reged: 10/24/08

Loc: Virginia

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

new

[Re: mark8888]
#5417475 - 09/12/12 03:04 PM

Here's what the standard 32x eyepieces can do:

Burnham 1 in NGC 281: AB-C seen as elongated, D seen distinctly. Skytools gives AB-C as 3"

Eta Cas easy split

Zeta Cas: distinctive crispy metallic silvery color

Alpha Cas: a prime double for binos

Gamma And challenging but resolved

Nu-1 Lyrae: C component seen

Vega companion obvious

STT 391 resolved easily, mag 7.9 and 10.2, 16"
STT 393 resolved easy, 8.1 and 9.3, 16"
Both in field with AX Cyg

IC 4996: easy triple in rich field.

NGC 7027: tiny green disc

Blue Snowball in And: large blue disc

Eastern Veil Neb seen but not easy. Arm, hand, and fingers.

RW Cyg: redder than most carbon stars but just an M star.

Jupiter with 2 bands and 4 moons. Io easily as the smallest, Gany easy as the largest. Europa and Callisto guessed correctly based on distance.

All this done last night in the city red-zone skies, excellent seeing and transparency. Milky Way only visible in Cygnus as vague glow. Streetlight glare. Observations checked with Skytools 3.

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Tamiji Homma
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 02/24/07

Loc: California, USA

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

new

[Re: Stellarfire]
#5418071 - 09/12/12 08:47 PM

Quote:

Apart from that, what would you like to see as new "high-power" eyepieces for the Highlander? (Personally, I would be happy to see at least one Kowa h-p eyepiece yielding about 80-100x.)

Hi Stephan,

Yes, high power eyepiece is welcome addition for sure. For planets/the Moon, I still go with refractor + binoviewer

I probably can enjoy more planetary nebula and globular instead.
I don't know you enjoy bright globulars like M13, M22 etc with Kowa.

They are surprisingly good even at 32x, 50x for 82mm aperture. Sure, it isn't 20"+ Dob view but considering the size, the view is impressive.

That is one thing I was surprised after I started observing with Kowa Highlander.

Tammy

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Val'Easy
Vendor Val'Easy Cases

Reged: 12/27/10

Loc: France, Europe

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

new

[Re: Tamiji Homma]
#5418536 - 09/13/12 03:21 AM

Hello,

A little question:

Did someone already tried Kowa eyepieces with a Miyauchi?
Did they come to focus to infinity?

Emmanuel

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Binomania.it
super member

Reged: 05/20/10

Loc: North Italy

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

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[Re: Val'Easy]
#5418933 - 09/13/12 10:54 AM Attachment (55 downloads)

Hi to all. I am aware that these two astronomical eyepieces do not have a high quality. But I'm doing some tests with my old eyepieces and the Kowa Highlander. I saw that the old Celestron Ploss and the Silver series fit perfectly
Here are the photos!
Pier

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Binomania.it
super member

Reged: 05/20/10

Loc: North Italy

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

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[Re: Binomania.it]
#5418934 - 09/13/12 10:55 AM Attachment (54 downloads)

Second image

Edited by Binomania.it (09/13/12 10:55 AM)

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Binomania.it
super member

Reged: 05/20/10

Loc: North Italy

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

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[Re: Binomania.it]
#5487094 - 10/24/12 02:23 PM

Thanks the Photokina fair an engineer Japanese of Kowa gave me, by the Italian distributor, an adapter to use "some) astronomical eyepieces with the Kowa 883. It is a demo. You can see some pictures in my recent review.
http://www.binomania.it/spottingscope/Kowa_TSN_883_Prominar/Kowa_TSN_883.php
Today the Kowa Europe manager told me that I can discuss about this "demo"adapter with my friends on the web. So I think that Kowa will put it (improved)into production I think this is a first step from Kowa about the demands of their customers. I hope that sooner they will satisfy also Highlander owners

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Andresin150
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/14/07

Loc: Bogotá - La Calera / Colombia

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

new

[Re: Binomania.it]
#5505626 - 11/05/12 03:54 PM

Pier, with that adapter you think that maybe the Docter 12.5 UWA will come to focus?....

