This review helped me finally decide which spotting scope I'll get. I am 75 and got my first telescope when I was 21. In my younger days I was an avid amateur astronomer and, like you, have owned just about every type of scope available to amateurs. My favorite was a 6-inch refractor (f12) that I put on a humongous Schaefer equatorial mount. I set it up at the Winter Star Party in the Florida Keys and when I went to take it down, the whole thing fell over on me and banged me in the head. Knocked me out. Luckily one of the amateurs nearby who saw me fall over was an EMT, so he patched me up. From then on, as I have gotten older, I have downsized telescopes until I sold off my last scope (a 10-inch Dob) right after I retired in 2012. Now I just use a pair of Canon stabilized binoculars to observe the dark skies here in Kentucky. We have 5 country acres with pretty dark skies. I want to get a spotting scope to watch the deer, eagles, hawks, coyotes, and other assorted critters that come onto our property. I'll probably turn it towards some night sky objects, as well. I like that this Mid-Ten scope has a 24mm eyepiece. My old eyes need all the light I can get from a scope. So I appreciate your review. As soon as I get my next VA disability check I'll get one of these ordered off of Amazon. Cheers.
The Celestron 70mm Travel Scope is good and you can upgrade everything on the viewing end to customize it. I was surprised though at the quality of the stock 45 degree diagonal and eyepieces. I ordered Svbony upgrades...90 degree diagonal, 2x Barlow, and 10mm Plossl eyepiece. I waited until I saw a half off discount though to get it. You may find one in a store VERY discounted too. Also, Celestron has huge Skymaster binoculars. I saw a "used like new" pair of 25x70 for about 60 bucks. They were likely returned due to a collimation issue. The prism screws are behind the right eyepiece under the rubber. I simply cut the rubber off my 15x70 binoculars to get to the screws, focused on a distant sign, and turned the screws until the view was right without seeing double.
I bought a Burris 15-45x 60mm with a scope ring that belongs on a telescope mount, but it came with that too, all steel and of course the Burris, all for $35 at a pawn shop. Excellent coated optics and great for planets and the moon. DSOs not as much, but at 60mm to be expected. I used it for years for camping, but always wanted a little more so I bought a Zhumell 100mm tabletop that led to a 150mm C6-N optical tube assy. I built an aluminum Dobsonian mount for. That's where I'm at now.
I have a cheap Saga 25-75 70mm scope and with an adapter, can use my telescope eyepieces. But, I don't like the 45 degree viewing angle for astronomy but it can serve double duty. I prefer a 90 degree diagonal.
Yeah i think an ED version would clean up the secondary color quite a but👍 In reality not everyone is bothered by it, so i think its up to the buyer to decide if the extra cost is warranted.
O used a compact 60mm Nikon scope for target shooting, birdwatching, ship spotting, and astronomy. A bigger 80mm with good tall Manfrotto tripod and a Digital camera adapter would be even better as a all purpose instrument. They also are more rugged that telescopes, and often are waterproof. Some should put a red dot finder on a Spotting scope like the military M151 has.
Just looked on Amazon here in the UK and they are currently unavailable. How much are they on your side of the pond? I am looking to buy myself a little wide field refractor to complement my Dobsonian and Maksutov. I will probably go for something out the Williams Optics range
Mr Vlad, as yer a guy who leans more towards the visual astronomy, I wondered if you had any tips on the best heights to set up your tripod/mount. I try to keep mine as low as possible in order to reduce any flex, but the balance always seems to be in avoiding having to get on the ground at some point in the evening to see through the finder scope, or to view something up high. I’m 6ft 4” and I’m getting older……so this is gonna be a problem for me in the future 🤣🤣
Hey Alan, well it seems like you facing a few things at the same time. You are correct that having your tripod at a lower height does give you more stability. Issue is that your trying to balance stability and comfort. I always set my kit up to where I can comfortably sit on an adjustable height astronomy chair. Your pretty tall yourself so that might mean the tripod being fully extended. If your tripos is not stable enough being fully extended I would just save up for a better mount. A stable mount is MUCH more important than a better scope(really you want both though;). Hope this helps, Vlad. Astronomy Chair: amzn.to/3mhaBb4
I was wondering about doing the opposite of this video.....Use a telescope as a rifle spotting scope for longer range target shooting (i.e. 1000 yards) to be able to see .223 caliber round holes in the target paper at 300 to 1000 yards away? With your telescope experience, how do you think using a telescope as a rifle target spotting scope would work?
