Kowa TE-11WZ II Wide Angle, Zoom Eyepiece

Kowa TE-11WZ II Compatibility: For TSN-99, 88, 77 & 66 Scopes

Kowa lists this eyepiece for four spotting scope series. It is also the zoom eyepiece in Kowa's TSN-99, TSN-88 and TSN-66 PROMINAR ZM sets.

• TSN-99 PROMINAR Series: 99mm pure fluorite crystal scopes; 30-70x with this eyepiece.
• TSN-88 PROMINAR Series: 88mm pure fluorite crystal scopes; 25-60x with this eyepiece.
• TSN-77 Series: 25-60x with this eyepiece, per kowaoptics.com.
• TSN-66 PROMINAR Series: 66mm pure fluorite crystal compact scopes; 25-60x with this eyepiece.

Kowa does not list the TE-11WZ II for the TSN-82SV, TSN-660M or TSN-600; for those scopes it lists the TE-9Z, TE-14WD and TE-17HD eyepieces.

30-70x on TSN-99 & 25-60x on TSN-88/77/66 Scopes

The magnification and field of view delivered by the TE-11WZ II are determined by the focal length of the spotting scope body it is attached to. On the TSN-99 it gives a higher range than on the TSN-88, TSN-77 and TSN-66, which share the same 25-60x range.

• With TSN-99 Series: Magnification of 30-70x, providing a field of view from 115 feet down to 66 feet at 1,000 yards.
• With TSN-88 and TSN-66 Series: Magnification of 25-60x, providing a field of view from 138 feet down to 75 feet at 1,000 yards. Kowa gives the TSN-77 magnification (25-60x) but no field of view for it.

XD Lens Construction for Chromatic Aberration Control

The TE-11WZ II uses Kowa XD lenses, which Kowa says deliver crisp images and true color. Extra-low dispersion glass reduces chromatic aberration (color fringing), which can soften fine detail at high magnification.

Kowa states nothing further about the optical design or coatings of the TE-11WZ II.

17mm Eye Relief with Twist-Up Eyecup

Kowa lists 17mm of eye relief for the TE-11WZ II (17.0 mm on the TSN-99 page) and describes it as generous eye relief via the twist-up eyecup. Kowa gives a single figure and does not say whether it varies across the zoom range.

Twist the eyecup up or down to set your eye at the right distance from the lens. Kowa makes no further eyeglass-wearer claim and does not describe eyecup stops.

Digiscoping with the TE-11WZ II

Kowa explicitly designed the TE-11WZ II to be "very well suited for digiscoping." The TSN-99, TSN-88 and TSN-66 bodies it fits have an adapter accessory collar for Kowa digiscoping adapters.

With a Kowa digiscoping adapter, Kowa describes the scope as becoming a super telephoto lens system. Kowa does not name a specific adapter for this eyepiece in its material.

Fitting and Removing the Eyepiece

The TSN-99, TSN-88 and TSN-66 bodies have an eyepiece release button, which you press to remove the eyepiece.

Kowa's material does not give a step by step fitting procedure for this eyepiece: follow the instruction manual of your spotting scope.

Field Care and Protection

Kowa's material gives no care instructions specific to the TE-11WZ II. Store it in a dry place, protected from dust, when it is off the scope.

To clean the lens, first remove loose dust with a blower, then wipe gently with lens cleaning fluid on a soft cloth, such as the cleaning cloth Kowa includes with its TSN-99, TSN-88 and TSN-66 bodies.

Kowa's Limited Lifetime North American Warranty

When purchased from an authorized North American retailer, your Kowa TE-11WZ II eyepiece is protected by a Limited Lifetime Warranty for the original owner. This warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship under normal use. Kowa stands behind its products and will, at its discretion, repair or replace any eyepiece found to have such defects.

It does not cover damage from unauthorized repair, alteration, abuse or misuse, or normal wear and tear; lens caps, cases, pouches and straps are covered for their lifetime but not for accidental loss. Kowa requests product registration within 30 days of purchase.

TE-11WZ II vs. TE-80XW: Choosing Between Zoom and Fixed Wide-Field

Kowa offers another eyepiece for the same scope bodies: the TE-80XW Extreme Wide Angle. Figures below are Kowa's.

• Kowa TE-11WZ II (Zoom): The key advantage is flexibility. You can scan at low power (25x on TSN-88/66, 30x on TSN-99) to locate a subject, then zoom in to high power (60x or 70x) without changing eyepieces. Field of view: 138 to 75 ft at 1,000 yds on TSN-88/66, 115 to 66 ft on TSN-99.
• Kowa TE-80XW (Fixed): This eyepiece offers a fixed magnification (40x on TSN-99, 35x on TSN-88/66). On TSN-88/66 Kowa lists 147.6 ft at 1,000 yds at 35x, wider than the zoom's 138 ft at 25x. Eye relief is 17 mm and weight 1.06 lb (the TE-11WZ II weighs 0.80 lb).

Choose the TE-11WZ II for a range of magnifications in one eyepiece, or the TE-80XW for a single, wider fixed view.