I've used Kowa spotting scopes for, well, longer than I would like to admit. They've been durable, reliable, and with the price of new glass ever increasing, still give enough service to not require a foray into the market for a new tube.
But the years have taken a toll. One scope suffered a dented housing near the primary lens, and that instrument appeared to lose its nitrogen purge as some type of condensation appeared on the inside of that lens. I was not sure this was reparable but sent the scope to Kowa service in California. I was quite pleased that they could not only fix the damage, but even with a new primary lens, the damage to my wallet was less than $200.
But when it rains it pours. I used my back-up scope while the one above was enjoying the West Coast. I soon noticed what appeared to be a dark smear on one of the internal lenses. It did not appear to affect the view, but I know that anything affecting the glass will result in less than perfect results. So, another call to Kowa, and that scope was soon on a trip to California as well. After a few weeks, the Kowa folks called and indicated that (not sure how this happened) grease was on the mirror. I assume factory installed grease since I don't make a habit of lubricating my scopes. Happily, they could fix it.
So, two experiences in short order. Both scopes are now back and as good as new.
If you have Kowa optics that have seen better days, a visit to the shop might be all you need. And I highly recommend their service department. Good communication, good results, reasonable prices.
