Q1: If I buy it will it come with a strap and a carry case or do I need to get those things separately?

A: The Celestron 15x70 does include a strap and a carrying case with it so those two accessories are not something that you will need to purchase.

Q2: How do these compare in physical size to a "standard" pair of porro prism 10x50s?

A: They are quite a bit larger. The chambers are longer and wider. This one is recommended to be used with a tripod.

Q3: Compared to the Orion 10x50 WA Ultraview(9351) how would this product rate? What would be the best stabilizing tripod to be sure I have steady viewing. Do you carry solar filters for this item?

A: The 10x50 would be slightly brighter, but of course you will not have the same level of magnification, overall i would say pretty comparable to one another. As for a good stabilizing tripod I recommend the Zhumell Professional Tripod, it has nice thick legs to help ensure stability, but of course with binocular adapter (which is included) you can use any standard photographic tripod.

Q4: Does the SkyMaster 15X70 include a photo tripod adapter so I can use it with my current tripod?

A: Yes, they have a built-in rigid photo tripod adapter.

Q5: What are the dimensions of the SkyMaster 15x70 Center Focus Celestron binoculars?

A: The dimensions of the Celestron Skymaster 15x70 are 7.9" x 9.3" x 3.6".

Q6: The Skymaster 15x70 binoculars are are said to be fully coated. Do you mean fully multi-coated, that is coating of all air to glass surfaces and is the coating magnesium fluoride?

A: The Skymasters are fully "multi-coated" and it is a magnesium fluoride coating they use.

Q7: I live on the lake and have 7-15x35 binoculars. They are not powerful enough and can see only a small area. I do not want to spend a lot of money. What do you recommend?

A: If 15X binoculars aren't powerful enough and the field of view is too small, the answer is to increase objective lens size, along with magnification. Zhumell's 20x80 Super Giant Binoculars offer plenty of power and a reasonably large field of view. They've been getting terrific customer reviews.

Q8: How much does the Skymaster 15x70 weigh? I am 85 so wonder if I can hold it or will need a tripod. If so what kind? Will it provide better distance vision than a 10x50 wide angle binocular?

A: The Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 binocular weighs 4 pounds, and that's a real load for hand held viewing. We'd suggest a tripod, particularly because of the 15X magnification. The Optavian Field Tripod should do the job nicely. The SkyMaster will make distant objects appear 15 times as close as they actually are. However, the high magnification level decreases the field of view, so you'll only be able to see an area 230 feet wide at 1,000 yards' distance. That makes following any kind of motion somewhat difficult. On the other hand, 10x50 Wide-Angle binoculars will make objects appear only 10 times as close but will give a 341-foot field of view. This makes following wildlife or sports action much easier. In addition, the 10x50s weigh only 1.95 pounds, making them much easier to hold than the SkyMasters, hence easier to use without a tripod. In our opinion, then, 10x50s are a better choice for general-purpose viewing. The 15x70s are a good choice, though, for stargazing or viewing distant objects over, say, the ocean.

Q9: Will the image be erect or inverted?

A: The SkyMaster's images are right side up.

Q10: Will objects (stars, nebula, etc.) appear brighter with the 15x70s than through a standard 10x50, or does the higher magnification affect the apparent brightness?

A: Higher magnification affects brightness, of course, but since the 15x70 SkyMaster's 70mm objective lens has nearly double the area of the 10x50s' 50mm lens, the darkening effect of the greater magnification is erased. The 15x70 Skymasters will be brighter than 10x50s.

Q11: Is the 15x70 Skymasters fogproof & Nitrogen-filled?

A: Unfortunately, no, the Celestron 15x70 SkyMaster binocular is not fog-proof and nitrogen-filled.