Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter

Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter
by Celestron

Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter
List Price: $99.99
Our Price: $58.95
You Save: $41.04 (41%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $47.99 (click here)
Category: Digital Camera
See more product details


(Click here)
Customers in the UK, Buy this product at amazon.co.uk for British Pounds

Digital Photo Product Details

Manufacturer: Celestron
Model: 71009
Product features:
  • Multi-coated optics
  • Large aperture perfect for low light conditions and stargazing
  • Tripod adapter
  • Long eye relief ideal for eyeglass wearers
  • Diopter adjustment for fine focusing
Accessories:

Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter

Customer Review: A Bad Apple!
Summary: 3 Stars

With all the good press about Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars somebody's got to get a bad set and that was me this time. I thought I had done my homework: Poro BAK4, Angular Field of View: 4.4?, Linear Field of View (@1000 yds): 230.41 ft (70.23 m), Exit Pupil: 4.7 mm (0.19 in), Eye Relief: 18 mm (0.71 in) and seemly great reviews. Therefore I will just deduct 2 stars rather than 4.

Mine were most definitely 1 star material though. The recent discounted price of $49.99 shipped made be decide to finally own a pair. Unfortunately for me, mine arrived with a severe collimation problem. My first light was a look at Jupiter, and no matter what I did I would see 2 Jupiters?? Took them out the next day and looked at the electric meter on a house down the street and 2 electric meters; my brain tried its best to compensate, but was just giving me severe eye strain. I got out my Fujinon 7x42 roof prism binoculars (which cost about 5x more) and everything looked perfect and super sharp in them. I then did the Google thing on binocular collimation

Mis-collimation is quite common. I found the Celestron 15x70 Skymaster is the same Chinese-manufactured binocular sold under the Bear, Barska, Galileo, and Oberwerk brands. If one searchs "binocular collimation" there are instructions all over the 'net on how to adjust the binoculars yourself, but I find it unexceptable QC on Celestron's part to deliver them this way. Also, the adjustment process entails removing some of the rubber molding and is very experimental hit or miss in many cases. Not something I was willing or desired to do.

I hope that isn't why this batch was marked down. I encourage everyone to try theirs out, and make sure you have a good set. The Amazon return process would not let me exchange....simply a refund. Amazon makes returns very easy by the way with a paid UPS label printed right so the return is very easy.

Description of Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter

Celestron and ;s SkyMaster Series of large aperture binoculars are a phenomenal value for high performance binoculars ideal for astronomical viewing or for terrestrial (land) use - especially over long distances. Each SkyMaster model features high quality BAK-4 prisms and multi-coated optics for enhanced contrast. Celestron has designed and engineered the larger SkyMaster models to meet the special demands of extended astronomical or terrestrial viewing sessions. The 15x70 version is one of the most popular models in the series. It offers serious large aperture light gathering in an affordable and reasonably lightweight configuration.
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

Binocular Accessories

Digital Cameras & Photo Categories
Bestsellers in Binocular Accessories
Op/Tech Bino/Cam Harness, Elastic Version for Cameras & Binoculars - Black ImageOp/ Tech Bino/ Cam Harness, Elastic Version for Cameras & Binoculars - Black
Op/Tech; Digital Camera
Best price: $12.72
Price in other shops: $22.75
Op/Tech Pro Camera Strap 3/8" - Black ImageOp/ Tech Pro Camera Strap 3/ 8" - Black
Op/Tech; Digital Camera
Best price: $13.10
Price in other shops: $21.95
Op/Tech E-Z Comfort, Adjustable Neoprene Neck Strap for Binoculars and Cameras, Black ImageOp/ Tech E-Z Comfort, Adjustable Neoprene Neck Strap for Binoculars and Cameras, Black
Op/Tech USA; Digital Camera
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops: $10.95
Black Rapid Straps RS4 Black Fabric, Lightweight and Low Profile, with ConnectR-2 and FastenR-2 ImageBlack Rapid Straps RS4 Black Fabric, Lightweight and Low Profile, with ConnectR-2 and FastenR-2
BlackRapid; Digital Camera
Best price: $54.00
Canon Metal Neck Strap 1 for All Elph Cameras, 34" Length ImageCanon Metal Neck Strap 1 for All Elph Cameras, 34" Length
Canon Cameras US; Digital Camera
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops: $16.00
Nikon 6121 Prostaff Bino Harness ImageNikon 6121 Prostaff Bino Harness
Nikon; Digital Camera
Best price: $15.63
Price in other shops: $23.37
Olympus STRAP FLOAT ORANGE ImageOlympus STRAP FLOAT ORANGE
Olympus; Digital Camera
Best price: $9.72
Price in other shops: $19.99
Olympus Foam Float Strap, 202212, Red ImageOlympus Foam Float Strap, 202212, Red
Olympus; Digital Camera
Best price: $14.94
Price in other shops: $26.33
Canon Deluxe 200 Tripod ImageCanon Deluxe 200 Tripod
Canon Cameras US; Digital Camera
Best price: $39.00
Price in other shops: $45.00
Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter ImageCelestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter
Celestron; Digital Camera
Best price: $58.87
Price in other shops: $99.99
Similar Digital Cameras & Photo Products
Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas ImageSky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas
by Roger W. Sinnott
Sky Publishing; Published: 2006-03-30; Spiral-bound; Book
Best price: $12.15
Price in other shops: $19.95
The Night Sky 30?-40? (Large; North Latitude) ImageThe Night Sky 30?-40? (Large; North Latitude)
by David S. Chandler
David Chandler Co.; Published: 1998-01-01; Map; Book
Best price: $11.95
Touring the Universe through Binoculars: A Complete Astronomer's Guidebook (Wiley Science Editions) ImageTouring the Universe through Binoculars: A Complete Astronomer's Guidebook (Wiley Science Editions)
by Philip S. Harrington
Wiley; Published: 1990-10-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $20.35
Price in other shops: $34.95
Stargazing with Binoculars ImageStargazing with Binoculars
by Robin Scagell, David Frydman
Firefly Books; Published: 2008-03-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.99
Price in other shops: $19.95
Binocular Stargazing ImageBinocular Stargazing
by Michael D. Reynolds
Stackpole Books; Stackpole Books; Published: 2005-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.35
Price in other shops: $12.95
Vanguard BA-168 Binocular Tripod Adapter ImageVanguard BA-168 Binocular Tripod Adapter
VANGUARD; Digital Camera
Best price: $8.12
Price in other shops: $9.95
NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe ImageNightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
by Terence Dickinson
Firefly Books; Published: 2006-09-12; Spiral-bound; Book
Best price: $19.56
Price in other shops: $35.00
57"TRIPOD FOR SPOTTING SCOPE CAMERA BINOCULARS+CASE !! Image57"TRIPOD FOR SPOTTING SCOPE CAMERA BINOCULARS+CASE !!
redhotbuys; CE
Best price: $14.49
Celestron Photo / Video Tripod ImageCelestron Photo / Video Tripod
Celestron; Digital Camera
Best price: $31.99
Price in other shops: $42.95
Binocular Highlights: 99 Celestial Sights for Binocular Users (Sky & Telescope Stargazing) ImageBinocular Highlights: 99 Celestial Sights for Binocular Users (Sky & Telescope Stargazing)
by Gary Seronik
Sky Publishing; Published: 2007-05-01; Spiral-bound; Book
Best price: $17.78
Price in other shops: $24.95
Digital-Camera-Near.com
Illustrated catalog for digital cameras, photo accessories, optics.
Our prices are low