Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter with Basic Smartphone Adapter 1.25"

Great set of Binoculars! If you've got the viewing space, these definitely work.

Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2024

Style: SkyMaster 15x70 BinocularSet: Binocular onlyVerified Purchase

**TLDR**
Perfect pair for beginners or general enthusiasts, for the price listed. Easily view objects up to a ~mile away. Easy to use focal adjustments. Good weight. They look pretty decent. Arrived within 12 hours of purchase. Happy and recommended.
***

Being honest: I am no expert on optics. I love stargazing and birdwatching (doves, hawks, etc.) since the area I live in provides me with plenty of both, despite being a fairly developed township. I get a GREAT view of the moon & [some] stars in my tiny "courtyard" of a yard, and I've always always always wanted a closer look at them.

Experts on many forums recommend that beginners with stargazing should simply start off with "a good pair of binoculars," which I don't even own anyway, so I started here and looked around.

To summarize, I settled on this pair because of the reasonable price compared to other Binocular sets with similar features & specs. The aesthetics, albeit not as "cool" as its competitors, are still quite nice in its simplicity.

**FUNCTIONALITY**
They're fantastic! My home is situated in a sort of "retention" area with a VERY steady grade off towards the south, so you easily can see a mile + down the road. Naturally, this was my first test for the Binoculars. I was DELIGHTED. I could EASILY read the street signs, tell the Make and Model of every vehicle, read their License Plates, and if I had it steadily sitting on a Tripod, I'd reckon I could make out the individuals driving the vehicles.

I look up at the colossal power line poles towering over the sides of my home and saw what I THOUGHT was an Itty bitty dove sitting on the cables, found it with the bonoculars, did a quick focal adjustment, and it turned out to be a huge HAWK.

So, I am excited for nightfall to see what I can SEE.

Definitely puts things into perspective. ;) hyuck hyuck.

**PRACTICALITY**
Since the viewing scopes are larger, it does make them a little forward-heavy, but it personally isn't an issue. I like the weight! It makes it feel sturdy.

All of the vision adjustment is pretty intuitive. They're obviously not ready for your use right out of the box, so make sure you take a minute to get familiar with the adjustment wheels & their exact purpose (which is explained on the 1st page of the manual included with the Binoculars).

Included with the Binoculars are: Tripod Adaptor, Neck Strap, microfiber Lens Cloth, & a nice sturdy Carry Bag (akin to a Lunchbox bag).

**AESTHETICS**
Let's be reasonable, these are Binoculars, so unless they're gold-plated or something your expectations can't be too great in this regard. Circling back to earlier, I did say I still wanted a pair that looked good, and these DO look good. The stitching of the material around the front lenses gives it a human touch, kind of like the stitching of the leather on a steering wheel.

If you read all this, I appreciate it. This is a great starting set. I recommend to anyone stepping their foot through the door on stargazing or general long-distance viewing. Also, buy their carrying case (separately)! It's pretty sturdy.

Helpful

Amazon Customer

Great value

Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2024

Style: SkyMaster 15x70 BinocularSet: Binocular onlyVerified Purchase

Was using a pair of 7x50 initially, decided to upgrade to this pair, good quality packaging, nice carrying case, lens came already cleaned, not too heavy, little bit shaky when not using a tripod, but bracing against a wall or on another object is a good way to use without a tripod.

Can resolve the moons of Jupiter, could very faintly resolve the 12P comet, great detail and field of view for the Pleiades and Orion nebula.

Overall nice pair!

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Chaz Turbino

Great optical clarity at this price point!

Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2013

Style: SkyMaster 15x70 BinocularSet: Binocular onlyVerified Purchase

Celestron Skymaster 15x70

I've had bad experiences with inexpensive binoculars in the past, but these seemed like a great deal with plenty of positive reviews on Amazon. After taking about 30 minutes to sit down and play with the binocular and make all the adjustments (diopter and focus as well as the IPD), I have to say these are very good. The optical clarity is exceptional. In my opinion, it is close to the Steiner binoculars we used in the military - but the Steiner had different coatings on the lenses that made a purplish/bluish hue for the images and had obviously better exterior construction.

