Celestron71018 SkyMaster 20x80mm Porro Prism Binoculars with Multi-Coated Lens, BaK-4 Prism Glass and Carry Case, Black

I wanted something I could leave in the car for astronomical use which would not take up a lot of room unlike my scope.Overall the binoculars seem well made and give a good image. Due to the power of them you will need to attach to a tripod of brace the on something to avoid shake. They come with a soft case a lanyard which is very thin and a tripod mount. The tripod mount is not that solid and I replaced is with another make.Overall I am happy with the binoculars and feel they are well priced for the performance

I've been the owner of a pair of 10x50 Tento binoculars for years, so I decided to upgrade and treat myself. I looked very carefully at each Celestron Skymaster binoculars available to see what might suit my needs. After doing some research and checking each spec, I decided to opt for the 15x70 Skymaster and boy does it do what it say's on the tin. Excellent clarity, great field of view and surprisingly not as heavy as what some people would say. Granted, without a tripod (which I might purchase in the future), they can feel a little heavy after a while, but if you place your hands at the end of the binoculars by the objective lens, the weight kind of balances itself out nicely. Setting up and calibrating the Skymaster to your eye's is very simple. To be honest, unless you are a serious sky watcher, don't get anything bigger than this as your field of view will be seriously decrease and you will need a tripod. 15x magnification is what I would say is in the Goldilocks zone. My Skymasters arrived less than 24 hours after I ordered them with standard delivery and that was without Prime. There was a crescent moon the same night and boy was I blown away. I could see far more details than I ever could with my old pair of bino's. At this price, the build quality is awesome and feels way more expensive than it's price. Just a good bit of advice though which I found when I was doing my research, if you do buy a tripod, purchase a metal tripod holder for your bino's as the plastic one supplied is pretty much useless as your binoculars will bounce at the slightest touch, spoiling your view time, but a metal tripod holder will keep your binocular as steady as a rock.

I have been on the lookout for a pair of bins with relatively high magnification since buying a telescope a few years ago. I use these bins for both terrestrial and astronomical viewing, and overall find them very very good - Why you may ask did I buy these if I already have a telescope - The main reason is that the telescope can be a drag to get out and set up - taking about 15 mins to get the settings correct - these bins give me adequate magnification for most astronomical views - from lunar viewing and planetary spotting - Jupiter can be seen along with four of its moons - and when used with a tripod Saturn and its general shape with the rings can be just made out - you wont see any of the planets crystal clear like in pictures in books if you expect to see this you will be disappointed - Jupiter for example is a non discernible blob with four other very faint blobs beside it - but if your into astronomy you wont mind this.Terrestrial viewing however is another thing entirely - excellent, clear views over seas, mountains, and bird watching you will be amazed with how much clarity the images appear - this is due to the 70mm lenses and their light gathering ability - excellent.The weight issue mentioned in a few other reviews is not a major issue in my case but when my partner uses them after a couple of minutes she has to put them down - so the inclusion of a tripod adapter is a necessary one - but I would recommend purchasing a metal one for about £10 as in any slight breeze the bins sway a little and that defeats the object of using them on a tripod.In conclusion as I use these bins for mainly astronomical viewing in retrospect I should have purchased the more expensive 25x70mm ones as there is only about £20 different in the price - but I was put off these after reading the reviews of them being too heavy - so my advice would be if your the average 40 something male (which I am) and are looking for primarily astronomical binoculars then I'd suggest the more expensive ones but if weight bearing on your arms is an issue then these are the ones for you - honestly a very very good quality product at a reasonable price - if your in the market for a new pair of binoculars - go buy these you won't be disappointed.

Beautifully clear image offered by the large 80mm lens. They have a robust feel and seem to be well made and should last for many years with care. These are a great starter pair for sky watching, but if that is your main use for them you W|ILL need a Tripod. They are heavy but thats not the real problem, if you focus on anything that is on considerable magnification it is impossible to hold them still enough to get any sort or real idea of the target image, in addition as soon as you try and adjust the focus, you loose the target you are focussing on. I bought these as a powerful set for sky watching, birding, and general scenery when walking and holidaying. Though bulky they are worth carrying for the quality and depth of the image that is available. Easily backpackable. I live in a city and it is amazing the way on a CLEAR night they cut through the haze that is there (but not visible) and allows you so see a complete vista of stars that are not available to the naked eye. I wish I could have afforded the 25x100, but for that cost I will supplement it and buy myself a good telescope. These are fantastic powerful general purpose binoculars and can be used for sky watching WITH a tripod, dont believe reviews that say you dont need it. Great Value. Recommended. I wish they had provided a better padded carry bag.