Telescope Reviewer

Celestron PowerSeeker 80AZS Review: Telescope for beginners

The Celestron Powerseeker 80AZS comes as an entry-level telescope designed to allow wide field views of bright celestial objects including the planets, moon, and star. With an 80mm aperture and 400mm focal length, the unit allows enough light for bright and clear images. Its size and weight are manageable so you can view on the go.

For ease of use, the unit is offered with a manual alt-azimuth mount and a 5×24 Finderscope, allowing you to locate and point objects with ease. It features a professional design with its optical tube accommodating all standard eyepieces. Ergo, you can upgrade whenever you need better magnification.

The unit features a solid construction, which makes it long lasting. Better yet, you are offered all necessary accessories to get you started; this is among the highlights of this telescope. During use, this telescope feels comfortable and easy. This text is an evaluation of the Celestron Powerseeker 80AZS Telescope’s Performance.

What is Celestron Powerseeker 80AZS?

The Celestron Powerseeker 80AZS is a telescope designed for children and beginner astronomers. It is offered with accessories including an eyepiece, tripod and mount, rack-and-pinion focuser and an erect image diagonal. This makes it an ideal unit for astronomers who want to get started immediately.

It is a powerful telescope allowing you to observe celestial bodies with great preciseness and also observe terrestrial objects. This is enhanced by the image-erect prism, which corrects the orientation of the images vertically and horizontally. While viewing terrestrially, you can watch birds, wildlife and insects.

celestron telescope

celestron telescope bodycelestron telescope viewpiececelestron powerseeker telescope

(Click image to see more pictures on Amazon)

It is even better as a terrestrial viewing optical instrument thanks to the altitude locking bar fitted on the mount. This lets you track animals as they move. Every part of the telescope is created sturdy and long lasting. The adjustable aluminum tripod makes it comfortable for you to observe through the telescope. Each of the tripod legs is independently adjustable, making it easier to adjust on uneven terrain. The tripod has a removable accessory tray where you can place your eyepiece and other accessories.

Product Information

Dimensions Weight Batteries Aperture Focal Length Software
19 by 40 by 55 inches 80mm 400mm

Pros & Cons of Using the Celestron Powerseeker 80AZS

Pros

  • High optical power for a beginner telescope
  • Sports a professional design
  • Offered at a relatively affordable price
  • Comes with necessary accessories to get you started
  • Multi-coated optics increase transmission of light
  • High-resolution, producing bright images
  • Integrated drew-shield reduces condensation on the objective lens
  • Easy to focus thanks to Finderscope and Rack-and-Pinion Focuser
  • Can be used on-the-go thanks to compact design

Cons

  • Only offered with one eyepiece

Where to Find the Celestron Powerseeker 80AZS

Celestron sells their products on Amazon among other online stores. The telescope is available in online specialty stores such as BH Photo Video, or retail website such as Amazon where you can pick it up for around $129.

Price revisions are common with Celestron telescopes and discounts are common. A used Celestron Powerseeker 80AZS Telescope retails at $100 – $105. These used telescopes mirror new ones, making them suitable for budget buyers.

celestron powerseeker

(Click image to see more pictures on Amazon)

Telescope Performance

Though the Celestron Powerseeker 80AZS is a beginner telescope, it delivers clear and crisp images. This makes it suitable for students of astronomy. It is designed with an 80mm aperture, 400mm focal length and f/5 focal ratio. This allows enough light to pass through to create bright images.

This is a refractor style telescope designed with anti-reflection multi-coated optics. This enhances color rendition and contrast. The unit sports 1.74 arcsecs Raleigh and 1.45 arcsec Dawes resolution.

To ensure that you focus with ease, the telescope comes with a rack-and-pinion focuser.

The 1.25-inch barrel diameter of this telescope accepts all 1.25-inch astronomical filters. This makes the unit adaptable to different viewing conditions. Unlike most beginner telescopes, which are offered with up to three eyepieces and a bonus Barlow lens, the Celestron Powerseeker 80AZS only comes with a single 20mm eyepiece, offering up to 20x magnification. This lowers the overall maximum magnification of this telescope, but you can buy more eyepieces to upgrade.

A 5×24 Finderscope and a 90-degree image erect prism make it easier to use this telescope. You cannot, however, use this telescope for photography as it is not offered with software to integrate it with a computer.

Extra Info

The Barlow lens and extra eyepieces are conspicuously missing from this telescope. Nonetheless, the price of this unit is great, allowing you to purchase any missing accessories that you might require.

Maintenance Advice

When good care is taken, your telescope will last long. Ensure that you use it in dust-free and moisture free areas to protect the lenses. When dust gathers on the lenses and the optical tube, blow it off using an air can. For smudge and dirt, a soft lens and a few drops of isopropyl alcohol should be used to wipe.

When not in use, keep the telescope safely in a hard case.

Accessories

You will be offered:

  • Rack-and-pinion focuser
  • Tripod
  • 90-degree erect image diagonal
  • Alt-azimuth mount
  • 5×24 Finderscope
  • Accessories tray with eyepiece holes
  • 20mm Eyepiece
  • Altitude adjustment bar

While a carton case is offered with the unit, you can buy a backpack for traveling. You can also buy a hard case to store your telescope when not in use. You might need to buy a higher magnification eyepiece and a Barlow lens to increase the magnification for clearer images.

(See more product details and prices on Amazon)

Warranty and Guarantee Information

Celestron offers you a 2-year limited warranty with each telescope purchase. This is enhanced by a guarantee of satisfaction. You can return Celestron telescopes that are defective or do not perform as the manufacturer claims.

Our Recommendation

Celestron is a popular brand, and the Celestron Powerseeker 80AZS is one of their best beginner telescopes. The unit is designed for use terrestrially and celestially. It comes in handy for beginners or experienced users who need to quickly view while on the go. Click here to purchase the Celestron Powerseeker 80AZS Telescope and start exploring today!

What is your take on the features of this telescope?

1 thought on “Celestron PowerSeeker 80AZS Review: Telescope for beginners”

  1. Good day

    I just purchased 80azs Powerseeker, however where can I get a barlow lens for it and which one is suitable for the 80azs. Thought one came with it

    Luke

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