『Leupold European 30 Riflescopes 3-9x40mm, Matte Black, German #4 Reticle, Leopold European-30 Rifle Scopes were designed to be the ideal scope for the European sporting shooter. These scopes are very rare because they are manufactured specifically for distribution to international dealers and are not normally available in the United States. - 30mm Tube Features: - Objective Length: 3.7" - Field of View: 14.0 ft. @ 100 yds - Eye Relief: 3.7" - Tube Diameter: 30mm - Elevation Adj. Range: 60 - Elevation Adj. Range: 60 Specifications: - Model: European 30 - Magnification: 3-9x40mm - Length: 12.6" - Weight: 13.1oz - Reticle: German #4 - Finish: Matte Black, Mfg No: 54130, Manufacturer: Leupold』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Good Product) 『Good product, does as needed. Haven't had any problems with it, just make sure to wash it every once in a while so dirt, dust, etc. doesn't collect on it and get on the lens.』
(Nice Product) 『Very nice product. Does a good job not only for cleaning binocular lenses but also on eyeglasses. I would recommend to a friend.』
(Great item, but...) 『...if you're lucky you can find them at local camera shops for half the price. It's just a "Spudz" Microfiber lens cloth. It is an awesome product though, and goes everywhere my camera goes.』
(Very convenient, easy to store, cleans screens and lenses well) 『I used to keep a small microfiber cloth in my camcorder bag, but sometimes it fell out and would get dirty or dusty. This is a very convenient way to be sure you always have one around to wipe off the lcd screen and lens of your camera or camcorder. I have it hooked onto the strap of the camcorder bag for my Canon VIXIA HFS10. The cloth pulls easily out of the pouch, and can be stuffed back in simply with a thumb. I use it mostly to wipe of the LCD screen which tends to get smudged with finger grease pretty quickly. Works great for me.』
(Works as expected ..) 『I use it all the time .. it is very handy .. I guess you if you have the time you could find a piece of microfiber yourself and tie with a string to your camera ;-) it will work in the same way.』 『The Nikon cleaning cloth is made of micro-fiber material that is also anti-static for easy cleaning and use. It is the perfect way to safely maintain and clean your lenses, camera and binocular optics. Also included is a clip-on carry case.』
price:$14.99
Celestron
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Fun Little Scope) 『I had a limited budget for a telescope, and this seemed like a good deal. I am not disappointed with it at all. I 5 year old sons have had a great time looking at the moon, Jupiter, and other stars and planets. It does have limitations, mostly as a result of its cost. After using it 15-20 times I decided I wanted a bigger telescope, but this was a great introduction and I still use it when I don't feel like hauling out the bigger scope.
The biggest problem with this scope is common to almost all amateur scopes now days, and that is that the images don't compare to what is seen on the internet and in books. My twins were disappointed to not be able to see as much detail on Jupiter and Mars through this as was in their book, which had images from the Hubble Space telescope. But they did think it was cool to see it themselves.
If I had been purchasing something for myself only, I probably would have chosen a decent pair of binoculars instead. While the light gathering ability would be less, the optics would be better, and also easier to point in the right direction. But a telescope is much more cool to a five year old.』
(Very good telescope) 『This is my first telescope, I just wanted it to see the nightsky. It gives clear images and is well built, it is a lot bigger than you would think though. very good telescope wish it had more zoom also』
(What a Bargain!) 『For years, I've been wanting a cheap, wide-field, very portable 'scope. This one fits the bill perfectly. It's really inexpensive, has a really wide field, good optics, and is extremely portable. All of which -- along with its extreme ease of use -- makes it ideal as a first telescope for those just discovering the joys of astronomy.
The eyepieces that come with it deliver good images. But, the 20mm Huygens low-power "wide field" eyepiece that comes with it simply won't do. It's a narrow apparent-field-of-view eyepiece (20 degrees) that only delivers a 1.3-degree field of view. This would make finding anything but the brightest objects (basically the moon, Jupiter and Venus) an exercise in frustration. The 4mm symmetrical high-power eyepiece, in contrast, is fine. It delivers good images in an adequate .4-degree field of view.
