Welcome to my Celestron Travel Scope 70 review!
As an avid amateur astronomer who loves to take my telescope on the road, I was eager to test out the Travel Scope 70.
This lightweight, compact telescope seemed like the perfect option for portability without sacrificing quality.
But was the purchase the right one? Am I pleased? Am I satisfied?
Well, after taking it out for many observation sessions over the past few months, I’m ready to share my thorough review.
If you’re looking for a telescope to take with you on camping trips, air travel, or just quick jaunts out to dark skies from the city, keep reading.
I’ll give you an in-depth look at the Travel Scope 70’s optics, accessories, ease of use, and performance under different conditions.
You’ll get the real scoop on how well this scope stands up to its claims of being a great grab-and-go telescope for beginners and experts alike.
Short of time? Here is my Celestron Travel Scope 70 Review:
Quick Verdict
I would wholeheartedly recommend the Celestron Travel Scope 70.
Its effortless setup and remarkable portability promise a hassle-free experience, ensuring you can get observing the cosmos/nature quicker and never miss a moment.
It looks fantastic, is built to last and can easily be transported around in (the included) padded backpack.
You’ll struggle to find a telescope of its quality anywhere near this price point.
Celestron Travel Scope 70 Review
I recommend the Celestron Travel Scope 70 for novice and traveling astronomers seeking an affordable, portable telescope. Despite its compact size, it provides quality views of lunar, planetary, deep sky and terrestrial targets.
Personal Testing Results
Having spent considerable time with the Celestron Travel Scope 70, I have conducted a thorough evaluation of this telescope across various key aspects.
This involved scrutinizing the optical quality for clarity, sharpness, and color fidelity, essential for a rewarding stargazing experience.
I also examined the magnification power and the aperture size of the telescope to determine its effectiveness in celestial viewing.
The build quality was another critical area of my assessment, focusing on the telescope’s durability and the comfort it offers during extended observation sessions.
I tested the Celestron Travel Scope 70 under various lighting conditions, with a special emphasis on its performance in low-light scenarios to understand its capabilities in night sky observation.
Furthermore, I conducted a comparative analysis, positioning the Celestron Travel Scope 70 against similar telescopes in the market to gauge its standing.
Below are the results of my comprehensive testing of the Celestron Travel Scope 70:
Overall Score: 7
| Testing Feature/Aspect | Score (1-10) |
|---|---|
| Optical Quality | 7 |
| Magnification & Focal Length | 7 |
| Mount Stability & Tracking | 6 |
| Ease of Use | 8 |
| Build Quality & Durability | 7 |
| Astrophotography Capability | 5 |
| Additional Features | 7 |
| User Experience | 8 |
| Value for Money | 8 |
| Customer Support & Warranty | 7 |
My Testing Criteria
Below are the various tests I ran, and a brief description as to what each testing feature/aspect included:
- Optical Quality
- Test clarity and sharpness by observing known celestial objects.
- Check for chromatic aberration around bright objects.
- Evaluate light gathering ability in low light conditions for faint stars or deep sky objects.
- Magnification and Focal Length
- Test different eyepieces for various magnifications.
- Assess the field of view for observing large objects or star fields.
- Mount Stability and Tracking
- Evaluate the stability of the mount and vibration transmission.
- For motorized mounts, test tracking accuracy for long exposure astrophotography.
- Ease of Use
- Assess the ease of setup and portability.
- Evaluate the simplicity of the alignment process.
- Build Quality and Durability
- Check the quality of materials and overall construction.
- Assess weather resistance against dew or light moisture.
- Astrophotography Capability
- Test compatibility with cameras and assess the quality of astrophotography.
- Evaluate the quality of photos, especially for deep-sky objects.
- Additional Features
- Test functionality and user-friendliness of smart features like GPS or Go-To technology.
- Review the quality and usefulness of included accessories.
- User Experience
- Consider the ergonomics, such as eye relief and viewing position.
- Assess the learning curve for both beginners and advanced users.
- Value for Money
- Compare features and performance with other telescopes in the same price range.
- Customer Support and Warranty
- Gather information about the warranty, customer service, and availability of replacement parts.
- Testing Process
- Conduct multiple observation sessions in various conditions.
- Compare with other telescopes of similar specifications.
My Video Review
My Photos Of The Telescope
What I Like About The Celestron Travel Scope 70
Speed of Setup/Dismantling
One of the best things about the Travel Scope 70 is how fast you can get it set up and ready to observe.
As an impatient stargazer, I love that I can have it fully assembled in just 5 minutes once I got the hang of it.
Even if you’ve never used it before, it only takes 10-15 minutes to get it up and running.
With just 8 simple steps to put the components together, setup is a breeze.
Over time you’ll get even faster at assembling and dismantling this portable scope.
General Design and Instrument Quality
The overall design and quality of this little refractor telescope punches above its weight class.
The manual alt-azimuth mount makes pointing intuitive without complex levers or knobs.
I also appreciate the fully multi-coated optics that maximize light transmission for bright, vivid images.
The telescope has a nice look and feel that belies its affordable price tag.
Use and Versatility
A major plus is that the Travel Scope 70 isn’t just for astronomy – it doubles as a killer terrestial telescope for wildlife viewing, scenery, and more.
The image diagonal delivers correctly oriented views which is great for daytime sightseeing.
Whether I’m scoping out birds at sunrise or gazing at the moon at midnight, this scope has me covered.
Accessories
The included accessories enhance functionality for a great out-of-the-box experience.
The 10mm and 20mm eyepieces provide nice low and higher magnification options.
The padded travel bag has compartments to securely hold all the components.
And the erect image diagonal allows you to see vistas right-side up – very handy.
Value For Money
Considering the optical quality, versatile capabilities, and useful accessories, the Celestron Travel Scope 70 delivers excellent value.
Sure if you compare its optics to some of the premium telescopes it does not compare, but this telescope delivers a lot at its price point and is between 5-20x cheaper than those at the top of the market.
Who Is The Celestron Travel Scope 70 Best For?
The Celestron Travel Scope 70 is perfect for beginning stargazers, travelers, and anyone who wants an easy-to-use grab-and-go telescope, such as young kids.
The manual alt-azimuth mount and accessories like the finderscope make pointing and tracking objects straightforward. Total beginners will appreciate how intuitive it is to use.
Kids love this scope too! It’s simple enough for children but still shows amazing lunar, planetary and star cluster views to spark their interest in astronomy.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy The Celestron Travel Scope 70?
For anyone seeking an affordable, portable scope that delivers quality views, the Travel Scope 70 is a fantastic option. It excels in versatility – great for night sky watching or daylight nature/birding.
While serious astrophotographers may want a more advanced scope, I think the Travel Scope 70 is ideal for casual astronomy.
It’s budget-friendly, easy to use, and compact enough to take wherever your adventures may lead.
So if you’re eager to explore the skies but need a grab-and-go telescope, I highly recommend adding the Travel Scope 70 to your astronomy toolkit!
When it comes to getting your hands on it, without doubt the best place to do so is on Amazon. You’ll benefit from speedy delivery and more often than not, the best price.
Click here to visit the Amazon Celestron Travel Scope 70 product page directly here.
In the market for a telescope? Read my other telescope reviews:
- Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Review
- Celestron PowerSeeker 50az Telescope Review
- Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ Review
Hey, my name is Jeremy. I’m a passionate and seasoned astronomer who loves nothing more than observing the night sky. I also love researching, learning, and writing all things Space and the Universe. I created Astronomy Scope to share my knowledge, experience, suggestions, and recommendations of what I have learned along the way while helping anyone to get into and maximize their enjoyment of the hobby.
