Celestron 52265 C90 Maksutov Spotting Scope
by Celestron

List Price: $335.95
Category: Digital Camera
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Digital product summary information

• Multi-Coated Optics
• Rubber Armor Protective Covering for Secure Grip
• Water Resistant Case
• Internal Flip Mirror System for Terrestrial and Astronomical Use
• Limited Lifetime Warranty

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Digital camera reviews of Celestron 52265 C90 Maksutov Spotting Scope

Digital camera Review: C90 Mak review
Summary: 5 Stars

Summary of Celestron 52265 C90 Maksutov Spotting Scope

The Maksutov-Cassegrain design of the C90 uses a combination of mirrors and lenses; this "folded" optical system has a focal length of 1200mm in a body only nine inches long. The Maksutov design delivers high power views without a trace of the chromatic aberration, also called blue fringing, that distorts high power views in competing refractor style spotting scopes. At 40X magnification where some low cost spotting scopes are starting to seem fuzzy, the C90 is just getting started. The C90 uses the same 1.25 inch eyepieces used in astronomical telescopes. The standard equipment 32mm plossl eyepiece gives a magnification of 38X, but many other eyepieces can be used to vary the magnification. A nice upgrade is Celeston?s 8 to 24mm Zoom Eyepiece , which allows you to dial in any magnification from 50X up to 150X.

A unique feature of the C90 is the internal flip mirror which allows viewing astronomical objects overhead or terrestrial objects with the 45 degree correct image prism. When I focus on the Moon and planets at night the view is crisp and clear; I can easily make out details like small craters and mountain peaks inside some of the Moon?s large craters. When I looked at Jupiter the other night with an optional 12.5mm X-Cel eyepiece (about 100X magnification), I could easily see Jupiter?s major cloud bands. The C90 also makes a handy spotting scope in the daytime because it?s small and portable. I can easily transport the scope and a tripod to the lake when I want to do a little wildlife spotting.

High magnification viewing requires a solid tripod, of course. Celestron?s Photo and Video Tripod seems steady enough for visual use but it seems a little light for photography. The other drawback to high magnification viewing is a narrow field of view; high magnification makes it harder to follow moving targets like birds in flight.

Overall the Celestron C90 Maksutov Spotting Scope does a fine job as a companion to good pair of binoculars. With my 8x40 binoculars I could see two Western Grebes on the lake; with the C90 I could zoom in and watch as the adult grebe offered a freshly caught fish to its offspring. The C90 also doubles as a portable astronomy scope; it won?t show the flag on the Moon but it will show thousands of craters on the Moon as well as showing the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Compact yet powerful
• Upgradeable with 1.25" eyepieces
• Adaptable for astronomy and photography

• Narrow field of view
• Needs a solid tripod

Camera & Photo Features

• Electronics
• Spotting Scopes