Kowa have launched their innovative lens/scope combination in Japan and I was lucky enough to be their last week and managed to find all the components that I wanted ( the eyepiece prism was not available at Yodabashi Camera ). I got the standard 500/5.6 lens, 850/9.6 module (Nikon mount )and the Eyepiece prism. I got the 25x LER and 20 - 60 zoom eyepieces. I did forget to get the DA10 adapter so I'm using the Swarovski UCA adapter which fits nicely on the Kowa eyepieces and means that I can digiscope with more cameras.
Details of the system can be seen in English here -
http://www.kowa-prominar.com/new/telephoto101103.htm
Of course the lens is Manual Focus only but I have found it easier to use than I thought. Using the lenses with my D7000 and D3s it seems very well balanced and the tripod foot is long enough to slide for balance and is a standard Manfrotto size so fits my 501 heads. Due to the longer focal length the eyepieces have more magnification than on the 88 mm Kowa scope (they are the same eyepieces ) , so the 25x becomes 28x .
I've given it a good workout over the last few days and I can say the 95 mm objective gives wonderful views out over the mudflats at Mai Po . I'm seeing similar detail as my Nikon 500/4 but I haven't done a side-by-side test yet.
Here are some photos and there are more here-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7892550@N03/sets/72157625881842899/
The first photo is with the 850 mm, the second with the 500 mm (standard ) and the third with the Eyepiece Prism and 25x LER eyepiece.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7892550@N03/5432338380/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7892550@N03/5432338154/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7892550@N03/5429504712/
Neil
