LG 42LD450 42-Inch 1080p 60 Hz LCD HDTV

You know it's time to start enjoying Full HD 1080p and the LD450 is an easy way to get into it. A beautiful LCD with all of the innovations that make LG TVs something better.

• Full HD 1080p Resolution


• 100000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio


• Picture Wizard II


• Smart Energy Savings


• ISFccc Ready

More detail ...

Panasonic TC-L32X2 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with iPod Dock

Panasonic TC-L32X2 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with iPod Dock

• Universal Dock for iPod


• Viera Image viewer for Photo viewing


• IPS LCD Panel

More detail ...

LG 32LD350 32-Inch 720p 60 Hz LCD HDTV

You know it's time to start enjoying high definition and the LD350 is an easy way to get into it. This is a beautiful LCD with all of the innovations that make LG TVs a better viewing experience.

• High Definition Resolution


• 70000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio


• Picture Wizard II


• Smart Energy Savings


• ISFccc Ready

More detail ...

LG 55LD650 55-Inch 1080p 240 Hz LCD HDTV

Excellent TV!

Purchased from Amazon. White glove delivery was seamless. They unpacked the set attached the swivel stand placed it on the media console and hooked it up to the cablebox. All I had to do was supervise. Now let's talk about the 55LD650 itself.



Picture Quality. Considering there are no reviews out yet I considered it somewhat of a gamble to purchase this new LG model (which according to the sticker was built in February of this year). But after watching HD programing for a few hours my concerns evaporated. The picture quality is impressive. This is my first LCD. I've always been a plasma guy and have two Pannys so I had my concerns. Howver after watching Monsters vs Aliens I definitely have no complaints about the PQ. The images on the 55 inch screen popped beautifully. So much so that my kids even asked if it was in 3D!



Off-Angle Viewing. Viewing the TV from various angles (even extreme ones) I can confirm that this set did not have any noticeable degradation in picture quality from off-angle viewing(unlike some Sonys I looked at). Very impressive.



Glare. This was the main reason I sought out an LCD set since the TV resides in a very bright room with two sides of floor-to-ceiling windows. This eliminated the plasma option (though we first tried a Sammy plasma and aside from the mirror-like glare we couldn't handle the loud buzzing noise it made). While there's some glare on this TV when it's not on there was nothing noticeable on the matte sceen when watching programs.



All in all I'm very pleased with 55ld650 thus far.More detail ...

VIZIO VL260M 26-Inch Full HD 1080p LCD HDTV

Great value

Just picked this new Vizio up and love it! I was looking for a new TV for the bedroom and this fits the bill perfectly. The case comes in a new color Java which I was a little worried about initially. After having seen it in person before purchasing it and now having it in the house I feel its a great color. It matches my dark merlot furniture very well. Setup was a breeze and I was watching TV in just a few minutes after getting it out of the box.



In the busy market of small TV's the personal reasons I went for the Vizio are:



1. One of the few 26" 1080p TV's (even though I understand most programming isn't offered in 1080)



2. Price point. Vizio is the best bargain out there for quality LCD TV's. I had considered the Samsung 22" that got great reviews but for only a few dollars more I got this TV that is 4" larger and is 1080p. Plus I have known folks to have issues with Samsung.



3. Style. I like the way the TV looks. Very sleek looking. Java is a neat color that isn't offered by anyone else. I'm sure other brands will start offering new colors now.





Overall the picture is amazing. I thought buying a Vizio meant compromising on picture quality to get a better price but with this TV I didn't have to. Watching this TV right next to its competitors in the store really showed that Vizio offers a top notch product. Again the price can't be beat!More detail ...

Panasonic TC-L32X2 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with iPod Dock

Sharp picture quality build with iPod. SD card and PC inputs

I bought three new 32-inch LCD TVs in one week and returned the first two because of faulty video inputs. The third TV I bought is this high-quality Panasonic TC-L32X2 TV which was just released in February 2010. My experience enabled me to compare three similar TVs giving me good insight to write this review.



I initially bought two other 32-inch LCD TVs; a Vizio VO320E and a Sony BRAVIA BX 300 Series (model KDL-32BX300). I returned both of them because of identical video input problems. I connected two different brands of DVD players to each TV and when I played DVDs there were alternating horizontal stripes of discoloration on the screen indicating a problem with the video inputs on the TVs. I returned both TVs to the retailer because both of these DVD players worked perfectly on two other TVs in my house including a one-year-old Panasonic plasma.



