July 2018 - Optics Den

Celestron Skymaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars Review

The Celestron Skymaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars include BaK-4 internal prisms and multicoated optics. These features produce improved vision with brighter resolution, which is of top importance for quality binoculars. Included with the Skymaster Giant 15×70 binoculars are a tripod attachment adapter and a soft carrier case. The imagery processing and visibility are top-notch. Celestron Skymaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars’ eyepieces are also excellent.

Key Specs

Let’s take a look at the overall power of these 70mm optics.

15x magnification
Field of View (FOV)-4.4 degrees
- FOV at 1000yds-230
Multi-coated lenses
Diopter range- -4 to 8
Close Focus Distance 52.5

70mm lens are some of the biggest lenses you can have on handheld binoculars. As a result, you have some of the greatest light gathering power on the market. The diopter settings range from -4 to +8, meaning you can adjust to low or high light situations.

Where some binoculars have trouble focusing and can have a tendency to shift, the Celestron Skymaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars have little to no wobble and are equipped with an amazing center-focus apparatus. In addition to this, the Celestron Skymaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars offer high quality eye relief at 18 millimeters, which is great news if you wear eyeglasses. You can adjust the eyepieces by taking the big cap off from the exit or objective lens and then looking through to adjust the focus of the center ring between the barrels until clear. You can do this for both the right and left separately to achieve optimum clarity.

These binoculars are lightweight but operate best when they are used with an attached tripod. The Celestron Skymaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars are optimal for a multitude of purposes, including stargazing at both the terrestrial and astronomical level and bird watching. They can be used during the day as well as during dusk. Although the size may make you rather noticeable, the Celestron Skymaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars can also be used at sporting events and concerts. The lightweight nature of the binoculars will allow you to utilize them almost anywhere with very low bounce rate.

The Celestron Skymaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars sport a 15x magnification and utilize very large 70 millimeter objective lenses. These lenses also assist in providing maximum brightness for both dimly lit and long-distance conditions. The Celestron Skymaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars have excellent across the field viewing with precise focus. Coated with a rubber protection layer, the Celestron Skymaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars are able to provide users with a no-slip firm grip.

Additional Features

In addition to these incredible features, Celestron Skymaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars also come with a no fault warranty which covers protection and support for the product. The warranty includes Celestron’s promise that all binoculars are free from defective material and that they are appropriate for a lifetime of usability. Celestron will replace or work to repair the binoculars if they are sent in, with prepaid postage and a proof of purchase. Celestron will replace or fix the binoculars, regardless of how they were damaged, without asking any questions.

The Celestron Skymaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars are one of Celestron’s most popular models in their Skymaster series, due in large part to their tremendous quality and lightweight functionality at such an affordable cost. The Celestron Skymaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars exact specifications include a 4.4 degree angular field of view, 4.7 millimeter exit pupil, the near focus is 43 feet, and the binoculars come with an IPD minimum of 56 millimeters and maximum of 72 millimeters. The Celestron Skymaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars come with caps, a strap, a nylon carrier, and a tripod adapter. The Celestron Skymaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars are also water resistant and weigh 48 ounces.

These are incredibly high quality binoculars at a very reasonable price that are perfect for the casual user or for those that are more experienced. Whether you plan to take these on a hike for bird watching, check out the night sky for some amazing star gazing, or a myriad of other purposes which require distance viewing, the Celestron Skymaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars are a perfect fit at an incredible value.

Uses

Since these binoculars are made by Celestron, you can already guess what they’re good at. The moon is one of the brightest objects in our night sky and with the 70mm’s variable diopter settings, you’ll have no difficulty seeing it up close when the sky is clear.

These diopter settings work the same during daytime and landscape viewing as well. They come with a tripod adapter as they do weigh about 3lbs free handed. Birding and nighttime sky watching are going to be the biggest and most logical uses for the 70mm’s. 70mm means that you’re going to soak up whatever is giving off light, notably objects in the sky and the moon.

Versus Other Sporting Optics

These binoculars are big, hence why more often than naught, you’ll see them hooked up to a tripod. They don’t make the best hunting binoculars because they are designed for extreme range viewing rather than detailed viewing. Remember, just because a pair of optics has big lenses, doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get the best details of an object.

Swinging these binoculars isn’t going to be easy due to their size and weight. Compared to wide angled binos and other smaller sporting optics, the 70mm’s aren’t the most logical to take on hunts when you’re lugging them around for hours at a time. Unless you plan to stay in given area, you’re better off using a smaller pair.

Overall

It’s astonishing to note that the 15x70mm’s aren’t the biggest or smallest pair of binos in the SkyMaster series. Regardless, the 15x70mms sit in the middle of the SkyMaster series and provide astounding images for a cheap price compared to other Celestron products.

The 15x70mms don’t have the power to see stars or planets beyond the moon up close and personal but provide a sort of middle ground between mainstream sporting optics and telescopes.

Click here to shop the SkyMaster 70mm.

