kev100

Hi, I'd recommend contacting Celestron UK (there's a contact form on the website - https://www.celestron.com/pages/technical-support). I had an issue with a pair, and a chap by the name of Daniel Robinson was a great help. Kev

Incidentally, the spec sheet on amazon for the standard 20x80s lists the maximum mag as x16 (x20 for the pro versions). I've queried this with Celestron (David Hinds, actually), and they confirm that the magnifications for both models is x20 ...

Wow! That's a great price for the 'pro' versions. Mine are just the standard ones, and they're great!

Hi all. I'm sure I must have mentioned how much I love these binos before, but having had them out again last night (first time in ages, and just for an hour), I was reminded of how properly amazing they are. These are my second pair (replaced foc by Celestron after the first pair went out of collimation), and they were checked before being sent to me. Definitely think I've got a good pair! The Orion neb looked amazing (big bright arc of nebulosity containing bright, pinprick-sharp stars. Star clusters M35, 36, 37, 38, 44, 45 and 67 were fantastic, M45 showing definite nebulosity (not present when compared to the Beehive). Melotte 111 (Coma cluster) and the little cluster of stars around Meissa in Orion were very nice! Galaxies too: M31, 51, 65 and 66 were all variously-shaped faint fuzzies, but very bright and easy to spot just by scanning around. There's very slight field curvature, all but unnoticeable, but I'd say stars stay sharp to roughly the last 10 percent of the field. Definitely a recommended piece of kit! Kev

Hi Dan, I had my scope out at the weekend (first time in months!), for a couple of public sessions. Seeing was fantastic. Made exactly the same point to those who came out with me ... why ignore 50% of our environment/landscape ? All the best, Kev

Okay, Steve. Thank you

Thanks Steve. Do you have any idea of how flat the field is/isn't, how much peripheral distortion or CA there might be? I appreciate that for the price they won't be perfect ...

Hi there, I was thinking of getting these as a last minute stocking filler for my wife, and wondered f anyone had any experience with them. They'll be for general use (not just astro) ... Cheers, Kev.

It's been terrible! Can't think when I last had a decent session. Reduced to quick grab and go sessions as and when. Looking reasonable this evening, though, so I might set up while the kids are at scouts

Grabbed this quickie during my lunch break. Android phone, Altair Astro 70ED, 16mm Explore scientific EP, white light solar filter ....

Hiya. I'm probably not the best person to ask about their relative disadvantages as I have very limited experience with them. I was gifted one recently (I believe it only cost about 15-20 quid). I assume there are better quality ones out there, which might not cause as much distortion as mine (which as I said, is there, but isn't too bad). I'm sure others can offer better advice ... Kev

Hiya. If you're not too bothered about a little coma, and it's just for star hopping/finding objects, how about using a 0.5x focal reducer? I too have a fast 10in scope, and sometimes pop my (admittedly pretty cheap one) on my 16mm 68 degree ES MaxVision (turning it into a 32mm EP). The view is actually pretty reasonable. Kev

Hi Tracy, That's a pretty decent budget. It'd be a good idea to think about the practicalities next. Think about where you'd be observing (back garden, local park, driving out into the countryside, etc). Where will the scope be stored (garage, conservatory, living room), and how much space you have in your house/car. Scopes and mounts can be heavy, so think about what you can manage to lug around. This latter point is important as a scope that's a pain to carry/transport/set up will end up not being used. Will it initially be just for visual use (or do you harbour ideas of taking amazing astro photos fairly soon)? Kev

Hi Rob, The Bresser Messier 10 gets good reviews too ... Kev

Hi. Well, this is an interesting one What I'm getting from the various parts of your post is that the main use your scopes get (forgive me if Im wrong) is on short sessions, with a brief glance at particular objects (relatively easy to see ones), and that you'd prefer to do more 'serious' observing, spending longer at the eyepiece, and possibly doing some sketching. All the while I was reading your post I kept repeating to myself 'get a big dob' and an observing chair/stool. A 10-14 inch dob would gather much more light than any of your current scopes, allow observing of fainter, more difficult to track down fuzzies, and, with a nice wide angle EP and a comfortable chair, allow you time to really explore the objects on view. Don't be put off by the size, though. I, and many others, totally regard a 10 inch dob as a legit 'grab and go' scope, and it'll be good on planets, the moon, doubles, globs and OCs, galaxies, nebulae, etc. A fantastic all-rounder. Kev.