Then I bought the Panasonic TC-L32X2 TV listed here. After the initial setup the first thing I tested was the video output from a DVD player and was relieved to find that the video was crisp and clear with no stripes of discoloration like on the other two TVs. Then I flipped through the channels from a direct cable TV input (no cable box) and the TV output was excellent as well and definitely better than the other two TVs that I had to return. Also the build of the TV was noticeably of higher quality than the other two TVs. The remote has plenty of features and is not cheap (like the ones that came with other two TVs).



This Panasonic TC-L32X2 TV comes with one cable TV input one set of component video inputs (red/blue/green video and red/white audio) two sets of composite video inputs (red/white/yellow) three HDMI inputs a PC input an iPod dock with connector cable and rear input an SD camera card input and a Dolby digital audio output.More detail ...

Samsung UN55B8000 55-Inch 1080p 240 Hz LED HDTV

Startling clarity detail and color

Had my Samsung UN55B8000 TV a couple of weeks now. It has more than lived up to the hype. Hooked it up and put on a blu-ray disk. Even the delivery guy's jaw dropped and he's delivered/set up hundreds of TVs.



TV is only inch and half thick and only weighs 60 pounds or so.



In fact it is sometimes almost too good. When viewing people on HD you can see every little mole scar wrinkle stray hair makeup five o'clock shadow makeup line etc. I'm sitting here watching the news and I can clearly see tiny pieces of lint on the guy's black suit. I'm guessing the talking heads of tomorrow are all going to have to have much better complexions.



If you like to tweak your TV this one provides a lot of different controls. There are already some websites that will give you what they consider good tweaks to maximize the pic. You can also look for the B7000 tweaks. Looks pretty darn fantastic right out of the box so if you aren't a techie don't worry about it.



Sounds..not particularly good or bad but I don't want TV speakers taking up space anyway. If you are going to spend this kind of money for a TV you should be using your stereo system.



Some reviewers were complaining about the number of inputs. Again how many is enough. I run my PS3 XBOX360 IPOD and the Dish box through my Denon and so I only use one HDMI.



You can plug it into the internet. No set-up just plug it in. First thing it did was download 12 updates to itself. Have no idea what they did but ...didn't cause any problems. It automatically loads up some of Yahoo's widgets. Fun to try but...not something I have really gone back and used much. Also has some built in content...recipes artwork etc. that I haven't bothered to look at.



You can plug in USB drives and view content directly off the drive.



I long ago got rid of my roof antenna. I bought a little Turk indoor antenna and plugged that in so I can pop over into over-the-air signals and watch TV. It will automatically search and find the on-air channels. It even downloads some kind of TV guide from the internet for the channels it finds.



I also wanted to see if there was any signal degradation from Dish. I haven't noticed the HD degradation with Dish that I had with Comcast. The way Comcast packed the HD signals you could see a real difference between OTA and the packed pics.



Samsung also provides software which allows you to use your PC as a server. Then you can display your pics music etc on the TV. Took a little playing around but was easy compared to some of the others I've tried to use.



I've played games with both my PS3 and the XBOX360. No problems. No pixelating. Did not bother to change TV over to game mode. I haven't fooled around with the 240Hz function. I just leave it on standard.



I'm sure there are other features I haven't tried. With the ability to update itself over the internet I have no doubt they will teach it even more amazing tricks.



I've set up my Harmony 880 Pro to control all my devices including the IPOD. IPOD menu/info will display (through my Denon) on the TV.



All of the above features are great but the main thing is... the picture is just absolutely mind-blowing wonderful.



So fantastic TV. I am VERY happy with it. Obviously I highly recommend it.



((Now I'm watching Wall-E in HD and it is pretty amazing.))





More detail ...

Samsung PN42C430 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV (Black)

So far so good!

After researching HD plasmas for about a month I was all set on an LG model from a different website because it was the least expensive 42 incher with the best reviews I could find but then I came across this model on Amazon for a hundred and fifty dollars cheaper (This was onsale for under $500 then..I dont think it is anymore). This is the least expensive 42 incher I've been come across and I'm very satisfied with the quality. After watching a lot of movies with dark scenes I was concerned because if I increased the brightness the colors seemed to wash out - well after selecting the 'dynamic' picture setting instead of 'standard' that has been resolved - the colors are crisp and dark scenes are sharp and more visible.



