Telescope Reviews: Re: Zhumell 20x80. On sale.

I actually just found this thread...I found it funny,

I purchased both the $69 20x80 Super Giant and a pair of the $45.00 20x70 Zhumell.

I gave the 20x70 to my father so we could hang out and chat while we look at stars together. My father is a professional photographer who has viewed animals landscapes and earth his whole career. We laugh that he never looked up and I never looked down. So having the advantage with the sky (this is a brief condition now that he is interested) I was able to use some of his tripods and clamps. We sat outside in the freezing cold and viewed M42 and some clusters. Easily seen on the first light: M31, M42, M36,37 Saturn, moon and other usual suspects. My mother even got interested and I hung out with her for the first time in 7 years just talking about the orion nebula. It was really neat to see her excited about something I am interested in!

The quality is excellent for the price. I found the 20x80s are not nearly as sharp as the 20x70 and the views really do not differ significantly. I found the stars on both are sharp nearly to the edge of the FOV. The 20x80 stars flare a bit just at the edge. The 20x80 when handled with the hands fall out of focus easily. The key is to find a non interfering holding technique.

Binoculars are a gateway drug for a telescope I figure, my father being an optic guru his whole life was I believe he was instantly hooked. I never cared much for cameras (one was always pointed at me as a child) But telescopes are a different thing.

My father is already asking about telescopes and photography (Cool!). For the price of two tanks of gas I have never made a better purchase, easily the best $120 bucks I have spent in years.

My suggestion get the 20x70 Zhumell with a bohman clamp and a monopod. The 20x80 aren't $40 better. I just kick back in my reclining patio swivel chair ($30) hold the monopod ($15) and lean waaaaay back and swivel around. Very stable, great views and very enjoyable. I am using these for my brief viewing sessions now instead of pulling the scope out. They are also great for having company (or the wife) stay occupied while setting up the telescope for detailed viewing of the same objects

Mike

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Nexstar CPC 800 XLT
OPT 2" 99% dielectric diagonal
Tele Vue 24mm Pan, 13mmN6, 9mmN6, 13mm ETHOS
Celestron 2x Ultima Barlow
1000 Oaks LP-2, and O-III Filters
Feather-Touch Focuser
20/10 eyesight

Edited by MachMike (02/12/08 12:59 AM)

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