Gskyer Astronomical 70x400mm is a standard refracting telescope with all the primary features that one seeks in a telescope. Thanks to its affordability and extensivity of specifications, this telescope has become one of the most appreciated Gskyer products.
The key factor about this telescope is that it is incredibly user-friendly and is utterly suitable for kids. If you want to know more about the Gskyer AZ astronomical refractor telescope, check out the following Gskyer telescope 70mm aperture 400mm review. Below is a detailed guide that can inform you regarding the specifications and functioning of the Gskyer 70x400mm telescope.
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Gskyer telescope 70mm aperture 400mm review
Of all the Gskyer AZ astronomical refractor telescopes, the Gskyer 70x400mm is one of the most popular ones. The reason behind its popularity is that besides being extremely beginner-friendly, it also has a few advanced features and specifications that are rarely present in other Gskyer telescopes. The Gskyer telescope az70400 review mentioned below will help you understand this telescope better.
What Comes in the Gskyer 70x400mm Set?
With the Gskyer 70x400mm telescoping set, you have the following accessories.
- 1X Telescoping Tube
- 10mm Eyepiece
- 25mm Eyepiece
- A 3X Barlow Lens
- 1X Finderscope
- 1X Zenith Mirror
- 1X Aluminum Tripod
- 1X Bluetooth Remote
- 1X Phone Holder
- 1X Carry Bag
- A User Manual
Specifications
| Objective Lens Diameter | 70mm (2.75”) |
| Focal Length | 400mm (f/5.7) |
| Type of Telescope | Refractor |
| Type of Focus | Manual |
| Type of Mount | Alt-azimuth |
| Barlow Lens | 3X |
| Finderscope | 5*24 |
| Maximum Magnification | 120X |
| Weight | 5.64lbs |
Now that you know the primary specifications and accessories of a Gskyer 70x400mm telescope, it is time to study its features and functionality.
Product Description
In the Gskyer telescope 70mm aperture 400mm review, first, we shall talk about the telescoping tube of this set. The telescope features a refractor tube, which means that this telescope is easy to use and can also be used for astrophotography, as the image quality of refractor telescopes is brilliant.
The telescope has an objective diameter of around 70mm, and the focal length of the telescoping tube stands at 400mm. The focal length range is sufficient to evaluate the maximum lens compression. Though this telescope can be used for observing celestial bodies, its focal length is ideal for monitoring terrestrial objects and can also be used for wildlife photography.
When it comes to magnification, this telescope comes with two replaceable eyepieces. The focal length of one eyepiece is 25mm, while the other is 10mm. These eyepieces are aligned in the telescope to provide a maximum magnification of up to 120X.
With such an extensive magnification range, you can easily observe and study the details of planets, their moons, and a few stars. The maximum magnification of this telescope can be accelerated by using a 3X Barlow lens that comes complementary to this set. The lens can increase the magnification of the telescope by three times.
As mentioned earlier, the Gskyer AZ70400 telescope comes with an extensive set of accessories, and thus, the set also includes a 5*24 finderscope. The finderscope can be highly beneficial for beginners as it can help them locate bright celestial bodies.
Similarly, you also have a Zenith mirror with this telescoping set. Stars are pretty hard to locate in the sky, but you can easily find the stars using the Zenith mirror. However, since the magnification range of the telescope is not so high, you can observe the stars and not study them elaboratively.
Besides these main components, the Gskyer AZ70400 telescope also comes with a phone holder that can mount the mobile over the telescope. By doing so, you can capture the observations made through the telescope.
A Bluetooth remote control is also included in the accessories and is employed for controlling the telescope. But the best part about the set is that it comes with a foldable aluminium alloy tripod and a carrying bag. The inclusion of these items in the set makes the set portable and travel-friendly.
