Excelsis Ratings/Reviews - Votes:Bushnell Voyager

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Bushnell Voyager

Whlie being my first telescope I don't have much to compare it to. And also being quite studious I got really into the lingo of what I need to look out for in a telescope. While it does suffer from sphericial aberration (about 10% around the edges) I was able to bring up Saturn on my first night out. While still small it did show differations in the clouds (dimly and not much difference in colors) and it didn't show the Cassini Division. I've also noticed that this scope's specs say it's 4.5" but mine is 3". I also I couldn't get the barlow to focus on it. I should have tried practicing against the moon since it was just yesterday that it was full. For being quite the novice and getting this for Christmas I'm quite happy with how performs.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:8 Mount:10 Ease of Use:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 12/28/2004 03:14:20 am PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.153.126)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=410411

Reply Replies: 1

>Whlie being my first telescope I don't have much to compare it to. And also being quite studious I got really into the lingo of what I need to look out for in a telescope. While it does suffer from sphericial aberration (about 10% around the edges) I was able to bring up Saturn on my first night out. While still small it did show differations in the clouds (dimly and not much difference in colors) and it didn't show the Cassini Division. I've also noticed that this scope's specs say it's 4.5" but mine is 3". I also I couldn't get the barlow to focus on it. I should have tried practicing against the moon since it was just yesterday that it was full. For being quite the novice and getting this for Christmas I'm quite happy with how performs.

I got this telescope(at least I think it's the 4.5" Bushnell Voyager Reflector)from a friend and gave it away to another friend.Sounds like performance is similar to my NGC-60...but this telescope is bigger...nearly 2 whole inches bigger...it is probably better for deep-sky objects.

Bushnell Voyager

I have a 3-inch Bushnell Voyager telescope,rather than the 4.5-inch model,and I saw a similar telescope from Orion for around $100 so I think this would cost similar,so I will go from there.

After getting a .965 eyepiece(a 4mm)I took this telescope back.I later learned how to mod my 25mm eyepiece to fit in the .965 focuser.It is in-focus when I put it in,at least for stars,but for planets I seriously need to get an adapater.

Stars are points of light at 28x.At 175x,they break down,but still a bit better than my 60mm Meade Refractor I've been using for a year and a half now.The Moon is incredible at 175x,and I could still clearly see Saturn's shape at 175x,and it was still pretty bright.The Meade couldn't do that.Optically,the Bushnell is quite good.Not perfect,but I suspect a few scratches I found in the mirror may have hurt it.

The mounting is rock-solid.I tapped it at 175x and within 2/10ths of a second,it was done shaking.The Moon didn't even budge.I was quite pleased.This telescope is easy to set-up,and colimination knobs are included,so Colimination is easy as well(although mine rusted a bit and thus is forever stuck colliminated!).I found with the 25mm just sweeping can find you some interesting stuff(I found M44,the Beehive Cluster,before it was even fully dark out).What a deal.I have no finder,it's missing and I never recieved it.

Pound for pound,this $100 telescope is well worth it.It is almost ALL metal,the tripod is ultra-stable,it is easy to use/work on,and more.My only complaint is it takes .965 eyepieces standard,if it took 1.25s it would be even better.This telescope is a well-built one,I suspect this may be from when Bushnell was trying to make a name for itself and just introduced this model.How someone could have let this telescope rust in the basement is beyond me.My 3-inch Voyager is a well-built telescope,and I do not care about the rust and dings.I love it.I am going to somehow get a true 1.25" adapter and a new finder for it.The Voyager has returned as the 76mm Voyager Sky Tour,with GOTO.I don't know how good that mount is,or if the GOTO is any good,but if it is,and the mount is still stable,and the optics are as good,the $170 you pay for it is well worth it.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:8 Mount:10 Ease of Use:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 05/03/2006 04:46:30 am PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.4.123)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=504069

Reply Replies: 0

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