The Celestron Skymaster doesn't feel cheap, but it isn't exactly a high-end pair of binoculars. The center focusing mechanism constantly shifts especially when you lift the binoculars by the eyepiece assembly. You can see it spinning by itself! The lens caps aren't tethered and feel cheap. But they have a decent heft, yet don't feel too heavy to absolutely require a tripod.

I bought the Skymaster mainly for outdoor use. After adjusting the focus ring, I was able to focus clearly on objects as close as 10 yards and as far out as 200 meters. Identifying small and fine features at 200m would require stabilization like a tripod. But I've used cheap optics in the past that had a difficult time focusing clearly at 100 yards with excessive chromatic aberration and shimmering. The Skymaster doesn't seem to exhibit this behavior, although there is slight chromatic aberration at the outer edges of the image. The large 70mm objective lenses allow for the binoculars to work even in low light conditions.

I did not have any problems with collimation like many others reported. However, I noticed I'd see double until I relaxed my eyes and allowed it to collimate automatically. I wonder if these users that report collimation issues suffer from astigmatism or need their vision corrected. I hear tons of complaints about EOTech, Aimpoint, and Trijicon ACOG optics looking like a cluster of grapes and they assumed it was a defective optic, but this usually occurs when your vision isn't corrected to 20/20.

Overall: 4/5 stars, overall it exceeded my expectations. It is inexpensive but works extremely well. Optical quality is great, but the exterior construction could be better. There are no tethered lens caps, and the focus adjustment has a mind of its own if you touch the eyepiece assembly. But overall, it is actually a good pair of binoculars at this price point.

7 people found this helpful

Helpful

Jordan Rogers

First Amazon review on my first pair of Astronomy Binoculars

Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2015

Style: SkyMaster 15x70 BinocularSet: Binocular onlyVerified Purchase

I normally don't take the time to write a review for something I purchased, but after reading a hundred plus reviews from multiple websites on the Celestron Skymaster 15x70 Binoculars, I decided to write one in hopes of helping someone else in making their decision to puchase these binoculars or not. I must first say, I am no expert by any means in Astronomy or binoculars. That being said, these binoculars are great for someone just getting into astronomy like myself. I have a pair of 7x35 binoculars I used from time to time to look at the moon and scan the sky, which definitely help aid the naked eye, but they are simply no comparison to the 15x70s. The negative reviews concerning the collimation issues along with complaints of this pair being too heavy for handheld use were nearly enough to deter me from purchasing them. After I put in more time researching than I probably should have, I decided to go ahead and buy them. I decided to wait on buying a tripod and try them out handheld first, to see just how difficult it was. I drove about 15 minutes to a nearby greenway the first night I had them, and was anxious to test them out. The moon was full, and I definitely had the best view I'd ever had in person through the 15x70s. Like I said before, the 7x35s don't compare. The moon looked 15 times closer in HD, and I could see tons of craters. I scanned up a ways a found Jupiter. I could easily see Jupiter and the four Galilean moons. Needless to say, it took me a total of 5 minutes to realize I got my moneys worth. The weight of the binoculars aren't too overwhelming. I did realize, however, that If I were going to spend a lot of time looking at the sky, a tripod would really come in handy. Even if the binoculars aren't too heavy, it's still difficult to fixate on one planet, cluster, or nebula for too long without seeing "dancing stars". I'm sure there are breathing techniques you can use to help keep it steady, but I figured I would give a tripod a try. I decided to buy locally to avoid having to wait a few more days for it to be shipped. I bought a Targus 58' Camera & Camcorder tripod for $28. It was really easy to set up, and has a lot of adjustments along with a 360 degree swivel. The adapter that came with the Binoculars isn't expensively built by any means, but it works fine for now. Very easy to attach/use. Last night I used the tripod, and it really did make a world of difference. Once you set your sights to an object, the tripod does it's job of stabilizing the image for you. I will continue to use the binoculars hand held, but I'll get a lot of use out of the tripod too because it adds another "element" to stargazing. In only two nights out so far, I've seen the moon like I've never seen it before, Jupiter and it's four moons, M42 (Orion Nebula), M43, M44 (Beehive Cluster), and many other clusters. You may see a cluster of 3 stars with the naked eye, but when you bring up the binoculars to where you were looking, so much more will visible. It's faily easy to find what you are looking for with these, as the provide a wide field of view through the large lenses. In conclusion of my review, the Celestron Skymaster 15x70 Binoculars are a great bang for your buck, especially for a beginner to astronomy such as myself. The tripod isn't necessary, but a great added tool to help aid you in keeping what you want to see steady. I also forgot to mention, I took them out of the box and adjusted them to my eyes during the daylight. I had no collimation issues at all. My pair came perfectly intact and ready to use. I hope you find this review helpful in aiding you to make a decision on whether or not to buy these.

