For those looking to capture images of distant nebulas and galaxies, the Celestron Origin Mark II Intelligent Home Observatory makes the experience easier than ever. Within minutes of taking the telescope out of the box and pairing it with a device, users will be capturing images of deep space with ease. A built-in camera and easy-to-navigate app make the Celestron Origin Mark II one of the smoothest astrophotography experiences we've tried.

That's not to say the telescope is for everyone. Priced at $4,299 (£3,211 GBP), the Celestron Origin Mark II has somewhat of a steep barrier to entry that might turn some beginners off who aren't sure if they want to get serious about an astrophotography hobby. The Celestron Origin Mark II also isn't going to before most users; the Origin series excels at taking crisp images of deep sky objects but isn't going to be your go-to for viewing the moon or the planets of the solar system.

But if you can swing the price tag and are looking for a no-frills, all-in-one astrophotography solution that's ready to use within minutes of unboxing, the Origin Mark II might be what you're looking for. It's a bit larger, heavier and more expensive than some of the smart telescopes we've reviewed, but it offers the image and optics quality you'd expect from a trusted brand like Celestron.

Like many smart telescopes on the market today, the Origin Mark II does not feature an eyepiece. All of the images you'll capture will be sent straight to a smartphone or tablet, making this less of a true telescope experience and more of a photographic rig.

Celestron Origin Mark II review

Celestron Origin Mark II: Design

• Looks more like a standard telescope than some smart observatories
• Easy, fast set up
• Larger and heavier than some smart telescope models

The Origin Mark II is loaded with user-friendly features. The motorized mount has a perfectly placed handle to help users move the telescope around once set up, and its tripod is incredibly sturdy. Just note that the entire unit weighs 41.6 lb (18.6 kg) when assembled; this isn't a telescope you'll want to carry around and move from location to location once it's put together.

Celestron makes several carrying bags for tripods and a padded carrying bag for the Origin optical tube, but we did not try one during this review. We previously reviewed the Celestron Origin Mk I that included a carrying bag, and found the bag very comfortable to carry and well-padded for keeping your investment safe.

The mount also has a red LED that shines down onto a tray with a rail, making this area handy for holding filters or other accessories temporarily while you swap them out. The mount also features a bubble level to help users accurately level the unit during setup. We found this feature especially useful when using the Origin Mk II in mountainous outdoor terrain. The tripod also includes extendable spikes to help it balance on loose or uneven surfaces.

Aesthetically, the Origin Mk II looks nearly identical to its predecessor the Mark I with classic Celestron styling. The white optical tube, which separates from the mount for storage and carrying, resembles many of the traditional tubes in Celestron's long history.

Note that the Origin series makes a good deal of noise when it's powered on and slewing between targets. There are cooling fans inside the optical tube that run while in operation, but they aren't loud enough to be heard from more than a few feet away. The mount's motors, meanwhile, could be heard from inside our house while we were testing the unit in our driveway. It's not a dealbreaker by any means, but just be aware that if you bring this to a star party with other skywatchers, the noise could be an issue in some settings.

The Origin Mark II is controlled entirely through Celestron's Origin app. We tested the app on an iOS device and found it fast and well-organized into just a few menus. Users who are used to using an stargazing app will find the Origin app easy to navigate; simply look through the "Tonight" menu for a list of objects that will be visible for your location and select one to have Origin slew towards it automatically.

From there, its as easy as pressing the Camera icon to get the Origin Mark II to start capturing images in seconds. Origin Mark II will focus automatically, although there are options for manual focus and exposure if users feel confident adjusting settings on their own.

The app will automatically stack and align the images it takes, removing (or at least reducing) the need for post-processing images in other software. In our review, we used the Origin Mark II's automatic settings, and found our images to be clear and detailed without the need for manual adjustment of settings.

However, the Origin Mark II also features a "Snapshot" mode that allows users to take single-image captures of objects such as the moon. We found the Origin Mark II to be well-suited for taking highly detailed images of the lunar surface.

While the manual controls are easy to use, dialing in the exact focuser position can be tricky at first due to the lag between making an adjustment on the app and the telescope responding to it. The focuser controls are a simple 'up' or 'down' button, with a set amount of adjustment and no fine-tuning option.

Celestron Origin Mark II: Performance

• Deep sky objects are bright and detailed
• Locates and tracks objects effortlessly
• No need for stacking or processing images

We tested the Origin Mark II under moderately dark skies (Bortle 4.0), with some urban light pollution nearby. The Origin Mark II we tested came with a nebula filter, which was able to filter out some of the light pollution and offer crisp views of galaxies such as Bode's Galaxy and the Whirlpool Galaxy.

We had a little trouble getting our iOS device to connect to the Origin Mark II's Wi-Fi network; this happened a few times during our review of the Mark I as well. Still, with a little patience, we were able to connect to the scope and begin selecting objects in the app within a few minutes.

Stars appear as bright pinpoints in the images without any color fringes or starburst patterns, and there was virtually no noise in the images.

