Celestron Cometron 7x50 Binocular 71198

Celestron Cometron 7x50 Review

The Celestron Cometron 7x50 came to us in mid 2013 as a result of one of the most anticipated astronomical events of 2013. Unfortunately, Comet ISON did not survive its trip around the sun, much to the disappointment of the world's amateur astronomers. But that doesn't mean the Cometron 7x50 is going away, quite the opposite in fact.

The Celestron Cometron 7x50 borrows its looks and form factor from a lot of other brands, and for good reason. The 7x50 porro BK-7 prism design is perfect for astronomical viewing, providing a clear view that makes viewing easy and pleasurable.  The medium power of the 7x magnification provides a wide field of view that allows the viewer to find and track Milky Way objects, and the large 50mm objective lenses collect much of the available light.  There's a reason why 7x50 binoculars are some of the most widely used binoculars for casual astronomy.

The body of the Cometron 7x50 is clad in a rugged rubbor armor that will protect it from the inevitable bumps and knocks that will happen when using binoculars.  The lens caps do not attach, but we have yet to see a 7x50 astronomy binocular that has attached lens caps.  Focus and diopter adjustment are smooth and stay where they should once adjusted, and the central body hinge is just tight enough to maintain its position when held by hand or mounted on a tripod - a very important quality.  Eye cups are not twist up, but they are fold-down for extra eye relief for amateur astronomers who wear glasses.  While the Cometron 7x50 may not be waterproof, it is water resistant.  Waterproofing is not completley necessary on an astronomy binocular, because who looks at the stars in cloudy weather?

The optics are important on any astronomy binocular.  The multi-coated lenses of the Cometron 7x50 will protect the lenses from dust, dirt, and abrasion during handling.  The sharpness and clarity shown when looking through these binoculars is excellent, especially considering price, and the wide field views are perfect for objects like the Pleiades, the moon, and even the Andromeda galaxy.  

And the best part?  The Cometron 7x50 features a tripod thread on the front of the body hinge, a perfect fit for the optional Celestron Binocular Tripod Adapter.  If you've never experienced stargazing through tripod-mounted binoculars, it's a game changer.  Detail is easier to see, and shakiness is not an issue when compared to hand held binoculars.

The Cometron 7x50 is an absolute necessity for newcomers to astronomy, and an a great piece of kit for amateur astronomers looking to supplement their telescope.  The wide field views and excellent optical performance make the Cometron 7x50 a great buy.