My Telescope Store

Bushnell Powerview 8x21 Compact Folding Roof Prism Binocular (Black)


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.

Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter


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
• Requires a tripod to use for extended periods

Tasco Essentials 8x21 Binocular (Black)


The Tasco 165RB is a 8 x 21mm Essentials Roof Prism Binocular. It is perfect for giving to children, throwing in the glove box of a car or taking with you when you don't want to worry about your investment. This ultra-light binocular offers outstanding compact performance with rugged, rubber armor for hiking, backpacking or bicycle touring.

Orion StarBlast 4.5 Astro Telescope


Orion StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector TelescopeLaunch a lifetime of stargazing with this compact, ready-to-use telescopeTop-notch optics show you the moon, the planets, the stars and moreScope comes fully assembled so you can go from box to backyard in minutesHigh-quality optics, point-and-view ease of use, remarkable portability, all for less than $200Your ticket to space-tourism without the zero-G nauseaMaybe it's because many of us started out with those frustrating little department store refractors, but at Orion we strive to offer quality telescopes for beginners that are easy to use and will inspire their natural inclination to explore.The Orion StarBlast is one such telescope. Pint-sized in stature, it's a real reflecting telescope that's super-simple to use and yet manufactured with the kind of quality you'd expect in more expensive models.The Orion StarBlast is a point-and-view telescope that swivels smoothly on its sturdy, low-profile base. No complicated setup is required. In fact, it comes pre-assembled and ready for action right out of the box! Just carry it outdoors by its built-in handle, place it on the ground or on a picnic bench, and let the fun begin!Inside the StarBlast's 18"-long steel tube are real, quality telescope optics, including a 114mm (4.5") parabolic mirror. With the two Explorer II telescope eyepieces, upcoming skywatchers will see spectacular views of the Moon's craters, the planets, star clusters, and lots of other exotic space stuff. Aiming the Orion StarBlast is easy with the EZ Finder II "red dot" finder scope. The package also includes an eyepiece rack and a snap-on dust cap.The Orion StarBlast will not only give beginners hour after hour of fun, but will also nurture their interest in the night sky. One-year limited warranty. This item cannot be shipped internationally due to its size and weight.

Bushnell Northstar 4.5" Telescope with RVO


The Bushnell(r) Navigator(r) 675 x 4.5-in telescope offers you state-of-the-art, computer-driven location and tracking capability with simple, push-button control. With a built--in data base of 20,000 celestial objects, you simply call up your target on the hand-held control module, enter a simple "Go To" command and the NorthStar(r) computer does the rest. A Real Voice Output(tm) feature describes night sky wonders with a human voice.