HISTORY

Our optical heritage and technology

Our optical heritage and technology

The PROMINAR story started from Gamagori, Aichi in the period following the Second World War.
In 1946, technicians from the Optical Division of the Toyokawa Naval Dockyard were recruited to establish Kowa Koki. Beginning with the manufacture of lenses for spectacles, the company later produced opera glasses and 35mm projection lenses for movie projectors. The increase in demand for CinemaScope lenses in the first half of the 1950s saw Kowa products comprising 90% of the share in Japan. Kowa subsequently developed into the spotting scope business and camera business, making best use of its accumulated technologies.

The “TS-1” and “TS-2” spotting scopes, which were first released in 1952, became 36-year long-selling models, including being officially adopted for use in the shooting events at the first Tokyo Olympics held in 1964.

Many famous Kowa cameras were produced consistently at the company’s own factory in Gamagori, Aichi over a 24-year period, from the release of the “Kalloflex” in 1954 until the end of sales of the “Kowa Super 66” in 1978.

In this way, the PROMINAR brand came into being as a brand that integrated the optical technologies which had been accumulated from the long experience and achievements gained through continually tackling manufacturing for more than 70 years.
PROMINAR is continuing to face the challenges for developing a new future.

1986

  • TSN-3 PROMINAR
  • TSN-4 PROMINAR

Released the first PROMINAR model incorporating fluorite crystal in the objective lens.

2000

  • HIGH LANDER PROMINAR

Released 82mm large-diameter binocular telescope model.

2001

  • TSN-823M PROMINAR
  • TSN-824M PROMINAR

Released 82mm large-diameter spotting scope.

2006

  • TSN-883 PROMINAR
  • TSN-884 PROMINAR

Released 88mm large-diameter spotting scope.

2010

  • PROMINAR 500mm F5.6 FL

Released super-telephoto lens with a 500mm focal length standard specification. Combination with optional mount adapters changes the focal length to 350mm and 850mm, allowing telephoto imaging with a total of three focal lengths.

2017

  • TSN-553 PROMINAR
  • TSN-554 PROMINAR

Released 55mm diameter spotting scope.
This model provides both a compact size and a light weight body with the ultimate viewing sensation.

2021

  • TSN-99A PROMINAR
  • TSN-99S PROMINAR

Released 99mm largest-diameter spotting scope.
This model provides both exceptional brightness and resolving power due to the large objective lens diameter.

2022

  • TSN-88A PROMINAR
  • TSN-88S PROMINAR

Released 88mm large-diameter spotting scope.

2023

  • TSN-66A PROMINAR
  • TSN-66S PROMINAR

Released 66mm large-diameter spotting scope.

2024

  • TSN-55A PROMINAR
  • TSN-55S PROMINAR

Released 55mm diameter spotting scope.