41 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kratze

Stargazing goodness

Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2016

Style: SkyMaster 15x70 BinocularSet: Binocular onlyVerified Purchase

Great for stargazing! The binos arrived a few days ago, well-packaged and perfectly collimated. It took less than 2 minutes to adjust them to my preference. And then they opened up the stars! They are definitely heavy, so if you have no intention of getting a tripod and you aren't unusually strong OR steady-handed, you will either want a tripod (more on that at the end) OR to get a smaller, less heavy pair. I wanted that extra bit of power, so I'm happy I chose these, and I added a tripod and adaptor to my order.

In my about-30% light-polluted, mostly-rural sky, I was able to clearly separate the 2 "fried eggs" of the Orion Nebula, pick out the double and triple stars in the Sword, and even find an intriguing fourth stick-figure star group right on top of the Sword that nobody online seems to ever mention. The hilt?
In fact, the Sword and Belt of Orion were so spectacular in these binos that I had trouble taking my eyes off of them. I could NOT separate the double-stars in the Belt, nor did I get any hint of the Nebulas that are supposed to be right near the last star in the Belt, but I was able to pick out quite a few star clusters. The Pleiades looks wonderful as you can just capture all of them in one shot, as with most star clusters. I could easily pick out two planets in the sky (update: the second "planet" turned out to be the star Sirius), but no good detail. I'm not sure if the really bright one was Saturn or Jupiter (update: it was Jupiter), but the Binos helped me pick out a sparkling belt of (moons?) around it, and it was stunning. I guess NO Binocular in this weight class is going to give you any detail on the planets, nebula, or allow you to do much more than get a faint, fuzzy glimpse of a galaxy. But if you are happy just knowing you found something even if it's not like the pictures, this is a really good option. I did NOT get the moon yet, so I don't know how that will look, but I suspect it will be amazing.

As far as quality, it seems pretty good for the money. It comes with easy-on/off caps to protect the front and back ends, and as noted above, adjusting them is very easy. And they stay adjusted, too! That surprised me given how easy they are to adjust in the first place. Optics are about what you'd expect at this price point, but I'll say that I was very impressed with how sharp and clear the stars were, and how much detail I was able to get out of them. The outside has a rubber coating on it, which would provide a little protection if they were banged or dropped (UPDATE: and so they did). They do have some plastic on them, but it doesn't really come off as cheaply-made. My set came with a nice little carrying bag (that I will totally use), a cleaning cloth, and the aforementioned caps.

These will be used regularly, even if I end up with an actual telescope. They are strong enough to scan the sky and pick out interesting areas, but have a wide-enough field of vision to use for spotting. After my first star party, I confirmed that some sky sights are actually better in these binoculars than in a telescope! I had a few telescope owners oohing at the sights from my binos (which I oohed over the extra detail available in their scopes!).