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edwincjones
Close Enough

Reged: 04/10/04

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

new

[Re: Andresin150]
#5505952 - 11/05/12 08:50 PM

Quote:

In an 82mm binocular I wouldn't like to go beyond 40x.. 50x is pushing the limits... ............. but to get higher magnifications, I don't think so, I would just get a telescope.
..........................................

I agree
-binoculars are for lower power, wider FOV,
-telescopes are for higher power
at least for me

edj

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Stellarfire
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/10/11

Loc: Switzerland

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

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[Re: edwincjones]
#5506278 - 11/06/12 02:08 AM

The Kowa Highlander is my grab-n-go solution for all those nights when there is not enough time for a full set-up of the 6" APO refractor, or when just a short observing session is intended.

With this is mind, it would be nice to have extended magnification options in the Highlander, up to about 100x, or even somewhat more. The Highlander's 82mm f/5.5 Fluorite optics is perfectly capable to go well over 50x. So why limiting on the eyepiece side the full potential of that outstanding and expensive binocular?

Stephan

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Andresin150
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/14/07

Loc: Bogotá - La Calera / Colombia

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

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[Re: Stellarfire]
#5506488 - 11/06/12 08:44 AM

Quote:

So why limiting on the eyepiece side the full potential of that outstanding and expensive binocular?

Maybe because you don't have tracking or Goto, and if you have, then you sacrifice their biggest appeal: their portability and ease of setup. (that's why I don't like changing eps, I preffer one "optimal" magnification and stick to it)
There is simply not an instrument that does it all. The Kowas and the Docters are among the very few that I think that are close to that; I feel like I don't need another pair of binoculars (with the Docters). Then for High magnification (detail, planetary, astrophotography...) a telescope is needed to do the job right, there you have lots of options, lots more than with binoculars. I'll personally go with no less than a 4" Tak, and 3 or 4 high end EPs, and I'm being conservative, after the Docters I don't like to haul and setup too many heavy things for observing. Big equipment belong to semipermanent or permanent setup in observatories, at least for me.

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Stellarfire
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/10/11

Loc: Switzerland

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

new

[Re: Binomania.it]
#5506929 - 11/06/12 01:42 PM

Today, the general manager of Kowa Europe informed me, that in all likelihood there will be NO new eyepiece from Kowa within the next 12 months.

But he confirmed again - as previously mentioned by Piergiovanni earlier in this thread - that Kowa is preparing astro adapters, allowing the use of non-Kowa astro eyepieces in the Highlander. Sounds interesting.

Stephan

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Andresin150
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/14/07

Loc: Bogotá - La Calera / Colombia

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

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[Re: Stellarfire]
#5507158 - 11/06/12 04:17 PM

If they can make the Docter 12.5 UWA work with the adpaters, then there is no need of new eyepieces... but, after Tamiyis experiment, probably those wont work..

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Stellarfire
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/10/11

Loc: Switzerland

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

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[Re: Andresin150]
#5507217 - 11/06/12 04:44 PM

I like the Docter UWA 12.5mm too (have a pair of them for my Baader Mk V in the refractor). One of my best eyepiece purchases ever.

But keep in mind that these heavy eyepieces will cause serious balancing problems in the compact Highlander. Personally, I would prefer something lighter.

Stephan

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Andresin150
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/14/07

Loc: Bogotá - La Calera / Colombia

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

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[Re: Stellarfire]
#5507335 - 11/06/12 06:13 PM

The Docters are lighter than the Kowas... with a good head like the 501 or 503, I dont think there is going to be any problem at all...

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Stellarfire
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/10/11

Loc: Switzerland

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

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[Re: Andresin150]
#5507818 - 11/07/12 01:23 AM

Quote:

The Docters are lighter than the Kowas

Hmmm...

Docter 12.5mm UWA = 525g
Kowa 14mm (standard in the Highlander, yielding 32x) = 205g

Andresin, are you refering to another Kowa eyepiece model?

Stephan

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