I was wrong about binoculars! SkyMaster 15x70mm Review

This is my review of the 15x70mm SkyMaster binoculars from Celestron. It’s a good pair of binoculars with great build quality that offers a good viewing experience. Check this review out to learn about its strengths and weaknesses. Enjoy!
⬇️ More Information down below ⬇️

Contents of this video:
0:00 - Intro
0:35 - About Celestron
2:08 - About the SkyMaster lineup
4:41 - 15x70mm SkyMaster review
11:44 - Conclusion
13:07 - Outro

15x70mm SkyMaster (affl):

Aluminum tripod adapter (affl):

More information about the 15x70mm SkyMaster:

Thank you for your support!

[demosloizides]

I've been using the 15x70 SkyMaster binoculars since 2015. I love them. I lay on a zero gravity chair and hold the eyecups against my eye sockets and scan the sky. I started using these when my bilateral hip arthritis made it too difficult for me to use my telsecopes. I have since had to hip replacement surgeries, but I still use the 15x70 SkyMaster as my favorite astronomical instrument.

[c.f.]

Hi Bogdan, I have been watching your videos but it is until now that i write a comment. The Skymaster is a very underrated binocular. I was lucky to get one used that survived the travel from Berlin to Magdeburg with spot collimation. It was a revelation to me due to its versatility, lightweight and quality. Later on, i discovered that it was working around 60 mm instead of tne advertised 70 mm. In any case I loved it and enjoyed during many nights. Ultimately i sold it and got a better 15x70, but i missed the center focus. Overall, it is a nice binocular if you get one properly collimated. Thanks for your videos! Greetings from Denmark!

[oldebill]

I have a set of Celstron 'Cometron' 15x70 binoculars that were obtained about a year before my 1st telescope. They served me very well in confirming my interest in astronomy and before I obtained my first actual telescope. I ABSOLUTELY agree that having a way to stablize the binoculars is of paramount importance and used a tripod and binocular adapter for this. Alternately, tactics like leaning up against a wall/post/tree can help as can sitting down in a chair with a back; I've even seen a kiddy pool be used as something lie in and get neck support.

My binoculars continue to be useful to view larger objects like the Pleiades, Hyades, and Double Cluster. My 15x70s allowed me to see Jupiter and its Galliean Moons and to make out (but not quite separate) Saturn and its rings. Binoculars continue to be an excellent companion to my 6-inch SCT.

[drrlpin]

Thanks for the good review.
I own the 15x 70 Skymaster Pro. It comes with a nice sturdy metallic tripod adapter. So the Pro version seem to address the adapter issue.
I love this pair of binoculars.

[LOTRFAN]

I have these and love them. I recommend putting mighty putty on the plastic tripod adapters empty spaces. it pretty much fixes the vibration when on a tripod.

[MountainFisher]

I have a pair of 7x50 Celestron inexpensive binoculars to take with me in Bortle 4 skies to help find faint constellations. A friend at my club recommended it to me, just a glance at my Planisphere and then look and find what I am looking for. They are also good for Bortle 2 sky where view can be a little overwhelming. The 7x makes the shakiness issue a whole lot less and even then with the 50mm aperture it still benefits from resting my elbows on car.

[ltpypuu]

I have been using Skymaster 15x70 binos for the last 10 years. As I only use them for a quick scan round the sky or looking at any brighter comets that may be around I'm happy enough with the performance especially considering the relatively low price I paid. None of the tripod adapters I have tried, metal or plastic affords enough stability. I made my own which supports the binos at the objective and prism end which was much more steady.
I would say that these are a better bet than some of the cheaper entry level scopes available but obviously if you have the money a decent scope will win hands down especially if you want to see planetry detail.

[dougrennie]

In response to Trident’s comment: My experiences with my 15x70s are in line with Bogdan’s, specifically this binocular is superb, and not just “for the money”, superb Period. Resolution, sharpness, contrast are all excellent. I also own Celestron 25x70 and 12x70 and Overwork 20x80. All are a joy to use, but the 15x70 is the one I use the most.
Trident has an alternative and negative opinion of this instrument. Possibly he received a bad sample, as have a few others based on what I read on the forums. Trident is, of course, is free to post his impressions. But he is totally Out of Line to suggest that, because his 15x70 experience differs from Bogdan’s that Bogdan is some kind of paid shill for Celestron. Uncalled for and just plain wrong.