Important note: Do NOT buy the Davis Vista tripod suggested by Amazon without doing some research first! The low $25 price, if it's the same one they recommended to me, also means that it's not actually built to support the weight of these binos - that tripod is not built for astronomy use. It's very hard to get these binos to hold still with the $25 tripod Amazon wants you to buy, and trying to look upwards is very difficult. If your budget allows, look for a heavier tripod that can support more weight and can be solidly locked even when the binos are on a tilt or tilted back. I think you should look for (if you can afford it):
The TALLEST tripod you can get your hands on. You'd have to be, like, 5' tall to find 60" acceptable for stargazing.
A tripod that can handle at least 10 pounds of weight with no problem (so you can lock the binos in place).
A tripod with good support - you'll be tilting the binoculars constantly up, down, and sideways, and picking up the tripod frequently and moving it all around, so support really matters.
The lightest tripod you can find that meets the above qualities. Again, you'll probably be picking it up a LOT and moving it around.

I don't unfortunately have any suggestions yet - I will be asking the Astronomy Club I just joined as soon as I can for ideas. However, I'm pretty certain that you'll drop at least $75 into an appropriate tripod for these Celestron 15 x 70s, so... if your budget is tight, the cheaper tripod might be low-cost enough to be worth the irritation, as they will nevertheless steady up the binos at least enough to improve your view of the stars.

**UPDATE a week later! My beautiful new binoculars FACE-PLANTED from the above-mentioned tripod right onto the concrete at my first star party, a fall of about six feet total, with time to accelerate. Thunk, omg, yikes.
THEY SURVIVED THE FALL. I picked them up and was able to see fine out of them. It's possible the collimation is now slightly off, but I couldn't notice a difference.
I can't give the SkyMasters another star as I'm already at 5/5, but I would if I could. All they got was a few scratches. WOW. I don't recommend dropping them on solid concrete as a rule, mind you - and I might have just gotten lucky - but it's a huge comfort to know that they CAN survive that sort of thing. I won't always have the luxury of using these on soft ground.
(I also found a Ravelli APGL heavy-duty tripod at about $70 that should be able to handle a lot more weight, and will discontinue use of this "lightweight" tripod once it arrives. Lesson learned, and I'm only out about $25 from it, and these wonderful binos lived, so it could all be worse.)

93 people found this helpful

Helpful

Stardazer

A quantum leap above my 10x50's for viewing deep sky objects

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2011

Style: SkyMaster 15x70 BinocularSet: Binocular onlyVerified Purchase

I purchased the 15x70 Celestron Skymaster Binoculars primarily for casual astronomical viewing. Most of my remarks and observations center around using them for deep sky scans.

First, the basic stats:

Magnification: 15 power (50% greater than 10x50's)

Objective size: 70mm (equivalent light gathering power twice that of a 50mm binocular)

Field of view is 4.4 degrees or 230 ft. at 1000 yards

A surprising near focus of a mere 43 ft.--exceptional for this type of binocular.

Eye Relief: 18mm so one can wear eyeglasses--providing the rubber eyecups are folded down

Exit pupil is 4.67mm (only .33mm less than 10x50's at 5mm)

Other stats: Center focused; BAK-4 prisms, Porro design; Multi coated (but not fully multicoated) optics; Tripod adapter included an extra value (3 ½ inch vertical clearance). Case with strap--the latter the weakest part of the whole package.

During daytime, we used it for scanning distant wildlife and mountain ridges. Excellent performance. Tripod adapter best used when viewing level or slightly above level angles. I found it too tedious and straining to attempt oblique views with a conventional photographic tripod. A tip on holding it steadier by hand: rather than grasping it the normal way, try holding each 70mm objective end with your hands.

