Celestron 52250 80mm Ultima Zoom Spotting Scope

by Celestron

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 20 x 7 x 6 inches ; 4.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0002CTZ70
• Item model number: 52250
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,218 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 1, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Celestron’s popular Ultima 80mm Zoom Spotting Scope offers images that are noticeably brighter and sharper than entry level 60mm spotters. The Ultima 80 is a refractor style spotting scope with an Achromatic objective lens. Excellent light transmission is assured by multi-layer anti-reflection coatings on the objective lens as well as on the zoom eyepiece and the BAK-4 prisms. The multi-coated 80mm objective lens delivers 77% brighter views than a 60mm scope, and the built in zoom lens produces sharp images from 20X all the way up to 60X magnification.

The Ultima 80 features a sleek, waterproof design and includes a padded soft case with zippers on both ends so the scope can be protected even while mounted on a tripod. Including the eyepiece the Ultima 80 measures just over 18 inches long and weighs about 3.6 pounds. The rubber eyecup can be removed to expose a standard “T-thread” for attaching a camera. I like the 45* angled eyepiece because I can use a shorter tripod to support the spotting scope while viewing or while taking pictures with a small camera attached to the eyepiece.

The focus ranges from 27 feet to the horizon with just a few turns of the focus knob. When I fold down the rubber eye cup I can keep my glasses on and see the whole 2 degree field of view at 20X magnification. With my glasses on I need very little focus adjustment while I crank the zoom eyepiece from 20X up to 60X. Sometimes though I like to take my glasses off while observing because the view seems to have just a little more contrast and sharpness. I like the fact that the Ultima 80 gives me a sharp image either way.

The drawback of the tradition crown and flint achromatic lens used in the Ultima 80 Zoom Spotting Scope is a bit of false color, also known as blue fringing or chromatic aberration. Blue fringing seems well controlled at 20X magnification, but it becomes increasingly noticeable as I zoom up to 60X. Celestron also offers the Ultima 80ED and the Regal 80 F-ED spotting scopes which use exotic ED glass lenses to virtually eliminate blue fringing and produce the sharpest possible high power views.

Shot at 20X zoom at about 20 yards, cropped 50% (Click here to see uncropped)	Shot at 20X zoom at about 50 yards, cropped 30%
Shot at 20X zoom, uncropped but reduced in size (Click here to see at 60X zoom)	Shot at 20X zoom at about 50 yards, cropped 30%

Product Description

SO)CELESTRON ULTIMA 80 45 Degree

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 108 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Scope - Great Price by Comparison, April 18, 2006

By 

John Meagan "John" (Toledo, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celestron 52250 80mm Ultima Zoom Spotting Scope (Electronics)

I originally bought a Raven from Eagle Optics. But I returned it. Raven was $400. It had poor eye relief and poor image quality but very good scope construction (housing, cordura case etc). I went to Cabela's and tried the usual high-end suspects as well as Meopta, and Cabela's ED (Big Sky?). Thought I was going to have to resign myself to spend the big bucks 'someday'. But, I persisted and stopped by Ryder Hobby shop 'just to check it out'. Am glad I did. The Celestron Ultima 80 gave me the 'wow' factor I thought I was going to see in Raven and only saw in the highest end scopes. Well made, crisp images, you cannot beat it for the price. As good if not better than the Cabela's ($700) scope. I can recommend it. Bought it for $239. Also compared the C5 and other C90 scopes. Not nearly as good either. Would have been neat to check out the 80 ED, but they did not have it and it runs twice the price. I read all the same on-line reviews you probably have, and I can't figure out how this one did not figure much more prominently or how the Raven got such good reviews. Raven reminds me of my old Tasco binoc's. I'm very happy with the Celestron 80. Saw wood ducks, ring necks, Sand Hill Cranes all this evening approaching twilight with exceptional clarity. Even allows for T-ring mount for camera I read. Hope this helps.

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Impressive for the Money, July 17, 2007

By 

M. Phelan (Bay Area, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Celestron 52250 80mm Ultima Zoom Spotting Scope (Electronics)

This scope has impressive optics, especially for the price. At 20X the view is clear, sharp, and wide. The closer you zoom to 60x the image deteriorates in terms of clarity and color, as do all zooms. I've used this scope for birding and other wildlife and have no embarrassment letting Swarovski or Leica scope owners view through this scope. Got a great first view of an Indigo Bunting at 20X and was able to ID a surf scoter at 60X. For the money, this scope is exceptional. To attach a camera, you only need to pry off the rubber cup on the eyepiece and screw on a T ring for your make of camera. This scope is definitely waterproof. I used it in a steady rain during a birding class trip with no harm to the scope at all, while my cheap binoculars fogged completely.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Celestron Ultima 80mm Spotting Scope, January 11, 2007

By 

Robert K. Mortensen (Mesa, Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Celestron 52250 80mm Ultima Zoom Spotting Scope (Electronics)

For the price, this is a great spotting scope. It is lightweight and its construction is rugged enough to handle my birding adventures through the brush. The focus and zoom are very simple, user-friendly, and easy to do in the field. Color and clarity are great at 20x but do seem to reduce as you work up to 60x.