Intermittent clouds overhead during our review prevented us from taking hours-long exposures of these objects, but even exposures of just 5-10 minutes brought out the shapes and details of deep sky objects in crisp detail.

Celestron Origin Mark II: Functionality

• Very limited controls make for an effortless experience
• Celestron's Origin app is a pleasure to use
• Selecting deep space objects each night is quick and easy

The Origin Mark II and Celestron's Origin app make astrophotography an effortless experience. Once the telescope is paired to your device, the app offers easy-to-navigate menus to choose objects either from a virtual planetarium view or from a list of objects that are visible on a given night.

From there, tapping on any object will offer users a "Center Object" option which will slew the Origin directly to it. Taking an image is then as easy as tapping on the camera icon, and the Origin Mark II will do the rest.

Should you buy the Celestron Origin Mark II?

The Celestron Origin Mark II puts deep space objects right at your fingertips. Within minutes, users can take highly detailed photos even in light-polluted areas. It's a great rig for beginners because it removes the need for multiple pieces of equipment or dedicated software to handle post-processing and stacking of images.

If you're looking for a beginner-friendly all-in-one astrophotography telescope that and the $4,299 (£3,211 GBP) price tag is within your budget, the Origin Mark II might just be what you're looking for. Within minutes of taking it out of the box and installing the app, you'll be able to take your own images of galaxies, nebulas and other deep sky objects.

Maybe I'm just a traditionalist, but without an eyepiece, the Celestron Origin Mark II feels more like an astrophotography rig than it does a telescope; Celestron does call it a "home observatory," after all.

Nevertheless, the Celestron Origin Mark II is one of the easiest-to-use pieces of photographic equipment I've used and would be an absolute joy for someone looking to do beginner-friendly astrophotography at home.

If the Celestron Origin isn't for you

Want to stick with a smart telescope but want something a bit cheaper? We actually think you couldn't do much better than the Vaonis Vespera Pro II. It's astoundingly detailed, smaller and lighter than the Origin and costs less, too.

There's a lot to love about this fully-featured intelligent "home observatory," but we understand that full automation and limited customization aren't for everyone. If you want something more traditional, we'd recommend either the Celestron NexStar 8SE which is a powerful catadioptric with a wide scope for additional high-end eyepieces and other accessories, or if you have an even larger budget, go for the even better Celestron Advanced VX 8 EdgeHD which we gave 5/5 stars in our review.

The Nikon Action 16x50 is the highest fixed magnification model in the new Action line released in March 2026. They are all-purpose binoculars with big 50mm objective lenses, which are critical for high performance in low-light scenarios. Alongside the 7x50, 10x50 and 10-22x50 zoom models, I tested the 16x50 binoculars for stargazing.

The 16x magnification gets you a lot closer to the night sky and offers eye-popping detail when compared to lower magnifications, but there is a trade-off. You have to pay attention to eye alignment during observation, thanks to the smaller exit pupil, and during the initial set-up, it can take a while to find the right angle for clear views because of a smaller exit pupil.

Add to this the need for super steady hands when observing overhead and you might think these binoculars aren't worth it, but for astronomy buffs and binocular pros, you would be hard-pressed to find this level of optical quality cheaper than the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $170.

Nikon Action 16x50 binoculars

Nikon Action 16x50 binoculars: Design

• Only 16 oz heavier than the 7x50 model
• Rubberized outer shell is good for grip
• Small exit pupil initially tricky to use due to the angle required for a good image disk

The Nikon Action 16x50 binoculars are 0.3-inches shorter in length than the Nikon Action 7x50s, but the design is practically identical. They are 16 oz heavier than the 7x50s, weighing 2.07 lbs (940g), but honestly, when we held them in either hand simultaneously, it was hard to notice the difference.

The Porro prism design has a wide grip surface and when combined with the rubber shell, makes these binoculars easy to hold while out stargazing or when looking at the moon. While they are good for handling, we found the 16x50s quite tricky to use during observation due to a combination of the twist-up eyecup height, the 56-72mm interpupillary distance (the distance between the eyepieces) and the small exit pupil of 3.1mm. We had to experiment with eyecup placement, adjust the interpupillary distance and angle our eyes to get a whole image circle during observation.

These binoculars take a bit of getting used to for stargazing. There are other binoculars like the Nikon Action 7x50 or the Celestron Trailseeker 8x42 that are more grab-and-go. That said, most high magnification binoculars will need some level of getting used to due to emphasized hand shake and a smaller exit pupil.

However, the payoff is worth it in the end, with the Porro prism design and large 50mm objective lens diameter working to produce a bright 3D image of your chosen subject — although, from experience, you will probably have to angle them precisely against your eye socket.

We tested these binoculars alongside the 7x50, 10x50 and 10-22x50 models and in our opinion, the lower magnification options are better for learning the layout of the night sky and locating certain target objects via star hopping. The 16x50s, however, are great for grabbing a close-up and more detailed view of a target when you have found it, and for those with more experience, you may want to opt straight for the 16x in the first instance.

