What's a Good Entry Level Monocular Telescope?

BargainTeebone on 12/10/2020 - 22:53

I'm getting into star gazing, bird watching and stuff, maybe even a little peeping tommery, but IDKS about telescopes or stars.

Portability is important and I guess being able to slap it onto a smart phone camera would be nice as well, but not essential.

I've seen these BAK4 Prisms pop up occasionally, would that suffice for making things like visible planets/satelites a little more interesting?

Should I wait to see if something pops up for Amazon Prime Day?

I'm not considering binoculars (at all) because I'm blind in one eye.

Comments

bobbified on 13/10/2020 - 00:17

I've seen these BAK4 Prisms pop up occasionally, would that suffice for making things like visible planets/satelites a little more interesting?

At 12x power, they're probably perfect for looking through your neighbours' bedroom window! 🤣
Wafflel on 13/10/2020 - 00:27

How compact? I use a Steiner monocular. It's more for field use but the optics are excellent and it'll fit in a shirt pocket with ease
BargainTeebone on 04/10/2021 - 21:27

Just to update: I got one of the BAK4 Prisms and it's pretty cute. The main piece is quite well made, however it is prone to collecting internal moisture in the slightest of humid environments. Both the phone holder and mini-tripod stand fell apart within a few uses.

It did however prove useful for checking out the moon and some other planets when the conditions are perfect (naked eye visible, no clouds)

Overall, I'd recommend trying a different product, and certainly something with more powerful magnification.