I was concerned that this tv might have the ugly red stripe on the base of the tv like some pictures of other samsungs I've seen but thankfully it does not. The tv frame and base are a sexy piano black. My opinion on why it's inexpensive is because it has the fewwest inputs on it. It only has 2 hdmi inputs. Perfect for an hd cable box and a ps3. This tv also has 2 sets of component inputs which are ideal for a vcr or other video game system that isnt in hd (like a wii).



I don't have digital cable just a plain old basic cable service and the QAM tuner picked up all the digital channels but they're not in hd so I'm still thinking of getting a comcast hd box even though I despise the significant compression comcast utilizes with its signal. Compare comcast hdtv to a blu ray and you'll notice how compressed the comcast video signal is (tiling and pixelating and motion blur is evident from the comcast signal).



All in all at this price point this can't be beat.



Anyway feel free to ask any questions on this new model via the comments section and I'll be happy to respond.More detail ...

Samsung UN55C8000 55-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D LED HDTV

WOW. Amazing LED set!!

First off I want to be clear about the kind of review this is intended to be. I am not a profession TV rater. I am not a videophile. I am a regular Joe and I am reviewing this for the regular Joe who is thinking about spending more than usual on a good quality television. During the next few months I'm sure you can find a more professional review from the usual places... But for now this is my impressions.



CORNER LIGHT: After reading many reviews on last years B8000 and this year's C7000 I was worried about the light that emits from the corners. I've seen displays of last year's B8000 and this year's C7000 and have VERY easily seen what people are talking about. I took a big gamble in purchasing this TV before I read if people were having issues with this C8000. So let me say... After watching this TV for about 5 hours per day for 3 days... I have NOT seen the light coming from the edges as seen on other sets. And believe me I've been looking. I tried to find it watching the HD feed on Time Warner Cable Blu-ray's from the PS3 Blu-Ray's from the Samsung 3D Blu-Ray player watching at night during the day... Nothing. I just do not see it!



LOOKS: This TV looks just amazing. It has a VERY dark black screen. It looks as beautiful turned off as it does on. I was nervous about the brush metal look but it actually looks very nice and compliments the new chromed four-legged stand.



PICTURE: The picture clarity looks incredible. It's as if I'm discovering HD for the first time. This set replaces a Samsung DLP set so of course this is a vast improvement. Having said that I have a newer plasma in the bedroom and this set looks much better than that. As with all new LED sets with 240 Hz there is a bit of the Spanish Soap Opera/Home Video look to it. Some people really like this some people don't. I really like it. For those of you that don't you can always turn this feature down or off. To me this makes the picture look very clear and it makes it stand out from the other sets.



3D: Along with this TV I purchased the Samsung 3D Bluray player so I can get the 3D startup kit for free. Turning the 3D feature on and connecting the glasses was easy. The intro to Monsters v. Aliens was very cool. The opening scene in outer space looked incredible. The ball tied to a paddle part was funny and kinda made me jump a little. I haven't spent too much time with 3D but I did notice that there were some scenes in the movie that had a double image while wearing the glasses. It doesn't happen a lot but it is noticeable. You can see this right away during the church scene at the beginning of the movie. It was a little annoying. I'm hoping that this is the kind of stuff that gets ironed out with a firmwear update or as more content is released they learn to fix it.



OnlineTV: This is also a very new area for me. I never understood the need for me to want apps on my TV... But its actually kina cool. I've tried a few apps but my favorite by far is the Pandora app. I'm a big fan of Pandora and this app I actually like better on my TV than online or the iPhone. The only thing I hate is that Samsung did not have Wifi built in. I think pricing this set at the $3000+ mark should be enough to include it with the set and not require me to drop another $80 for the USB adapter. I just hardwired it but that's another wire I don't like dealing with.



USB: I wanted to mention that this set allows you to connect a USB external hard drive and play music photo's and movies directly from the HDD. I have a Western Digital 320GB Passport filled with movies and music and I was able to navigate the files structure in the drive using the remote quite easily. And it played all the files formats I threw at it.





Pros:

No corner light!!!

Very dark screen.

Very clear picture

Pandora Samsung App

3D was surprisingly fun

USB external HDD capable

and... NO CORNER LIGHT!



Cons:

Slight double images on 3D.

Wifi requires an $80 USB adaptor.