Nikon Action 16x50 binoculars: Performance

• Dazzling views of Orion's belt and the half moon
• Views were shaky when used handheld
• Eye placement matters to produce a full image circle

When you observe using binoculars with higher magnifications, the exit pupil tends to be smaller than that on those with lower magnifications.

For example, for ranges of binoculars that have a consistent 50mm objective lens across their magnification range (e.g., 7x, 10x, 15x), the higher the magnification, the smaller the exit pupil. A smaller exit pupil means that there is less wiggle room for eye placement during observation to achieve a full image circle. If comparing Nikon's Action binocular line models, the 7x50s' huge 7.1mm exit pupil is over twice as large as the 16x50's 3.1mm exit pupil. This initially makes them less satisfying to use, but they bring you so much closer to your target than the 7x magnification can that we believe this period of adaptation ultimately delivers better observations of individual targets.

We used these binoculars handheld and managed to get great views of a range of night sky objects. The stars Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka, which make up Orion's belt, were a spectacle to behold in these binoculars. The three stars spanned the entire image circle from left to right and shone a wonderful blue color in a moonlight-free sky. Just below Orion's belt, we found the Orion nebula (M42) in Orion's sword. We managed to make out some gaseous structure with these binoculars and used averted vision to get a better look at two bright points within the nebula, Theta-1 Orionis and Theta-2 Orionis.

Averted vision is a stargazing technique where you look slightly away from a faint object to make it appear brighter and more detailed. This is because the periphery of your eye is much more sensitive to low-light. Thanks to the higher magnification, using this technique to see the Orion nebula was much more rewarding than lower magnification optics.

Observing Jupiter was easy enough and when used in a steady position, we were able to see the line of Galilean moons alongside the marble of Jupiter. This was not without difficulty, though, as aiming these binoculars upwards without support from a tripod meant that views were shaky. The same can be said for observing the Beehive cluster (M44): although the magnification meant much more detail should be visible through the 16x rather than the 7x or 10x models in this range, views were actually slightly less detailed due to hand shake.

During observation of the moon, when centered in view, the moon was free of chromatic aberration but gained some blue color fringing when moved to the edge of the image. Apart from this, though, we noticed no significant optical distortions or aberrations in real-world use.

With practice, you can get a relatively stable view with these binoculars only using your hands, but the magnification is likely too high for beginners. We would definitely recommend a binocular tripod if you are worried about this or want to share this viewing experience with others. Getting a steady view can be tricky but the payoff is worth it, as we learned when observing a waxing half moon and seeing the lunar craters cast in striking light and shadow by the terminator.

Nikon Action 16x50 binoculars: Functionality

• Tripod adaptable
• 13mm eye-relief
• Tricky eyecup placement

Unless you have incredibly steady hands, you will definitely get more out of these binoculars when using them with a tripod, especially when targets are high overhead. A tripod will also make it a much easier viewing experience if you are having a group stargazing session with friends and family. We would recommend the budget-friendly Manfrotto Element II tripod for an excellent, lightweight and stable option. You will also need to connect your binoculars to your tripod with an adapter, like the Nikon 7650 binocular tripod adapter (sold separately). The Nikon logo in between the barrels unscrews to fit this adapter into place.

As previously mentioned, we struggled with initial observation due to the small exit pupil, eyecups and interpupillary distance. I don't wear eyeglasses and would normally use eyecups at the fully extended position but found that this produced a slightly split image disk when observing. The second-lowest eyecup height adjustment out of four, and a slightly angled placement on my eyesockets, produced a much larger and connected image disk/circle.

These binoculars can be a bit off-putting at first, as it takes a bit of personal experimentation to find the perfect set-up for you. That said, there are four levels of preset eye-relief up to a total of 13mm, which means it is possible to get a good view with them, albeit a bit tricky. During overhead observations, the eyecups can dig in after extended sessions. This extra point of contact can actually help stabilize the binoculars, but it is something to be aware of comfort-wise.

The eyecup covers remain fixed during transport in their soft carry case but the lens caps can fall off easily, which is annoying when trying to keep them as clean as possible during transport. The neck strap is underwhelming: it does the job, but we would recommend a more heavily padded strap if you wanted to use them for longer periods of time. This Nikon Neoprene strap for binoculars is only $25.

Unfortunately, these binoculars lack any kind of water resistance, so while they might be okay in light rain, I wouldn't use them in anything heavier than that. They also lack nitrogen purging, which means they will fog up when moving between environments with differing temperatures and humidity.

How we tested the Nikon Action 16x50 binoculars

We tested the Nikon Action 16x50 binoculars in a city park during the day and at night. For stargazing, we tested them in a city park with a Bortle scale between 5 and 7. Our primary observation targets were Orion's belt, Jupiter, the waxing half moon and the Beehive Cluster in the constellation of Cancer. For terrestrial viewing, we used them during the day in parks for observing wildlife.

