Celestron SkyMaster 20×80 Binoculars Review

In this Celestron SkyMaster 20×80 Binoculars review, you will find out exactly what you need to know before you make your purchase. We will be covering what customers have to say about the SkyMaster, as well as the most important specs to pay attention to.

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Celestron – SkyMaster 20X80 Astro Binoculars – Astronomy Binoculars with Deluxe Carrying Case – Powerful Binoculars – Ultra Sharp FocusAs you may already know, the Celestron SkyMaster is an astronomy binocular. It is considered an astronomy binocular because it is designed to capture a lot of light so that celestial bodies can be investigated in detail. However, like most astronomy binoculars, you can use the SkyMaster in order to view things in broad daylight. Some uses are for stargazing as well as viewing a football game or bird watching.

As the name suggests, the Celestron SkyMaster’s magnification is 20x, while it’s optical lens diameter is 80mm. This puts the SkyMaster on the larger side of the spectrum of binocular sizes. You may be wondering what this means in terms of its performance. First, let’s go over a standard called ‘exit pupil’ diameter.

‘Exit pupil’ diameter is calculated as follows:

Ocular lens size (80mm) / magnification (20x) = 4mm exit pupil diameter

In general, the size of the exit pupil diameter determines what a binocular is best for. If the exit pupil diameter is 3mm, its best usage is during the day. If the diameter is about 4-5mm, it can be used for day or twilight. In contrast, if it is 7mm or above, it is best used at night. The reason for this is because the larger the exit pupil diameter, the more light comes through the lens.

As the Celestron SkyMaster 20×80 binocular has an exit pupil diameter of 4mm, it can be used during the day or at night. It is a nice balance between both environments if you are interested in usage during those times. There are other binoculars that have a lower ocular lens diameter (this one is 80mm) that perform the same function. However, a lower diameter also means that less detail can be seen.

With the Celestron SkyMaster 20×80 binocular, you get very good resolution due to its size. Also due to its size is the fact that it is best used with a tripod. Granted, it is much easier to handle than carrying around a telescope.

Celestron SkyMaster 20×80 Binoculars FeaturesCelestron – SkyMaster 20X80 Astro Binoculars – Astronomy Binoculars with Deluxe Carrying Case – Powerful Binoculars – Ultra Sharp Focus

 

  • Diopter adjustment: The diopter adjustment feature allows for better focusing at certain distances.
  • Magnification and objective lens diameter: The magnification on the Celestron SkyMaster is 20x, and the objective lens diameter is 80mm.
  • Dimensions: The SkyMaster 20×80 measures 16 x 7 x 12 inches, which is twice the size of the
  • SkyMaster 12×60 binocular Multi-coated optics: In order to improve the contrast between details, the optics are multi-coated for better viewing.

Weight:

Weighing in at 5.9 pounds, the Celestron SkyMaster 20×80 binocular is more than twice the weight of the medium-sized SkyMaster 12×60 binocular. This means that it must be mounted on a tripod during extended uses. The reason why it weighs this much is due to the fact that it has an 80mm objective lens, which greatly increases clarity.

While it may be possible to carry the SkyMaster while viewing a football game with your elbows perched on the arms of your seat, it would be more difficult to use it at night while watching celestial bodies up above.

Exit pupil diameter:

As previously mentioned, the exit pupil diameter to the Celestron SkyMaster is 4mm. This provides the perfect balance for daytime and nighttime usage.

Field of view:

The higher the magnification, the lower the field of view. SkyMaster 20×80 binocular has a field of view of 195 feet. Since the magnification is higher than average, the field of view is also lower than average.

Tripod adapter:

The SkyMaster comes with a tripod adapter, but the tripod itself is sold separately. It is important to mount such a large binocular on a tripod when viewing for long periods of time.

Carrying case:

This binocular comes with a very sturdy and stylish carrying case. It has deluxe, soft material on the inside to ensure that no scratches are created during transportation.

Celestron – SkyMaster 20X80 Astro Binoculars – Astronomy Binoculars with Deluxe Carrying Case – Powerful Binoculars – Ultra Sharp Focus

Pros

  • Higher than average magnification and viewable detail
  • High-quality feel due to its robust casing and well-designed carrying case
  • Can be used in the daytime and at night

Cons

  • Lower field of view compared to lower magnification models
  • Tripod needed in order to stabilize the binocular due to its heavyweight
  • The collimation may need to be adjusted by a professional or yourself through a tutorial.

Where to Buy the Celestron SkyMaster 20×80 Binoculars

The latest price of the Celestron SkyMaster 20×80 Binoculars is listed below.

Sale
Celestron – SkyMaster 20X80 Binocular –...
  • POWERFUL 20X MAGNIFICATION: Giant astronomy binoculars feature massive 80mm objective lenses and powerful 20x magnification. These binoculars are ideal for long-distance viewing of land-based subjects or astronomical observing at night.

The Verdict

The Celestron SkyMaster 20×80 binocular is a cheap alternative to a binocular that is large with high magnification and a decent exit pupil diameter. The SkyMaster can be compared to the Orion 20×80 binocular in that it has the same magnification and exit pupil diameter. They are similar in the amount of light that is let through the lens and the amount of detail that can be seen. However, the Celestron SkyMaster is heavier, weighing in at 5.9 pounds, as opposed to Orion’s 4.7 pounds.

Perhaps an important point to make about the Celestron SkyMaster is the fact that this particular model may need its collimation adjusted before the first usage. That being said, the Orion 20×80 binoculars can be a great alternative, costing only $20 dollars less than the SkyMaster 20×80.

We can also compare this to the SkyMaster 12×60 binocular. The 12×16 binocular has a 5mm exit pupil diameter, meaning that it allows slightly more light into its lens. However, the tradeoff is that it does not have quite as high a magnification as the SkyMaster 20×80 and the Orion 20×80. This means that there’ll be less detail, but is slightly more advantageous in the middle of the night.

Overall, the SkyMaster 20×80 binoculars will do the trick in most cases for daytime and nighttime usage.

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