This review helped me finally decide which spotting scope I'll get. I am 75 and got my first telescope when I was 21. In my younger days I was an avid amateur astronomer and, like you, have owned just about every type of scope available to amateurs. My favorite was a 6-inch refractor (f12) that I put on a humongous Schaefer equatorial mount. I set it up at the Winter Star Party in the Florida Keys and when I went to take it down, the whole thing fell over on me and banged me in the head. Knocked me out. Luckily one of the amateurs nearby who saw me fall over was an EMT, so he patched me up. From then on, as I have gotten older, I have downsized telescopes until I sold off my last scope (a 10-inch Dob) right after I retired in 2012. Now I just use a pair of Canon stabilized binoculars to observe the dark skies here in Kentucky. We have 5 country acres with pretty dark skies. I want to get a spotting scope to watch the deer, eagles, hawks, coyotes, and other assorted critters that come onto our property. I'll probably turn it towards some night sky objects, as well. I like that this Mid-Ten scope has a 24mm eyepiece. My old eyes need all the light I can get from a scope. So I appreciate your review. As soon as I get my next VA disability check I'll get one of these ordered off of Amazon. Cheers.
Very cool, I'm sure you will get some good use out of it! And yes please try to do some astro observing with it as well!
The Celestron 70mm Travel Scope is good and you can upgrade everything on the viewing end to customize it. I was surprised though at the quality of the stock 45 degree diagonal and eyepieces. I ordered Svbony upgrades...90 degree diagonal, 2x Barlow, and 10mm Plossl eyepiece. I waited until I saw a half off discount though to get it. You may find one in a store VERY discounted too. Also, Celestron has huge Skymaster binoculars. I saw a "used like new" pair of 25x70 for about 60 bucks. They were likely returned due to a collimation issue. The prism screws are behind the right eyepiece under the rubber. I simply cut the rubber off my 15x70 binoculars to get to the screws, focused on a distant sign, and turned the screws until the view was right without seeing double.
I bought a Burris 15-45x 60mm with a scope ring that belongs on a telescope mount, but it came with that too, all steel and of course the Burris, all for $35 at a pawn shop. Excellent coated optics and great for planets and the moon. DSOs not as much, but at 60mm to be expected. I used it for years for camping, but always wanted a little more so I bought a Zhumell 100mm tabletop that led to a 150mm C6-N optical tube assy. I built an aluminum Dobsonian mount for. That's where I'm at now.
Very cool, thanks for sharing. I actually put my spotter in our travel trailer for a camping scope👍
Great Review Vlad! Like how you put so much, info!
Thanks👍
My spotter has a macro lens adapter. I can look at the bugs out on the lawn. Living near the volcano looks nice :)
Oh wow, that's pretty cool!
I have a cheap Saga 25-75 70mm scope and with an adapter, can use my telescope eyepieces. But, I don't like the 45 degree viewing angle for astronomy but it can serve double duty. I prefer a 90 degree diagonal.
I agree on the 45*. Prefer the 90* as well.
18:24 SvBony has on their website an ED 80mm 20-60x right now for $291 (+shipping from China, about $60?). Just the OTA and ep.
Yeah i think an ED version would clean up the secondary color quite a but👍 In reality not everyone is bothered by it, so i think its up to the buyer to decide if the extra cost is warranted.
O used a compact 60mm Nikon scope for target shooting, birdwatching, ship spotting, and astronomy. A bigger 80mm with good tall Manfrotto tripod and a Digital camera adapter would be even better as a all purpose instrument. They also are more rugged that telescopes, and often are waterproof. Some should put a red dot finder on a Spotting scope like the military M151 has.
Thanks for the input👍
Just looked on Amazon here in the UK and they are currently unavailable. How much are they on your side of the pond? I am looking to buy myself a little wide field refractor to complement my Dobsonian and Maksutov. I will probably go for something out the Williams Optics range
They retail for about $170. William Optics is a great brand👍
Mr Vlad, as yer a guy who leans more towards the visual astronomy, I wondered if you had any tips on the best heights to set up your tripod/mount.
I try to keep mine as low as possible in order to reduce any flex, but the balance always seems to be in avoiding having to get on the ground at some point in the evening to see through the finder scope, or to view something up high.
I’m 6ft 4” and I’m getting older……so this is gonna be a problem for me in the future 🤣🤣
Hey Alan, well it seems like you facing a few things at the same time. You are correct that having your tripod at a lower height does give you more stability. Issue is that your trying to balance stability and comfort.
I always set my kit up to where I can comfortably sit on an adjustable height astronomy chair. Your pretty tall yourself so that might mean the tripod being fully extended. If your tripos is not stable enough being fully extended I would just save up for a better mount. A stable mount is MUCH more important than a better scope(really you want both though;). Hope this helps, Vlad.
Astronomy Chair: amzn.to/3mhaBb4
I was wondering about doing the opposite of this video.....Use a telescope as a rifle spotting scope for longer range target shooting (i.e. 1000 yards) to be able to see .223 caliber round holes in the target paper at 300 to 1000 yards away? With your telescope experience, how do you think using a telescope as a rifle target spotting scope would work?
I don't see why not. I think it would work quite well!
Can the eyepiece be changed?
Hi, unfortunately it cannot. The good news is that the built in zoom eyepiece is pretty good.
🧐🤳🔭🌖🦅🏔️🌲🙂👌😉👍🌈.
Thanks!