Rangefinders

Optic Review: Rangemaster CRF 1600-B by Leica

The Rangemaster CRF 1600-B from Leica makes some big promises as a range finder right out of the gate. It lives up to virtually all of them with only a few minor caveats. Despite a few cons that any honest review would mention, this rangefinder along with its advanced features is worth the extra money when compared to other equipment in its class.

Features

The CRF 1600 comes with a considerable number of advanced features. However, this means that operation is slightly more complex than comparable units. Rangemaster took this concern into consideration, providing a one-touch operation mode for simple range measurements. The secondary button on the unit provides you with access to the more-advanced features. The actual range for the equipment is listed at 1,600 yards. At the outside edge of this number, the finder is only performing in top tiers when a reflective object is in the picture. Still, where gauging the distance of deer and trees are concerned, the abilities of this equipment are certainly impressive.

Before we get more in-depth into the accuracy and build, here’s an overview of the key features of the CRF 1600-B:

Range: 10-1600 yards
Integrated thermometer/barometer sensors
Waterproof & fogproof
Good light gathering capabilities & easy-to-read LED
7x magnification & wide FOV
Adjustable eyecups

Accuracy

The accuracy of the CRF 1600 is par for the course. Up to 500 yards, you can count on being within your target reading by one yard on the outside. When reading distances closer to 1,000 yards, you may experience inaccuracy by as little as two yards. Above 1,000 yards, most experts have found that the accuracy hovers within plus to minus 0.5 percent. The number of benefits one can gain using this rangefinder are nothing to underestimate. On top of the outstanding range, the complete unit is extremely durable and well-suited for almost any environment. It goes on to provide atmospheric temperature and pressure readings as well.

Performance

The advanced features continue to expand in the various additional modes, offering users angles of inclination in relation to targets and potential ballistic curvatures once you have entered information concerning the particulars of ammunition. Another major selling point for this equipment is the optical clarity and its ability to gather light. It can collect visual information in a impressive array of environmental conditions in addition to presenting a stunning LED readout. The optics for the piece excel thanks to the inclusion of Aqua-Dura coating and P40 phase-correction coating. The result is a clear and crisp image in any setting as long as the temperature is between 14 and 131-degrees Fahrenheit.

Durability

The durability of the rangefinder is made possible by plastic that features carbon-fiber reinforcement. This coating is complimented by an interior chassis composed of cast aluminum. Maintaining the comfort of the piece is a soft lacquer finish on the exterior. Unlike many units developed over the past decade, there is no worry of fogging due to the fact that the most critical components are nitrogen-charged. The unit is also totally water tight for depths of up to one yard for a duration of under half an hour. Raw performance also adds to the list of strengths for this field companion. It auto-focuses in seconds, and the linear field of view is generous enough to allow you to locate and close in on targets rapidly.

Verdict

The versatility of the CRF 1600 is worth mentioning as well. The viewfinder features a rubber cupping that is retractable, compensating for use with corrective lens or the naked eye. Users also have the option of utilizing diopter compensation control in order to adjust the image sharpness for their individual eyesight. The piece is powered by a single 3V, CR2 battery. While this hardware is powerful, replacements can be hard to come by in most markets. All points considered, this rangefinder puts itself at the top of the pack when looking at the field as a whole.

Spotting Scopes

Spotting Scope Review: Vortex Razor HD

Like Icarus, popular optics manufacturer Vortex is aiming high. Their Razor HD spotting scopes are designed to deliver super premium performance similar to market leaders in this class like Swarovski, Leica, and Zeiss. They want to do it at a fraction of the cost, too. Have they succeeded? Yes! Vortex’s spotting scopes soar high without getting too close to the sun.

Optical Features

The core of the Razor HD scope is a triple-apochromatic lens array designed to provide maximum clarity and minimal color aberration. The outermost lens has an AmorTek coating to protect against scratches, dirt, and corrosion. The inner lens elements are made of high density low dispersion glass, earning the scope its “HD” title.

The standard eyepiece on the scope is an adjustable 20-60x zoom model. A few alternatives are also available (see “accessories” below). The zoom adjusts smoothly. It has no presets, but it’s sturdy enough to hold any position it’s set to. At 1000 yards and minimum zoom the scope delivers a 117 foot field of view with this eyepiece; the maximum zoom FOV is 60 feet. The scope’s eyepiece mount is a standard bayonet system with an integrated button-release locking system.

Operation

Focus control on this scope is provided by a dual focus knob. This is a first for Vortex; the manufacturer has used single adjustments on all of its previous scopes. Vortex really knocked this feature out of the park on their first try. The coarse focus adjustment is truly coarse, taking the scope from its closest possible focus distance out to infinity in less than two full turns. This is fairly exceptional performance, and the fine adjustment knob also works smoothly.

Razor HD scopes have some very nice operational features that make them a real joy to use in the field. There’s an integrated lens hood to minimize lens flare and a basic sighting tube attached to the lens mount. The lens caps are sturdy and fit tightly; in fact the objective lens cap is extremely snug.

Construction

Vortex has released the Razor HD in both straight and angled versions to suit the needs of different users. (Angled spotting scopes are often preferred by prone and range shooters, while those more interested in straight glassing find straight scopes more convenient.) The straight version of the scope is about a half-inch longer than the angled one; they’re otherwise identical.