Overall I am very satisfied with the UN55C8000. Even with the few CONS this set to this average Joe is a definite 5 star! As I spend more time with the set I'll be sure to update this review if I find something worth mentioning.



Please feel free to ask me questions and I'll try my best to answer them. I know how nerve wrecking buying a big ticket item such as this is... So I would be glad to help as much as I can.

More detail ...

ViewSonic VT2430 24-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

Boy was I pleasently surprised!

I began my search for an LCD HDTV/Monitor over a month ago and purchased 4 other similar items before purchasing this ViewSonic VT2430 and returned the previous 4 for poor performance. I was actually looking for a unit which included a DVD player for use in training lectures. But I couldn't find the right combination so I decided to settle on a unit without the DVD player since those that are built in are all cheap players. This way by keeping the TV and the DVD player separate I can always update the player as needed (BlueRay!).



I looked at a LOT of HDTV/Monitors and chose the VT2430 for its native 1920x1080 pixel resolution. This works out perfectly with the 1920x1080i signals coming via my cable. And...the pictures are absolutely stunning! More so than I even expected even already knowing the quality of Viewsonic monitors. And there are plenty of options for modifying and managing the images from all inputs. One reason for returning a Toshiba unit was that it's native resolution is 1680x1050 pixels which when fed a 1920x1080 pixel signal (HDTV) stretches the image vertically...without any way of correcting the distortion. In fact the manual states that "image size adjustments are not available with 720i and 1080i signals"! VERY poor planning as most cable signals are either 790i or 1080i.



The PC image obtained with the VT2430 is absolutely awesome. I'm typing this review with this monitor with the resolution set at 1920x1080 a perfect match with my PC. There are at least 10 other resolution settings that work as well - just lower resolution results. Regardless of the resolution sent from my PC the VT2430 automatically adjusts for the best picture with each setting. Very neat.



The audio was another problem I found with all of the other units I tried. Most of them were either too low in volume or when the volume was turned up became very distorted. Not so with the VT2430. Plenty of clean sound at all volume settings including loud enough for filling the rooms where I do my training.



The image I get from my (LG) DVD player which upgrades to a 1080i output via an HDMI cable is very good. I also have a BlueRay player which puts out a 1080p signal which again perfectly matches the resolution of the VT2430 for a beautiful picture.



The overall picture of this monitor is far more accurate clean and viewable than any of the other monitors I looked at. The dynamic range is very wide including the darker colors and grays and blacks not quite up to my 52-in Samsung (Over $2300!) but closer than any other comparable sized monitor.



Physically I like the fact that the monitor can be tilted back for watching from higher positions. Also the flat stand can be quickly removed for transporting in its original box which I do often when I'm training.



Great monitor. I would recommend it to anyone. I would however downgrade its rating by 1/2 point for not having a DVD player. But that is not what it is! ViewSonic does sell an LCD HDTV/DVD Combo monitor but it has a lower pixel rate designed more for 720i resolution which is OK for most uses at this smaller size. But having been a TV studio tech in charge of adjusting and maintaining studio monitors I became too picky and always need(!) the best.More detail ...

Proscan 32LB45Q 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV Black

Great TV for the price

This TV is quite impressive especially for the money. There are plenty of inputs many of which are conveniently located on the side of the panel. As far as the picture goes the color is fantastic and the contrast is pretty good as well. Where this TV falls short is the uneven back-lighting. In a low light setting watching a dark scene you can see portions of the screen are brighter than others which can be annoying at best and distracting at worst. Aside from that I have no complaints with the television. Were money no object I'm sure the Proscan would rate lower however the value you get out of this TV for the price is hard to match. It is a very fine budget LCD HDTV.More detail ...

Samsung LN40C630 40-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV (Black)

Time for an upgrade!

I have literally been following the prices of HDTV's for about a year now and there is no better time for an upgrade! Samsung just released their new "C" series and somehow they are remarkably less expensive than their pre-existing models! The majority of the websites are selling this HDTV for $800+ Amazon's lower-than-low price is less than the rest of the market. I purchased it here on Amazon and received my HDTV in 5 days (could have been 4 days but I had school all day). CEVA did the shipping for my HDTV which I was wary at first because I have only dealt with UPS and Fedex. However CEVA provided excellent customer service as they did contact me and I verbally specified a delivery time. Packaging was very efficient and surprisingly light too!



