Celestron Ultima 65 Straight Spotting Scope

A quick view @ the rifle range today I could see bullet holes at 100 & 200 metres at around 43 to 50 power. at 55 power it wasn't any more clear. I am not a optical expert but it is good enough for me.

Good choice for the price.

We are pleased with the construction and quality of the scope for the money. It is a clear view and perfect length zoom. The focus does get soft when zoomed to 60x but nice upto 50x. For our needs it is great for birds as we live near a pond. I was however with the Nikon camera adapter ring that was recommended by B&H. The ring fits my camera but it didn’t fit the scope as the diameter is too large. A waste of money.

Good scope for the money

I bought this as my first scope, and I still own it. I do not use it all the time, but when I do need it, it is indispensable. I bring it along when I go birdwatching near the coast so I can see birds off the shore. It is helpful anytime the target bird is a bit too far off to be seen well with binoculars, but I strongly prefer binoculars when looking at closer birds. This scope makes a very good first scope. It's very easy to use and is pretty durable. (I have accidentally knocked it over while it was on my tripod; the tripod broke, the scope was undamaged.) I like the viewfinder a lot; unlike some scopes, which have none, it makes it very easy to find things quickly. It does the job very well for the price, but there are some drawbacks. 1. The image is very dark ... MoreI bought this as my first scope, and I still own it. I do not use it all the time, but when I do need it, it is indispensable. I bring it along when I go birdwatching near the coast so I can see birds off the shore. It is helpful anytime the target bird is a bit too far off to be seen well with binoculars, but I strongly prefer binoculars when looking at closer birds. This scope makes a very good first scope. It's very easy to use and is pretty durable. (I have accidentally knocked it over while it was on my tripod; the tripod broke, the scope was undamaged.) I like the viewfinder a lot; unlike some scopes, which have none, it makes it very easy to find things quickly. It does the job very well for the price, but there are some drawbacks. 1. The image is very dark at full zoom even in bright light. 2. The field of view decreases drastically as you zoom in. 3. Light dispersion is present, especially when using the scope to look at stars and planets, but is not too bad. 4. The focus knob is incredibly slow. By this I mean I have to turn it a good many times to focus it. This can be very annoying when trying to focus it on a moving bird. 5. I don't like how when the eyepiece is removed and put in its case, the only thing that protects the inside of the scope is a flimsy, loose little rubber cap. I lost mine quickly, and now I use a ziploc bag. The fact is, you could probably get a much better scope for an extra $100-200, but for the price it is very good.

Great scope for the price

We are very well pleased with the spotting scope. As always your concern when purchasing anything is am I getting a good product for the price. We believe we did, subjects and focus are clear.The cell phone holder can be tricky however once in place it works okay. There are more Expensive holders but if you are patient it will work for you

Inexpensive scope.

This is a good scope for a the serious, but not obsessed, birdwatcher (like me!). It is inexpensive, but clear and easy to use. My only compaint -- and it is with almost all scopes -- is that the only eyepiece offered with it is a zoom eyepiece. I think zooms always offer more than they deliver, and they complicate what usually needs to be simple. A fixed magnification would likely give better results, and might cost even less. That is not a complaint about this scope alone. This one is easy to use, has a nice carrying bag, and delivers good optics.

My first such scope; very happy with it

Im using it as a terrestrial telescope rather than for shooting. Nice and clear, although the image suffers a little at full zoom in low light. The zoom is quite good; you can very easily read car licence plates from a kilometer away. The focus and zoom rings work as you would expect and the eye piece is comfortable enough. I like the angled view finder; this works well for my application and would also benefit if you were using it to sky watch. The included bag is also a nice bonus. My biggest recommendation though would be to invest in a very good tripod; make sure the head of the tripod has no play and is smooth in its operation - the slightest bump introduces huge shake with such large magnifications but that applies to any high powered scope and is no ... MoreIm using it as a terrestrial telescope rather than for shooting. Nice and clear, although the image suffers a little at full zoom in low light. The zoom is quite good; you can very easily read car licence plates from a kilometer away. The focus and zoom rings work as you would expect and the eye piece is comfortable enough. I like the angled view finder; this works well for my application and would also benefit if you were using it to sky watch. The included bag is also a nice bonus. My biggest recommendation though would be to invest in a very good tripod; make sure the head of the tripod has no play and is smooth in its operation - the slightest bump introduces huge shake with such large magnifications but that applies to any high powered scope and is no reflection on this unit. Im very impressed with this scope and already a friend has made the decision to purchase the same model after using mine.

Spotting Scope

This note may not be what you are looking for but, I own 2 pair of Celestron Binoculars and will put them up to any other brand in the field. I am now ready for a Spotting Scope. Would Celestron happen to have a 60 or66 ED with a 20x60 zoom eye piece? Price? I am also very sold on the SERVICE at BinocularsPlus.com. and happy to tell all my Audubon friends about your co. Thank you Jane Manning Merchant Response: Thanks for the nice comments Jane, Celeston has just come out with a set of spotting scopes, to view them click here I have not had a chance to test them yet, but they look very nice. Jon