During testing in the UK, nighttime temperatures were on average between 46 and 54 degrees Fahrenheit (8-12 degrees Celsius). Seeing conditions were clear and for non-lunar viewing, the skies had minimal or no moonlight.

User reviews

The user reviews for the Nikon Action 16x50 binoculars are limited as they were only announced in February 2026. From our testing, we think they are a good pair of close-up binoculars for observing more details on night sky objects. Users should bear in mind that these binoculars may need some time to get used to the smaller exit pupil which needs precise eye alignment for the best views.

Should you buy the Nikon Action 16x50 binoculars?

If you are a binocular astronomer who wants to start seeing more detail from the night sky, then these binoculars offer a budget-friendly option to do just that. For those who are already familiar with using binoculars and have owned other pairs in the past, this could be a great high-magnification addition to the collection. You are also getting some top-of-the-line Nikon optics for the manufacturer's suggested retail price of $170.

Where a low magnification option is good for learning the wide-field geography of the night sky, higher magnification binoculars are great for getting a closer look at regions or objects with more details, such as nebulas, small asterisms and the lunar surface.

If the Nikon Action 16x50 binoculars aren't for you

If the Nikon Action 16x50 binoculars aren't for you, one of the other models in the new range might suit you. The Nikon Action 7x50s are great for learning constellations in the night sky and locating objects, thanks to their wide field of view. The Nikon Action 10x50s are a good bet if you want a pair that is good for casual stargazing and wildlife observation. For more control over the magnification level, the new Nikon Action 10-22x50 zoom binoculars offer flexibility depending on what you are looking at.

If you have the budget and want some of the sharpest handheld views of the night sky, we would strongly recommend the Fujifilm Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 binoculars, which offer the same magnification level and some of the strongest image-stabilization (IS) available. They have smaller objective lenses but the IS makes up for this and gives you a shake-free view that immediately makes details visible.

The Nikon Action range is a new line of binoculars from the optics giant, released in March 2026 to take over from the company's now-discontinued Aculon range, which some users felt was plasticky and didn't have enough eye relief. They can also be seen as a cheaper alternative to the Action Extreme range, which, while waterproof, are a lot heavier and cost more due to their enhanced durability.

I tested four models from the Action range, including the 7x50, 10x50, 16x50 and 10-22x50 zoom binoculars. The new models are not waterproof but are made from an aluminum alloy, which helps them strike a great middle ground between the Aculon and Action Extreme ranges. I tried them all for stargazing and found the 7x50 to be a great pair for beginners due to its low magnification and wide field of view, making it easier to star-hop and familiarize yourself with constellations.

Nikon Action 7x50 binoculars

Nikon Action 7x50 binoculars: Design

• BaK-4 Porro prisms
• Sturdy aluminum body
• Large focusing knob

The body of the Action 7x50 binoculars feels incredibly sturdy while also delivering on a weight of just over 2 lbs (935 g). They look big and heavy, but thanks to the aluminum alloy material used for the chassis, they are stronger than the plastic build of the Nikon Aculon binoculars and lighter than the Nikon Action Extreme binoculars. This is a huge plus for practical astronomy, as it will reduce fatigue when spending long sessions looking at constellations.

The 7x magnification and 50mm objective lenses make them perfect for beginner astronomy and a great first pair. 50mm objective lenses are a good size for letting in lots of starlight, so you get a bright view of the objects you are looking at.

Low 7x magnification is great for astronomy beginners for two reasons. First, it gives you a chance to practice keeping your hands steady, as small magnifications mean that hand tremors are amplified less while aiming at the sky. Second, the wider field of view makes it easier to hop between stars in a constellation, because you can keep them in view while identifying and moving between them.

The Porro prism design provides better internal light reflection without any coatings, which helps provide an image with strong light transmission. This simple prism design means that production costs are kept low while still providing a good image for the user. BaK-4 glass has a higher refractive index and produces a rounder exit pupil than BaK-7 glass, meaning better light transmission and edge-to-edge sharpness.

Nikon Action 7x50 binoculars: Performance

• A wide field of view (FOV) is good for locating objects
• Perfect for seeing constellation structure thanks to the wide FOV
• A massive exit pupil means eye alignment is easy

These binoculars are great for navigating the night sky and while they are perfect for beginners, they would also sit well in an experienced stargazer's gear bag.

They excel in wide-field constellation observation and I used them to practice star hopping around the Big Dipper asterism, starting at Alkaid on the tail, to the double stars of Mizar and Alcor, then on to the stars of the bowl. I did the same with the Orion constellation and although I couldn't make out the Orion Nebula (M42) in much detail, the lower magnification meant I could observe the surrounding stars of Orion more easily. I used them to star-hop from Castor to Pollux in Gemini and then moved diagonally to find the Beehive Cluster (M44) located within the triangle of Cancer. This took a few goes — it was easier with these binoculars as they have a wide field of view, but they did lack the more contrasted images of the cluster I got with the higher magnification models.