A user manual also comes with this telescoping set. But they comprise the weakest and poorest accessory in this set. The user manual is neither elaborative nor beginner-friendly. That is why many people can face problems in understanding this user manual. The same case is valid for other Gskyer telescopes as well. But this Gskyer telescope 70mm aperture 400mm review will help you determine you the functionality and usage of this telescope.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly
- Extremely affordable
- Suitable for kids
- Comes with a tripod
- Travel-friendly
- Suitable for non-professional astrophotography
Cons
- Difficult to assemble
- Limited magnification range
- Not suitable for professional use
Detailed Review of Gskyer AZ 70400 Telescope
The detailed Gskyer telescope 70mm aperture 400mm review will provide an elaborative analysis of this telescope. By analyzing the telescope’s specifications, you will know whether this telescope is suitable for your needs. The following are a few aspects that must be comprehensively discussed in the Gskyer 70mm astronomical refractor telescope review.
- Magnification Range
The aspect that needs to be foremost highlighted in a telescope is its magnification range. With the Gskyer 70mm astronomical refractor telescope, you receive two eyepieces. In some advanced Gskyer telescopes, three eyepieces are also present. But since this telescope is intended for beginners, it has only two eyepieces.
As mentioned earlier, the focal length of the larger eyepiece is Gskyer telescope 25mm, while the smaller eyepiece is 10mm. These eyepieces work together in a 400mm telescoping tube to provide a maximum magnification of up to 120X. With this magnification range, you can observe all the planets in the solar system. However, this telescope’s elaborative observation of distant celestial bodies is quite difficult.
Most telescopes have fixed eyepieces, implying that their maximum magnification range cannot be altered. But unlike the other telescopes, the Gskyer 70mm astronomical refractor telescope has replaceable eyepieces. It means you can buy separate eyepieces of variable magnification and use them with this telescope.
The telescope also comes with a 3X Barlow lens, which can be used when you study your subject in detail. For instance, if you want to study the Mars planet, then you can align this Barlow lens in front of the eyepieces and increase the overall magnification of the telescope. In this way, the telescope will be able to provide you with more detailed and comprehensive observations of Mars.
- Aperture and Focal Length
The objective lens diameter is 70mm, and the focal length is 400mm. Telescopes having low focal lengths can make sightings blurry and distorted. But fortunately, the focal length of this telescope is sufficient enough to provide you with high-resolution observations.
The aperture of this telescope is not impressive enough. In a refractor telescope, the aperture size holds utter importance. Because the more significant the aperture of a telescope is, the better the image will be. But the aperture (objective lens diameter) of this telescope is merely 70mm, making it an “entry-level” telescope.
Though the image quality of this telescope is pretty satisfactory, it is not diverse enough to classify the Gskyer telescope 70400 as suitable for professional usage. Therefore, due to its small aperture size, this telescope cannot be classified as an “expert” telescope and is only viable for beginners and hobbyists.
- Alt-azimuth Mount
The type of mount a telescope highly impacts its overall quality and functionality. Gskyer telescope 70400 features an alt-azimuth mount, also called a ‘still mount.’ The alt-azimuth mount moves in only two directions, i.e., upwards and downwards. Therefore, you cannot track the motion of celestial bodies like comets and moons through this telescope.
To aptly observe constantly movie subjects, you may have to change the position of the telescope every few minutes. Still, the alt-azimuth mount has tons of benefits. One of the advantages is that it can be used for still astrophotography. Alt-azimuth mount fulfills all the requirements mandatory for still-photography of celestial bodies. Not only this mount makes the process easier, but the quality of images is also excellent.
Moreover, the alt-azimuth mount is highly beginner-friendly. Compared to the other type, i.e., equatorial mount, the alt-azimuth is easier to use and move. It is not only lightweight but also has user-friendly usage, which makes its operation smooth and hassle-free.
- Finderscope and Zenith Mirror
The two most notable accessories in the Gskyer telescope 70400 set are the finderscope and Zenith mirror. Usually, with a high-end professional telescope, one has to separately buy these accessories, which only causes further financial strain. But with this telescope, you can have all these essential accessories for free.
The reason behind their inclusion is that the Gskyer telescopes are dedicated to beginners, kids, and hobbyists. Thus, the brand focuses on including all the necessary components in their telescopes so that people can be familiar with the use of the telescope and its accessories.