For those who prefer using TV stands you do have to assemble it on your own. Extremely easy to assemble though! All it took was 9 screws (already in the box) and I recommend using a power-screwdriver. Directions said it required two people I did it solo! I was just eager to hook up my PS3 via HDMI cable and experience the wonderful world of 1080P.



Okay now for the specifics and why this HDTV deserves a spot in your living room - As I mentioned before right up to my purchase I extensively followed the quality and price of several HDTVs. The Samsungs 530 550 630 650. The Samsung 630 is the best deal for your money here's why: The 5 series is less expensive but only offers refresh times of 60Hz as compared to the 630 which is 120Hz. This is a big difference and means that your HDTV with 120Hz displays at least twice as many frames-per-second which makes movies not only sports very fluid and more realistic. Another difference is the response time where as the 5 series has a 6ms response time the 6 series has a 4ms response time. And if you are a gamer a difference of 2ms can make a big difference. So why the Samsung 630 and not the 650? The only difference now is the contrast ratio. The 630 comes with a 80000:1 contrast ratio which in my opinion still creates an extraordinary depth to the display. TV contrast ratio's are starting to become stable around the 70000 - 100000 range (or much higher for LEDs). Whereas 3 years ago the highest was around 10000 but kept constantly rising. So this HDTV is very much future proof. Yes the 650 has a higher contrast ratio but is it worth the extra $200 something dollars?



All in all if you're not worried about price go all out and purchase a LED HDTV. But if you want to shop smart this HDTV is the way to go.More detail ...

Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker Telescope

Celestron 127EQ review

I opted for this telescope to get an idea of the quality of product Celestron produces before investing in a more high-tech and larger telescope.



Out of the box there were parts missing and broken. Celestron wants you to call about product problems and not return merchandise. I tried calling tech support four times and was on hold for over 90 minutes each time before being disconnected.



I submitted a ticket on their website. That was over a month ago and still no answer.



The scope I bought was sturdy and quite heavy and still worked with the broken pieces. The directions required some medium skill so if your not technically inclined avoid this telescope. In addition the telescope is difficult to maneuver and use so be prepared there as well.



But I would seriously encourage anyone interested in a telescope to do thorough research on the different manufacturers before settling on a Celestron. I'm not giving this scope a poor rating but if I had any idea about Celestron's customer service I would have NEVER considered them in the first place. Buyer Beware!!More detail ...

Celestron 31042 AstroMaster 114 EQ Reflector Telescope

Very good bang for the buck

I bought this as my first telescope to explore the sky and I am VERY pleased. It's a high quality scope and the mount and tripod are the kind you get with higher end models. Mine came with an incorrect piece I contacted the Celestron and I had a new piece in 3 days. Very nice service. I to had problems finding stars at first so I went to an astronomy forum and found out the correct way to do it. From there I haven't had a problem finding anything.



The 2 main things are 1) calibrate your finder first and 2) use the right eye piece when looking for something (this scope comes with a 10mm and a 20mm so you would want to use the 20 to find and 10 to magnify once you found what it is your looking for). I have found Astronomy is not a hobby where you can easily learn stuff through trial and error and most frustration comes when you try just that.



The only thing it's lacking is an eyepiece that goes to it's full magnification. I'm buying a 5mm for this but if they included that they would have to up the price. So all in all this in my opinion is the best bang for the buck telescope out there for beginners on a budget!More detail ...

Celestron 31045 AstroMaster 130 EQ Reflector Telescope

Celestron 130 review

I'm very pleased with this telescope. I've always looked up at the stars in wonder now I can see more then I thought were out there. This is a great starter scope from what I've been told by people who love this hobby. The telescope lets you view the sky to see stars you can't see with your eyes. I'm disappointed in the eye piece you receive with it though. The field of view is very narrow hard to find the stars you want to see. I was given a wide angle eye piece to use from a friend which made my viewing pleasure wonderful. I went from looking at a 13" color tv to a 36" color tv. That's the best way to describe it.



I'm glad I got my telescope and will enjoy it for years to come.



Kevin More detail ...

Orion Moon Filter 13% Transmission 1.25"

An excellent filter for beginniners!

This moon filter is a great way to explore the moon for beginniners! This filter can reduce the glare of the bright moon so you can explore the moon easily. But for experts I would recommend to get a Orion Poliarzing Filter (...). This is because somtimes the moon is too dark. With a poliarzing filter you can adjust the filter from 1-40%. For beginniners I would strongly recommened this filter but for experts I would get a Poliarzing filter.More detail ...