I also tested the Nikon Action 10x50 model alongside them, which would be more suitable for someone with astronomy experience who wants more magnified views of night sky objects, or some binoculars for more versatile daytime use, like bird-spotting. Optical performance was practically identical to the 7x50 model except for the increase in magnification. During testing, they offered a closer view of the Orion Nebula (M42), appearing more smudge-like and showing gaseous structure.

One huge benefit of these binoculars is the huge 7.1mm exit pupil. Unlike models with higher magnifications and smaller exit pupils, you don’t have to align your eyes with the eyecups perfectly to achieve a good view. While a larger exit pupil can make the background sky seem brighter, due to the exit pupil delivering sky glow from light pollution to your dilated pupils, the 7x50s offered an immersive night sky experience even when observing in a city park. All of this with a pretty sharp edge-to-edge view with minimal distortion. Obviously, if you took these to a dark sky site, the objects would be much more contrasted against the night sky thanks to a lower level of light pollution.

When I observed Jupiter, I was able to see the very faint line of the most easily observable Galilean moons but couldn't resolve the individual moons at this magnification. For planetary observing, I would definitely recommend a pair with at least 15x magnification and using a tripod to steady the views. Alternatively, you could opt for a binocular with image stabilization if using a tripod isn't possible or is deemed inconvenient.

Nikon Action 7x50 binoculars: Functionality

• Long eye-relief
• Hard eyecups can dig in
• Tripod adaptable

The binoculars' aluminum chassis is covered in a rubberized coating, which helps when handling them because they grip better. This model is not waterproof and isn't even explicitly stated as water-resistant. I think they would be fine in light rain but I wouldn't use them in anything heavier than that.

Eyeglasses wearers will be pleased with almost 20mm of eye relief provided by the hard plastic eyecups, which can be stopped at four different preset heights.

I don't wear eyeglasses, so while using these binoculars at the maximum eye relief and repeatedly aiming them upward, I felt like they were digging into my eye sockets. On the plus side, this does create another point of contact to prevent shake, but it's definitely something to be aware of if you want to use these during extended sessions.

The Nikon logo in between the prisms unscrews to reveal a tripod mount, which is quite standard for many binoculars. This would be useful during longer sessions, when observing with a child who might get tired hands easily, or for those with grip strength issues or arm tremors.

The binoculars come with a thin neck strap, which is OK for casual use, but I would recommend something more padded if you want to carry these around for extended periods. The rubber eyecup cover stays fixed for protection during travel or when not in use.

The objective lens caps, however, come off easily and could easily get lost if not attached to the neck strap. I also found they can come off when getting the binoculars out of the carry case, which wasn't a big worry, but might be risky if using them in dusty or sandy conditions, where you would want the lens caps on at all times except for direct observation.

How I tested the Nikon Action 7x50 binoculars

I tested the Nikon Action 7x50 binoculars in the city both during the day and at night. For stargazing, I tested them in a city park with a Bortle scale between 5 and 7. Our primary observation targets were the constellation Orion, Orion's Belt, the Big Dipper, Jupiter and the Beehive Cluster in the constellation of Cancer. For terrestrial viewing, I used them during the day in parks for looking at small birds and squirrels.

During testing in the U.K., nighttime temperatures were on average between 46 and 54 degrees Fahrenheit (8-12 degrees Celsius).

User reviews

The Nikon Action 7x50 binoculars were announced in February 2026 and released in March 2026, so user reviews are still trickling in for this new model. Based on our testing, they are a great beginner pair of binoculars for astronomy and I think they are a great budget entry into the world of binoculars.

Should you buy the Nikon Action 7x50 binoculars?

If you are a beginner to binoculars or stargazing, then I would highly recommend the Nikon Action 7x50 binoculars. Their low magnification means you get a wider field of view when using them, making it easier to star hop along constellations and locate night sky objects. They are a perfect tool for learning the celestial sphere of the night sky.

They sit at a price point of around $140, so while they are not the cheapest, they are relatively cheap for their class of binoculars. You are also getting high-quality optics from Nikon, with BaK-4 porro prisms that have strong light transmission with an approximate refractive index of 1.568-1.569

If the Nikon Action 7x50 binoculars aren't for you

If the Nikon Action 7x50 binoculars are not for you, then you may want to try the other magnifications in their newly released Action range. I have tried the 10x50, 16x50 and 10-22x50 zoom models, the latter of which gives versatility in magnification.

If you are after pure deep sky observation, I would recommend the Celestron 25x100 binoculars, which need a tripod but have massive objective lenses for letting in plenty of light from dim nebulas and galaxies.

To take your stargazing experience to the next level, try a pair of image-stabilized binoculars. Our best overall pair is the Canon 10x42 L IS WP, which offers supreme control while scanning the skies and shake-free views at a 10x magnification.

We all know that prime lenses are the best option for capturing the night sky, and depending on how you’re composing your shots, 50mm, 35mm, 20mm and wider options are available for full-frame cameras.

