Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter: Customer Reviews & Product Details

I have had these binoculars for about 1 year now and I still bring them basically anywhere I go. I started to get interested in Astronomy last summer and needed an optical instrument that would be easy to use and not very expensive. I went ahead and ordered SkyMaster and loved it from day 1. They are great for both Astronomy use and for day time observing. From looking at distant landscape, contrails of an overhead jet travelling at 35,000 feet or looking at Andromeda galaxy, these binocs bring everything much closer and much brighter than most people would expect. There is always a WOW factor when someone picks it up for the first time. All moving parts, including focuser are smooth and very well made. The only downside that I see is that these are relatively big and heavy binoculars. I would suggest buying a monopod, so your viewing sessions will be longer and more enjoyable. If you don't have monopod or tripod, just find some kind of support for your arms or sit in the reclining chair. Overall, this is top level, highly recommended product.

These are great! If you want to look into astronomy but don't want to spend a ton of money, this is a great buy! Easy to use, not at all heavy really, sharp clear optics and great value. I use these more than my 8" Reflector now. So much easier to grab and go outside. I am very happy with this purchase!

Today was my first use of these binoculars along with the tripod I ordered from 57"TRIPOD FOR SPOTTING SCOPE CAMERA BINOCULARS+CASE !!

I used the free open source stellarium software (google it) to research and locate targets of interest. Jupiter with four of its moons was the easiest to spot with the binoculars and the most exciting view was the Orion's Nebula. A lot of detail is visible in the sky in general at the minimum maginificaiton. In terms of functionality, aesthetics and price, this is a great product, no complaints. Since this is the only product I have used so far, can't really say how it compares with other similar products. The instruction sheet that comes with the product seems a little outdated as the diagram shows a zoom lever whereas in the actual product, zoom works through rotation of lens with fingers. I recommend that you get a good sturdy tripod that can remain stable and smooth under the weight of this product, the tripod I bought does an OK job but is not the best option by any means.


Just like I was, if you are having a tough time deciding between a binoculars and a telescope, the BBC sky at night magazine episode 11 on YouTube should help you make the decision.


Happy stargazing!

P.S. Addition on 10/23/2009: The tripod I bought earlier, mentioned above in the first line of this review, broke yesterday(the lever that spins to adjust the tripod's height just snapped under the weight of the binocular while the height was being adjusted). I got a new one, Targus Digital TG-6660TR 66-Inch Tripod with 3-Way Panhead. This new one can take upto 7 lbs weight and is very steady under the binocular's weight, highly recommended for use along with the Celestron Skymaster Giant 15x70.

Pros:
- BAK4 prism provides crisp and clear images
- tripod adaptable
- huge objectives
- does what is it supposed to do
- water-resistant

Cons:
- Heavy, but this isn't one of the binoculars you'd bring to a stadium or for hiking
- Needs tripod for image stability; comes with tripod adapter, so this issue is null
- Neck strap is pretty much non-usable since the weight of binoculars actually put pressure on the back of your neck. You would use a tripod most of the time, so this is also null
- Crappy carrying bag with strap, but nonetheless a bag

The relative:
- If you get this make sure you have a sturdy tripod

Note- I was able to make out the shape of Jupiter and see several of its moon with no difficulty.

Great pair of binoculars. The magnification is awesome. Not a cheap pair of binoculars. They are pretty heavy, and a tripod would be a very good idea. I use them too look out my high-rise windows, so I lean the binoculars against the window. This steadies them pretty well.
For the price, these cannot be beat. Have had no problems with them. I would definitely recommend.
They come with a cheap case, so you may want to invest in more solid protection for them.