For amateur astronomers and novices wondering what you can see and its limitations, here are some notes in viewing familiar objects: Jupiter is readily resolved as a disc but seems too bright to see its bands. Its four moons can be easily seen (when in view); Saturn was near the sun but I think one may be able to resolve or infer its ring shape; Compared with a traditional 7x50 or 10x50 binocular, The Pleiades (M45), the Lagoon Nebula (M8), M35 in Gemini and the Orion Nebula (M42) are all breathtaking. So are the Scorpius open clusters M6 and M7. M13--the great Hercules Globular Cluster--was tantalizingly larger than the fuzzy spot I saw in my 10x50's. If you have a favorable southern horizon, the globular cluster M22 in Sagittarius also exhibits size. You can resolve some of the Wild Duck Cluster, M11. The shape of the Beehive open cluster (M44) in Cancer can be traced. Given a dark night, the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) almost sprawls across the entire field of view with the companion galaxy M32 glimpsed as a fuzzy smudge. Even under urban and suburban skies, M31 does show expansive width. Both the North American and Pelican Nebulae near the star Deneb at the top of Cygnus the Swan--the Northern Cross--can be detected on a dark night's viewing--with patience. The colorful double star Albireo (at the opposite end of Cygnus) can just be resolved if you can manage a steady view. Mizar & Alcor in the Big Dipper's handle are easy to separate. I found it difficult to keep the stars in the Pleiades from dancing across the view unless I used a flat surface to lean on or a tripod.

In terms of field of view (4.4 degrees): You can see the entire belt of Orion in one field; you can capture the entire sword--including M42--in one field of view; The near parallelogram head of Delphinius the Dolphin fills a field; So do the Coat Hanger and Kemble Cascade asterisms, respectively; In Lyra, Vega and the stars epsilon and zeta fill a field. The latter two are revealed as double stars. So also is Castor in Gemini. The Perseus Double Cluster and nearby open cluster Stock 2 can fit in one field, but in urban or moonlit settings this is more of a challenge. The three delightful open clusters sprawling across Auriga can be seen two at a time: Either M36 and M38 or M37 and M38, respectively. One of the four keystone stars in Hercules, eta, can be positioned with the globular cluster M13 also in the same scene. As the field of view is less than five degrees, one cannot place the pointer stars in the Big Dipper in the same field nor contain the entire of the Hyades in Taurus. The central four stars in Cancer the Crab are just barely outside the field.

I also own a pair of Celestron OptiView 10x50's and have found the increased magnification and light gathering power of the Skymaster 15x70 worth the price to upgrade. In a quick comparison, the increase in apparent size of Jupiter's disc in the latter is quite noticeable as is that of M13 and M31. There is a pair of stars several degrees west of M13 that appears white in the 10x50's (at least to my eyes) yet are a stunning red with the 15x70 Skymaster. The moon, of course, can be seen with greater clarity in the Skymaster yet it does not fill the entire field of view. The down sides--and no surprise here--are that I can hold the former much steadier and see more of the sky with the smaller binos. There is also some chromatic aberration with the brighter objects like Jupiter but then again, for the price point (about $60), that's part of the game.

All in all, I find the Skymaster 15x70 an excellent investment for the price. I've already relegated my trusty 10x50's to backup and use the Skymaster to quickly and effectively tour the heavens on nights when I don't want to take the time to set up my 8" SCT. I'd especially recommend it as a portable alternative for those considering purchasing the typical 60mm/2.4 inch department store telescope. The caveat is that one will have greater satisfaction with the use of a tripod or other means of steadying for sustained observing of stellar objects. I suggest acquiring a different tripod adapter such as the all metal Celestron Binocular Tripod Adaptor (#93512-A or equivalent) to alleviate some of the strain of viewing because it extends the height and clearance from the tripod an additional 1 1/8 inch vertical dimension beyond that of the supplied Bakelite tripod adapter.

470 people found this helpful

Helpful

Larry Dunn

Detail is pretty bad, even in the center in full sunlight... so not grreat for terrestrial viewing

Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2023

Style: SkyMaster 15x70 BinocularSet: Binocular onlyVerified Purchase

I realize these binos are marketed as being for. Astronomy. Yet I wondered if they would also be good for terrestrial, for viewing 1 or 2 miles away from a balcony looking at the beach.

