BEST TELESCOPE FOR BEGINNERS 2020 PC

The camera can produce excellent images of distant ducks during the daytime and the sky at night. The phone's camera peers down the barrel to see and can then photograph a magnified view. Pairing this with a smartphone? Check out our guide to the Best camera phonesĭigiscoping is the process of using a camera to take pictures through an optical device such as aligning a cell phone to a telescope's eyepiece.You can use it as a monocular by attaching a small rubber eyepiece, but remember this does restrict the field of view. In any case, the tripod it's bundled with is quite flimsy, so supply your own tripod, and the Apexel 36x superzoom can be a good setup for taking basic images of the Moon (though don't expect it to fill the field of view). Instead, a metal tripod ring adaptor is supplied. It's not perfect, you first need to remove your smartphone's case, and there's no tripod thread built in. You fit a clip around your smartphone's existing lens before attaching it to the Apexel 36x super zoom to align them. The Apexel 36x superzoom can be hand-held but is best on a small tripod to minimize wobble. It's essentially a tiny telescope with a fixed zoom of 36x. Even though the cameras on some of the best camera phones are constantly improving, digital zoom almost always results in a pretty poor-quality image.Ī far better option is a clip-on lens like this BaK-4 glass, roof prism-based monocular - much more superior optics than using a digital zoom. Using a digital zoom means the image is cropped, then rebuilt to its original size using algorithms or machine learning. If you want to get a close-up shot on anything, including subjects in the night sky, with your smartphone, the only accurate method (at least until periscope-style zoom lenses become common on cellphones) is to use a digital zoom. An Opticron fan? Have a look at these Opticron Adventurer II WP binoculars.The product is still guaranteed for five years though, so don't let that put you off.

BEST TELESCOPE FOR BEGINNERS 2020 PC

The Opticron Oregon 4 PC 8x42 was discontinued in March 2022 so if you're thinking of getting one, don't delay. Spectacle wearers will appreciate its very generous 22mm eye relief. The monocular incorporates an external focuser for easy operation with one hand, though it lacks a built-in 1/4-inch tripod adaptor. It has phase-corrected prism coatings and multi-coated optics to deliver clear, crisp views daily and in low light. The roof prism design is all about wide-field viewing and top-quality optics. It has a 42mm objective lens allowing just enough light in for general astronomical use, and the 8x magnification guarantees you get a good, stable view when sweeping across the night sky. The Opticron Oregon 4 PC 8x42 is the perfect option for those who need a hardy all-weather monocular as it's waterproof and nitrogen-filled to eliminate fog.

Want to see more? Here are the Best telescopes for seeing planets.

It comes with a hand strap and a carry clip that you can use to attach the monocular to a belt or bag.

With its multi-coated extra-low dispersion glass, you can expect detailed and high-resolution images at long distances. So what is the Vortex Recon R/T 15x50 for in terms of night-sky viewing? The Moon. However, at night, that extra magnification creates a narrow exit pupil, which reduces the image's brightness, despite their large 50mm objective lens. The 15x magnification of the (incredibly expensive) Vortex Recon R/T 15x50 will give you a closer look at objects than your average pair of astronomy-centric binoculars or monoculars. Moderate magnification factors of around 8x are preferred - they're more of a happy medium. The high magnification also magnifies any movement, so it's much more challenging to get a steady image. Higher magnification means more weight and the need for larger objective lenses to maintain a bright view and the ability to use at night. It's always tempting to go for the highest magnification possible when looking at a new optical instrument, but this isn't always the best choice.

Best telescope for beginners 2020