Celestron Ultima 80 20 to 60x80 Straight Spotting Scope

The Ultima 80 features a sleek, waterproof design and includes a padded soft case with zippers on both ends so the scope can be protected even while mounted on a tripod. Including the eyepiece the Ultima 80 measures just over 19 inches long and weighs about 3.6 pounds. The rubber eyecup can be removed to expose a standard "T-thread" for attaching a camera. The "straight-thru" viewing configuration is easier to point at moving targets, and is particularly handy on a bench top or even a car window mount.

The focus ranges from 27 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 2 degree field of view at 20X magnification. With my glasses on I need very little focus adjustment while I crank the zoom eyepiece from 20X up to 60X. Sometimes though I like to take my glasses off while observing because the view seems to have just a little more contrast and sharpness. I like the fact that the Ultima 80 gives me a sharp image either way.

The drawback of the traditional crown and flint achromatic lens used in the Ultima 80 Zoom Spotting Scope is a bit of false color, also known as blue fringing or chromatic aberration. Blue fringing seems well controlled at 20X magnification, but it becomes increasingly noticeable as I zoom up to 60X. Celestron also offers the Ultima 80ED and the Regal 80 F-ED spotting scopes which use exotic ED glass lenses to virtually eliminate blue fringing and produce the sharpest possible high power views.

Celestron's Ultima 80mm Zoom Spotting Scope combines sharp multicoated 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 80 is a terrific value. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Sharp multi-coated optics
• Good zoom eyepiece
• Waterproof design
• Lifetime no-fault warranty

Cons:

• Blue fringing noticeable at high power

Blue Heron at 50 yards shot at 20X

Moon picture shot with 20X zoom

Moon picture shot with 60X zoom

Pelicans on an offshore rock shot at 20X

Pelican in the air shot at 20X

What's in the Box
Celestron 52254 and soft carrying case