Wonder Scopes On Ebay

[Les Ewan]

I saw these two gems on Ebay just look at the sellers  claims; 650X on the 60mm refractor and 1000X on the 76mm reflector. The reflector further boasts (drumroll)  'Night Vision' and 'HD' (ca-ting) !?

These scopes are selling new and are cheap, they may be OK for the price but why are scope sellers continuing to get away with this.

[Craney]

It's the 'factual'  equivalent of  fake news .......  the statement gets your attention regardless of any validity whatsoever.

[Louis D]

1. Well, it is capable of achieving 675x or 1000x with enough barlows and a short enough focal length eyepiece.  Whether or not it's useful is the unstated qualifier.  So a factual statement on the surface.  This is why so many of these scopes are sold with a 4mm Ramsden and a 3x barlow ((900/4)*3=675x).  As sold, it will produce the advertised power.
2. You can see objects at night, so "night vision".  It all depends on your definition of "night vision".  So a literal usage of words correct statement.
3. Your eye sees in HD (High Definition, I'll assume), so again, a factually correct statement.

Marketing-speak to mislead the unwashed masses without actually making false claims.

[lenscap]

That type of reflector is usually 76mm X 700mm FL so to get 1000X you would need something like a 2mm EP & 3X Barlow!!!

The exit pupil would be 3 thousanths of an inch in old money . Looking at the moon might even be painfull. ?

My first scope was just like that reflector but with a well-known brand. ( I wont say which but it began with "C". )

Still, as bad as it was, it got me hooked on the hobby.

[JOC]

On 10/01/2019 at 19:52, lenscap said:

( I wont say which but it began with "C". )

And was 4 letters and ended in'P'???

 

Apologies to those easily offended, I couldn't resist!

[Gina]

My first also started with a C but longer name ending in N.  Actually not bad for the price...