Bushnell 78-4501


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Brand and Model:Bushnell 78-4501
Price ($USD):discontinued
Type:Achromatic Refractor
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:
f Ratio:f/0
Focal Length:0mm
Finder:
Electric Power:
Mount:
Tripod:
Weight (lbs):lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:

Vote Highlights Vote
Bushnell 78-4501
The Optics are quite good for this type of scope (4.5" Newt). The accessories are worthless, which is how they keep the price low. The EQ mount is wobbly, and the focusser is stiff, causing images to dance around when foccussing (rather frustrating).

The instructions that come with it are useless. Go to Astromart.com, or Yahoo groups "Talking telescopes", or another site and ask questions about how to set up the mount.

The 20mm eyepeice (45X) is useable, but the FOV is narrow. The 4mm (225X) is junk, as is the 3X Barlow. Seriously, this scope won't handle 225X, but should handle 135 - 150X pretty well.

The finder is also substandard: I think it's a 5X24, and the images won't even focus. Also, it's only got one mounting bracket, so it gets misaligned quite easily.

The mount is somewhat rickety, (comes with an aluminum tripod) although tightening up every screw you can find helps matters somewhat. The slow motion controls are OK, though.

I added two Meade Plossls, (20mm and 10mm) which have improved the images considerably... I have seen a shadow transit of Io on Jupiter, plus the Great Pink Spot, three belts, and two polar regions, plus a very crisp view of Saturn at 135X, showing the Cassini division plus an equatorial belt, and M42 was breathtaking, clearly resolving 4 stars in the Trapezium. Views of the Moon are very crisp, and with the low-power eyepeice, it's so bright it hurts my night vision! So optically, there's nothing wrong with this scope. You could spend more money and not get optics as good.

So for under $100 US, I think I got a pretty good deal. The OTA alone is worth more than that. Plan to spend another $100 on accessories, but it's still a good value.

Overall Rating: 7
Optics:8 Mount:5 Ease of Use:7 Value:8
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=213428

I concur with this review -- excellent main objective, poor accessory optics and so-so mounting.  However, I accidentally discovered that the finder DOES focus ok.  It appears to be fixed-focus, but with a lot of messing around I finally noticed that the eye end of the finder screws out and comes to focus.

Bushnell 78-4501
HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE TELESCOPE AT ALL.
INSTRUCTIONS ARE VERY VAGUE ON SET UP AND
USAGE. NEED MORE HELP

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=117511

>HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE TELESCOPE AT ALL.
>INSTRUCTIONS ARE VERY VAGUE  ON SET  UP AND
>USAGE.   NEED MORE HELP
I have not been able to get my 78-4501 to work at all.  I don't know what I'm doing wrong but cannot see a thing through the eyepiece at all.  Just black.  I've taken it apart and examined everything - and all seems ok - but cannot view anything.  Can someone either tell me which way the lens is actually supposed to be set up ?  Have tried many combos to no avail.  The instructions are very vague and don't inform completely.  This is my first telescope and I'm at a complete loss.  Thanks for any help.

Bushnell 78-4501
excellent beginners telescope. sturdy mount. Note: do not look at sun!

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:8 Mount:9 Ease of Use:8 Value:7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=343821


Bushnell 78-4501
used it only twice since I got it for christmas and seems pretty fair

Overall Rating: 7
Optics:5 Mount:8 Ease of Use:7 Value:9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=182731


Bushnell 78-4501
Setup was somewhat difficult for a first time user like myself.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:9 Mount:10 Ease of Use:5 Value:7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=168051


Bushnell 78-4501
My first "real" telescope. I havent used any professional kinds yet, so I think mine's pretty good.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:8 Mount:5 Ease of Use:4 Value:8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=163431


Bushnell 78-4501
I HAVE HAD THIS SCOPE ABOUT SIX MONTHS AND I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE IMAGES IT CAN PRODUCE, FOR $100.00 DOLLARS THIS IS A GOOD BEGINNER SCOPE, WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FOR A HUNDRED DOLLLARS

Overall Rating: 4
Optics:7 Mount:6 Ease of Use:3 Value:7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=78915


Bushnell 78-4501
This was a Christmas gift and I find it sorely lacking even for a novice like me. the reflector is not alligned and there are no instructions on how to allign it also after checking the internet I find I have a really low quality telescope here. Any help on how to make it better would be appreciated.

Overall Rating: 1
Optics:1 Mount:2 Ease of Use:1 Value:1
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=51497

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