Reviews - Celestron C65 Mini Mak 65mm Zoom Spotting Scope C 65 w/ Fixed 30x-90x Zoom Eyepiece, Tripod, Case 52234 Reviews - CI-SS-52234

Author: curioushooter , Target shooter, small time architectural observer/bird watcher., from Cincinnati OH on Jan 28, 2010
Pros:  Inexpensive, comes with base
Cons:  Barely adequate optical quality
Would recommend:  yes

curioushooter wrote:

This scope does everything it says. It works, though it does not appear to be very rugged. The resolution at high power (over 60x) is unuseably poor. Images are dull and not crisp. The focusing disk is very crude and there is no fine adjustment (not that it would really matter with low grade optics). At low magnifications it works pretty well, and this is where you'll spend most of your time. It needs a good amount of light (again, glass/coatings are substandard). Useless in evening. It is an <1000 yard scope for birdwatchers or shooters. It is not a pleasure to use, it is barely adequate. It is priced accordingly.

Author: EbenA , Texas shooter, from Fort Worth, TX on Sep 29, 2009
Pros:  Low cost, decent optics
Cons:  Not way sturdy
Would recommend:  yes

EbenA wrote:

For the bucks and for specific uses, very good value - I use this for spotting range targets, and it works well - Focus is crisp enough and power is sufficient for 300+ yard use. Does not have wide field of view at high magnification and the optics are not crisp enough for real detailed uses, in my opinion, but for the price, it's a winner.

Author: Abndoc (verified customer) from Roseville, Ca. on Jan 6, 2009
Pros:  Light weight
Cons:  unusable focus, deceptive warranty
Would recommend:  no

Abndoc wrote:

The first time I used it, it was difficult to focus and the image was very poor. It sat on the shelf for a long time. The next time I used it, one of the lenses came loose in the eyepiece and the scope was unusable. While Celestron would honor their warranty, shipping and handling is $35.00 which is ridiculous for a $60.00 scope. This doesn't include my shipping costs to them. I took outside and hit it with a hammer instead.

Author: Gamonator (verified customer) , I like quality items at a good price.(But doesn't everybody), from New York on Nov 16, 2008
Pros:  Tri-pod high zoom levels (90X) clarity and overall quality
Cons:  Leather case it comes with is small
Would recommend:  no

Gamonator wrote:

This scope is not just a good scope for the money, although it is a well priced scope. Versatile, high zoom, overall just a great scope. I heard people have had problems with their scope but I have not. This scope can not be beat. About the leather case, all the items (tri-pod and scope body) fit in this leather case when it comes, but it is hard to get it back in.

Author: kphlight (verified customer) from Wolcott, CO on Jun 8, 2008
Pros:  Great price, tripod
Cons:  Small exit pupil
Would recommend:  yes

kphlight wrote:

For the price, this is a very adequate piece of equipment. Obviously there are much better models but for about $60, you can't go wrong if you're on a budget.

Author: slbenz (verified customer) , Volunteer to East Bay Regional Parks in the San Francisco Bay Area, from Fremont,CA on May 29, 2008
Pros:  Easy setup, clear optics, zoom feature
Cons:  So powerful that distance object are blurred by the atmospheric conditions
Would recommend:  yes

slbenz wrote:

Easy to setup and use spotting scope. I use it to monitor a local Regional Park as a volunteer and can recognize people I know from over a mile away! Focusing from a far takes a little getting used to due to the sensitive focusing knob. Zoom works well. Clarity is better than my Meade ETX-60 and much easier to set up. Included tripod is a bit difficult to use due to hard to slide height adjustments. Still would recommend to others to purchase. Light and easy to use.

Author: JWizzle from New Orleans on Mar 12, 2008
Pros:  CHEAP
Cons:  Size of Tripod
Would recommend:  yes

JWizzle wrote:

I don't know what the problem others have had with this little gem, its a champ for me.. get nice closeups of objects 1.75 miles away with great clarity.

Author: Bobby from Newton, MA on Aug 1, 2007
Would recommend:  yes

Bobby wrote:

Very inexpensive, and works well. Everything can be seen very clearly with this spotting. Without a doubt, this is highly recommened!

Author: Ching-Chan from New York, New York on Jul 30, 2007
Would recommend:  yes

Ching-Chan wrote:

Scope best in it's class. Yes.

Author: rsctt (verified customer) from dallas,Texas on Jul 29, 2007
Pros:  price was afordable
Cons:  difficutl to set up for astromnomical
Would recommend:  no

rsctt wrote:

Used it once something was loose inside the next time I tried to use.