The finderscope is a small tube mounted on top of the telescoping tube. Like the telescope, the finderscope also has an eyepiece in front of it, but it is non-replaceable. As discussed earlier, the finderscope is used for locating bright celestial bodies.
Most of the time, it becomes difficult to locate celestial bodies, and the task becomes even more complicated when a user is inexperienced. In such situations, the finderscope can be extremely useful as it can easily locate the celestial bodies. But one aspect you should note is that the finderscope only works for bright celestial bodies such as stars and moons.
Now talking about the Zenith mirror, it is used to locate stars in the sky. Stars are distant celestial bodies; that is why they are typically more challenging to identify than other objects. Beginners and hobbyists with a standard telescope like this one might find it harder to locate stars through this telescope. The Zenith mirror can be extremely helpful to such people as it easily discovers stars in the sky.
Locating distant stars and constellation patterns becomes fairly effortless through a Zenith mirror. But since the aperture of this telescope isn’t that large, therefore, the proper study of stars is quite challenging. Still, you can track them via the Zenith mirror and have a vague star sighting.
Aluminum Alloy Tripod
The Gskyer telescope 70400 set includes an aluminum alloy tripod which is surprisingly quality-wise pretty good. Usually, with a telescope, you don’t receive a tripod, but with this telescope, which is already inexpensive, you get to have a premium quality telescope for free.
Besides being sturdy, the aluminum alloy tripod is also portable and travel-friendly. The tripod does not have a rigid shape and can be folded in a compact size. The compact size of the tripod aptly fits the carry bag that comes with the telescope and can be carried around easily.
Portability
Many people neglect the importance of portability in a telescope. But if you want to explore a wide range of terrestrial and celestial objects with your telescope, then portability is the utmost aspect to seek in your telescoping set.
If the telescoping set is not travel-friendly enough, you may face difficulty in carrying the telescope around. Thus, the telescope must have portable features.
Fortunately, the Gskyer 70mm astronomical refractor telescope, besides having an extensive set of features, is pretty travel-friendly. Not only is the telescope lightweight, but the set is also relatively compact.
The carry bag that comes with the telescope might appear small, but it can fit the telescoping tube and the accessories easily. The bag’s quality is also pretty sturdy, implying that it is sustainable and viable for long-term usage.
Observations Made Through Gskyer Telescope 70400
In the review of the Gskyer telescope, 70mm aperture 400mm az mount astronomical refracting tube, it is also crucial to analyze the extent of observations you can make through this telescope.
If you are expecting that you can observe a diverse range of celestial and terrestrial objects through this telescope, then it is utterly wrong. As mentioned earlier, this telescope does not have a comprehensive magnification, and its aperture is also pretty average.
Still, beginners and hobbyists exploring space for the first time will find this telescope pretty functional. One can observe the solar system and its planets with this telescope. Moreover, high-resolution images of Mars and Jupiter can also be taken from Gskyer telescope 70400.
You can also study the details of planets and moons through this telescope, but unfortunately, observation of distant stars and comets is quite tricky. However, due to its easy usage and hassle-free operation, this telescope is exceptionally beneficial for youngsters and newbies.
Buying Guide for the Gskyer 70mm Astronomical Refractor Telescope
The following is an elaborative buying guide for the Gskyer 70mm astronomical refractor telescope that can help you determine the crucial factors to consider while buying a telescope.
Type of Telescoping Tube
The foremost aspect that you need to determine while buying a telescope is the type of telescope you want to opt for. The two most popular types of telescopes are; refractor and reflector telescopes. Cassegrains are another type of telescope, but due to their uncanny resemblance with reflector telescopes, they are not classified as a major classification.
Refractor Telescope
This type of telescope features a closed telescoping tube, having primary and secondary lenses. The light enters the telescope through one side, and then, after multiple reflections, the image is formed at the other end of the telescope, i.e., the observer’s end.
