Celestron Ultima 65 Straight viewing 65mm scope, 18-55x zoom

For the birder on a tight budget, the compact 65mm straight viewing Ultima gives you more optical performance than you ever thought your budget would be able to afford. Compared to other 60mm and 65mm spotting scopes, it is an exceptional bargain. This exceedingly economical straight viewing spotting scope makes good quality optics affordable for just about everyone.

Optical features of this scope . . .

• 65mm objective lens gathers over 17% more light than a 60mm scope for superior low light performance.

• The crown and flint glass optics are multicoated for good light transmission.

• The standard equipment 18-55x multicoated zoom eyepiece has a soft rolldown rubber eyecup for eyeglass use. Eye relief is specified at a long 18mm eye relief at 18x. While this is technically correct, the actual usable eye relief of this and all other spotting scopes typically measures a mm or two less due to the recessed location of the eyepiece. There will be some minor vignetting of the field for eyeglass wearers at 18x. The specifications to the right are for the zoom set to 18x. At 55x, the field is 38' at 1000 yards.

• The scope close focuses down to 20'. Through the 65mm Ultima, looking at a bird at that distance at 18x would effectively be the same as looking with your unaided eye from a distance of only 1' 2".

• The scope's long focusing knob is located at the top right front of the prism housing to allow precise focusing with either hand, even while wearing gloves or mittens. It is semi-recessed to resist snagging on clothing or carrying case and is grooved for a sure grip. Focusing is quite brisk, with less than five turns of the focus knob needed to move from one end of the focus range to the other.

• The Ultima's straight through viewing makes it easy to quickly locate distant birds by sighting along the barrel using the sighting tube built into the left side of the body. For observing couples of varying heights who must share a single scope, however, the 45° viewing angle version of this scope (#CU65) will generally be more convenient for extended observing, as there is little need to constantly raise and lower your tripod to a comfortable observing height for each observer with a 45° viewing angle scope. Also, if you are tall, you will not have to crouch over to see through the 45° Ultima 65, as you would through this straight-through scope, saving you from a possible literal pain in the neck. A 45° scope is also more comfortable for watching treetop activity or for extended observing from a low tripod in a blind or on a back porch.

• A sighting tube built into the left side of the body allows fast centering of the scope on possible targets.

• The scope mounts on any photo tripod having a standard 1/4"-20 thread mounting bolt.

• The prism housing is lightly rubber armored to help shock-proof the optics.

• A water-shedding stay-on soft case is standard equipment. The case has zippered fold-back flaps that allow you to use the scope on a tripod while still in the case. The case has an adjustable length shoulder strap for carrying.

• The eyepiece is shipped in a protective hard plastic screw-top case. A separate zippered soft case (with snap-ring for attaching to a D-ring on the scope case) can hold the eyepiece, if desired. However, the scope case is shaped to fully cover the scope when its angled zoom eyepiece is attached, so you may find the separate eyepiece case to be redundant.

• A snap-in camera-type lens cover protects the objective lens.

• For photography, simply remove the soft rubber eyecup from the eyepiece, being careful not to unscrew the top lens element of the scope. Attach the knurled adapter ring that was packed separately in the scope carton onto the threads that are visible around the eyepiece lens when the eyecup is off (with the knurled side of the adapter toward the scope). The adapter has standard photographic T-threads on the side facing away from the scope. You can attach a 35mm camera body to the scope simply by threading an optional inexpensive T-ring onto the adapter and connecting your camera body to the T-ring. No additional optional camera adapter is needed. With camera body attached, the scope becomes a fast 386mm f/5.9 telephoto lens.

• A limited lifetime warranty is standard.

• Lens cap
• 18-55x zoom eyepiece
• Eyepiece container
• Soft eyepiece case
• Soft stay-on scope carry case with shoulder strap
• Camera adapter