Telescope Brands

The brands we carry at High Point Scientific. The manufacturers listed at any given time during your search refinement offer at least one product that matches other search criteria you have already chosen.

The Binoculars by Type search filter breaks down products in this category so it is easier for you to find what you are looking for. You have a choice to separate binoculars from monoculars, or you can choose to look at types of binocular accessories instead, such as Binocular Tripod Adapters.

One of the main considerations when choosing an astrophotography camera is whether it comes with a color or monochrome (black & white) sensor. There is a large selection to choose from either way, although a good number of relatively inexpensive beginner imaging cameras often come in color only.

While a color camera may be easier to master, a monochrome astro-imaging camera is nice because you can shoot in black and white, or you can add an external color filter wheel to the system and image in color. In fact, some monochrome cameras come with an internal filter wheel! Regardless of whether the filter wheel is internal or external, most of the time you will need to buy the filters themselves separately. That is usually best, however, because there is a huge selection of imaging filters to choose from, including the basic LRGB (Luminance, Red, Green & Blue) filter set as well as narrowband filters that allow you to explore particular wavelengths of light alone or as a group.

While this is a huge subject, here is the takeaway: A color camera is a good choice if you want to end up with color images but don't want the added expense and learning curve of a monochrome camera and filter wheel. However, a monochrome camera will grow with you as you add accessories to expand its capabilities.

Accessory Kits can include several different types of telescope accessories. Using this filter lets you make sure you only see kits that have the main accessories you need. For example, want to make sure you see kits that include eyepieces? Check that box and filtering will show you kits that include at least one eyepiece, even if other items are also included.

Sometimes adapters come in sets. This filter is used to differentiate between a single (one) item and a set or kit, which would include at least two adapters or spacers.

The type of threads, plate or barrel size on one side of the adapter, spacer, or other item. The side listed (A or B) doesn't mean anything except to designate one side from the other.

The magnification factor, also known as "power", is listed as the first number given in a binocular's name, like 7 x 50, 8 x 40, etc. In the first example, these binoculars magnify an image 7X more than if you were looking at that image with the "naked eye". When talking about zoom binoculars, the magnification is listed like this: 7-21 x 50. That means the binoculars have a zoom mechanism that takes the power from 7X to 21X as far as the eye can see. Please note that it doesn't matter whether there is spacing between the numbers or whether the "X" is upper- or lower-cased.

Don't always assume that more magnification is better! The more power, the harder it is to keep the image stable when hand-holding binoculars. Most people can comfortably hand-hold up to an 8X (most popular for birding), but after that, you may or may not need a tripod for a shake-free view...it depends on your own steadiness and how long you plan to view.

The type of threads, plate or barrel size on one side of the adapter, spacer, or other item. The side listed (A or B) doesn't mean anything except to designate one side from the other.

The aperture of a pair of binoculars (or any optical instrument) refers to the diameter of the main optics. Of course, binoculars have two main objectives that are the same size, but the number given for the aperture refers to just one. For instance, 8x50 binoculars have an aperture of 50 mm (and a magnification factor of 8), but unlike a telescope, they have two 50 mm objectives. The larger the aperture, the bigger the binoculars, but more importantly, a larger aperture draws in more light and lets you see more detail in shadow, shade, and other low light conditions.

We have hundreds of adapters & spacers, so filtering by a range of sizes was in order. Use this filter if you are looking for a particular length. For instance, if you want a 25 mm extension, then click the 20.1 mm - 30 mm box. Once you get those results, you can filter further by barrel size, thread type, etc.

Barlow lenses and Focal Extenders increase the effective magnification, or power, of any eyepiece with the same barrel size when they are used together with a telescope. However, not all Barlows increase magnification by the same factor (X). For instance, if you have an eyepiece that achieves 100X power in your telescope, using that same eyepiece (and telescope) with a 2X Barlow will double that magnification (200X). If you choose a 3X Barlow, it will triple the magnification (300X).

Since Barlow lenses, like eyepieces, slide into a focuser or adapter, it is important to match the size of the chrome barrel to the focuser or adapter you plan to use it in. Before you buy, check your telescope focuser's size. If you're lucky enough to have a 2" focuser with a 2" to 1.25" adapter, you can choose either barrel size, although unless you have some 2" eyepieces, you may want to go with the more economical 1.25" Barlow.

While today's amateur astronomer often refer to online articles and videos to learn about new aspects of the hobby of astronomy, there are still some really great books, star charts, software programs and videos on the market that will enhance your learning and add to your astronomy library. Most software programs are available as a download instead of an actual DVD or CD, so if that is the category you end up in, take note of that possibility when placing your order.

Use the Binocular Series search filter if you want to check out a particular line of binoculars from a manufacturer. Once you have chosen the Binocular Series, you will see all the models in that series that we offer. A series of binoculars will be very similar in most respects, other than their magnification factor, aperture size and price.

Shopping for binoculars by body size is a great help if you already know you want a pair of compact (small) binoculars or you are looking for large aperture optics for astronomy. In general, the larger the body size the heavier the binoculars will be and the more likely you may need to mount them on a tripod when viewing for any length of time.