The refractor telescopes are lighter and easier to use than reflector telescopes. Moreover, they have a wider variety of uses than the other type because these telescopes involve the use of lenses. If the telescope lenses are of optimal quality and have a big aperture, then one can even study the details of planets and stars through this telescope.
Besides that, the refractor telescopes are also easier to maintain than the reflectors. Since they have a closed tube, you don’t have to clean them frequently, and they prove to be relatively sustainable, implying that they are perfect for long-term usage.
Reflector Telescope
Reflector telescopes feature an open tube from one end, while the end has a “primary mirror” at the bottom. Rays enter the telescope from the open end the telescope. After getting reflected at a smaller angle by the secondary mirror, the rays reach the end of the tube, where it enters the eyepiece, also called the “Observer’s end.”
Reflector telescopes are ideal for those who want to observe distant celestial bodies. The reflectors work aptly with a big aperture mirror and thus, makes these type of telescopes suitable for professional usage.
However, the reflector telescope is more difficult to use than the previous one. It is suggested that you should first master a typical refractor telescope, like Gskyer telescopes, and then opt for a reflector. They are heavier and more complicated, limiting their preference among professional astronomers.
Since the refractor telescopes are the most popular kind and are relatively more beginner-friendly, the Gskyer brand offers a wide range of refractors and features only one reflector equatorial telescope.
Type of Mount
The next aspect you need to analyze in a telescope is its mount. Generally, there exist two types of mounts in telescopes, i.e., alt-azimuth and equatorial. The alt-azimuth mount is instead a more beginner-friendly type. At the same time, the equatorial mount is strictly intended for professional purposes.
Alt-Azimuth Mount
The alt-azimuth mount can only move in two directions, i.e., up and down. You cannot rotate or move it sideways, making it a fixed mount. This mount type is preferred for still-astrophotography, as it provides excellent focus, and the resolution is also pretty impressive.
Equatorial Mount
Equatorial is a more advanced type of mount that can rotate along the axis of Earth and provides more coverage than the alt-azimuth mount. This mount is suitable for those people who want to track celestial bodies and want to record their videos.
The Gskyer brand features equatorial and alt-azimuth mounts, but if you want a beginner-friendly telescope, opt for a telescope with an alt-azimuth mount. Because the equatorial mount cannot be heavier to handle, its operations are also pretty complicated.
Accessories
The set of accessories you receive with the telescope will also play a key role in determining the efficiency of the telescoping set. Usually, advanced telescopes do not have an extensive collection of accessories. But since, since they are meant for professional use, the elaborative inclusion of accessories does not matter much.
But when you opt for beginner-friendly and hobbyist-oriented telescopes, having an appropriate set of accessories is pretty mandatory. Fortunately, Gskyer offers a wide range of accessories, making it a suitable telescope for hobbyists and newbies.
Portability
If you plan to travel with your telescope, then portability is another factor you should seek in a telescope. Equatorial reflector telescopes are typically the heavier ones, while the alt-azimuth refractor telescope is the lightest.
Besides weight, you should also seek whether the telescoping set comes with an adjustable telescope and a carry bag. Most brands include a tripod in their set, but the carry bag is usually missing. However, no such thing happens with Gskyer telescopes, as they feature tripods and carrying bags.
Final Verdict
The Gskyer telescope 70mm aperture 400mm az mount astronomical refracting is one of the most affordable telescopes from the Gskyer brand. Anyone who wants to use the telescope as a hobby or is starting astronomy for the first time should try this telescope.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What can you see with the Gskyer telescope 70mm aperture 400mm?
With this telescope, you can observe the entire solar system, i.,e., planets, their moons, and the sun. However, it is suggested that you use sun and moon filters while observing the sun and moons through the telescope, as it will protect your eyes. Stars and comets can also be vaguely observed through this telescope, but you cannot study them thoroughly as the aperture isn’t that large.
- Is Gskyer telescope 70400 expensive?
The Gskyer 70400 is a highly affordable telescope and is perfect for those who seek a budgeted and beginner-friendly telescoping set. The Gskyer brand is the only brand that offers such extensive telescoping within a minimal price range.