Kowa Binoculars

Why choose Kowa binoculars?

Kowa was founded in Nagoya, Japan, in 1894 as a textile business and moved into optics in 1946, when former naval optical engineers set up production at Gamagori. The Prominar name, now used on its best lenses, was registered in 1948. Today Kowa is best known among UK birders for its spotting scopes, and the same Kowa XD lenses and coatings go into its binoculars, so the quality of the glass is the main reason to choose one. You can read more about the company on Wikipedia. What you get across the range:

• XD lenses: high-resolution ED glass rich in fluorite crystal, which all but removes chromatic aberration (purple colour fringing around bright edges) and boosts light transmission
• Fully multi-coated optics and decades of Kowa lens coating know-how for bright, sharp images with high contrast and natural colour
• KR coating on the outer lenses of most models, which repels rain, dirt and fingerprints
• Roof prism binoculars with fully waterproof, nitrogen filled bodies that don't fog inside on a cold morning
• Lightweight, ergonomic bodies in magnesium alloy or polycarbonate, with rubber armour for grip
• Twist-up eyecups and a dioptre adjuster to suit people with and without glasses
• A 10-year manufacturer warranty on every model on this page

The Kowa range explained

Kowa sorts its binoculars into series, each with its own glass and body. If you just want a quick answer:

• Best all-rounder: BD II XD 8x42, wide, bright and sharp edge to edge
• Widest view: BD II XD 6.5x32, with a 175m field of view
• Best for low light: BD XD 8x56, with a 7mm exit pupil
• Best value: SV II 50mm binoculars, for stargazing and open country
• Best premium compact: Genesis Prominar, flagship XD glass in your pocket

Here's how the series we stock line up, from the most affordable to the flagship.

Kowa SV II

The SV II series is Kowa's robust all-rounder. It uses fully multi-coated lenses and prisms in a lightweight polycarbonate body, but no ED glass, which keeps the price down. We stock the two big-objective binoculars: the 10x50 (740g, 87m field of view at 1,000m, 19.5mm eye relief) and the 12x50 (745g, 84m). Their large 50mm objective lens gathers plenty of light for dawn, dusk and the night sky, and they typically sell for around £275 to £310. The wider Kowa SV II family also includes 8x25 and 10x25 compacts and 32mm and 42mm sizes, all waterproof and nitrogen filled.

Kowa BD25 compact

The BD25 is an ultra-compact 10x25 that weighs just 320g and slips into a coat pocket. It uses Kowa's eco glass rather than XD lenses, but it's still fully multi-coated, waterproof and nitrogen sealed, with a generous 18mm of eye relief. Expect to pay around £250 to £260. More pocket pairs from other brands are on our compact binoculars page.

Kowa BD II XD

The BD II XD series is the heart of this page and the one most birders end up with, an ergonomic, durable binocular you can use all day. Kowa's own description is "affordable without compromise": XD lenses, KR coating and a lightweight magnesium alloy chassis with tactile rubber armour, for well under £500. Its stand-out feature is an unusually wide angle, wide field of view, which makes it quick to find a bird in a hedge and keeps the image sharp out to the edges. Close focus is 1.3m on the 32mm pairs and 1.8m on the 42mm pairs, so butterflies and dragonflies are in reach too. We stock the 6.5x32, 8x32, 10x32, 8x42 and 10x42, mostly between £330 and £450.

Kowa BD XD Prominar 56mm

The BD XD 56mm models (8x56, 10x56 and 12x56) are built for low light and long observation sessions. Big 56mm objective lenses, XD lenses and fully multi-coated optics give the brightest image of any pair here, and the 8x56 has a 7mm exit pupil, about as wide as a young adult's pupil opens in the dark. They weigh about 1,050g each, so they're best for hides, deer stalking, coastal watching and stargazing rather than long hikes. Prices sit between roughly £490 and £550.

Kowa Genesis Prominar

Genesis is Kowa's flagship series. Every Genesis Prominar model uses top-grade XD lenses with large amounts of fluorite crystal for premium, high contrast images, plus KR coating and a tough rubber-armoured body that's waterproof and nitrogen filled. Genesis comes in 22mm, 33mm and 44mm sizes; we stock the compact 22mm, a 315g pocket binocular with the same glass as the full-size versions and a 131m field of view, at around £630. Kowa describes the Genesis line on its Genesis page.

Other Kowa series

Kowa makes a few more series that aren't on this page yet:

• Kowa SV III: the newer SV III binoculars in 8x32, 10x32, 8x42 and 10x42 are what Kowa calls the perfect introduction to quality optics, with bright wide-angle views, fully multi-coated optics, KR coating and a lightweight waterproof body
• Kowa BD III XD: the successor to the BD II, with XD lenses, a magnesium body and wide-angle views, in seven sizes from compact 32mm to bright 50mm
• Kowa YF II: lightweight, durable porro prism binoculars in 6x30 and 8x30 with a retro look, a wide field of view and a waterproof body, aimed at families and young explorers
• Highlander: a giant 82mm observation binocular with dual Prominar fluorite lenses and interchangeable eyepieces, for long-range viewing and astronomy

The SV III is a good alternative to the SV II if you want the KR coating, while porro prism binoculars like the YF II give a strong 3D feel for the money. See the whole line-up on the Kowa optics site.