Anyone buying this 'scope would be well advised to buy a better low-power eyepiece, such as a Kellner, RKE, or Plossl, in the 20mm to 28mm range. Most astronomy sales outfits grossly overcharge for these eyepieces, but you can find bargains at the surplus optical sites (run a search for "surplus optics") -- I just bought a 27mm Kellner for $12.50 plus $5 shipping from one. One of these better eyepieces will yield a 3-to-4-degree field of view, which makes finding an object easy just by pointing the 'scope in the general direction and sweeping until you find it.
From my heavily light-polluted backyard, the views of the brighter nearby clusters (Beehive, Pleiades, etc.) are wonderful in this 'scope -- its field of view is wide enough to allow you to view the entire clusters. I can't wait to take it out of town next year to check out the summer Milky Way.
Finally, don't bother with the accessory package. The eyepieces are almost certainly cheap Huygens eyepieces with very narrow fields of view; the finder 'scope is a toy that's useless if you have a decent low-power eyepiece; and there are good planetarium programs on the 'net (such as Stellarium) available for free. You'd be much better off buying a decent medium power -- roughly 10mm to 13mm -- eyepiece from a surplus optics site.』
(Great for a starter scope) 『In my area, We haven't had great luck with the weather, so I've only been able to get it out once or twice since i purchased this telescope. Its a great buy for the price and with practice I was able to get some great views of some key points in the sky. The moon is great place to start, as far as learning placement and focusing, it definitely needs a different eye piece for deeper viewing but all in all a great buy.』
(nice beginner's scope) 『What a nice and compact telescope. Easy set up and the view is great for a small inexpensive scope. Great for little children and older adults..』 『FirstScope Telescope Official Product of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy. Ideal astronomical entry level telescope. The FirstScope Telescope pays tribute to Galileo Galilei and may of history's most notable astronomers and scientists. We honor these men and women for their contributions bringing us one step closer to understanding the universe around us. The compact design makes it easy to take with you on your next outdoor adventure. The FirstScope is also stylish enough to be used as a decorative fixture on your bookshelves or desk.』
price:Too low to display
Nikon
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Very Nice) 『Recently, my father let me borrow a pair of his VERY expensive Swarvoski binoculars. I was extremely impressed and decided to buy a nice pair for myself. Not wanting to spend $1,800+ on binoculars unless absolutely necessary, I did a fair amount of research and settled on these, with the idea that I could send them back if necessary. I'm not sending them back. I'm not sure they have quite the "wow" factor as my fathers, but they're pretty darn close. I was extremely impressed with the quality of the image and the brightness. The images are extremely crisp, the binoculars feel very good in my hand and are extremely comfortable to use and are worth every penny. I agree with other reviewers regarding the lens cap covers -- they're cheap and fairly useless. But they stay on in the case and serve their purpose. No big deal.
I very highly recommend these binoculars for anyone wanting a very nice quality pair of binoculars without breaking the bank.』
(Yes You Need These!) 『After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail this year I decided I wanted to stay close to nature and began searching for a good set of binoculars that wouldn't break my bank account (as always, Amazon had the best price!). I wanted a set mainly for birding and nature spotting. The decision to purchase the Nikon Monarch 8x42mm All-Terrain model was a good one. No wonder they won best mid-priced bino as rated by Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
These are lightweight, solid, water and fogproof, and provide good eye relief fro eyeglass wearers. The first time I took them out on a local bird walk I was amazed at the image quality. Now they're my favorite "go to" binoculars. They'll be yours too.』
(Great glass) 『First rate glasses with second class accessories. Wonderfully clear and sharp to the edges. The case and caps are another story. The rear lens cap really is pretty terrible.』
(Great set of binoc's) 『Incredibly bright and amazing contrast make these binoc's a pleasure to use under any field lighting condition. These are an outstanding set of binoculars.
』
(Bowhunter Approved) 『I purchased this from Amazon and got a great price and read many reviews on the web. I received them 3 days after I ordered. It was in time for my deer hunting trip over a bean field in driving rain. They performed very well considering it was a hard rain for 3 hours. As stated in other reviews the rain guard caps do suck but it certainly wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. My eyes aren't as good as they use to be being just south of forty but I could easily see spike horns at 200 yards in the last hour of daylight so to me thats worth the price alone and ofcourse it can't fog up. It doesn't matter what magnification or how bright it is if they are fogged up.』 『Nikon is a precision optical company with worldwide manufacturing, research and marketing capabilities. The Nikon name is equated with extraordinary photographic performance, innovation, precision and optical quality.
