Celestron 52233 C50 Mini Mak Weather Proof Spotting Scope Review
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May 06, 2012 21:02:33
Celestron 52303 Regal Refractor 100mm F-ED Spotting Scope Review
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May 04, 2012 21:02:35
Celestron 52268 C90 Mak Spotting scope (Black) Review
The Maksutov-Cassegrain design of the C90 uses a combination of mirrors and lenses; this “folded” optical system has a focal length of 1250mm in a body only twelve inches long. The Maksutov design delivers high power views without a trace of the chromatic aberration, also called blue fringing, that can distort high power views in competing refractor style spotting scopes. At 40X magnification where some low cost spotting scopes start 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 yields a magnification of 39X, but many other eyepieces can be used to vary the magnification.
The Celestron model 52268 seems very well built, with excellent multi-coatings visible on the front lens. The real beauty of this 90mm Maksutov spotting scope, however, is in the view it offers. When I use an optional 12.5mm eyepiece to look at Jupiter at 100X I can clearly see Jupiter’s major cloud bands as well as its four moons. When I look at the Moon and stars I can easily push the magnification to 200X with an optional 6mm eyepiece. When I look at birds in the backyard, I’m treated to delightful views full of vibrant color and crisp detail. With a close focus distance of only 15 feet, the detail and texture I see is simply amazing.
High magnification viewing requires a solid tripod, of course. Celestron’s Heavy Duty Altazimuth Tripod comes with slow motion controls to allow the scope to be pointed precisely, and I can clamp the dovetail base on my CG5 mount for astronomical use. The other drawback to high magnification viewing is a narrow field of view; high magnification makes it hard 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. 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:
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Apr 07, 2012 11:59:07
Celestron 52229 60mmRefractor Zoom Spotting Scope Review
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Mar 22, 2012 21:57:11
Celestron 52238 C70 Mini Mak Spotting Scope Review
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Feb 10, 2012 04:12:40
Celestron 52250 80mm Ultima Zoom Spotting Scope Review
The Ultima 80 features a sleek, waterproof design and includes a padded soft case with zippers on both ends so the scope can be protected even while mounted on a tripod. Including the eyepiece the Ultima 80 measures just over 18 inches long and weighs about 3.6 pounds. The rubber eyecup can be removed to expose a standard “T-thread” for attaching a camera. I like the 45* angled eyepiece because I can use a shorter tripod to support the spotting scope while viewing or while taking pictures with a small camera attached to the eyepiece.
The focus ranges from 27 feet to the horizon with just a few turns of the focus knob. When I fold down the rubber eye cup I can keep my glasses on and see the whole 2 degree field of view at 20X magnification. With my glasses on I need very little focus adjustment while I crank the zoom eyepiece from 20X up to 60X. Sometimes though I like to take my glasses off while observing because the view seems to have just a little more contrast and sharpness. I like the fact that the Ultima 80 gives me a sharp image either way.
The drawback of the tradition crown and flint achromatic lens used in the Ultima 80 Zoom Spotting Scope is a bit of false color, also known as blue fringing or chromatic aberration. Blue fringing seems well controlled at 20X magnification, but it becomes increasingly noticeable as I zoom up to 60X. Celestron also offers the Ultima 80ED and the Regal 80 F-ED spotting scopes which use exotic ED glass lenses to virtually eliminate blue fringing and produce the sharpest possible high power views.
 Shot at 20X zoom at about 20 yards, cropped 50% (Click here to see uncropped) |  Shot at 20X zoom at about 50 yards, cropped 30% |
 Shot at 20X zoom, uncropped but reduced in size (Click here to see at 60X zoom) |  Shot at 20X zoom at about 50 yards, cropped 30% |
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Dec 29, 2011 08:20:41
Celestron 52252 100mm Ultima Zoom Spotting Scope Review
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Dec 20, 2011 05:32:39
Celestron Tripod for Camera & Binoculars & Spotting Scope Review
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Oct 31, 2011 22:58:06
Bushnell Sportview 15-45x50 Spotting Scope with Tripod and Case Review
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