Up Close & Personal

Pro: This scope is primarily to be used for spotting targets. I like that it has quality BaK-4 porro prisms, assuring better light transmission and the 65 mm objective lens. Most spotting scopes in this price range seem to come with the BaK-7 prism which has lower light transmission. I find that the scope is clear from edge to edge and has an easily detachable eyepiece with a separate storage case. The soft case will accommodate the scope with the eyepiece attached. The focus knob works smoothly with enough resistance to retain the setting. The zoom eyepiece works easily over the full range. The inclusion of an aiming sight tube, next to the eyepiece, is a nice touch not found on most scopes. This helps to quickly acquire the target. Con: I am concerned that there ... MorePro: This scope is primarily to be used for spotting targets. I like that it has quality BaK-4 porro prisms, assuring better light transmission and the 65 mm objective lens. Most spotting scopes in this price range seem to come with the BaK-7 prism which has lower light transmission. I find that the scope is clear from edge to edge and has an easily detachable eyepiece with a separate storage case. The soft case will accommodate the scope with the eyepiece attached. The focus knob works smoothly with enough resistance to retain the setting. The zoom eyepiece works easily over the full range. The inclusion of an aiming sight tube, next to the eyepiece, is a nice touch not found on most scopes. This helps to quickly acquire the target. Con: I am concerned that there is not an extendable lens shade for the objective. I will be in bright conditions mostly. My at-home test, in bright sunshine, did not present a problem with the sun high and slightly ahead of the scope. A sunshade is not an option from Celestron but I did easily make a 4" one from a black plastic report cover and some Velcro. The lack of a sunshade may give away a hunters position to the quarry. The only other gripe that I have is that the eyepiece does not have a lens-cap which seems to be standard equipment on the other scopes I considered. This is important, to me, as dusty conditions on the range will contaminate the eyepiece without the cap. Even in the scope storage case with eyepiece attached, a lens cap should be standard practice. Both of these gripes were conveyed to Celestron with the usual non-responsive reply received. Probably computer generated response. Conclusion: As with all spotting scopes used at high power, the addition of a sturdy tripod is mandatory for best results. The Vortex or Bushnell "shooters stand" table-top tripod or maybe the Vanguard "lite 1" should be adequate for shooters use but the Vortex and similar Bushnell also have issues. The Celestrons lack of a tripod, which many spotting scope manufacturers include, was not an issue because these freebie pods are generally flimsy and not suitable, at least in my opinion. For the money,

Very Satisfied

This spotting scope was recommended to me by a long range shooting instructor with decades of experience and the opportunity to use and test all the various scopes his students bring to his school. I was shopping in the $- ranges and when he recommended a scope in the $ range I had to check it out.I haven't had the opportunity to take it hunting yet but my initial impressions are that it is a well built scope that transmits light well...glass is very clear. It is lightweight enough that it shouldn't be a bother humping around. The ergonomics are good, casing solid, coatings and protective material appear more than adequate.The only complaints I have are not isolated to this scope...they are shared by some of the high end ones. First, eye relief could be more. Trying ... MoreThis spotting scope was recommended to me by a long range shooting instructor with decades of experience and the opportunity to use and test all the various scopes his students bring to his school. I was shopping in the $- ranges and when he recommended a scope in the $ range I had to check it out.I haven't had the opportunity to take it hunting yet but my initial impressions are that it is a well built scope that transmits light well...glass is very clear. It is lightweight enough that it shouldn't be a bother humping around. The ergonomics are good, casing solid, coatings and protective material appear more than adequate.The only complaints I have are not isolated to this scope...they are shared by some of the high end ones. First, eye relief could be more. Trying to take advantage of the full field of view with glasses (sunglasses or prescription) would be difficult. Second, a coarse and fine focus knob would be an asset. Coarse to go through from low to high magnification quickly with <1 turn, and then a fine focus to bring in the object in sharp detail.

Worthy little spotting scope for the $$$

Pros: Lightweight, No-slack focus, Minimal edge fringing, Clear imageCons: Small exit pupil, Non-standard eyepieceOther thoughts: When I was looking for a spotting scope to replace an old one, I was geared towards a maksutov type scope. I read a lot of favorable reviews on the Ultima series, and I'm glad I went with this scope instead. It's small and lightweight, has clear images with no noticeable violet edge fringing. (Usually a problem with refractor scopes) It's quality built, and the focus control has no slop. The exit pupil is a bit small, so you have to find the right distance from the eyepiece with your eye to see a full image. The zoom does dim the image, (as all zoom scope do) but not enough to detract from use. I keep this scope in the Jeep with a ... MorePros: Lightweight, No-slack focus, Minimal edge fringing, Clear imageCons: Small exit pupil, Non-standard eyepieceOther thoughts: When I was looking for a spotting scope to replace an old one, I was geared towards a maksutov type scope. I read a lot of favorable reviews on the Ultima series, and I'm glad I went with this scope instead. It's small and lightweight, has clear images with no noticeable violet edge fringing. (Usually a problem with refractor scopes) It's quality built, and the focus control has no slop. The exit pupil is a bit small, so you have to find the right distance from the eyepiece with your eye to see a full image. The zoom does dim the image, (as all zoom scope do) but not enough to detract from use. I keep this scope in the Jeep with a small tripod for use on the Jeep's hood. Great for viewing mountain goats or birds, or spotting a target while shooting. Well worth the money. The only real con is the non-standard eyepiece. It would be nice to be able to use 1.25' telescope eyepieces such as a 40mm Plossl for example, but that's a pretty minor point.