Barska BlackBlackhawk 20-60x60 Waterproof Straight Spotting Scope w/Tripod Soft Carry Case & Premium Hard Case

Excellent optics for the price

This scope is worth every penny I was very concerned buying a "cheaper" spotting scope but after my first range session my nerves are at rest. It's very easy to see the .30 cal holes at 200 yards and light transmission and clarity are very adequate. This scope also comes with 2 carrying cases a nice added bonus. When comparing this scope to my friends bushnell of the same power this one wins hands down a definate purchase for someone on a budget and looking to get good quality for limited funds. More detail ...

Celestron 93230 8 to 24mm 1.25 Zoom Eyepiece

Much better than expected

I was a bit leery of buying a "zoom" eyepiece and suspected that the movement within the lens assembly would greatly effect the optics. I took a chance because I wanted a quick and dirty spotting eyepiece that would give me a sneak peak at objects before I bothered switching eyepieces. I have now tried this eyepiece on my Celestron 130SLT and compared it side by side with a set of comparable fixed Celestron Omni Possls which should be of comparable quality. I was very pleasantly surprised as I saw very little visible difference when viewing Mars and Saturn. I had expected the zoom to cause significant distortion outside the center of the viewfield and to give substantially less sharp views. However I found the views very nearly the same. I also tried the zoom over my Celestron Ultima barlow with good results. Some minor refocusing was required with any significant change in zoom but this was not unexpected. That said there was a difference between the zoom and fixed lens eyepieces. I did see some differences at higher magnifications particularly with the barlow. As such I don't think a zoom lens is a replacement for a range of fixed eyepieces particularly if you're doing photography or viewing deep sky objects. However this zoom exceeded my expectations and will probably become my main eyepiece for locating and previewing objects. I should note that the barrel of this eyepiece is a few mm wider than other 1.25" Celestron eyepieces and barlows. It still fits nicely and functions well. It just looks a bit bulky when mounted over a narrower barlow.More detail ...

Celestron 44410 Prepared Microscope Slides (25-Piece Set)

Not too bad

I bought this for my 8 year old who had received a microscope for her birthday. This is a nice set of slides and she found them interesting (and it brought make memories of 7th grade biology for me lol). If I were to suggest any changes they would be to find more specimens that are common objects that kids are likely to be familiar with (she was much less interested in the slides if she didn't know what the thing was to start with). Also the wooden box is a great idea but it's a little too large so the slides slip out of their slots and get jumbled/scratched up.More detail ...

Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium

Great way to start to learn the night sky!

I ordered my SkyScout in September hoping that the initial rush on this item was over and that it would be in stock (as listed) when I ordered it. Sadly it was actually out of stock and took a few months to arrive. The unit powered up and seemed to function but was unable to get a GPS fix in a clear field. Hoping that it was a simple matter of updating the unit I attached it via USB to my computer and followed the simple directions on the screen. It updated quickly and easily but I still was unable to obtain a GPS fix. Using the instructions provided I contacted Celestron and was directed to return the unit to them for evaluation and repair. Less than two weeks passed when a new unit straight from Celestron arrived in the mail. This one worked perfectly and as advertised and without any problems!



Now that I've actually used my SkyScout I can say that it is great fun to use! Now December and January in Wyoming isn't the best time of year to be outside at night...wind chill last night was -40F for example but the SkyScout still works like a champ. Multiple modes of function exist as listed in the description but my personal favorite is being able to identify just about anything you can see with the naked eye in the night sky. Just view the object through the sky scout push a button and you'll get the name of the object as well as at least a few lines of text of information. Brighter objects or better known objects also have an audio commentary that will teach about the history and/or significance of what you're looking at.



While I was disappointed about my first SkyScout not functioning properly the quick customer service and the replacement working flawlessly have overcome my initial disappointment. The SkyScout is quite simple to use and provides a great way for anyone who can read to start to learn the night sky. I highly recommend it for individuals with an interest in astronomy families star parties and youth groups such as the Boy Scouts.More detail ...

