Celestron Ultima 80 20 to 60x80 Straight Spotting Scope
by Celestron
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: CelestronModel: 52254
Product features:
- Multi-coated optics for a clear view
- Zoom eyepiece for 20-60x magnification
- Straight through viewing angle
- Sight tube for quick targeting
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Celestron Ultima 80 20 to 60x80 Straight Spotting Scope
Customer Review: A Winner in this Price Range
Summary: 4 Stars
Nov '08: Update - Used the Ultima 80 at 500 yds (laser verified) to view a target. .270 caliber holes were easily visible in the white & in the black (green hit revealing, probably not so visible in "plain" black?). Target was in full late-day sun.
I got a brief look through an Ultima 80 a couple of years ago and liked what I saw, then recently bought one for my son and spent more time with it, including a comparison to a couple of other inexpensive scopes. This may be the best cheap spotting scope for the money out there.
Look over at my review of the C70 Mini Mak to see the Ultima 80 stacked up against it, linked below (or look at my "other reviews" to find it).
Celestron 52238 C70 Mini Mak Spotting Scope
Since that review I've had another session with it, so I'll just add some additional comments here. I've read that a good scope should allow reading of a license plate at 1/2 mile (880 yds), and a great scope should reach out to a mile (1760 yds). My C70 review relates a successful test with the Ultima 80 at over 640 yds, so I'm pretty sure that good eyes (my son) would reach 1/2 mile reading a plate. I tried at about a mile (could have been a bit over), and couldn't do it. Could my son? Next time I'm up there I'll have him try. So for now on this test, call it a good scope, but maybe not great.
I compared it to an old Russian 20-30X50mm in the other review and found it clearly better. What I didn't say is that the old Russian is the equal of other cheap 60mm spotters I've tried, in a careful comparison. So the Ultima 80 is a definite step up from them.
Another test I did recently involved comparing on a shipping label, with addresses, UPC codes, etc, in several size type faces at 100yd. This happened kind of accidently at the range. I then reproduced the test later with another scope at home. Scopes compaired: new Ultima 80, a very old 90mm Meade ETX (a mirror scope), and a few year old Swarovski 80mm.
The ETX was done later, but my impression was that in resolution it was comparable to the Ultima 80 (I used an eyepeice that gave about 35X on the ETX, and had the Ultima 80 zoomed between 40X and 60X). Here was the surprise: the Swarovski didn't obviously beat the Ultima 80 for simple resolution! I looked through these one after the other, same conditions. The 80mm Swarovski focused a little nicer (body focus ring vs Ultima 80's knob), but that was it. The Swarovski was in a rock-solid, clamped-down mount, showed a little handling wear, but looked well cared for. The owner said he paid WAY over 10X the price of the Ultima 80.
There is an ED version of the Ultima 80, but the Swarovski was "equaled" by the cheepo glass version. My conclusion: my 60 year old eyes probably aren't good enough to benefit much from the superior optics of the Swarovski, at least under the circumstances of that moment. Supposedly Celestron's mfg (Sinta?) uses a trick to get good performance out of the non-ED glass version. The dispersion is flat, but not for the entire range of colors. It goes abruptly whacky in the violet, smearing that out to an unnoticable haze, while leaving the rest of the spectrum in good focus. This cheat yeilds a good looking image under most viewing conditions, and good apparent resolution and low color fringing. So the Swarovski IS better, just in ways that aren't immediately noticeable under many viewing conditions, or with less that hawk-eyes.
My advice: buy one of these quick, before Celestron screws it up by changing their Chinese contract mfg. They've been making them good for years, but you watch, one of these days they'll try to save 37 Cents and ruin it.
Description of Celestron Ultima 80 20 to 60x80 Straight Spotting Scope
SEE up close. WATERPROOF Celestron 20-60x80 mm Zoom Spotter is now PRICED LESS! Open up a whole world of long distance views! Celestron's highly acclaimed Ultima Series is a portable and durable design. Ideal for birding, spotting game, eyeballing scenery, locating target "hits" at the range, even astronomy. Wow, an overstock means BIG BUCKS OFF! Performance: Large 80 mm objective with fully multi-coated optics for glare-free clarity; Performs well under all light conditions; Straight tube is 16" overall; F.O.V. @ 1,000 yds. is 105' at 20X, 53' at 60X; 27' near focus; 480 mm focal length; Weighs 3 1/2 lbs. Includes soft carry case; No-fault Celestron Lifetime Warranty. Focus on ordering yours today! Celestron 20-60x80 mm Spotting ScopeCelestron's popular Ultima 80mm Zoom Spotting Scope offers images that are noticeably brighter and sharper than entry level 60mm spotters. The Ultima 80 is a refractor style spotting scope with an Achromatic objective lens. Excellent light transmission is assured by multi-layer anti-reflection coatings on the objective lens as well as on the zoom eyepiece and the BAK-4 prisms. The multi-coated 80mm objective lens delivers 77% brighter views than a 60mm scope, and the built in zoom lens produces sharp images from 20X all the way up to 60X magnification.
The Ultima 80 features a sleek, waterproof design and includes a padded soft case with zippers on both ends so the scope can be protected even while mounted on a tripod. Including the eyepiece the Ultima 80 measures just over 19 inches long and weighs about 3.6 pounds. The rubber eyecup can be removed to expose a standard "T-thread" for attaching a camera. The "straight-thru" viewing configuration is easier to point at moving targets, and is particularly handy on a bench top or even a car window mount.
The focus ranges from 27 feet to the horizon with just a few turns of the focus knob. When I fold down the rubber eye cup I can keep my glasses on and see the whole 2 degree field of view at 20X magnification. With my glasses on I need very little focus adjustment while I crank the zoom eyepiece from 20X up to 60X. Sometimes though I like to take my glasses off while observing because the view seems to have just a little more contrast and sharpness. I like the fact that the Ultima 80 gives me a sharp image either way.
The drawback of the traditional crown and flint achromatic lens used in the Ultima 80 Zoom Spotting Scope is a bit of false color, also known as blue fringing or chromatic aberration. Blue fringing seems well controlled at 20X magnification, but it becomes increasingly noticeable as I zoom up to 60X. Celestron also offers the Ultima 80ED and the Regal 80 F-ED spotting scopes which use exotic ED glass lenses to virtually eliminate blue fringing and produce the sharpest possible high power views.
Celestron's Ultima 80mm Zoom Spotting Scope combines sharp multicoated optics with a good quality zoom lens in a compact waterproof package. Top it off with a lifetime "No-Fault" warranty and the Celestron Ultima 80 is a terrific value. --Jeff Phillips
Pros:
- Sharp multi-coated optics
- Good zoom eyepiece
- Waterproof design
- Lifetime no-fault warranty
Cons:
- Blue fringing noticeable at high power
 Blue Heron at 50 yards shot at 20X |  Moon picture shot with 20X zoom |
 Moon picture shot with 60X zoom |  Pelicans on an offshore rock shot at 20X |  Pelican in the air shot at 20X |
The Celestron 52254 Ultima 80 20-60 x 80 straight spotting scope offers a step up in aperture from the 65 millimeter scope, offering 50 percent brighter images. With this scope, you'll have a great, all-around optical instrument, perfect for viewing nature or outdoor sporting activities. Featuring a sight tube for quick targeting, excellent multi-coated optics, a portable and durable refractor design, and an 20x to 60x zoom eyepiece, the Celestron 52254 is designed to provide you with great performance under a wide range of viewing situations.
What's in the Box
Celestron 52254 and soft carrying case
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