Bushnell NorthStar 525x 3" Motorized GoTo Reflector Telescope

Rating:
Summary: Different model, same problems
Review: First off, I just want to say that I have the model up from this scope (with the 4 inch mirror), and I have the exact same problems as with this model.
To begin, the optics are actually fairly good, but nowhere close to what bushnell says they are. My scope claims to have a magnification of 675x, but it maxes out at a more reasonable 225x. While this is a good magnification, producing clear images, it is almost rendered useless by the fact that the telescope couldn't track an object if its life depended on it. I was able to see Jupiter, its gas belts, and four of its moons, but within about 30 seconds, it completely drifted out of the eyepiece. Optics wise, this is a good scope that allowed me to see the moon, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, though only for short periods of time before I needed to re-align the scope. And just as a general warning, no matter how high the magnification is, the planet will always be about the sixe of the head of a pin. If you let your eyes focus you can begin to see details.
My main prolem with this scope is the tripod. Every one of the claims that this scope can track is not true. It says it uses some kind of revolutionary new kinematic mount that is incredibly precise. This is not true. All this scope uses is a wobbly alt-azimuth mount that is anything but capeable of tracking. It is very shaky, making it hard to focus at high magnifications.
The computer system on this scope is a total joke. It does not track mainly due to the fact that it doesn't keep time. You enter in the time when you go outside, so that the computer can then in theory point the scope to where objects are in the sky. This would work incredibly well...if it kept up with the time. The clock on the computer never changes, so if you enter in 10:25 when you go outside and check an hour later, it will still read 10:25. The location of objects does work in the sense that it can find any object at that given moment in time, but once a minute has gone by it is rendered completely useless. Seeing as how this is the main selling point for the scope, this is not a good thing.
The only other pro to go along with the optics is the finder scope. The red dot finder scope is excellent, and if for some reason you buy this scope, you sould learn to use it. It is easy to align, and is prety accurate. I only saw the things I did because I was able to use this little attachment.
Overall, you shouldn't buy this scope. The optics and finderscope don't match up to the other shortcomings. The only saving grace for me was that I got it at a reduced price. I would recommend looking at a scope in the Meade ETX series, mainly because they now have an attatchment on the mounts that makes them a simple equatorial mount, making it able to track. From the reviews I've read form that series and brand, it sounds like it may actually work.

Rating:
Summary: Very poorly made telescope
Review: For someone who even knows where the stars are in the night sky, this thing won't find any of them after you have aligned them. I found the telescope to be cheap construction and poor optics. I am just wondering if anyone has got this product to work like bushnell says it does??? I for one lost alot of respect from this company. Mabey they should stay out of telescopes, or make quality products with better manuals and customer support. I tried to phone the toll free # and got the big company run around, talking to no-one. I am taking this product back tomorrow.

Rating:
Summary: not so fun
Review: Got it for a gift and set it up and it seemed not as easy as it is says it is. Did not work , the computer was broken and it did not track . Called Bushnell for help for three days on hold for 30 min. each time no answer , I went on line and got no help . The directions are not good and not set to a beginer. I packed it up and sent it back . Good luck

Rating:
Summary: Go and get a better telescope than this one!
Review: This telescope is computer monitized. To a beginner astronomer, it looks and sounds great, but really, that's not how it works. An beginner astronomer equipped with ANY computerized telescope is gonna look at the screen and spent hours (or even days) to find out where is the stars, whereareas another astronomer equipped without the computerized monitor is going to spent hours of exploring the sky and look at the wonders. Also, it says that it's aperture (daimeter of the mirror), the most important thing, is only 3" (76mm). And it's magnifacation is 525X (look at the features) and and any telescope with 3" of aparture has the MAX magnifacation of 180X. That means you will only see a blur in the eyepeice! And you can get a telescope that has better aparture and doesn't have a humungous magnifacation (expert anstronomers uses low magnification) at a cheaper price (like Orion SpaceProbe 130mm or Celestron FirstScope 114mm)! For a beginner, I would recommend Orion or Celestron telescopes.