If you want to cover all bases, a selection of primes is essential. 50mm is a useful focal length when capturing foreground objects to create strong shapes, and the Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 Pro FE is a cost-effective nifty fifty for Sony shooters.

Pair this lens up with one of the best Sony cameras, and you could potentially have a great budget yet professional combination for less wide-angle astrophotography.

Sure, it’s not as premium as the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM, but the Sony lens costs a whopping, almost, three times as much as the Viltrox lens, but there’s no way it’s three times as good. In fact, the Viltrox 50mm is an impressive lens, whichever subjects you’re shooting.

This lens costs a highly reasonable $549 / £525, which is a fantastic price for a 50mm f/1.4. It’s not the least expensive option, and you could save more by opting for a 50mm f/1.8 lens, but when you factor in the great build and the impressive image quality of the Viltrox, it is definitely worth considering.

The Viltrox 50mm f/1.4 is part of Viltrox’s Pro range, which sits just below the flagship LAB range, which includes the impressive Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE.

Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 Pro FE lens review

Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 Pro FE: Design

• Solid build quality
• Manual aperture ring
• Wide metal focusing ring

Viltrox lenses have a handful of things in common: excellent build quality and being surprisingly heavy are a couple of these. The lens itself isn’t huge and comes in at roughly the size of most 50mm f/1.4 lenses at 3.33 x 4.37-in / 84.5 x 111mm, but it weighs a colossal 28 oz / 800 g.

To be fair, it balances well with Sony full-frame cameras but is considerably heavier than the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM, which weighs in at a more moderate 18.2 oz / 516 g.

The Viltrox does, however, sport an all-metal and weather-sealed construction, which includes the comfortably wide metal manual focusing ring; something you’d no doubt get plenty of use out of when shooting the night sky.

Then there’s the metal manual aperture ring that can be set to clicked or clickless operation, an AF/MF switch and a programmable Fn button. Weather sealing is great for cold nights out, but that hefty weight isn’t ideal if you have to trek to locations with a variety of lenses in your kit bag.

The lens is made up of 15 elements in 11 groups. This includes one ultra-precision aspherical element, three extra-low dispersion (ED) elements and eight high refractive elements. The front element also features a water and stain-resistant coating, which is useful when working in dark and sometimes cold and damp conditions.

The aperture is made up of 11 diaphragm blades, which produce a pleasing bokeh effect (background blur). The minimum focusing distance is 17.7-in / 45 cm, and the filter thread size is 77mm.

While there aren’t a huge number of filters available for astrophotography, the 77mm filter thread is a standard size if you happen to use color correction filters to remove the orange glow of artificial lighting, or star filters to add a glow to stars. These types of filters are available in both the circular screw-in type and square filters.

Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 Pro FE: Performance

• Fantastic image quality
• Vignetting wide open
• The sweet spot is f/8

The Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 Pro FE is a fantastic lens, following what you’d expect from a fast prime lens in terms of sharpness, distortion and overall image quality.

For astrophotography, it’s what happens as the wider end of the aperture range that’s most important, which we’ll cover, but it’s also important to look at the lens in a wider context to give the fairest and, indeed, strongest assessment possible.

The 50mm f/1.4 produces reasonable sharpness at f/1.4, although the corners don’t exhibit a great deal of fall-off. Central and corner sharpness improve incrementally as you stop down the aperture, with f/8 being both the sweet spot of the lens and the setting where image quality takes a leap in a positive direction.

Despite this, shooting between f/1.4 and f/2.8 for astrophotography produces excellent results. Like all fast aperture prime lenses, there’s vignetting wide open, which is f/1.4 for this lens. This reduced slightly at f/2.8 and was gone at f/4.

At the time of writing, there wasn’t a lens profile available in Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Camera Raw, so lens corrections, except for chromatic aberration removal, had to be applied manually. The images presented in the review have not had any lens corrections applied, so you can see what the lens is capable of.

During testing, a shot was taken of Christmas lights with trees behind at f/1.4, and there was only the tiniest amount of fringing/chromatic aberration visible. This was easily removed using the "Remove Chromatic Aberration" option in the Lens Corrections tab in Adobe Lightroom.

Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 Pro FE: Functionality

• No Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
• Fast and silent autofocus
• USB-C port for updates

Just like other prime lenses, there’s not a huge amount to shout about with the Viltrox 50mm f/1.4. This is typically the case because prime lenses traditionally trade on their, hopefully, excellent image quality and fast maximum apertures, with a handful of other features thrown in for good measure, such as manual aperture rings.

Manual focus with the lens is extremely comfortable thanks to the wide focus ring with smooth resistance, while its width makes it easy to use in low light and when wearing gloves. The same goes for the aperture ring, which features click and clickless operation via a switch. The downside of the all-metal construction, however, is that it will get cold when shooting in winter, so gloves will be a necessity.

