I purchased a Kowa 883 Spotting scope last year. It is
excellent optically, but does have a problem which I think is worth alerting
birders to. Both rubber lens caps fall off very easily and I noticed most times,
but, eventually, I lost the one on the eye-piece. More seriously, and
surprisingly, the rubber bit which you can unscrew to change from use with the
naked eye to use with spectacles also fell off, and I didn’t notice until it
was too late.
I have been trying for several months to get a replacement from
my supplier, digiDirect, and others with no luck. I now have a naked lens.
The only solution that was offered was to send the whole
telescope back to the distributor, which I am reluctant to do, as I feel there
are risks, and all I want are small pieces of rubber, which, if they can fall
off, can be fitted easily. And there is no guarantee they can replace the
parts anyway.
If anyone knows how to get these piece I would be very
grateful. If you do buy a Kowa, you should try and secure these parts by some
means.
Aidan Sudbury
