The Celestron 25 x 70mm SkyMaster gives you seriously high power at a surprisingly low price.
Surprisingly economical, the Celestron 25 x 70mm SkyMaster can reveal the splendors of the heavens at night and the secret life of very distant wildlife during the day. Because of its high magnification and substantial 52 ounce (1474g) weight, you will find it difficult to keep the 25x70 Celestron steady enough for comfortable and unblurred extended observing while handholding it. Accordingly, a tripod adapter is supplied that lets you mount this big Celestron on any photographic tripod you might have available.
For astronomers, the 25 x 70mm Celestron SkyMaster is almost the equivalent of a low power 100mm rich field telescope. With a wide 2.7° field of view, it excels at sweeping the star clouds of Sagittarius, searching out the Great Galaxy in Andromeda, taking in open clusters like the Beehive and the Wild Duck, and more.
For nature study, the 25 x 70mm Celestron SkyMaster will let you observe deer feeding in distant meadows early in the morning or resting in tall grass midday, courtship behavior in distant off-shore rookeries, and more. With a close focus of 75', this is clearly not a binocular for warblers or butterflies (unless you are watching them from across a very deep backyard).
This center focus Z-body porro prism uses quality BaK-4 prisms and multicoatings for good light transmission and no prism shadowing. Specified eye relief is a little short for totally unvignetted eyeglass use, at 13mm, although most eyeglass wearers will not find this an inconvenience. A diopter ring on the right eyepiece lets you match the binocular performance to that of your eyes.
It comes with a lightweight soft vinyl storage case, soft rolldown rubber eyecups, protective caps for the optics, and a neck strap. Light rubber armor with textured rubber gripping surfaces provides a sure hold when dewing becomes a problem. The 25 x 70mm is water resistant, but not waterproof. Setting it down in dew-soaked grass would not be recommended.
A supplied separate tripod adapter lets you mount it on any convenient camera tripod for no-hands observing. The tripod adapter mounts on any standard 1/4"-20 thread 35mm or video tripod and can be used with many other binoculars, as well as the SkyMaster.
There is some barrel distortion (straight lines at the edge of the field are curved), and some visible astigmatism and chromatic aberration at the edges of the field. However, these flaws are not obtrusive, particularly in view of the large aperture and exceptionally low price.
As a first serious astronomical observing tool, as a long distance nature study instrument, or as a highly useful companion to take into the field with your telescope at night, the Celestron 25 x 70mm SkyMaster is priced to be easily affordable for any birder or astronomer.
