black bear 84
New member
Hi guys,
I just ordered the C-90 from Optic Planet, will let you guys know when I have it in hand.
Black Bear
I just ordered the C-90 from Optic Planet, will let you guys know when I have it in hand.
Black Bear
Spotting Scope under $200.00
- Thread starter Dead-Nuts-Zero
- Start date
Dead-Nuts-Zero
New member
Black Bear - Did you talk to Optic Planet before making your selection? I am asking this to see what kind of knowledge and customer service you get from them. I am thinking of giving them a call sometime when I am ready to make a purchase.
Reason is, I know just about nothing about comparing their several units. If I didn't read this forum I would know much less.
I do have one advantage in that there is only one or two units within my price range!
.
.
.
.
Reason is, I know just about nothing about comparing their several units. If I didn't read this forum I would know much less.
I do have one advantage in that there is only one or two units within my price range!
.
.
.
.
FirstFreedom
Moderator
Schweet. 
black bear 84
New member
Dead-Nuts-Zero,
No, I haven't talk to them.
I just placed the order for the C-90 and for the Leupold Yosemite 6x 30 binoculars that FirstFreedom recommended.
Now, to WAIT!!
Black Bear
No, I haven't talk to them.
I just placed the order for the C-90 and for the Leupold Yosemite 6x 30 binoculars that FirstFreedom recommended.
Now, to WAIT!!
Black Bear
FirstFreedom
Moderator
Dead nuts - call opticsplanet - there is a gentleman who runs it who walks the talk - he's a real optics nut, and gives lots of free helpful advice on what he recommends ordering, over the phone.
black bear 84
New member
My opinion of the
CELESTRON Mac 90
Spotting scope
37 powers
This instrument uses the Maksutov-Cassegrain design that incorporates a mirror, some call this a reflector system but I hear that is not a refractor either but a hybrid of the two according to my friend D.J.Stoner, what is important to you is that the design incorporate some high quality optics that will cost a bundle in a conventional system.
Additional eyepieces can be bought for more power, I think they go for about $60 each and they provide a larger picture, for example the 18 mm eyepiece will give it 67 powers and the 12.5 mm will do 120 powers, now you are into the realms of amateur astronomy.
And the scope is prepared for that with a 90 degrees barrel for the eyepiece, flipping a knob will change the mirror from the terrestrial position to the astronomical one.
The scope comes with a nice flip down objective lens cover that is attached to the body, so no chance of losing it, another feature for quick finding your target is a 8x 21 finderscope (with crosshairs) that is quite good quality and can double in a pinch as a monocular.
HERE IN THE TRIPOD
The 90 mm aperture ensure that plenty of light enter the unit to make it usable even when the shadows of the afternoon are approaching, the body is covered with rubber for a good grip and an anti reflection finish and it is say to be waterproof.
The eye relief with the 32 mm eyepiece (37power) is 22 mm the near focus is 20 feet, the length of the scope is 11 inches and it weights 3.1 lbs.
It comes with a nice departmentalized soft /hard case with room for others eyepieces, if you are into observing the planets it is a good way to start for little money, this is a quality instrument with great optics for the less than $200 that I pay for it.
It can be usable in the range to spot bullets holes, although it will need a good tripod to support its weight and although it is a little slow to set it up in comparison with others scopes it will do the job well.
A little clarification about setting up, as it comes from the case, you will have to install the tripod shoe, the prisms (going into the straight hole at the rear) and the eyepiece, also the finderscope 8x21 if you want to find your target quickly.
Carrying the scope already assemble is not practical as it will need another way to transport it other than his case. In this sense it is not as practical as others spotting scopes that have everything together.
FRONTAL VIEW
I have only one scope to compare it to; it is my 20 years old Baush & Lomb Elite 25 power, a high quality scope with superb optics. Optics wise the two compare the same, which speaks highly of the Celestron Mac 90, of course the Mac 90 will give me a bigger picture, but both scopes are sharp and define the picture well, color correction is on par with the B&L and distortion on the edges of the picture seem to be minimal to nor existent (at least to my eyes) I was assured by experts than this scope optics compare favorably with scopes of normal design that go for $700 or more.
