Optics4Birding.com: Celestron
Reviews
The following comments are the opinions of the writers. We're publishing
them here with the permission of their authors, with minor edits for
clarity or brevity. If you would like to submit a comment, send me an email.
I just posted a review of the Swarovski SLC 7X50 binocs which are my primary
optics, and I figured while I'm at it I might as well sing the praises of the
Celestron Regals, which constitute my backup pair. Actually, the word
'backup' isn't really fair because I still use them quite a bit. They're
incredibly comfortable to hold, and believe me when I say they're rugged. I
once dropped them from a fifteen foot platform in a tree only to find them
completely unscathed. They weren't even knocked out of alignment, and they
hit hard! The picture quality is pretty good, although I've since by spoiled
by Swarovskis. All in all I'd say they're a pretty good value.
Gordon Schott, 9 November 1998
I recently purchased a pair of Celestron 9.5X44 ED's. Optically they are
exceptional binoculars. I was warned prior to purchasing them that the
quality varied unit to unit and I found this to be true. The first pair I
ordered were missing the armor coating around the main body. The second
pair would only close focus to 17 feet (Celestron claims 14ft.) If this
wasn't frustrating enough the mail order co. I had used treated me like
I was being unreasonable for returning both pair. I finally called (Eagle
Optic's)and explained the problem I had with the first two pair ordered
from another mail order firm. The person from Eagle Optics personally
checked the binoculars for close focus and that they were in otherwise
good condition before shipping. I am well pleased with this pair of
binoculars.for $318.00 they are a great value.
Steve Moody, 15 January 1998
Optically, my celestron 9.5 X 44 binocular is as sharp and bright
as any Zeiss or Swaravski 10 power I've seen, at about 40-50% of
the price. Their fidelity to color nuance seems to exceed Zeiss 10X40
in a side by side test I did.
My only complaint is structural. They seem to have structural
integrity quite comparable to a mid priced porro prism like the Swift Ultralite. My Celestrons fogged once, inside the right barrel. Storing
them with dessicating silica gel has cleared the problem up. But,
it is obvious that they must be babied.
In sum, the Celestron ED binoculars offer optics of the Zeiss, B&L Elite
caliber (or better) in a physical housing that is more like Swift.
Rusty Scalf rscalf@a.crl.com
Rusty Scalf, 22 May 1997.
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