Ezra Two-Eyes from United States, MA Public Profile

I own all the Skymasters now, except for the 8x56 DX, which would be redundant in my collection. I will attest that, contrary to all the on-line complaints about collimation, esp. for the 15x70s, none of mine ever arrived with anything but undetectable double-image. For my money, all the shopping one can do will not provide a better large-aperture unit much better than the Celestron Series. One can spent multiple of dollars for the same configurations, and I have direct experience peering through even the best. The difference is real, but not to the tune of over a grand or more! Unless you have a bulging fat wallet, why bother?

The 20x80s in a dark sky will reveal the spiral arms of M33 rather strikingly. I have marveled through these excellent optics at wisps of nebulosity in a handful of HII regions including the Pleiades!--you can't expect colors as our eyes are not able to detect those wavelengths--but you will be in awe of the wonders no 10x50 can show!

I've never used foot bellows before, so I haven't anything to compare this to. It is quite efficient for inflating the Air Head Chaise Lounge, but since it contains not much in the way of metal parts, I am wary about its lifespan.

Everything about this equipment is top-notch, optics, ergonomics, water and fog proofing. Why, then, doesn't Nikon warn the buyer NOT to attempt removal of the typical tripod socket cover? I assumed at 12x that these must be tripod mountable and, make a long story short, messed up the little cap w/ logo. Nikon informed me that they would not cover that, being my fault (no, it was theirs), and they would send me a decal (!) to hide the scratches I put there with some vice grips that were necessary to get the thing to budge. Incidentally, another company having sold me a similarly priced item, gladly rushed me to tripod socket cover at no charge. That one somebody had, I think, superglued the thing down. I guess one can put this one to good ole Corporate Greed!