I bought this binocular about 2 years ago and have to say that it was an excellent buy. The quality and finish are first class, and the optical results are magnificent. I have only one regret - that I didn't get the 100 or 120 mm version. The only flaw I find is that the balance is not perfect. To maintain good balance I had to afix a 5 pound weight behind the mounting point to stop the scope from angling downward. But that's nothing to the hours of joy I've had using this splendid instrument from everything from bird watching to seeing the moons around Jupiter.

One word of caution to those purchasing it for celestial viewing: this is no replacement for a telescope. As a guide, you will see Jupiter and its four largest moons easily; you will barely make out Saturn's rings; you will see the Orion Nebula, but just barely. For more detail of celestial objects you need a bona fide telescope with magnifications going past 100. But if your interest is mainly terrestrial, you won't be disappointed.

I bought this binocular about 2 years ago and have to say that it was an excellent buy. The quality and finish are first class, and the optical results are magnificent. I have only one regret - that I didn't get the 100 or 120 mm version. The only flaw I find is that the balance is not perfect. To maintain good balance I had to afix a 5 pound weight behind the mounting point to stop the scope from angling downward. But that's nothing to the hours of joy I've had using this splendid instrument from everything from bird watching to seeing the moons around Jupiter.

One word of caution to those purchasing it for celestial viewing: this is no replacement for a telescope. As a guide, you will see Jupiter and its four largest moons easily; you will barely make out Saturn's rings; you will see the Orion Nebula, but just barely. For more detail of celestial objects you need a bona fide telescope with magnifications going past 100. But if your interest is mainly terrestrial, you won't be disappointed.

I bought this ~$1500 binocular/tripod as a 'trial' with seeing both stars/planets, as well as earth vistas, from my home in Southern California.

The tripod make is really steady - very important with high magnification - and the motion of the moon and planets is easy to manage with the wide FOV twin optics. I really like the quality and great after sales service I exxoerienced - so I bought 3 more small binoculars as well for humming birds and mountain views from our family cars.

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