[ozzysideika]

I’ve owned the 20x80 for a while now and one night I took them out to do some star gazing and I looked at the pleadies and Orion and I just had to go back home and bring my scope out. In conclusion I think a pair of good binos will make you use your scope more 🤣

[oldnordy]

Thanks for your review, Bogdan.
I bought one of these last Christmas (2022) *before* I saw your review. I really like them, and they have helped me a lot locating comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) under difficult seeing conditions.
I have fairy large pupils, in general and for my age, so I wished there was a 14 x 100 or similar. So *for me, * extended objects (not stars) are not really much brighter with this one than with my cheap 10 x 50. However, the image quality / sharpness is outstanding, and I can't detect significant chromatic issues for astronomical purposes.
Two minor downsides: the carrying case is too narrow. I have fairly widely-spaced eyes, but need to close the binoculars to almost zero spacing to fit the case. That means that I have to go through the process of adjusting to my eye-spacing every time I use them.
Same thing for the single eye-piece cover. Just give me two separate ones!

[MrDlt]

I have this set, and their big brother, the 25 X 100s. I mount them on an Orion Monster Parallelogram. I only occasionally dabble in binary viewing, and wasnt expecting much from these, but I was pleasantly surprised at their eye relief and performance, and rediscovered the fun of bino-viewing.

[fibosxpivots]

I bought a celeston 15x 70 mm new model and I...did'nt know it would be so efficient !
1000 stars ( up to mg5) in colour.
M33 clearly visible and in a rich star field.
Same for many other Messier objects.
the Pleiades, they are so placed that you can count them and compare the sky quality from night to night !

[mikesannicandro]

Another wonderful and detailed video Bogdan! I also live in a bortle 4 and love viewing through good binoculars! I use SkySafari pro app as I do with my scopes to display the field of view I’m seeing so I can study ahead for the evening. The binoculars I’m using are with a parallelogram/ tripod setup and I’ve got to say it’s really so nice to kick back and view that way !

[ThomDoonan]

I have a pair of 10X50 binoculars that I take with me all the time when I can’t take my telescope. They are very good for finding some of the things I would be viewing with my scope and help me find my way around the sky. I’d love for you to do another, or even a series on binoculars. I am always looking for new things to learn about astronomy and this would be very helpful.

[OldJong]

Hi! it is true that these things are not that easy to hold still. I found out that they become a lot more easy to control when I hold them with my hands as far as possible on the "tubes". This way, the weight is balanced more between my eyes/head and hands. They are kind of braced! You have a great channel! Thank you!

[davidwitt]

Thank you for this review. Based on this, I have decided to order a pair.

[steveshepherd]

Thanks for a really clear and concise review of these binoculars… I admit that yesterday, and after looking at review after review after review, I was really confused as to what size/magnification I should aim to purchase. I eventually went for the Celestron 20 x 80 … I noticed in the shop that the tripod mount is already attached to a steel bar located from front to back and central of the binoculars, I also purchased a tripod too. I hope the magnification will be OK too.

I haven’t used them yet but hoping for some fair results 🌟 🌙 🪐 … lol … I know I will be limited but looking forward to the next clear sky, although light pollution is bad where I live so will be limited.

Thanks again, Steve, Bristol, UK 🙏

[allancopland]

Very interesting Bogdan. I'm seriously considering buying a pair. Binos are better than two telescopes, but with of course fixed magnification. Many thanks. With cheap instruments like these, you must expect some chroma. You must be realistic in your expectations. Some sort of mount is a 'must'. Plastic adapter.... MEH! Buy/make a better one.

[nrek]

That was a great video thank you so much I got mine for my birthday from my niece so i can wait to use tomorrow looks awesome thx again

[orangutaneclipse]

Absolutely amazing. I do not have a chair or tripod but I have the same binoculars and was able to see 3 of Jupiter's moons! (It was sufficiently dark from my backyard)