PRIME ENTERTAINMENT QX-5 Microscope

excellent piece of kit

The Qx5 microscope is the natural follow-on from the Qx3. Used as a toy with the "child friendly" supplied software it will load onto the latest machines; difficulties with the old Qx3 software on Windows XP Pro were not encountered with the Qx5. I have found this software to be intensely irritating for my use but letting my two young nephews loose on my computer I was delighted to find that the whizzes zips and boings the program generates during its natural operation freed me to be elsewhere in the house without fear that my young guests had given up on the microscope and were trying to sabotage my machine in ways available only to the very young. Not that I need have feared: a simple walk around the local park produced more than enough samples to keep them delighted until dinner. An excellent Christmas game can also be knocked out with the Qx5 and a laptop by wandering around the house taking magnified snaps of the decorations and furniture then challenging guests to identify the objects. (Print thumbnails and you can have a dozen people wandering around different parts of the house peering at ornaments.)



However I have not bought two new Qx5s to supplement the Qx3s I already have just to play games. These `toys' are truly excellent scientific instruments. They allow for rapid inspection of small components provide good images for presentations and an image of a graticule can be used to calibrate distance per pixel providing simple distance and area measurement. These images can be fed to image-processing packages for colour-dependent area measurements and other techniques. Contact angles of droplets on surfaces can also be measured from these images with the 60x magnification matching the best droplet size. The improved pixel count of the Qx5 gives markedly better resolution of crystal morphology and the more intense LED illumination at last makes 200x magnification generally workable. The rectangular grid of pixels on the old Qx3 has been corrected to a square grid meaning circles are now the same number of pixels across as they are high (rather than 10% fatter). They can be used to monitor and record movement because they collect movies as well as stills: with 15 frames per second (up from the Qx3's five) much faster events can be captured.



So what are the downsides? This is a souped-up Qx3 with a better webcam at one end and brighter light at the other so in common with the Qx3 the optics are not perfectly matched. The focal plane for each magnification is therefore in a different position requiring re-focusing after every change as well as producing occasional microscopes with one of their focal planes squeezed quite close to the microscope body. This can mean the plastic stand is at the limit of its movement and bouncing on the last tooth of the cog or if you've built your own holder you may start bumping into the plastic shield around the light. The TWAIN driver is new and has no light control and there is no utility offered to control light separately from your Start Menu. It captures images on command but then you have to select the image to pass it on to your graphics package - an unnecessary extra step for most applications. The automatic colour balance bleaches images of predominantly one colour and with the bluish LED illumination yellow seems to come off particularly badly. This is not true with the interface that opens for capturing movies where all sorts of settings can come under the operator's control but the driver (at least in XP Pro) is a Windows Driver Model (WDM) rather than Video For Windows (VFW) limiting your options to only more recent software and the light is still not accessible.



Generally however I'm delighted with the improvements in image resolution and frames per second that the new camera and light offer and for a price that seems lower than the Qx3 commanded until the very end of its commercial life these `toys' are extremely good value for anyone who wants to peer at small things through the eye of the twenty-first century.



More detail ...

Celestron 44102 400x Power Laboratory Biological Microscope

Worth It!

Due to the lack of informative reviews this microscope sat in my Amazon shopping cart for nearly a year. When the time came that we really needed to have a microscope for my son's home school science class I went ahead and purchased it. My only regret is that we didn't get it sooner!



The microscope comes packed very well! Every piece was in place safe & sound when we opened it.



It was very easy to 'put together' as we only had to add the 4x 10x and 40x objective lens pieces along with the 10x huygens eyepiece. Too simple. Has a very nice dust cover with it. The thicker plastic nothing cheap.



As for the durability it's heavy enough to remain in place as you're using it just the right weight for moving it around if you need to. The arm is easy to tilt and it's tight enough to stay in place unless you're intentionally tilting it.



Has a mirror to direct sunlight or your artificial lighting up under the specimen stage. Mirror has both a normal and concave side (to focus more light). It flips no taking out pieces to switch them.



Now the best part the magnification. Wow it really works! And so very easy to focus! We had the prepared slides on the specimen stage right away and my son was just in awe (as was I!) at how clear we could see the items on the slides. When looking at the intestine slide my son said "Mom this would be gross if it wasn't so cool!" The 4x lens (along with the 10x eyepiece) has so far been enough magnification but we've tried all three & they're great!



I don't know if the prepared slides are the same with each microscope but the 5 that came with ours are:

1. Intestine

2. Honey Bee Mouth Parts

3. Corn Stem

4. Year Tilia Stem

5. Winter Jasmine Leaf



I would definitely recommend this microscope. It's at least everything that we hoped it would be and need it to be!



Sure hope this helps anyone else thinking about getting one!