PRODUCT FEATURES:
100% Waterproof/Fogproof/Shockproof; Ultra-rugged, rubber-armored, roof-prism design; Extended eye relief and central focus for viewing convenience; Fully Multicoated lenses for bright, clear images; Precision aligned optics for extended viewing.』
price:$6.93
Bushnell
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (useful and cheap) 『teaching a class to some jr. ornithologists. the price was right for our budget.the young teens were able to find the bird and focus quickly and easily with these. the light weight and small size is a big plus. as time goes on they may want to buy more expensive glasses, but maybe not. i find myself reaching for these and leaving my 'good ones' at home.』
(Great Product for the price) 『Bought these binoculars for an upcoming trip to Alaska. There are nice and light, fold easily and the optics are very good. They came with a soft fabric case that can attach to a belt, a cleaning cloth and neck cord. They are great for bird watching at the house. They will pack easily and be great for viewing animals on the Alaska trip.』
(Inexpensive - Good Quality for the Price) 『These are very inexpensive for the quality. Comes with a carrying case and lens cloth. For this price I can afford to throw them away and replace them a lot.』
(Surprising quality) 『I wasn't expecting much for the price here, but the first pair was so impressive that we ordered a second. These turned out to be just right for our purposes--looking at architectural details, frescos, etc. on a trip. I wear glasses and although it's always a hassle to take off your glasses to use binoculars, I was pleased that the eyes could be adjusted separately if needed. (I have a strong and very lopsided prescription.) These are very small and (fairly) light too.』
(Good for the price) 『Got these for dance and theater performances and they work just fine and are easy to carry. Used them from the upper terrace at a baseball game, and they weren't quite as good from the greater distance, but overall they are a great value.』 『Travelers, nature observers and concert goers take note: the PowerView series offers the largest line of Bushnell quality, affordable binoculars. No matter what your purpose, you'll find a variety of magnifications, styles and sizes, and fully coated optics for bright, vivid images. PRODUCT FEATURES: Fully Coated Lens Coating; Fold Down Eyecups.』 『Bushnell PowerView binoculars offer the best of both worlds, combining contemporary styling and design with traditional Bushnell quality and durability. This particular PowerView binocular offers an 8x magnification and a 21mm objective diameter. The fully coated optics, meanwhile, guarantee superior light transmission and brightness, helping you see just about any target, whether you're searching for birds or trying to get a better view of the stage. And users will love the easy-to-use center focusing system, which adjusts quickly to keep your subject in sharp view. Additional features include a nonslip rubber armor housing that absorbs shock while providing a firm grip, a neck strap and a carrying case for easy transport, and 9mm of eye relief.
Specifications:
Magnification: 8x
Objective lens diameter: 21mm
Size class: Compact
Focus system: Center
Prism system: Roof
Prism glass: BK-7
Lens coating: Fully
Field of view @ 1,000 yards: 378 feet
Close focus distance: 21 feet
Exit pupil: 2.6mm
Eye relief: 9mm
Eyecups: Fold down
Waterproof/fogproof: No
Adapts to tripod: No
Weight: 7 ounces
Warranty: Limited lifetime
Tech Talk Objective Lens:The diameter of the objective or front lens. The larger the objective lens, the more light that enters the binocular, and the brighter the image.
Field of View (F.O.V.):The side-to-side measurement of the circular viewing field or subject area. It is defined by the width in feet or meters of the area visible at 1000 yards or meters. A wide angle binocular features a wide field of view and is better for following action. Generally, the higher the magnification, the narrower the field of view.
Roof Prism System:In roof prism binoculars the prisms overlap closely, allowing the objective lenses to line up directly with the eyepiece. The result is a slim, stream-lined shape in which the lenses and prisms are in a straight line.
