Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter by Celestron
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List Price: Our Price: $59.95 You Save: $60.00 (50%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $35.00 (click here) Category: Digital Camera See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter
Digital camera Review: Amazing for the price
Summary: 5 Stars
I was looking for a good set of "cheap" binos for astronomical use. Most reports suggest not going over 10x magnification in order to ensure stability while hand-holding the binos, but there were enough reports that these were usable while held that I went with them.
For my money, these are absolutely amazing. While it is true that the outer 25% (give or take) of the field of view is soft and blurry, the field of view itself is so large that this was of little impact. The optics are multi-coated, and honestly, the coatings leave a bit to be desired, and while my daylight testing made me wonder whether or not these would be passable binos for stargzing, first light with the night sky blew me away.
The light gathering power of the 70mm objectives is sufficient to bring the Milky Way to new life even from my light polluted suburban skies, M42 is a wonder to behold, and I actually found that, even only about 1/4 visible, the moon was so bright I couldn't look at it for extended periods.
Hand-holding these binos is not a problem. They're lighter than I expected, and I actually had an easier time hand-holding these than I have had with other, much lower power binos.
As an all-around pair of binos for stargazing, these things get my vote for "best value." I haven't had them long enough to talk about longevity and that may ultimatley influence my opinion, but for under $100, it's hard to go wrong with these.
Digital camera Review: Amazing quality, Low price!!
Summary: 5 Stars
You won't find a better deal. Great quality,(was expecting less for the price). Comes with tripod adapter,case,dust cloth,lens covers,cheap as hell strap and instructions.Rubberized outer shell for water proof.You don't need a tripod for these dont be misled. You can easily hold these just like any other smaller pair and steady them,when you get used to them you can even hold them with one hand because they are lightweight for their size. Very good 3D images, I am very pleased with these and very happy I did not spend alot of $ for them.Digital camera Review: Amazing views of the sky.
Summary: 5 Stars
I am not an astronomer by any means. However, these binoculars are certainly a good start. These binoculars are huge, which is exactly what I wanted. The amount of light they gather is amazing. The first night I had them out, I had to put on my sunglasses to look at the full moon. I mounted them on my cheap camera tripod. Once settled, a nice stable view appears. The view is very sharp when focused correctly. Out of the box, these worked great, and are definitely worth the $55. I agree with some other posters that holding them near the end of the lenses offers a much more stable view. The case could be better, but I didn't buy these for the case. May get a sturdier tripod mount in the future, but the included one will certainly do for now. What amazes me is how many more stars there are that the naked eye can't see. I can look at what appears to be a blank spot in the sky, and see a whole star field through these binoculars. Bangarang.Digital camera Review: Amazing what you can see with these!!
Summary: 5 Stars
We are beginnig astronomy and these binoculars are a great start. We have been able to see star clusters, galaxies, and hundreds of stars where there are just a few to the naked eye. Also was able to see Jupiter and her 4 moons. The binos are a little heavy to hold and a tripod helps but it awkward to use (could also be due to being a beginner.) This is a great product to get to get started. I would also recommend a green laser pointer.Digital camera Review: Amazing, but be aware of the catch on the No-Fault Warranty!
Summary: 4 Stars
We bought these binoculars for our son when he turned seven. He has a great interest in astronomy, and we considered buying him a telescope. We had read several reviews recommending buying a student a nice pair of binoculars before purchasing a telescope. This recommendation proved to be exactly right. Our entire family has enjoyed these binoculars, and the lunar eclipse over Michigan a few weeks ago was a delight! They are heavy, but our seven year old is able to handle them, and they come with a neck strap. He knows their value, and has been quite careful with them. I wouldn't hesitate to give them to another child this age.
The reason I can't give the binoculars five stars is as follows: This last weekend, one of the eye-pieces broke off. Knowing that there is a no-fault warranty on the binoculars, I called Celestron. The customer service man was knowledgeable and cordial, but it was only then that I became aware of the warranty catch. To take advantage of the no-fault warranty service, you must send back the broken binoculars and pay $25 for service, handling, and shipping of the new binoculars. I somehow missed this little detail when we received the binoculars and read through the warranty information included in the box. When I stated that now the $80 binoculars that I bought in September are going to cost me $105, he said, "Well, that's two sets of great binoculars that you got for $105." That's just a ridiculous point for him to make, because I have to send the broken ones back, and they are unusable anyway. He obviously didn't major in debate in college, OR that's what he's told to say when a customer challenges that policy.
Needless to say, I feel it is important for Amazon customers to know this before purchasing. I am going to send back the binoculars, pay the $25, and see how Celestron does with standing behind their warranty claims. I will update this review when I get the new binoculars.
I would still purchase them, but I would have liked to be aware of the warranty catch ahead of time. Happy stargazing!