Reviews - Page 3 - Celestron 39-100x90mm Maksutov Angled Spotting Scope w/Tripod 52268-OP Reviews - CI-SS-52268-OP

Author: Chuck (verified customer) from Versailles, IN on Jun 19, 2011
Pros:  Excellent clarity to 200yds, OK at 300 yards for Target shooting
Cons:  Tripod is OK
Would recommend:  yes

Chuck wrote:

Purchased as spotting scope for shooting at 100 - 300 yrds. Outstanding to 200 yrds. Works at 300 yrds for .270 and larger calibers. Tripod is a bit wimpy but if you suspend 7 1/2 to 10#s of weight from the bottom hook it is workable. Overall great value for the money but don't expect $2000 scope performance.

Author: Peter Tos (verified customer) , Sky & Bird watcher, from Oregon on Jun 7, 2011
Would recommend:  yes

Peter Tos wrote:

This Spotting scope kit is great. Has very good quality optics. Image is razor sharp even at 100X magnification. Better tripod would fix the stability tripod, but hey for the price I'm paying I get more for the value.

Author: tjs0856 (verified customer) , Beginner, looking foward to a bigger scope., from Lewisburg Ohio on May 30, 2011
Pros:  Easy to set up.
Cons:  Tripod is weak.
Would recommend:  yes

tjs0856 wrote:

Great little scope for a last minute use. Easy and quick to set up for a great view of the moon and stars. I can see a long way down the road in the daytime also, for a look at the birds and trees. Worth every penny.

Author: Kirk (verified customer) from DFW, Texas on May 15, 2011
Pros:  Clear, easy to use
Cons:  Worthless tripod
Would recommend:  yes

Kirk wrote:

Very happy with the C90 so far. But as noted by others, the tripod is useless. Far to weak to hold a scope of this size stable. I recommend the scope, just plan to buy a decent tripod separately.

Author: Donnie from Western KY on May 5, 2011
Pros:  Sharp and very compact
Cons:  A bit heavy, long focal length
Would recommend:  yes

Donnie wrote:

Very crisp views due to the Maksutov design. I don't know how you could better use $154 towards astronomy or a medium to long range spotting scope. I am an amateur astronomer but I also like to do some bird/nature viewing. Although this little scope doesn't keep up with my larger scopes, it performs admirably given its aperture. As for use as a spotting scope, I find it works very well. Of course it doesn't have the low end of power that a typical spotting scope does, so it best used for medium to long range work. I have found that with the addition of a .5x focal reducer screwed into a Celestron 8-24mm zoom, the scope works much better at low power. There is some vignetting with that combo at the low end, but it is not terrible and disappears once you increase the magnification. With the zoom the scope has become much more versatile. The tripod is really too light for this OTA. But I did find the tripod useful for my DSLR by itself. It handles that weight just fine. All in all, this ...
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Author: icdave (verified customer) , regular guy, from iowa city, ia on Apr 25, 2011
Pros:  cost, image quality
Cons:  tripod, finder scope
Would recommend:  yes

icdave wrote:

I bought this scope to use at the range. The tripod is junk, but useful to hold a flash or small point-n-shoot camera. The crosshairs in the finder scope are out of focus. But when I put it on my DSLR with a T adapter, the pictures of Saturn and the Moon are incredible! The Moon just fits in the picture frame. The picture through the 32mm eyepiece is very good.

Author: Tai (verified customer) , Pro Astronomer, from Singapore on Apr 23, 2011
Pros:  All
Cons:  None
Would recommend:  yes

Tai wrote:

Best scope for the price. Hard to resist for the specification, brand & price. With multi-coated optics & robust alloy construction, I feel this scope is ain't cheap to built & worth every penny I pay. Optics are great. Can see saturn & jupiter clearly. 100% satisfaction

Author: oldcarguy1961 (verified customer) , Mechanical Engineer, from chillicothe, Ohio on Apr 19, 2011
Pros:  seems like a quality-built scope... heavy! T-adapter built in!
Cons:  cheap tripod...
Would recommend:  yes

oldcarguy1961 wrote:

Use this with an Olympus DSLR... Many online camera shops have t-adapters that will let you fit your DSLR right to the eyepiece socket for about $20. Use the set up to photograph birds at distance and it is very nice... Use a spot meter and manually focus for $10K less!

Author: hadlock , retired senior government executive, from hansville washington on Mar 31, 2011
Pros:  Big, clear field of view. Excellent magnification
Cons:  Focus is touchy.
Would recommend:  yes

hadlock wrote:

I bought this as a spotting scope for ships and boats on Puget Sound. I have had two other models and this is absolutely the best! The instructions are slim and assume you understand telescopes which I don't but this is is better than the $800 image stabilized binoculars I have. This is just unbelievable. It is what I have always wanted but couldn't seem to find. I can practically see the faces on the bridge of ships a couple miles away. In addition, I will have a telescope to show the grandkids when they vist. OpticsPlanet recommendation was right on and shipping was timely. I definitely recommend this unit. Did not use the tripod because of earlier reviews but I LOVE the scope. OK, I'm done gushing now.

Author: LLG62 (verified customer) from Brownwood, Texas on Mar 21, 2011
Pros:  everything
Cons:  maybe a little heavy to carry around
Would recommend:  yes

LLG62 wrote:

Quick shipping. Bought for shotting range use. Only had a chance to check it out in the park I live in but looked a a telephone pole approx 200 to 250 yards away and can see how the wires are connected to the top of the pole. Took a little adjusting to get the finder scope to sync with the scope but only took a couple of minutes. Tripod isn't bad. Could be better or worse. The larger eyepiece is excellent because I wear glasses and had no problem seeing with it. Will update after I have a chance to go to the range. Optics planet is excellent good description of scope, good price and excellent shipping.