Compare the Kowa binoculars we stock

Specs are from the retailer's listings. Prices change often, so check the cards above for today's figure. The 6.5x32 stands out: a 175m field of view is one of the widest of any roof prism binocular, which makes it brilliant for woodland and for following birds in flight.

Which size of Kowa binoculars should you buy?

The first number is the magnification and the second is the objective lens diameter in millimetres. Divide the objective lens by the magnification for the exit pupil: over 5mm feels bright at dusk, under 3mm is best kept for daylight. The RSPB's guide to binocular terms explains the rest.

For a first serious pair, the BD II XD 8x42 is the safe choice: bright, steady and wide enough to find a bird quickly. Pick 10x if you mostly watch across open ground, and 32mm if weight matters more than the last bit of low-light performance.

Which Kowa pair for birdwatching, stargazing and travel?

Birdwatching

The BD II XD 8x42 or 8x32 covers almost everything, from garden feeders to reserve hides, and the XD lenses keep colours true and contrast high on a grey UK day. Compare them with other makes on our birdwatching binoculars page.

Low light and hunting

At first and last light, exit pupil matters most. The BD XD 8x56 gives 7mm and the 10x56 gives 5.6mm, the biggest exit pupils in the range.

Stargazing

The SV II 10x50 and 12x50 show the Moon's craters, Jupiter's moons and star clusters well. Rest them on a wall or use a tripod adaptor, or see our astronomy binoculars for more.

Walking and travel

The 32mm BD II XD models weigh around 530g and are happy round your neck all day, while the compact Genesis and BD25 slip into a pocket.

The Kowa 10-year warranty

Every pair on this page comes with a 10-year manufacturer warranty. If a fault in materials or workmanship shows up, Kowa will repair or replace the binoculars free of charge. A few points to know:

• Keep your receipt, as proof of purchase is needed to claim
• It covers manufacturing faults, not accidental damage, misuse or neglect
• Wearing parts such as straps, cases, lens covers and rubber armour aren't covered
• It isn't a no-fault policy like Hawke's, so a drop on rocks is down to your home insurance

How Kowa compares with other brands

Kowa sits between the best-value British brands and the big three European names. At £250 to £450, its closest rivals are Hawke, Viking and the RSPB's own binoculars, all of which offer ED glass at similar money; compare them on our Hawke binoculars, Viking binoculars and RSPB binoculars pages. Where Kowa pulls ahead is the field of view and the quality of its XD glass: the BD II XD binoculars are noticeably wider than most rivals at the same size, with very little chromatic aberration. The Genesis line competes with Swarovski, Zeiss and Leica at a lower price. For German-designed optics in a similar band, see our GPO binoculars. The Which? binoculars guide is worth a read before you buy.

Setting up and caring for your binoculars

1. Fold the hinge until you see one round image with no black edges.
2. Twist the eye cups up if you don't wear glasses, or leave them down if you do.
3. Close your right eye and focus with the centre wheel, then close your left and set the dioptre on the right eyepiece. You only need to do this once.
4. Fit the rainguard in wet weather and keep the objective covers on in your bag.
5. Blow or brush off grit before wiping the lens with a microfibre cloth. The KR coating makes rain and smears easy to clear.

Frequently asked questions

Are Kowa binoculars any good?

Yes. Kowa has been making optics since 1946, and its XD fluorite glass is shared with its well-regarded spotting scopes. The BD II XD series in particular is a favourite with UK birders for its wide, sharp view at a mid-range price.

Where is Kowa based?

Kowa is a Japanese company based in Nagoya, and its optics business has its roots at Gamagori. Kowa doesn't publish where every pair is assembled, so check the box if that matters to you.

What is the difference between Kowa BD II XD and SV II?

The BD II XD uses XD (ED fluorite) lenses, KR coating and a magnesium alloy body, with a much wider field of view. The SV II uses standard glass in a polycarbonate body and costs less.

What does XD mean on a Kowa?

XD is Kowa's name for its extra-low dispersion glass with a high fluorite content. It cuts colour fringing and gives sharper, more natural colour, especially on birds against a bright sky or water.

Are Kowa pairs good for glasses wearers?

Yes. All have twist-up eye cups, and most give 15mm to 19.5mm of eye relief. The BD XD 8x56 has 23mm, the most in the range.

Are all Kowa binoculars waterproof?

Yes. Every pair on this page is fully waterproof and nitrogen filled, so rain won't get in and the optics won't fog inside.

Which Kowa pair is best for beginners?

The BD II XD 8x42 is the best all-round start. On a tighter budget, the Kowa SV II binoculars give durable Kowa build quality without the XD glass, and the Kowa SV III adds the KR lens coating.