These scopes are completely sealed and purged with argon to prevent internal fogging and water intrusion. The frame is made of a magnesium alloy to reduce overall weight. The armored body of the scope is grey with a dark green textured overlay around the prism housing, making handling a little easier.

Accessories

The manufacturer offers a few extra eyepieces to expand the versatility of the Razor HD scope. These include a 30x fixed magnification wide-angle eyepiece and a 23x long eye relief model ideal for range use. Vortex also makes an excellent camera adapter for digiscoping that fits multiple cameras from point-and-shoot models up to full DSLRs.

Vortex’s case deserves special attention. A very good zippered, padded case is included with the scope itself. This case has multiple high-quality zippers allowing access to the lens, eyepiece, and tripod mount without removing the case, making the scope fully usable. It has two carrying handles and a removable shoulder strap.

Advantages

Price! The current suggested retail price of the Razor HD spotting scope is just $2000. It easily delivers performance comparable to much more expensive models while costing only half as much.
Versatility. The quick focus adjustment and simple controls make this an ideal scope for use with moving targets. The availability of both straight and angled models makes it easy to match the scope to the user’s needs, too.
Comes with a great case. A padded, durable case that allows you to operate the scope without removing it should normally cost one to two hundred dollars. Vortex throws it in for free.

Drawbacks

Performance at extreme focus is slightly lacking. Pushing all the way up to 60x zoom results in some minor image degradation and color aberrations. This is normal for high-zoom scopes, though.
Tight fits on both the objective lens cap and the eyepiece mount. Removing the lens cap for the first time is a real struggle, and most users will likely elect not to replace it fully. The socket for the eyepiece is similarly a very tight fit, requiring a little force to lock the eyepiece into place.

Conclusion

While Vortex’s Razor HD spotting scopes aren’t without flaws, there is no alternative scope that overcomes them at a price that’s anywhere close to the Razor’s. This scope offers outstanding premium performance for just $2,000; Buying an even better scope can easily cost twice that much or more. This makes the Razor HD a superb choice for spotters who want outstanding optics and great reliability without a sky-high price tag.

Spotting Scopes

Spotting Scope Review: Kowa Prominar ED TSN880

kowa prominar For an 88mm scope, this Kowa is remarkably small. At just over 13 inches without the eyepiece, it’s very compact. The scope is also relatively light, at 53.6 ounces, due to the use of Magnesium alloy for the scope body. With the eyepiece installed, the scope is 16 inches long and weighs 65 ounces. The small size and weight of the Kowa means that it’s possible to use a lighter and more compact tripod, which is a nice option to have.

Optical Qualities

The bright, ultra-sharp image is the most impressive quality of the Prominar ED. The image is distortion free, and can be owed to the superior quality of glass used by Kowa. The objective lens of the ED uses Pure Fluorite Crystal, which contributes to the claimed 99%+ light transmission. After looking through the scope, I don’t doubt the truth in that claim.

The Kowa is focused through two focus controls along the same axis. The large knob is for coarse adjustments, and the small knob is for fine tuning for achieving the remarkably sharp image this scope is capable of. It’s a good system for focusing, and I got used to it pretty quickly.

The Kowa Prominar ED is designed to function in all weather conditions. To help achieve this aim, the body is nitrogen-purged and fully sealed with a waterproof housing. I wouldn’t test this without need, but it’s nice to know that rain won’t be a problem. One quality to make note of, particularly if you are hard on your scopes, is that the ED does not have a rubber armor coating. This keeps weight down, but renders the scope more vulnerable to impacts and vibrations. Padded covers are available from Kowa, however.

Field Test and Range Results

The first time I used the Kowa, I compared it to a Pentax PF100-ED, a highly respected scope in its own right. In comparison, I was very impressed by the Kowa’s optical clarity, particularly at the lower powers. I have a pile of logs I keep near a garden shed about 150 yards away from my house, for the rural Washington state winters. I pointed the Kowa at them, focusing on the end of one of the logs. I could see the growth rings, and easily count them, with both scopes. However, the Kowa was unquestionably clearer. The difference in quality is hard to describe, but it is significant. It’s like the difference between a hazy day and a clear day in the city.

I’ve taken to using the Kowa at the range these last few weeks. In as many different weather conditions as possible, and alongside as many scopes as I could get my hands on, I tested the Kowa Prominar ED to see how it measured up. The Kowa out-performed every scope I compared it to, and excelled in every weather condition. From counting the bullet holes in targets hundreds of yards down range, to reading the small details on eye charts at range, the Kowa consistently outperformed its testing partners.

Overall Assessment

The Kowa is excellent in every way. It’s the best I’ve ever looked through, bar none. But you pay for that quality. The question is, is the Kowa Prominar ED 88mm really worth almost $1000 more than the Pentax PF100? That’s for you to decide, but for me the question is a resounding yes. I decided it was worth the price, and purchased one. I now use it in every situation I can, and I love its unmatched clarity and the ease of use that comes with its design.

Check the current price of the Kowa