』
『The Bushnell 8x21 PowerView FRP compact binoculars combine contemporary styling and design with traditional Bushnell quality and durability. They are easy to use and economical and feature general-purpose roof prisms. They offer 8x magnification and a field of view of 378 feet at 1,000 yards in a compact 7-ounce body. Their black rubber armoring ensures they can sustain active use. Bushnell's 8x21 PowerView FRP compact binoculars include a carrying case and a neck strap for convenience and comfort on the go.』
price:$78.01
Nikon
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Outstanding example of excellent value) 『 The Nikon 7216 Action binoculars proved to be everything positive that other reviewers stated and more! I am thankful that I was guided by those reviews to purchase not one, but two pairs of these Nikon binoculars. Easy to use,easy to attach the strap, easy to adjust, comfortable to carry. Perfect for a semi-beginning birder (myself) and for general nature/ hiking/ birding use (my fourteen year old son). I am an excellent comparison shopper and I researched the NYC metro area and online thoroughly for price and quality comparisons, listened to experts from the local Audubon society chapter, visited camping and outdoor stores prior to making this purchase. On my first birding walk afterwards, a fellow birder asked to use the binos briefly and, handing them back, remarked to a friend " These are wonderful!-they must have been VERY expensive." Another birder tried them and concurred enthusiastically as well! Thank you, Amazon! When we are ready to "move up", we'll consult this site first. To other prospective customers,truly,do not hesitate-You will be delighted and know that this is a true bargain- price, quality, ease of purchase and prompt shipping.』
(Great Binoculars) 『Love these binoculars! Very easy to use, great picture, easy to focus in and out! Have had several different brands/types of binoculars and this is by far the best one!』
(Great for what I need) 『For the first time in my life I started hunting last year. Everyone around me does, so I decided to give it a try. I loved it. Last year I hunted white-tail deer and squirrel and had a great time. I decided to continue hunting, but that meant buying gear, and I mean all the gear, from clothing to the gun, to accessories, everything.
Last year I used binoculars and they worked really well for me, so I started looking around, I decided that if I'm going to do this I needed to buy some good quality equipment in my price range, and these binocs meet that specific perfectly.
They are small, present a great view, great quality that comes with the Nikon name. When I upgrade later I'll stay with Nikon.』
(I Love it!) 『This is my second binocular. I really appreciate with its clear and robustness. Nikon will be my 3rd binocular too!』
(great price) 『The day after I ordered these optics the price was increased by $10.00. They worked flawlessly out of the box. The lens proctectors attach to the lanyard and are easy to remove and attach. Less likely to lose the lens caps. There is also a nice and sturdy nylon case. The carrying case does not have a neck strap. The magnification is clear and crisp. The 8 X magnification allows for a steady field of vision without a tripod or some kind of a brace for steadiness. The rubber armour is a nice touch as well.』 『Nikon Action Binocular 8X 40 Black』
price:$10.17
Bushnell
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Good value for the money) 『I use it for theater and sports. It does a good job. Good optics. The build is somewhat rusty and cheep. The neck strip is way too thin. The focusing ring provides for a reasonable distance range. Overall - very good value for the money. I've seen better optics and better build however at a much higher price. For the casual user or the casual use I strongly recommend it.』
(Bushnell Binoculars) 『I have used this prodduct twice and it has already started to fall apart. There is a piece underneath the roller to focus the binoculars that has come unglued.』
(Good value, good product) 『We purchased these binoculars to take on a European vacation. They fold up to a very compact size for easy carrying, were sufficiently rugged not to have any problems after getting bounced around a lot, and provided powerful magnification for the small size.