The answer is.. not really. I have by way of comparison an almost ED quality 10x42 from Olympus, the EXWP I, whose current version, called the Pro, sells for $450.

Looking down at a truck, full sunlight, at 400 yards, I looked through these Skymaster 15x70, and then the Olympus, and was surprised to find that after 3 attempts of steadying the binos on a railing, I could read the license plates equally well with both. The 15x70 took three tries, and so did the Olympus. I could see the license plate equally well with both. The 15s70 didn't do any better, with fine detail, center of the lenses, full sunlight.

So, I'm sending the 15x70 back, for daytime viewing. I already have the $450 10x42, and I can't see any more with the 15x70 than with those expensive 10x42. For night they might be better, since they collect a lot more light... but that still doesn't mean the image will be sharp, in fact it probably won't be.

This is exactly like zooming in on a photo on your computer ... the center part you're looking at gets bigger, but you can't see any more detail than you could before blowing it up.

For $100, they're great, if you're looking from your house out to the distance. But you get what you pay for, and I already have very good 10x42 and these don't let me see anything I can't already see with those. If you don't already have good 10x42, and you only want to look out a mile or two in the distance, they're fine, and great value for the money for that specific purpose.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

AH

perfect for newbies like me!

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2020

Style: SkyMaster 15x70 BinocularSet: Binocular onlyVerified Purchase

i bought this pair of binoculars after having them for a long time in my shopping list after browsing around for the best binoculars for space viewing. i wish i could say more about why i picked these, but i really don't remember. i was notified of a sale by amazon, and i had the money, so i picked them up on a whim

i have to say, they're perfect. on a tripod, i can see very well. without a tripod, it's quite shaky, but not completely useless (definitely get the tripod though. the amazon basics tripod seems fine for me. i've literally never used a tripod before, and i'm clumsy and not hands-on, and i found it astoundingly intuitive.) in my inexperienced opinion, despite what other reviews say, the plastic adapter they come with is fine. it shakes a little as it settles in, but once it's in, it's good. i'd say if you don't want to spend even more money on an adapter, at least try the plastic one out first

as far as what i got to see, the moon looked stunning. my initial expectations were a little wild, but what i wound up seeing was really cool. you can see all these little craters you can't see with the naked eye. i looked at it on a waxing gibbous night, and i hear a half moon is the best, but the craters looked great anyway. it looked a lot more detailed than i expected. also, you can look at patches of the sky that look empty and see a rather lively assortment of stars through the binoculars. i also saw mars, which looked like a slightly more mars-y looking dot than it usually does. as far as stuff on earth goes, i spotted a couple planes, which look a lot cooler in the binoculars than by naked eye. i saw them by holding the binoculars, and once even by holding up the tripod in my hands, and i'm small and weak for a man, so like i said, not entirely useless without being stationary on the tripod (admittedly though, the image gets quite shaky and those more prone to headaches than i am may have a worse experience). lastly, a hawk or eagle's nest a thousand or so feet from my backyard looks rather close in the binoculars, and the view of the opposite side of a small pond in my backyard looks right up in my face, but i would rather get lighter binoculars for backyard/nature viewing

overall, i'm very pleased with my purchase, especially after expecting to have many difficulties and instead finding the entire process extremely smooth and rewarding. if you're a newbie like me looking to get into viewing the sky, i highly recommend these binoculars. i remember getting a cheap telescope when i was a kid and getting discouraged i didn't know how to use it and giving up. with better internet research, i learned binoculars like these were the way to go, and i wish i could go back in time to tiny me and give him these binoculars. so for anyone you know including yourself getting into astronomy, grab them these binoculars and an amazon basics tripod, and they'll be set!

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

KJ

Explore the Cosmos in Stunning Detail

Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2024

Style: SkyMaster 15x70 BinocularSet: Binocular onlyVerified Purchase

Embark on a celestial journey and experience the wonders of the night sky like never before with the Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars. Designed specifically for astronomy enthusiasts, these binoculars offer breathtaking views of the cosmos with their impressive magnification, large aperture, and precision optics, making them an essential tool for stargazing adventures and astronomical observations.

