Monocular Telescope - 12x56 High Powered, Compact, Dust-Proof, Waterproof, Handheld Scope with Smartphone Adapter and Metal Tripod - Ideal for Hunting, Stargazing, Birdwatching, and Outdoor Adventures

I did my research and looked at many options before making my choice of a 12x50 High Power Monocular Telescope. First of all, I will start with the monocular which is light weight about 8.4oz, powerful, compact size that is perfect for traveling with a high-quality lens. Second of all and what I like the most is the cell phone holder which is really easy to use, what surprised me the most is that you get two types of phone holder in the box, one for small smartphones and the second one for larger smartphones, so you don't have to worry about your phone size... both are really easy to connect to the scope. The tripod is also made from good-quality materials and is enough stable to provide quality pictures. In the box there is a lifetime warranty card... so I believe this is pretty cool, instructions, cleaning cloth, hand strap and a case for the monocular which is really nice I took the little monocular to try it and once I connected it to the phone I was surprised how far and clear this scope can go, I took some pictures of two beautiful ducks that were about 350ft away from the camera and the result is amazing, I can't wait to take it with me in my next adventure. Overall, this is very easy to assemble and very straightforward to use, with great accessories and great quality lens, I will definitely recommend this monocular... really worth the money

I purchased this item as An “open box” as a casual scope to keep in my car for birding. For less than $6 I received a mid-level monoscope with surprisingly excellent quality, very easy to use and with a holding strap that allows me to easily locate and sharpen images with one hand. The included mini-tripod was sturdy and the carry case was not bad. The images were sharp and lens quality rivaled that of more expensive brands. The camera attachment was not great but i it wasn’t why i made the purchase. The lens caps were a thick rubber and stay in a place well. The bottom lens cover is attached to the scope but even though the eyepiece cover is not attached, it stays in place and I’ve not lost it yet (a miracle considering I misplaced the lens caps in the 2-3 days for both sets of binoculars and for my telescope). I would recommend if this is the magnification and lens size that you need, and you are using them as a hobbyist. Im cannot judge the appropriateness of any monoculars or binoculars for professional use, but I am familiar with lens quality as a microscopist and saw no obvious flaws. I believe that most would consider the purchase to be a pleasant experience, even at the reasonable full price of <$40.

Despite all the hype around "StarScope" - not this item but very similar - neither are "Zoom" monoculars or lenses. These are a *fixed* 12x monocular (half a 'binocular') or a lens for smart camera. I spent at least 15 minutes trying to find the zoom control before reading the description carefully. -1 Star for hype. That said, this item is impressive and includes the 12x Monocular/lens, storage bar, tripod, smart phone adapter, tripod mount, lanyard, front and rear lens covers, cleaning cloth, and very rudimentary instructions. Plus a card for a free {surprise} and a link to YouTube for instructions which the most popular has less than 300 views. There are other YouTube videos with honest reviews of the StarScope. Update: -1 star for saying this is a 50mm objective lens, it's actually just 42 (?) mm. Update 2: Added back one star, I was over influenced by StarScope hype, HD360pro didn't do that. But not focus control reads 12x50, IPX7, Waterproof, 288ft at 1000yds. I can't confirm the 12x zoom, actual measurement of the objective lense is closer to 40mm, and 288ft at 1000 yds is nowhere near a "wide field of view." To their credit, they emailed me and offered a refund if I was not satisfied. For the price I paid, this is well worth it, just not 5 stars due to misstatements in the description.

Excellent quality. Well constructed. Crisp and clear images. Portable, but the tripod and attachment for a smartphone camera is brilliant. If you hold it up and look, you will see it has a rather narrow field of view. It is ideal for setting up a shot and taking it. It is NOT a zoom lens, but rather a relatively powerful fixed lens, feeling a bit like a telescope. Nice product and fabulous price. A satisfied customer.

It’s a gift but looks awesome when I tried it out.

First, I am not an optics expert of any kind! I purchased this monocular and gave it a try expecting a great device from all the positive reviews. I find it is probably not 12x as advertised. I compared it to a small Nikon 10x21.5 and cheap Bushnell 8x21 binoculars using both as a monocular. The magnification appeared to my untrained eyes to be about equal to or maybe just a bit more than 8x. The image was nice and clear, easy to focus. In low light, the 50mm did not appear to be any brighter than my cheap 8x21 or our little Nikon 10x21.5. When focusing on distant objects, I had to re-focus often as the depth of field appeared to be very limited. It does focus close, about 15-20 feet, if that is your thing. The phone adapter is hard to align and almost useless without a tripod. Not something you are going to whip out and snap a photo with, it takes plenty of time. I actually did ok just holding the monocular to my phone instead of using the holder and using my knee to stabilize. You will get a round image in the center of the photo frame, not full frame, unless you use zoom on your phone. I was not happy with this monocular and returned it. I purchased a Celestron Upclose 10x25 and it appears to have more magnification and is every bit as bright a view in decent light. I found the Upclose to be as good or better in low light. Cost is one third, weight and diameter is at least half. Upclose is not quite as wide a field of view as this 12x50 but the focusing depth of field is much better using the Upclose over this 12x50. I did not do a direct comparison as the 12x50 had been returned. If I were to need a large diameter monocular I would now spend more and get a better quality, name brand device. If you need something for casual use, I suggest spending much less on the Upclose.

If you're on a budget, this is one of the most powerful pieces of equipment a beginning birder could own. The zoom isn't quite far enough to see birds on a large lake, but it is more than sufficient for identification in most birding environments. It can get closer than my current pair of binoculars and I love that it's compact and easy to carry on long hikes. It seems very well built and comes with a decent carrying case. The image quality is quite crisp. The focusing knob is easy to use. It comes with a little tripod, which might come in handy if you're by a wall/car and want image stability, but to be honest, I will probably just use it handheld. Bottom line: it's powerful, inexpensive, and well-built. It makes a nice addition to the larger pieces of equipment that I'm currently using and especially great if I need it for friends tagging along on my birding adventures.

This is exactly what I needed. A handy compact monocular to keep in my vehicle at all times. I live near backcountry and there is always something to see in the distance. I own plenty of binos but they are too bulky for my glove box and usually stowed away in hike/hunt packs. This monocular has good clarity and easy usage for fast viewing. The accessories are a nice and useful bonus. Overall quality is actually better than I expected for the price. Great value.