Hi everyone,

I've been looking at " Kowa Scopes " for years, but couldn't justify buying one of their high end scopes (I.E.: Kowa TSN-883 Angled Spotting Scope)

Unfortunately, I have toooo many hobbies, & have to budget myself, or lose my " Beer Budget " ( My wife Rules ).

I needed to find a reasonably priced scope, with lots of versatility, to fulfill my wants, in order.

1. Bird / Nature observation / Star gazing (Traveling/Camping excursions).
2. Easy to use; with " Prescription Eye Glasses " (Long Eye Relief ?).
3. Camera friendly.
4. Portable.
5. Easy to use; to share with grandkids (Buying points, to convince wife)
6. For use on the Shooting Range (Long Eye Relief ?).

I decided on a " Celestron Regal M2 100mm Spotting Scope ", along with a " Long Eye Relief Eye Piece ", to use specifically for Target Shooting.

http://www.celestron.com/brows...2-ed-spotting-scopes




http://www.celestron.com/brows...eye-relief)-eyepiece


I attended a recent match to get some feedback & opinions from fellow cub members.


The match was held @ 600 yard Targets. ( 85 degrees / Wind N at 14 mph gusting to 21 mph: Range flags)


I focused on the " Scoring Ring Numbers ", to determine " How Bright & How Clearly " , I could read the Scoring Numbers " 10 - 7 " @ 600 yards.
( 7, 8 , 9 : 1 1/2 inches H x 1 inch W )



Photo of Locking Ring & inserting " Eyepiece " example.




The " Long Eye Relief Eyepiece " was a bit of a disappointment. I wasn't able to properly focus, without having to crunch against the rubber eye cup spacer. I had to remove the rubber portion, to get a clear, & consistent eye relief.



I removed the Rubber Eyecup to view the targets with ample eye relief, but occasionally bumped my eyeglasses (Prescription) against the metal rim.


I eventually figured out a way to fold down ( half sized ) the rubber eyecup, to provide the proper " Eye Relief " , without having to crunch down on rubber eyepiece portion.

There were several members with " KOWAS " & one had a " "OPTOLYTH 100mm Spotting Scope ".



OPTOLYTH: Shorter, Lighter, Brighter, Clearer Optics, & more expensive $$$$$.


A few comments/opinions:

PRO:
1." Good Quality Optics ", & comparable to the " KOWA ".
2. Brighter, than " KOWA ", in most cases.

CONS:
1. It's Huge, & too Big, to lug around.
2. Questionable on durability, & warranty, ..compared to " KOWA " service.

I heard several stories on how " KOWA " took care of them; " Fixed / Rebuilt " like new, their old well used scopes (Broken Lenses / Cracked Housing, etc.).




The original Carrying case ( Grn ) didn't properly fit. I called tech support & they sent me a slightly larger one (Blk ).



I wasn't satisfied with the " Black Carrying " case, which didn't have much padding, and wasn't designed to keep on for protection while in use.


So, I ordered a " Better " carrying case, thats fits, with more padding & velcro tabs.


Velcro tabs near eyepiece, and Objective, to keep case material open & folded over, while in use.



Creedmoor Sports, Spotting Scope Covers
https://www.creedmoorsports.co...ing_Scope_Cover.html
" Don't see your scope? Please choose "other" and add a note at checkout with information about your scope. We'll need the length, brand, type, angled or straight and objective lens to help us. We have several patterns and most scopes will fit in one of the covers we make. (Note: 100mm scope covers are $5 additional) "

The" Eliseo Spotting Scope Head " worked great



http://bulletin.accurateshoote...machine-gary-eliseo/

Just an additional " FYI ":

Heres some interesting " excerpts " from other forum reviews.

Snipers Hide: Older F-ED Model
" Regal F-ED series, Celestron's flagship model. While these scopes are assembled in China, the lens are Ohara brand ED glass from Japan. And man oh man, does it show! The images are razor sharp from edge-to-edge, and the colors are true to life. The resolving power is also amazing. I was counting 6.5mm bullet holes at 500 meters yesterday, in the rain! And with the huge 100mm objective, my images do not get dimmer at all as I approach maximum magnification. .."
http://forum.snipershide.com/s...e-two-thumbs-up.html

Celestron Regal M2 Spotting Scopes - Best Spotting Scope under $1,000[/U][/B]
" ...
But here’s why we’re calling the Regal M2 the best spotting scope under $1000: The glass you’re getting in a Regal M2, at far under $1000, will easily hold up against spotting scopes from manufacturers with double, even triple the price tag. Extra-low dispersion (ED) glass is a high class standard by which professional optics are measured, and it’s very uncommon to get quality ED glass in a spotting scope at this price. Edge to edge clarity is excellent, chromatic aberration is rarely visible, and low light performance is absolutely stunning on even the 65ED. There’s a reason why the Regal M2 is Celestron’s flagship spotting scope – it’s simply the best value you’re going to find..."
http://sportoptics101.com/cate...tting-scope-reviews/




I'm pleased with my new scope. I'll be doing less walking, just to review my target groups.

To understand what is a good deal and what is not you need to understand how to quantify the resolution of spotting scopes. No matter what all the marketing add copy says there is only one measure of resolving power. You either need that number from the manufacturer - which most seem to avoid publishing or you need to measure it yourself and compare with other scopes.

Check for the resolution chart.

Nope.. I didn't attempt to do any of the " Resolution Charts ",.. since it was done already, by folks with more expertise & knowledge than " I ", with evaluating optics.
http://www.birdforum.net/showt...ight=celestron+regal

I also included the opinions of a few club members, with much more experience than " I ", on the shooting range. A few have many years of competition experience @ the State & National level (I.E: Camp Perry Ohio), with some time looking thru optics of all types & Top brands (Commercial Row), while @ the National Matches.
http://www.thecmp.org/Competitions.htm

If you can read the scoring numbers @ 600 yards, than you got yourself a decent spotter and a good deal. It is almost on par with my Pentax 80ED.

PAPI, thanks for sharing your impressions. The Celestron looks like a bargain.

quote:

Originally posted by Norseman:
If you can read the scoring numbers @ 600 yards, than you got yourself a decent spotter and a good deal. It is almost on par with my Pentax 80ED.

I don't do any shooting past" 600 Yards "..I'll admit it ..I'm not that good

p.s: I just noticed the Celestron links, weren't working, & I updated them.

These guys seem to have the best coverage of spotting scopes and binoculars.

These days the optics seem to change as fast as semi-conductor technology. Buy a good scope today. Two years from now it will still be good but the newer stuff will be even better.

Better View Desired

Just picked-up another for my " Smallbore " activities.


Top : Celestron Regal M2 65mm
Bottom : Celestron Regal M2 100mm

Prior to all of this discussion..I had been using a small " Kowa 50mm Spotting Scope " for my smallbore shooting.