Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter
Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Features
- Multi-coated optics
- Large aperture perfect for low light conditions and stargazing
- Tripod adapter
- 13 mm (0.51 in) long eye relief ideal for eyeglass wearers
- Diopter adjustment for fine focusing
Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Description
Binoculars come in a wide range of shapes and sizes these days, andan even wider range of prices.It's easy to spend less than $100 or morethan $500 for what may appear to be, at least outwardly, comparable models. While they may look the same, they are probably quite different on theinside.Recently, the binocular market has seen a flood of giant binoculars atprices that were unheard of just a few years ago.In general, giantbinoculars are defined as those that magnify the view 10 times or more andhave 70-mm or larger front (objective) lenses.It used to be that the leastexpensive giant binoculars cost in excess of $150, even $200.All thatchanged 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 thelow-price giant binocular arena.They certainly sound good on paper.TheSkyMasters include multicoated optics and BaK-4 internal prisms, twofeatures that promise brighter, better images, and key points to look forwhen judging a pair of binoculars.They also come with an adapter forattaching them to a photo tripod, which is a must to use them to theirfullest, and a soft carrying case.But just because they are cheap doesn'talways mean they are worth the price.Would it be better to save up for amore expensive pair?To find the answer, I had an opportunity recently to judge the SkyMastersagainst a pair of Fujinon 16x70 FMT-SX binoculars , one ofthe finest pairs of giant binoculars sold today.Like the SkyMasters, theFujinons feature BaK-4 prisms, but also have fully multicoated optics.As ageneral rule, superior coatings mean superior image sharpness and contrast. But then, that should be expected, given that the Fujinons cost many timesmore than the Celestrons.While the Fujinons were clearly the better performer, the CelestronSkyMasters held up admirably.Image brightness, quality, and contrast wereall remarkable considering their bargain price.Although images were alittle soft across the outer 25% of the Celestron's field, the overall viewwas impressive nonetheless.Some inexpensive binoculars have very sloppy focusing, causing the eyepiecesto tilt and shift.Not so with the SkyMasters.I found that theircenter-focusing mechanism worked smoothly, with no apparently backlash orwobble.Eye relief (the distance you hold your eyes away from the eyepiecesto see the full field) is stated to be 18 mm, a good distance for higherpower binoculars and an important consideration if you must wear glasseswhen viewing.The SkyMasters are also light enough to support by hand forshort periods of time, although buyers would be well advised to mount themon 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 havea limited budget, Celestron's giant 15x70 SkyMasters represent an excellentvalue. --Phil Harrington, author of Star Ware and Star Watch Pros:Exceptional value for the priceLight enough to support by handBaK-4 prismsMulticoated opticsCons:Outer 25% of the field is soft and a little blurryRequires a tripod to use for extended periods
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