For my use, as my range have only a 100 yards limit, I will continue to use the Baush & Lomb 25x 60mm as this scope need not set up and is much lighter and smaller, but look forward to use the Celestron in the field when going for woodchucks and for gazing at the starts and the moon and out of my backyard for some bird watching (I have a nice big Red tailed hawk in my area that visit my backyard and adjacent woods looking for birds or moles).
For what I pay for the Mac 90 I think that I have get a terrific buy in quality optics, it is a good option for those that can’t afford to spend a grand in one of the best quality spotting scopes, and refuse to do with the poor optics of the lower priced ones.
Respectfully
Black Bear
CELESTRON Mac 90
Spotting scope
37 powers
This instrument uses the Maksutov-Cassegrain design that incorporates a mirror, some call this a reflector system but I hear that is not a refractor either but a hybrid of the two according to my friend D.J.Stoner, what is important to you is that the design incorporate some high quality optics that will cost a bundle in a conventional system.
Additional eyepieces can be bought for more power, I think they go for about $60 each and they provide a larger picture, for example the 18 mm eyepiece will give it 67 powers and the 12.5 mm will do 120 powers, now you are into the realms of amateur astronomy.
And the scope is prepared for that with a 90 degrees barrel for the eyepiece, flipping a knob will change the mirror from the terrestrial position to the astronomical one.
The scope comes with a nice flip down objective lens cover that is attached to the body, so no chance of losing it, another feature for quick finding your target is a 8x 21 finderscope (with crosshairs) that is quite good quality and can double in a pinch as a monocular.
HERE IN THE TRIPOD
The 90 mm aperture ensure that plenty of light enter the unit to make it usable even when the shadows of the afternoon are approaching, the body is covered with rubber for a good grip and an anti reflection finish and it is say to be waterproof.
The eye relief with the 32 mm eyepiece (37power) is 22 mm the near focus is 20 feet, the length of the scope is 11 inches and it weights 3.1 lbs.
It comes with a nice departmentalized soft /hard case with room for others eyepieces, if you are into observing the planets it is a good way to start for little money, this is a quality instrument with great optics for the less than $200 that I pay for it.
It can be usable in the range to spot bullets holes, although it will need a good tripod to support its weight and although it is a little slow to set it up in comparison with others scopes it will do the job well.
A little clarification about setting up, as it comes from the case, you will have to install the tripod shoe, the prisms (going into the straight hole at the rear) and the eyepiece, also the finderscope 8x21 if you want to find your target quickly.
Carrying the scope already assemble is not practical as it will need another way to transport it other than his case. In this sense it is not as practical as others spotting scopes that have everything together.
FRONTAL VIEW
I have only one scope to compare it to; it is my 20 years old Baush & Lomb Elite 25 power, a high quality scope with superb optics. Optics wise the two compare the same, which speaks highly of the Celestron Mac 90, of course the Mac 90 will give me a bigger picture, but both scopes are sharp and define the picture well, color correction is on par with the B&L and distortion on the edges of the picture seem to be minimal to nor existent (at least to my eyes) I was assured by experts than this scope optics compare favorably with scopes of normal design that go for $700 or more.
For my use, as my range have only a 100 yards limit, I will continue to use the Baush & Lomb 25x 60mm as this scope need not set up and is much lighter and smaller, but look forward to use the Celestron in the field when going for woodchucks and for gazing at the starts and the moon and out of my backyard for some bird watching (I have a nice big Red tailed hawk in my area that visit my backyard and adjacent woods looking for birds or moles).
For what I pay for the Mac 90 I think that I have get a terrific buy in quality optics, it is a good option for those that can’t afford to spend a grand in one of the best quality spotting scopes, and refuse to do with the poor optics of the lower priced ones.
Respectfully
Black Bear
FirstFreedom
Moderator
Excellent review as always, and we thank you for that. Congrats on the nice scope. The only drawback of the Mak-Casses is they are more fragile than the refractors. Having said that, I have heard that Mak-Casses need collimation LESS often than other "reflectors" such as newtonians, Scmidt-Casses, etc. Don't know why, but the guy at opticsplanet told me that. So they're not TOO terribly fragile. Yes, I've heard it's a hybrid, but it's really more of a reflector than a refractor, seems to me...thanks again.