The TSN-663M XD Prominar is a new acquaintance, born from the 660 series launched in 2001, which was then completely newly developed and replaced the classic TSN-1/3.
With its lightweight polycarbonate housing, it combines the flexible format that many appreciate with compact binoculars, but at the same time has 20 percent better light absorption than, for example, the Kowa TSN-601. This makes it better in combination with zoom eyepieces 20-60x, where the higher magnifications (45-60x) become critically dim with a smaller objective. The housing is otherwise the same as on the predecessors, but has changed color to the now common moss green that characterizes all Kowa binoculars. The red ring around the lens and the additional text Prominar gossip that the internal measurement is of the same high class as Kowa's top tubes in the TSN-770 series, i.e. an XD glass in the lens that counteracts chromatic aberration and thus provides a noticeably better light transmission with a higher contrast effect and more accurate color reproduction in all situations. Light protection and nitrogen gas filling for full tightness against water, condensation and dust are of course standard. On the side of the prism housing there is a sighting notch that should make it easier to find small objects against a contrastless sky, for example. The foot has standard quarter inch (1/4'') thread and is tiltable in fixed positions.
Product information
Size: 311 x 140 x 90 mm
Weight: 1040 g, 1247 g incl. 30xW, 1278 g incl. 20-60x zoom
Closest focusing distance: 6 meters
Filter diameter: 72 mm
Warranty: 10 years