Reviews - Bushnell Northstar 5" Maksutov Cassegrain GoTo Telescope 1550 x 127mm 788850 Reviews - BU-TS-788850

Author: Kai from San Juan, PR on Dec 11, 2009
Pros:  Excellent optics
Cons:  User manual, NorthStar alignment
Would recommend:  yes

Kai wrote:

Pros: This is a very nice and compact telescope and the stand is fine. The optics are superb and focusing is really nice thanks to the excellent focusing mechanism. Very crisp and sharp images. The stand supports the scope well (which surprised me) and the motors work pretty smooth. I got a very good deal for the money overall. Cons: What I don't like is the user manual which is very incomplete (if I were a beginner I would have gone crazy), the useless 4 mm eye piece, and the NorthStar has also some issues. The NorthStar goto is good per se, but the light in the controller is very dim making reading at night difficult. There are too few alignment stars and I have no idea what the star alpha is. There are some prominent stars missing. Also, the stars I am getting after alignment seem random between 2 and 5 and in the end it doesn't matter much. The scope usually finds what you punch in, but sometimes seems to go "crazy" and go somewhere (after which you should simply align again). Thus ...
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Author: Steven McAlpin (verified customer) from Great Falls MT on Nov 2, 2009
Pros:  Easy to use
Cons:  Manual sucks
Would recommend:  yes

Steven McAlpin wrote:

Manual doesn't give enough information about how to use. Bushnell doesn't have any information on website. They have manual, but it is worthless. Battery cover does not latch. Ordered new cover and it does not latch either.

Author: Asdro from Austin, TX on Oct 14, 2009
Pros:  Great features, goto consistent, good value
Cons:  Set up takes a little
Would recommend:  yes

Asdro wrote:

I've been a fan of Bushnell's Northstar series for a while and I finally decided to buy this guy and give him the good college try. Overall, a good unit, especially for a computer. Took a bit to set up but the images were crisp for a 5"