Moving on to autofocus (AF), which isn’t relevant but remains important to mention, especially if you plan to use the lens for capturing other subjects, is that the AF is fast and silent. AF is powered by Dual Viltrox HyperVCM motors, so half the amount of the Viltrox 35mm LAB lens, but the 50mm managed to lock onto subjects positively during testing. Focusing is also internal, so the front element doesn’t rotate whether focusing manually or with AF.

One feature that’s handy for keeping the lens up to date is the USB-C port on the lens mount. This allows the lens to be powered by a computer, for example and switches on Bluetooth so you can connect the lens to the Viltrox Lens app. Alternatively, you can attach it to a computer via USB-C for firmware updates and use the desktop app instead.

Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 Pro FE: Price

At $549 / £525, the Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 Pro FE is an absolute bargain for a pro-spec lens. It may be tier two of the Viltrox line-up with Pro lenses sitting below the LAB series, but just like the flagship lenses, you get the lens, a lens hood, front and rear lens caps and a soft lens case in the box.

To give some context on how well-priced this lens is, the Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM costs $1448 / £1399, so it’s almost three times the price. The Sony GM is a fantastic lens, but it’s considerably more expensive — you could buy two Viltrox prime lenses for the same amount.

Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 Pro FE: User reviews

Online reviews suggest that users are extremely happy with the build quality and image quality, but often mention the weight of the lens. Some reviews mention slow autofocus, but this was apparently remedied with a firmware update. The firmware of the lens was updated before our review.

How we tested the Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 Pro FE

The Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 Pro FE was tested in combination with the Sony A7R V, which offers an unforgivingly high resolution. The lens was tested at night with a focus on astrophotography, and in daylight to assess sharpness, distortion and general functionality for an all-round approach to testing.

Should you buy the Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 Pro FE?

If you’re in the market for a fast 50mm prime lens, the Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 Pro FE is a fantastic option well worth considering. The maximum f/1.4 aperture is ideal for astrophotography, and the excellent image quality produced makes it an ideal partner for the Sony A7R V and older R series models.

The focal length isn’t the most versatile for wide-angle astrophotography, but it is perfect when capturing silhouetted objects in the foreground to add context to shots.

Build quality is also excellent thanks to the all-metal design, which includes weather sealing and a water and smudge-repellent coating on the front element.

There’s no getting away from the fact that this is a heavy lens for what it is, but that could be a price worth paying for the overall cost and performance of the lens.

If this lens isn't for you

The Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 G Master is a premium standard prime lens delivering excellent sharpness alongside Sony’s solid GM build quality. It’s a fantastic lens, but it also costs a lot more than the Viltrox 50mm f/1.4.

The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE is part of Viltrox’s flagship lens series, offering an ultra-fast maximum aperture, excellent image quality and a slightly wider-angle focal length.

The Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G is a rare gem — one of those lenses that belies its price and series, offering exceptional image quality for a seriously affordable price. Many people say it’s better than the Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM.

• Back to top

360-degree drones are a relatively new product category, and although DJI was pipped to the post by the Antigravity A1, the market leader has come back swinging with the launch of the DJI Avata 360. This is a drone that looks remarkably like the DJI Neo 2, but it’s a lot bigger and heavier, and its propeller guards enclose the propellers less.

With dual controller options available, including FPV, this could be one of both the best camera drones and the best FPV drones available. The ability to pair the Avata 360 with DJI FPV accessories means that you can capture even more immersive 360-degree video, where you’re flying through a building or weaving through and around trees in a forest. The DJI Avata 360 is currently waiting to be in stock at B+H, Amazon and other retailers.

It’s the ability to shoot first and reframe later that makes 360-degree drones an interesting and attractive option for pilots. What’s more, there’s a single lens shooting mode where you can take advantage of DJI’s impressive subject tracking.

The camera itself rotates at the front of the Avata 360 and features two 64MP 1/1.1-inch CMOS sensors with replaceable lenses. These can capture photos and video up to 8K 60FPS. Image quality is great for 360-degree capture, but it’s not as good as a standard camera drone — as is the case, to be fair, with most 360-degree cameras and drones.

• Back to top

DJI Avata 360: Design

• Non-folding design
• Propeller guards
• Rotating gimbal

As previously mentioned, the Avata 360 looks a lot like the DJI Neo 2, except for the size and the fact that its propeller guards don’t fully enclose the propellers. It’s this cinewhoop FPV design that makes it ideal for flying through complex environments when using the DJI Motion Controller 3 and DJI Goggles N3 for FPV flight. It can also be flown like a camera drone when paired with a standard controller.

At 9.69 x 7.83 x 2.19 inches (246 x 199 x 55.5 mm), the Avata 360 is quite large for a drone with a cinewhoop-style design, and weighs in at 16.05 oz (455 g), putting it well above the 250 g threshold, so it's more restricted than smaller, lighter drones. Build quality is fantastic, as you’d expect for a DJI drone, while the set-up and operation of the drone are incredibly easy.