While they were great for landscape viewing, they were a bit too powerful to be very useful for viewing the artwork on the ceilings of cathedrals. I look forward to giving them a try-out at sporting events, but based on earlier use I suspect they would work quite well, even from the cheap seats.』
(Binocular) 『Good price, decent product. Hard to keep stable. That is the trade off for size.』
(Average) 『Shipped as expected, but the image is not so sharp,hard to set and very shaky.』 『Bushnell PowerView binoculars are the best of both worlds, combining contemporary styling and design with traditional Bushnell quality and durability. A variety of styles and features appeals to a wide range of observers from students of nature to concertgoers. Outstanding light transmission through fully coated optics ensures bright, crisp clear viewing. The easy to hold and easy to use aspect of these binoculars also converge to make Bushnell PowerView an excellent value for the general and outdoor use.』 『Bushnell PowerView binoculars offer the best of both worlds, combining contemporary styling and design with traditional Bushnell quality and durability. This particular PowerView binocular offers a 12x magnification and a 25mm objective diameter. The fully coated optics, meanwhile, guarantee superior light transmission and brightness, helping you see just about any target, whether you're searching for birds or trying to get a better view of the stage. And users will love the easy-to-use Insta-Focus system, which adjusts quickly to keep your mobile subject in sharp view. Additional features include a nonslip rubber armor housing that absorbs shock while providing a firm grip, a neck strap and a carrying case for easy transport, and 9mm of eye relief.
price:Too low to display
Celestron
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Twinkling an Opinion for Beginning Stars) 『This is my and my wife's first venture with a telescope so we sought something that would not require a big investment; would not "jiggle or shake" if bumped when in use; would be easy to handle and transport by hand; and allowed us some recreational fun. This item is sturdy and easy to set up but lacks a couple of minor conveniences that could inexpensively been added by the manufacturer to enhance the user's enjoyment. Without detracting from our feelings that there is inherent value in this item to introduce the beginner (especially kids) to astronomy, the changes would be: (1) although the tripod is nice and firm with a locking mechanism, the removable little tray that one snaps inside the legs to hold some of the extras is not easy to put into place or remove; (2) there is insufficient guidance on how to best utilize the infrared eye piece that is battery powered and it is easy to overlook that this eyepiece battery is in the on positon when folding up and storing it and a dead battery will ensue; (3) there is not a protective cap for the 10mm or 20mm lens inserted into the eyepiece if you do not always want to have to remove and store them when not in use; and (4) a carrying case (cloth or plastic) for storage for a few bucks more would have been a nice addition...we're still searching for something suitable. Again, overall it was worth<$100 price paid but I would have been willing to add an extra $10 or $15 for the improvements mentioned above.』
(repackaged, broken and dirty) 『The telescope had obviously been repackaged. The lenses were in a plastic bag...they were cracked and filthy.』
(Pretty good.) 『Bought this has my first telescope, not knowing if i would really get into amateur astronomy. Gotta say it served me well for what i paid for. Star pointer can be something of an hassle, but once it is fine tuned it can be really useful. The biggest disapointment is the tripod. It is definetely made for children. I'm 5"9 and i always had to bend over to look at stars. Rough on my back. Solve the problem by mounting it on my camera tripod without any problems, cause it has the screw holes to do it. Overall good enough for star watching and really good for the wallet.』
(Gets the job done) 『We bought this telescope as a birthday present for our 11 year old daughter. The tripod is very good for this price: very sturdy yet easy to point the telescope by unlocking the position and then tightening it at a new location with the knob on the arm.
We have seen the rings of Saturn (although small) and the kids love the details of the craters on the moon. The lighted finder scope seems to be more of a gimmick than actually useful, but maybe we just haven't figured out how to use it yet. Definitely worth the purchase.』
(Excellent value dual purpose child's telescope) 『I got this for an eight year old girl and she loves it. It's much bigger and heavier than I expected and requires adult assembly but it's a serious device and will provide many years of service. This model can be used for viewing the moon and stars or distant earthbound items by changing the eyepiece.』 『If youre looking for a dual-purpose telescope appropriate for both terrestrial and celestial viewing, then the AstroMaster Series is for you. Each AstroMaster model is capable of giving correct views of land and sky.』
price:$32.37
Celestron
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (New Amature Astronimer) 『Works great, everything I expected. Now I need to get my eyes corrected (I've been putting it off) so that I enjoy it's full capabilities. All of the reviews were very helpful and appreciated. I think that I hexed myself with this purchase: it's never cloudy in Kansas City at this time of year, it's been cloudy many nights since the binoculars came in the mail. I'm up late and up early any time that it clear, having the time of my long life.』
(Simply Great binocs) 『I have had these binoculars for about 1 year now and I still bring them basically anywhere I go. I started to get interested in Astronomy last summer and needed an optical instrument that would be easy to use and not very expensive. I went ahead and ordered SkyMaster and loved it from day 1. They are great for both Astronomy use and for day time observing. From looking at distant landscape, contrails of an overhead jet travelling at 35,000 feet or looking at Andromeda galaxy, these binocs bring everything much closer and much brighter than most people would expect. There is always a WOW factor when someone picks it up for the first time. All moving parts, including focuser are smooth and very well made. The only downside that I see is that these are relatively big and heavy binoculars. I would suggest buying a monopod, so your viewing sessions will be longer and more enjoyable. If you don't have monopod or tripod, just find some kind of support for your arms or sit in the reclining chair. Overall, this is top level, highly recommended product.』
(Easy Astronomy on a budget!) 『These are great! If you want to look into astronomy but don't want to spend a ton of money, this is a great buy! Easy to use, not at all heavy really, sharp clear optics and great value. I use these more than my 8" Reflector now. So much easier to grab and go outside. I am very happy with this purchase!』
(Your sleepless nights will be worthwhile!) 『Today was my first use of these binoculars along with the tripod I ordered from 57"TRIPOD FOR SPOTTING SCOPE CAMERA BINOCULARS+CASE !!
