Celestron 71008 SkyMaster 25x70mm Porro Prism Binoculars with Multi-Coated Lens, BaK-4 Prism Glass and Carry Case, Black

Product Information

However, with the inclusion of high-quality ED glass, I think in this case Celestron has managed to pull it off with their newer TrailSeeker ED range.

I’ve been blown away by the Celestron SkyMaster 25×70 binoculars. Their stellar clarity took my sky gazing to another level. Their durable build and water-resistance are huge pluses, and the protective travel case is a bonus. I couldn’t have asked for a better tool for my stargazing adventures. Highly recommended! My Experience With These Binoculars Celestron has also designed and engineered the larger SkyMaster models to meet the special demands of extended astronomical or terrestrial viewing sessions with maximum stability and secure optical alignment, the 80mm and 100mm SkyMaster models feature enhanced structural reinforcement to the main binocular body.Higher-end binoculars, regardless of whether they are Porro or Roof prism designs will almost always come with BAK-4 prisms, although keep a look out for the glass brand, such as Schott or Zeiss, for the absolute best BAK-4 Barium Crown glass prisms. More modestly priced binoculars may come with either one. If you decide on a pair of BK-7's, look for models that have a larger exit pupil if you plan to view in a variety of lighting conditions. Currently there are 9 models in the SkyMaster series, available in a range of configurations with everything from a comparatively small 12x60, right up to the giant 25x100, which means that you should be able to get the ideal one to suit your particular needs and wants.

Ultimately, the Celestron SkyMaster 25×70 binoculars are a commendable choice for both newcomers to astronomy and even more seasoned stargazers. When purchasing a tripod or other support for the Celestron SkyMaster 25x70s, you should ensure that it can support the binoculars’ weight by a comfortable margin. Many affordable options might not provide sufficient stability or enough maximum height for viewing high in the sky. A beefy tripod that extends to six feet or more in height, such as the Celestron Ultima Pan Tilt Head Tripod, is recommended to facilitate observing objects higher in the sky. Alternatively, a reliable parallelogram mount is ideal for any astronomy binoculars. You get some fantastic, clear and crisp views when looking at the moon, especially if it is large and full, it almost completely filled up my field of view and whilst a tripod was not necessary, it really helps keep the image steady and gives your arms a rest during longer periods. Having a good balance when holding your bino is always desirable, but on a high powered and relatively heavy one like this, it is even more important. An unbalanced bin is harder to keep steady and will also lead to fatigue over longer periods of use.The eyecups and the eye-relief for me were also not the greatest. This combined with a small exit-pupil meant that I was often searching to get the full view, trying to get rid of the dark rings around the edges. I think better quality twist-up eyecups set at the correct amount of eye-relief would really help in this area. What's also cool is that you a Binocular Harness comes free with these. Something that I have hardly ever seen any other brand offer before and think is really a great idea. A small series of inexpensive porro prism binoculars with magnifications ranging from 7x to 12x and with objectives from 35mm to 50mm, there is a model to cater for most users needs It is basically the true angle that can be seen when looking through the optics. It is measured in °. The Celestron SkyMaster 25x70 binocular has "Multi-Coated" optics. What this means is that some, but not all (usually the first and the last) of the optical surfaces have been coated with many layers of anti-reflection coatings that reduce or eliminate unwanted light reflections, which increases the transmittance or the amount of light that gets through the system and to your eyes than if they were left untreated.

As well as the addition of extra low-dispersion (ED) glass, this newer series has had quite a big updating terms of the exterior. The design is much more modern looking, uses metal eyepiece housings and the focus wheel is far more stylish and less generic than that which was used on the original TrailSeeker. So as you can see there is no perfect solution, it is all about deciding what your specific wants and needs are and accepting that whatever you choose there are related strong points and weaknesses. The true field of these binoculars is 2.7 degrees, which is approximately 5.5 times the angular diameter of the full Moon. At 25x magnification, this equates to an apparent field of view of 61 degrees, which is fairly immersive if not super wide. Views are sharp across the majority of the field. The 2.7-degree field is narrow enough, however, that locating objects can be a lot more challenging; most binoculars provide a true field of view of 3-4 degrees or greater to make it easy to find objects as well as view the largest deep-sky targets, which may not fit entirely within a 2.7-degree field. To give you an idea of how these dimensions compare, I have included the dimensions of a few fairly average full size 42mm bins and that of a few other giants in the table below:As you can see from the table above, they have a wider FOV than the 30x Barska, but their 25x power reduces their FOV compared to others with lower magnifications and is also lower than that of the 100mm 25x binoculars. But what you have to remember is that these will be heavier, bigger and more expensive. The older, non-ED version of the TrailSeeker (see below) is one of Celestron's real success stories, combining a high level of performance with an affordable price tag. This balancing act is certainly not easy and thus going one step further and improving on an already winning formula often does not work. With such a long minimum focusing distance, it was harder than normal to look for any color fringing around the edges of objects caused by chromatic aberration as I usually find it easier to spot on nearer objects. What ever the case, the amount of color fringing was very minimal and only really noticeable when you are really looking for it, which is excellent for a binocular in this price range. This is because a larger field of view gives more room for error when observing the sky, ensuring the objects stay in your view for longer.

Aimed at the more price conscious observer, the Celestron Nature Series binoculars don't come with all of the high end features of the Granite's (see above) which is expected, but they do still feature some high quality components and coatings still result in a pretty good pair of optics and all at a great price (Take a look at my full Celestron 8x42 Nature Binoculars Review). Compared to an 8x42 binocular that can have a near focus of around 6ft, the close focus of these seems very far away, but focusing on near objects is not really what these long distance binoculars are about anyway. Its important to note that field of view usually decreases with higher magnification. This is why astronomers typically prefer higher fields of view, less magnification (e.g. the 20x80s are preferred).This is because the 25x70s provide a higher magnification than the 20x80s, but the 20x80s provide a great minimum focus distance. Made from a soft, flexible plastic/rubber, the objective lens covers fit fairly snugly over the ends of the barrels and so do not come away accidentally too easily. Celestron Echelon binoculars are hand made in the USA, using the quality optics from Japan. This ensures a very high build quality and optical performance that combines to produce a superb all round binocular. And no I have not just copied the marketing hype, it is the conclusion I came to when I tested and reviewed the 20x70 Echelon.