More detail ...

TASCO 49TN Refractor Telescope & Microscope

See your star

Bought this set for a 9 year old boy's birthday. Bought a star in his own name so that he'd have a reason to use the telescope. He loves it! He hasn't gotten a chance to use the microscope yet but I'm sure he'll have a cure for H1N1 in no time.More detail ...

Celestron 44340 LCD Digital LDM Biological Microscope

Celestron 44340 LCD Microscope

I'm pretty happy with this microscope that I purchased to use with my daughter. The screen is clear and responds to movement (rotifers) without any kind of low fps problems.



There is a distracting dark patch in the center of the LCD. The spot does not show up when you record a video so it must be a problem with the LCD. The company has not yet replied to my support email on this subject I sent 4 days ago. Paint on the objective lens housings is worn looking and there is a scratch on the upper illuminator's plastic housing. Because of these things the finish of the microscope has a used look.



The photo and movie recording interface is simple and easy to use. There is at least one misspelled word in a menu which makes the interface seem unprofessional. However it records acceptably. The video it creates is in the Windows .wmv format.

More detail ...

Galileo FS-80/K-800 800 x 80mm Yoke Mount Reflector Telescope

Good For The Price

I was thinking of spending about $50 on a telescope after a few minutes I found myself looking at a $300 goto telescope. I've never really used a telescope before I quickly realized that the hardest thing about shopping for a telescope is figuring out what your budget is.

After I watched the video for this telescope I decided I could afford to spend a few extra dollars on it. If this had cost $30 more I would only give it 3 stars.



The good: It is a nice big telescope for the price. I have been able to see the moons of Jupiter and can just barely make out a couple of bands but don't expect to see the big red spot with this. Saturn has not been out yet but I am looking forward to pointing this telescope at it. The views were stunning when I looked at the edge of the moon where the sun was setting. I have seen shadows filling lunar craters with my binoculars before but the view from this telescope took my breath away. I also really like the Mars Eye finder. It took me about half an hour to calibrate it but once calibrated it works very well. A better battery cover for it would be nice. For me the 20mm eyepiece is more rewarding. The lower magnification brings in more light. It was easier for me to spot Jupiters moons with the 20mm eyepiece the 6mm eyepiece. This telescope was pretty easy for me to set up. The only tricky part was calibrating the Mars Eye finder. There is a fine adjustment for the vertical plane that works marginally well. It is lacking any decent horizontal adjustment. The accessory tray is nice for changing eyepieces. Without my glasses I cannot see much especially in the dark. I can get the eyepieces back and forth to the focuser with this tray very easily.



The not so good: The packaging was not very good. I could hear parts shaking around in the box when I brought it inside. There was a slight dent on the side of the scope. It was very small right where the mount attaches to the telescope. The scope that I got was white if it had been gray I may not have noticed it.

The mount is not very good at all. Most reviews of telescopes in this price range seem to say the same thing. When using the 6mm eyepiece you need to wait about 5-6 seconds after touching the telescope for it to quit bouncing around. If you try to adjust the focus you need to start over. The 20mm eyepiece takes about 2-3 seconds to get steady enough to look at. I cannot imagine trying to use the 6mm eyepiece on a windy night or with any type of Barlow lens.

The software included is about 10 years old and it shows. It may be useful if you want to use it on an older computer but if you have a newer system I would strongly recommend Stellarium. Stellarium is free just Google it.



Overall I do not regret this purchase at all. It certainly does require a certain amount of patience. At this price range it is easy to get nit-picky about certain details that higher priced telescopes may overcome. But dollar for dollar I feel this is a very rewarding telescope. More detail ...

Celestron AC Adapter for use with all Celestron computerized telescopes.

A Basic Necessity

The bottom line on Celestron's SE series is that battery power is not enough. AA batteries drain quickly and if you are using a dew zapper (also a necessity on SCTs) then that alone will drain your battery is just four hours on Celestron's smaller power tank. Plug your scope in and the drain is even faster. If you're planning to be out for any length of time you should really consider this accessory. I use it with my 8" SE nearly every time I am out and can plug into a power source. It's never failed me yet.More detail ...

Celestron 44320 Microscope Digital Kit MDK

Poor quality. Not worth the money

I bought it tried it and immediatley returned it.

All PLASTIC. No fine focus image capturing was poor and not adjustable.

Save yourself the bother.... buy a different microscopeMore detail ...