I used the free open source stellarium software (google it) to research and locate targets of interest. Jupiter with four of its moons was the easiest to spot with the binoculars and the most exciting view was the Orion's Nebula. A lot of detail is visible in the sky in general at the minimum maginificaiton. In terms of functionality, aesthetics and price, this is a great product, no complaints. Since this is the only product I have used so far, can't really say how it compares with other similar products. The instruction sheet that comes with the product seems a little outdated as the diagram shows a zoom lever whereas in the actual product, zoom works through rotation of lens with fingers. I recommend that you get a good sturdy tripod that can remain stable and smooth under the weight of this product, the tripod I bought does an OK job but is not the best option by any means.
Just like I was, if you are having a tough time deciding between a binoculars and a telescope, the BBC sky at night magazine episode 11 on YouTube should help you make the decision.
Happy stargazing!
P.S. Addition on 10/23/2009: The tripod I bought earlier, mentioned above in the first line of this review, broke yesterday(the lever that spins to adjust the tripod's height just snapped under the weight of the binocular while the height was being adjusted). I got a new one, Targus Digital TG-6660TR 66-Inch Tripod with 3-Way Panhead. This new one can take upto 7 lbs weight and is very steady under the binocular's weight, highly recommended for use along with the Celestron Skymaster Giant 15x70.』
(Bang for the buck!) 『Pros: - BAK4 prism provides crisp and clear images - tripod adaptable - huge objectives - does what is it supposed to do - water-resistant
Cons: - Heavy, but this isn't one of the binoculars you'd bring to a stadium or for hiking - Needs tripod for image stability; comes with tripod adapter, so this issue is null - Neck strap is pretty much non-usable since the weight of binoculars actually put pressure on the back of your neck. You would use a tripod most of the time, so this is also null - Crappy carrying bag with strap, but nonetheless a bag
The relative: - If you get this make sure you have a sturdy tripod
Note- I was able to make out the shape of Jupiter and see several of its moon with no difficulty.』 『Celestron and ;s SkyMaster Series of large aperture binoculars are a phenomenal value for high performance binoculars ideal for astronomical viewing or for terrestrial (land) use - especially over long distances. Each SkyMaster model features high quality BAK-4 prisms and multi-coated optics for enhanced contrast. Celestron has designed and engineered the larger SkyMaster models to meet the special demands of extended astronomical or terrestrial viewing sessions. The 15x70 version is one of the most popular models in the series. It offers serious large aperture light gathering in an affordable and reasonably lightweight configuration.』 『Binoculars come in a wide range of shapes and sizes these days, and an even wider range of prices. It's easy to spend less than $100 or more than $500 for what may appear to be, at least outwardly, comparable models. While they may look the same, they are probably quite different on the inside.
