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Kowa binoculars: 17 models compared

Kowa's 17 binoculars cover 303 to 525 ft of field of view, with a median of 384 ft. Eleven of the 17 give 16 mm or more of eye relief, and 13 list ED glass.

Top picks

Widest view

Kowa BD III 6.5x32 XD

  • Widest view of the 17: 525 ft
  • 18.3 oz, lighter than the typical 19.6 oz
  • 17 mm eye relief, enough for glasses

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Binoculars compared
17
Series
3
Field of view range
303 to 525 ft
With 16 mm eye relief or more
11 of 17

Most popular Kowa with a listing: Kowa Genesis Prominar 8.5x44

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Kowa Genesis

The Genesis Prominar line runs from 11.1 oz in its smallest size up to 33.2 oz in its largest, and every size lists ED glass.

ModelSizeField of viewEye reliefClose focusWeightExit pupilMaker list priceAmazon
Kowa Genesis Prominar XD22 8x22 8x22 429 ft 18.5 mm 4.9 ft 11.1 oz 2.8 mm $500 to $1,000 Check price on Amazon
Kowa Genesis Prominar XD22 10x22 10x22 344 ft 16 mm 4.9 ft 11.5 oz 2.2 mm $500 to $1,000 Check price on Amazon
Kowa Genesis Prominar 8x33 8x33 420 ft 15 mm 4.9 ft 20.8 oz 4.1 mm $500 to $1,000
Kowa Genesis Prominar 10x33 10x33 357 ft 15 mm 4.9 ft 20.8 oz 3.3 mm $1,000 to $2,000 Check price on Amazon
Kowa Genesis Prominar 8.5x44 8.5x44 368 ft 18.5 mm 5.6 ft 33.2 oz 5.2 mm $1,000 to $2,000 Check price on Amazon
Kowa Genesis Prominar 10.5x44 10.5x44 326 ft 16 mm 5.6 ft 33.2 oz 4.2 mm $1,000 to $2,000

Kowa BD III-XD

The BD III 6.5x32 XD gives the widest view of any Kowa at 525 ft, and all seven sizes in the series list ED glass.

ModelSizeField of viewEye reliefClose focusWeightExit pupilMaker list price
Kowa BD III 6.5x32 XD 6.5x32 525 ft 17 mm 4.3 ft 18.3 oz 4.9 mm $200 to $500
Kowa BD III 8x32 XD 8x32 461 ft 16.5 mm 4.3 ft 18.5 oz 4 mm
Kowa BD III 10x32 XD 10x32 351 ft 15 mm 5.9 ft 17.8 oz 3.2 mm $200 to $500
Kowa BD III 8x42 XD 8x42 429 ft 17.2 mm 5.9 ft 21.3 oz 5.3 mm $200 to $500
Kowa BD III 10x42 XD 10x42 378 ft 16.5 mm 5.9 ft 21.5 oz 4.2 mm $200 to $500
Kowa BD III 10x50 XD 10x50 346 ft 17 mm 9.8 ft 25.5 oz 5 mm $500 to $1,000
Kowa BD III 12x50 XD 12x50 303 ft 17.5 mm 9.8 ft 25.8 oz 4.2 mm $500 to $1,000

Kowa SV III

The SV III 8x42 offers 20 mm of eye relief, the longest in the Kowa range, though none of the four sizes lists ED glass.

ModelSizeField of viewEye reliefClose focusWeightExit pupilMaker list price
Kowa SV III 8x32 8x32 499 ft 15.5 mm 6.5 ft 17.1 oz 4 mm $200 to $500
Kowa SV III 10x32 10x32 384 ft 15.5 mm 6.5 ft 16.8 oz 3.2 mm $200 to $500
Kowa SV III 8x42 8x42 413 ft 20 mm 9.8 ft 19.2 oz 5.3 mm $200 to $500
Kowa SV III 10x42 10x42 400 ft 15.5 mm 9.8 ft 19.6 oz 4.2 mm $200 to $500

Kowa by the numbers

Binoculars compared
17
Median field of view
384 ft
Median weight
19.6 oz
Median eye relief
16.5 mm
With an Amazon listing
4 of 17

The Kowa binoculars with the longest eye relief, from the maker's figures.

Other binocular brands

Kowa questions

Which sizes does Kowa make?

Kowa has 17 binoculars in the chart across 13 sizes: 8x33, 10.5x44, 8.5x44, 8x22, 10x42, 8x42, 10x33, 10x22, 8x32, 10x32, 10x50, 12x50.

Do Kowa binoculars work with glasses?

11 of the 17 Kowa models with a printed figure have 16 mm of eye relief or more, the minimum the RSPB advises for people who wear glasses.

How much eye relief do Kowa binoculars give?

The median is 16.5 mm across the 17 models. The SV III 8x42 is longest at 20 mm, and the Genesis Prominar 8x33 and 10x33 are shortest at 15 mm.

What warranty does Kowa print?

Kowa prints a Limited Lifetime Warranty for the original owner in the US, bought from an authorized North American retailer. The spec sheet also prints a 10 year warranty.