Celestron Ultima 65 18 to 55x65 Straight Spotting Scope

The focus ranges from 20 feet to the horizon with just a few turns of the focus knob. When I fold down the rubber eye cup I can keep my glasses on and see the whole 1.7 degree field of view at 18X magnification. The 1.7 degree field of view seems a bit narrow, but it is sharp from edge to edge. With my glasses on I need very little focus adjustment while I crank the zoom eyepiece from 18X up to 55X. Often though I like to take my glasses off while observing in order to take in the full field of view. I like the fact that the Ultima 65 gives me a sharp image either way.

The drawback of the tradition crown and flint achromatic lens used in the Ultima 65 Spotting Scope is a bit of false color, also known as blue fringing or chromatic aberration. Blue fringing is very well controlled at 18X magnification, and even when I zoom up to the maximum 55X magnification the false color seems less intrusive than what I see in some 80mm spotting scopes. Celestron also offers the Ultima 80 which produces a brighter image with a wider field of view, and the Regal 65 F-ED spotting scope which uses exotic ED glass lenses to virtually eliminate blue fringing and produce the sharpest possible high power views.

Celestron's Ultima 65mm Straight Spotting Scope combines sharp multi-coated optics with a good quality zoom lens in a compact waterproof package. Top it off with a lifetime "No-Fault" warranty and the Celestron Ultima 65 is one of the best low-cost spotters available. --Jeff Phillips

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