Unmatched Viewing Experience: The standout feature of the Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars is their ability to deliver an unmatched viewing experience of celestial objects, including stars, planets, nebulae, and galaxies. With a powerful 15x magnification and large 70mm objective lenses, these binoculars provide exceptional detail and clarity, allowing observers to see distant astronomical phenomena with stunning clarity and definition.

Large Aperture for Brighter Views: Equipped with large 70mm objective lenses, the SkyMaster binoculars gather more light than standard binoculars, resulting in brighter and more detailed views of celestial objects. The enhanced light-gathering capabilities make these binoculars ideal for low-light conditions, such as stargazing sessions under the night sky, allowing observers to see faint stars and deep-sky objects with greater clarity and brightness.

Precision Optics: Designed with precision optics and BaK-4 prisms, the Celestron SkyMaster binoculars deliver sharp, high-contrast images with minimal distortion and aberration. The multi-coated optics and phase-coated prisms ensure maximum light transmission and enhanced contrast, providing observers with clear and crisp views of celestial objects without chromatic aberration or image degradation.

Durable and Ergonomic Design: Built for durability and comfort, the SkyMaster binoculars feature a rugged construction and ergonomic design that can withstand the rigors of outdoor use. The rubber-armored housing provides a secure grip and protection against impacts and drops, while the long eye relief and twist-up eyecups ensure comfortable viewing for observers, even when wearing eyeglasses.

Versatile Applications: Beyond astronomy, the Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars are also suitable for a wide range of terrestrial observations, including birdwatching, wildlife observation, and scenic viewing. The high magnification and large aperture make these binoculars versatile tools for exploring nature and observing distant objects with remarkable detail and clarity.

Accessories Included: In addition to the binoculars themselves, the Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars come with a range of accessories to enhance the observing experience. These may include a carrying case, neck strap, lens caps, and a tripod adapter, allowing observers to stabilize the binoculars for prolonged viewing sessions and maximize their potential for astronomical and terrestrial observations.

In conclusion, the Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars offer an unparalleled viewing experience for astronomy enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. With their impressive magnification, large aperture, precision optics, durable construction, and versatile applications, these binoculars provide observers with breathtaking views of the cosmos and the natural world, allowing them to explore and appreciate the beauty of the universe with unmatched clarity and detail. Whether observing celestial objects from your backyard or embarking on outdoor adventures, these binoculars are sure to inspire wonder and awe with every glimpse of the cosmos.

Helpful

Gamma Cygni Fan

Beautiful, Bright Star Images!

Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2013

Style: SkyMaster 15x70 BinocularSet: Binocular onlyVerified Purchase

The SkyMasters arrived carefully packed and collimated. One negative I noted is the narrow neckstrap included. It's much too small for a pair of binos this size, and I'm sure it would leave a "rope burn" on the back of my neck if I use it. To correct this, I removed the MUCH BEEFIER strap from my old Jason 10 x 50s and attached it to the new SkyMasters. Problem solved.

The other negative is the flimsy, nylon carrying case. I would prefer to have a hard carrying case to help prevent the binos from being bumped out of collimation during storage and transit. For this reason alone, I considered giving the SkyMasters four out of five stars, but this issue isn't related to the performance of the product itself.

Many reviewers have commented on the weight of the SkyMasters. Yes, they are definitely heavier than my 10 x 50s, but I expected them to be much heavier. They are surprisingly easy to hand-hold. Those folks who have difficulty with the weight, may find it easier to hold the barrels near the objective lens to distribute the weight evenly.

