Celestron 71238 EclipSmart 10x42 Porro Solar Binoculars - ISO 12312-2 Compliant, Rubber Grip Surface with Multi-Coated Optics, BK7 Glass, Neck Strap and Soft Carry Case, Black

The quality of the Celestron EclipSmart 10x42 Solar Binocular is quite exceptional. The sun focuses into a very sharp sphere and is almost rendered in natural color (just slightly bluish); the optics are excellent, which is what I expect from a Celestron product.Although I purchased the binoculars for the 2017 solar eclipse, these binoculars are also useful before and after the solar eclipse. If you are interested in following sunspots year-round, this is the least expensive way to observe the sun.Pros:- Excellent optics.- The filters render a pleasing color and level of brightness. You could view the sun for a while without eye strain (although, I recommend placing a shroud over you to block out the sunlight around you).- Smooth center focus control with right eye diopter adjustment (for people of eyes that focus differently).- Very high-quality design, fit/finish.- They feel very solid and thanks to the rubberized skin, easy to grip.- Tripod adapter mount! Unscrew the cap with the Celestron logo (in front of the center focus) and purchase an inexpensive Binocular tripod adapter. With the adapter, you will be able to lock its position on the sun to allow casual observers to view the sun without the difficulty of manually looking for the sun.Cons:- I am rather surprised that Celestron didn't label these binoculars so that they stand out as obvious solar binoculars. I imagine that people will easily assume that you are crazy for looking at the sun with regular-looking binoculars. Or worse, accidentally encourage a less knowledgeable person to mimic you with regular binoculars. :-O- The filters are not removable... or at least, not easily removable. This isn't necessarily a 'con'. In fact, it is probably good that the binoculars have this single purpose, in order to avoid one from making a foolish and permanently damaging mistake.- Considering their purpose, it would have been nice for Celestron to include the tripod adapter.Overall, I am very pleased with this purchase and looking forward to using them in Wyoming, for a public viewing.[UPDATE]I have attached a photo that shows the EclipSmart binoculars attached to a tripod, using the Celestron 93524 Binocular Tripod Adapter Celestron 93524 Binocular Tripod Adapter (Black). This little connector is recommended to make it easier to find and lock in on the sun for extended periods of time. I am also using a Gosky Gosky Universal Cell Phone Adapter Mount - Compatible with Binocular Monocular Spotting Scope Telescope and Microscope - For iPhone Sony Samsung Moto Etc -Record the Nature of the World cell phone adapter to connect my smartphone to one of the eyepieces.*EYE DAMAGE WARNING*Question: Why can't I use regular binoculars to view the sun if I am wearing protective solar eclipse glasses?More than once, I've been asked if one can use regular binoculars to look at the sun if they are wearing solar eclipse glasses. I cannot emphasize this enough... NO, NO, NO! You cannot do that! Attempting to do so will cause irreversible damage to your eyes because regular binoculars will concentrate enough sunlight to instantly burn through ANY solar eclipse glasses. If you wish to have a closer view of the sun, you must purchase specially made binoculars, designed to filter the sunlight BEFORE it enters the optics. I hope this public service warning will save, at least, one person's vision. :)*EYE DAMAGE WARNING*

Update after viewing eclipse: both pair worked well, the larger pair made seeing sun spots easier, which was a nice bonus as the moon was starting to cover up the sun since it provided reference points to be able to see the moons motion relative to the sun. I mounted the larger pair on a chair and was very happy, everyone took a turn viewing sub with them. I've been taking the filters off and on with the bigger pair, so getting normal use out of them as well. Very happy with these, larger pair was worth the extra money for comfort (eye relief) and better visibility of sun spots. I imagine I will still use larger pair from time to time to check out sun spots.Original review:I bought both sizes. They have the same magnification. I didn't realize that at first, haven't used binoculars much before. The difference is the size of the objective. From what I gather the main benefit of that normally is that more light gets in and the image is brighter. But for viewing the sun, the brightness isn't an issue, in fact the whole purpose of these is a very very dark filter on the front. That said, the bigger ones are a bit more comfortable to use - the size itself seems to help, and I think perhaps the image is easier to see from farther back off the eye piece. Also note the smaller pair is a roof prism style (I think that's what it's called) that goes straight back where he bigger pair are the offset size that I think give a bit wider field of view. I also find it easier to hold the bigger ones and that they fit against my eyes easier.I also was surprised at first not to see sun spots, but then looked up that we are in a sun spot drought to a degree. Apparently sun spots go through cycles and we are in a low point. Today though, I easily saw a sun spot with both pairs. The larger pair seemed a touch easier and more comfy, but I think the image was largely the same with both.Also, as another review pointed out, the filters easily unscrew out of the big pair giving you dual functionality (so you also have a normal pair of binoculars). It doesn't seem the smaller ones do (haven't tried too hard for fear of messing them up).

These are really good. I purchased them last spring for the 2017 Great American Eclipse, and was impressed. My wife got some cheapie paper eclipse glasses from Amazon, who were kind enough to return her money when it was discovered the glasses were not safe. She then ordered a pair of these binoculars after using mine, on July 25, 2017 or some ridiculously late date when everything was sold out; they shipped the same day and arrived well before the eclipse!! The binoculars are 10x42, which is supposed to mean that the sun is magnified by a factor of 10x, and the aperture is 42mm. They do magnify (10x? Mmmm..., could be), they collimate perfectly, and the sun can be put into extremely sharp focus using the main and secondary (right eye) focusers. You can observe sunspots and other surface features clearly, but the penumbral structures in the spots may not be magnified enough to see any decent radial structures within - and that could be my eyesight, which used to be perfect but now is less than so. I use these binocs on a daily basis to see if it might be worthwhile to put the white light filter on the telescope and study some sunspots. They are well-made and look like they will last for centuries with the appropriate care. We went up to the Malheur National Forest near the Oregon/Idaho border for the eclipse. I got a lot of queries from other eclipse watchers, and almost everyone was very impressed with the views through these binocs. We had set up a 11" Schmidt-Cassegrain scope, with an excellent eyepiece, but most of the inexperienced viewers preferred the binoculars (because it takes practice to use a telescope comfortably).