Recently, the binocular market has seen a flood of giant binoculars at prices that were unheard of just a few years ago. In general, giant binoculars are defined as those that magnify the view 10 times or more and have 70-mm or larger front (objective) lenses. It used to be that the least expensive giant binoculars cost in excess of $150, even $200. All that changed not long ago, when the bottom fell out of the price cellar. Now, several companies import giant binoculars that sell for half that, or less.
Celestron's 15x70 SkyMaster binoculars are one of the leaders in the low-price giant binocular arena. They certainly sound good on paper. The SkyMasters include multicoated optics and BaK-4 internal prisms, two features that promise brighter, better images, and key points to look for when judging a pair of binoculars. They also come with an adapter for attaching them to a photo tripod, which is a must to use them to their fullest, and a soft carrying case. But just because they are cheap doesn't always mean they are worth the price. Would it be better to save up for a more expensive pair?
To find the answer, I had an opportunity recently to judge the SkyMasters against a pair of Fujinon 16x70 FMT-SX binoculars , one of the finest pairs of giant binoculars sold today. Like the SkyMasters, the Fujinons feature BaK-4 prisms, but also have fully multicoated optics. As a general rule, superior coatings mean superior image sharpness and contrast. But then, that should be expected, given that the Fujinons cost many times more than the Celestrons.
While the Fujinons were clearly the better performer, the Celestron SkyMasters held up admirably. Image brightness, quality, and contrast were all remarkable considering their bargain price. Although images were a little soft across the outer 25% of the Celestron's field, the overall view was impressive nonetheless.
Some inexpensive binoculars have very sloppy focusing, causing the eyepieces to tilt and shift. Not so with the SkyMasters. I found that their center-focusing mechanism worked smoothly, with no apparently backlash or wobble. Eye relief (the distance you hold your eyes away from the eyepieces to see the full field) is stated to be 18 mm, a good distance for higher power binoculars and an important consideration if you must wear glasses when viewing. The SkyMasters are also light enough to support by hand for short periods of time, although buyers would be well advised to mount them on a sturdy photo tripod.
The bottom line is, if you are considering a pair of giant binoculars, whether for bird watching, stargazing, or another recreational use, and have a limited budget, Celestron's giant 15x70 SkyMasters represent an excellent value. --Phil Harrington, author of Star Ware and Star Watch
Pros:
Exceptional value for the price
Light enough to support by hand
BaK-4 prisms
Multicoated optics
Cons:
Outer 25% of the field is soft and a little blurry
price:$22.07
Bushnell
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (smhach) 『Nice set of binoculars that produce a nice clear image for the novice user and the price is right. Unfortunately the lens covers are not attached so losing them is just a matter of time. It would have gotten another star if it had a mounting screw hole for my tripod since I'm using them for star gazing and they are a little bulky.』
(Bushnell Falcon 10x50 Wide Angle Binoculars) 『Now these are a great pair of Binoculars for the price. They are heavy, Rubber coated for better non slip grip and they are tough! The focus is sharp and clear too! They adjust well and the image fills in the lenses, which helps prevent eyestrain. These glasses are very good for spying and keeping an eye on your neighborhood block watches. Especially during these rough times. There glasses are a must purchase!』
(defective out of the box) 『the front lens housing came detached from the body...returned it immediately...I think Amazon just sends any defective piece to meet the 2 day shipping promise...very disappointed with the transaction』
(Bushnell Falcon 10x50) 『Very good product,more than I expected for the price. Good service as always. Thank you』
(Best item for the Best price) 『I bought this binocular to my cousin. I found this after going through many online shopping sites and reading the review of binoculars online. This Binocular is very stable and the best part is the lens cap and the binocular case which came along with this. The only thing with which i was disappointed is user manual which is not clear for the first time user. Overall I am satisfied by the item and its shipping.』 『Features quality Bushnell« fully coated optics for sharp images at an affordable price. Features the patented InstaFocus« system for fast focus so you won't miss any of the action. Rubber armored for comfort and durability.』 『Great for stadium sports as well as hunting, the Bushnell Falcon is the standard in a wide-angle binocular. The durable design and finish allow for use in harsh conditions and rugged terrain. Coated lenses are helpful to keep fog out of vision and fold-down eyecups protect eyeglass lenses from scratching. The InstaFocus lever functions smoothly with just enough tension to control the magnification properly.』