My first night using them outside was a real treat as I did a quick star test to determine star color accuracy and brightness. I looked at three of my favorite stars - Deneb, Sadr and Mirfak. I swing the binos up to the northwest and check out first-magnitude Deneb (1,425 light years away), in the constellation Cygnus. It's a rare, A2Ia (white-hot supergiant) star about 108 - 114 times the size of our sun, shining with an astounding luminosity of 54,400 suns!!! It marks the top of the Northern Cross in Cygnus. If Deneb was put in place of our sun right this moment, earth would be roasted instantly!! Through the SkyMasters, Deneb appears as a brilliantly-bright, sharply-focused, white point of light! Magnificent!

Just below Deneb, in the same constellation, I scan down to mid-second-magnitude Sadr (1,830 light years distant), an F8Iab (yellow-white-hot supergiant) star nearly the same color and temperature as our sun, but an enormous 183 times larger, shining with a fierce luminosity of 60,000 suns!!! The SkyMasters reveal Sadr's beautiful, light yellow hue. Stunning!

Now, I swing over to the northeast and up to check out second-magnitude Mirfak (590 light years away), the brightest star in the constellation Perseus. It's an F5Ib (yellow-white-hot supergiant), 62 times the size of our sun and 5,000 times brighter. Mirfak appears similar in brightness and color to the yellowish-white light of a car headlight seen about 1/2 mile in the distance by the unaided eye. Impressive!

Since the bright, first-magnitude star, Capella, is nearby in the constellation Auriga, I pan over a short distance to the left. Actually, Capella is a binary star system consisting of a G8III (yellow-orange-hot giant) and G0III (yellow-hot giant) star in very close mutual orbit around each other. The combined light of both stars is similar in brightness to the yellowish-white light of a car headlight seen about 1/4 mile in the distance by the unaided eye. Very bright, indeed!

To really appreciate the light-gathering ability of the Celestrons, first look at your favorite stars with your old binos. Then, view them through the SkyMasters. The star brightness from 50mm to 70mm aperture is substantial, and is enhanced by the SkyMaster's BAK-4 prisms. What I once thought was bright with my Jason 10 x 50s with lower-quality BK-7 prisms, now is dim compared to the SkyMasters!

The SkyMaster's 4.4-degree field of view can make it a bit challenging to locate a star, unless you're familiar with the constellations, and know the location of the star and its color. I found that aiming the SkyMasters in the general direction of the star, placing them to your eyes and raising them up a little higher will place the star in the field of view.

The center focus dial and right diopter eyepiece rotate smoothly through their full range of motion, and are easy to turn, even with winter gloves on. I didn't detect any tightness or looseness in either dial.

Because of their weight and higher magnification, there is a considerable amount of "star dancing" when viewing a star with the SkyMasters. This annoyance is much more pronounced than it is with my 10 x 50s. Previous reviewers have touched upon this as well, and have remedied the problem with a tripod. I'm still trying to find other ways (if there are any) of steadying the SkyMasters, short of purchasing a tripod. I want to maximize the SkyMaster's "ultimate portability," by swinging them from one area of the sky to another rapidly, to compare star colors and brightness, without having to move and re-station a tripod over and over again.

There you have it, the biggest advantage of the SkyMasters - ultimate portability! I've had two telscopes in the past, but got rid of them both. Wasting time setting up the scope, fishing around trying to locate a star, then seeing a fuzzy "blob" with one eye closed once I did find the star, wasn't fun. Let's not forget having to tear down the scope and store it away! More time wasted.

Now, if I want to check out a few of my favorite stars after supper on a winter night - no problem! Just throw on a parka, hat and gloves, grab the Skymasters and step out in the back yard for a quick view. Ahh, Wezen sure looks beautiful tonight!

24 people found this helpful

Helpful

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star

Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter with...

›

Customer reviews

Customer reviews

Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter with Basic Smartphone Adapter 1.25"

Top positive review

Top critical review

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

From the United States

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

Questions? Get fast answers from reviewers

Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter with... › Customer reviews

Customer reviews

Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter with Basic Smartphone Adapter 1.25"

Top positive review

Top critical review

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

From the United States

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

Questions? Get fast answers from reviewers

Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter with...

›

Customer reviews