The camera sits at the front of the drone and cleverly rotates when the drone lands and takes off, keeping the lenses off the ground to avoid damage. The lens guards can be replaced if they do get damaged.

This is such a simple yet clever feature, and an improvement on the Antigravity A1’s mechanical legs that extend to keep the bottom camera off the ground. Image stabilization is software-based rather than relying on a mechanical gimbal.

The Avata 360 is compatible with multiple controllers, including the RC 2, RC-N2 and RC-N3. This means that if you already own a compatible controller, you could use that instead of buying a kit that includes either the DJI RC 2 smart controller or the DJI Motion Controller 3 and DJI Goggles N3.

Both of these were provided with the review kit, so it was possible to test the Avata 360 as both a camera drone and an FPV drone. The latter was both a lot of fun and provided the ability to capture more dynamic and immersive video footage. DJI's Motion controllers are incredibly intuitive and make FPV flight accessible to everyone.

DJI Avata 360: Functionality

• Subject tracking
• Collision avoidance
• 42GB of internal storage

The Avata 360 flies well using either standard controls or FPV goggles and a motion controller. Using a standard controller is much simpler and doesn’t require a spotter to keep an eye on the drone during flights, but pairing it up with FPV accessories is about as simple as it gets — compared to traditional FPV drones, anyway.

The drone features collision avoidance, which can be switched off but provides confidence when flying in complex environments. During testing, this was switched off when flying FPV in a forest to ensure smoother flight, although this naturally carries more risk.

Alongside collision avoidance, there’s also ActiveTrack, which has multiple modes that are selected automatically. Standard mode maintains a steady distance and altitude relative to the subject, while Cycling mode provides greater speed and faster turns to keep the subject in frame. Then there’s Intelligent Tracking, where you can lock onto and track subjects in the DJI Fly and DJI Studio apps.

The main difference between 360-degree drones and traditional camera drones is that you have to edit and reframe photos and videos before sharing them. You take the 360-degree image and essentially flatten it to a single, traditional view. Where things get interesting is that you can add camera movements using keyframes and make the drone appear to flip and roll.

DJI Studio is fairly easy to use, but it is also clunky, and there is a small learning curve. In all honesty, you will spend much more time using the DJI Fly and DJI Studio apps to reframe photos and videos than you’ll spend flying the drone; this is the main downside to using any 360-degree camera or drone, compared to standard cameras and drones.

Photos and videos can be saved to a microSD card or to the drone’s 42GB of internal storage. The internal storage is certainly useful because 8K 360-degree video requires a lot of storage, and this internal storage can supplement your microSD when necessary. However, with this in mind, somewhere in the region of 100GB of internal storage would have been preferable.

DJI Avata 360: Performance

• Dual cameras
• Up to 8K 60FPS video
• Photos and videos require editing

The Avata 360 creates its 360-degree image using two 64MP 1/1.1-inch CMOS sensors with ultra-wide-angle lenses. These have an f/1.9 aperture with focus from 1.5m to infinity.

You can set exposure manually, but leaving the camera set to Auto works extremely well when capturing 120MP photos and videos up to 8K at 60FPS. Shooting in Auto isn’t usually a good idea when capturing video, but with 360-degree drones, where you’re essentially capturing everything, it makes life so much easier. What’s more, you can’t use ND filters to control shutter speed anyway.

Image quality is what you’d expect from a 360-degree camera or drone, so no surprises here. It’s not as good as a standard camera drone, although the Avata 360 does have a single lens mode where you can capture 4K 60FPS video that doesn’t need to be reframed — just like a standard camera drone.

Once your 360-degree footage and photos have been transferred wirelessly from the drone, they need to be edited and reframed, either in DJI Studio on a computer or in the DJI Fly app. This is the main downside to 360-degree capture, but also its greatest advantage: Being able to add movement to videos, changing camera angle and adding effects while reframing photos, is both useful and creative.

Please note: Footage to come soon. It was shot in 8K, but our video player only plays in HD.

Video can be captured at up to 8K 60FPS in either the Normal color profile for straight out of camera footage, after reframing, or in the 10-bit D-Log M flat color profile. This color profile requires color grading and provides much greater image quality and flexibility within an advanced and/or professional workflow.

DJI Avata 360: Price

The DJI Avata 360 comes in at a highly aggressive price point when compared to the competition. So, while DJI may not be the first drone manufacturer to produce a 360-degree drone, consumers in all regions — except the United States, where there’s currently a DJI ban — can now choose between two models, and the Avata 360 is less expensive than the competition and has different controller options.

Drone-only, the Avata 360 costs £409 / €459 / AU$799, while the option with the DJI RC 2 smart controller costs £639 / €719 / AU$1159. There are also two Fly More Combos that include a couple of additional batteries, a carry bag, a battery charging hub and other accessories. The DJI Avata 360 Fly More Combo (DJI RC 2) and the DJI Avata 360 Motion Fly More Combo both cost £829 / €939 / AU$1619. The latter includes the DJI Motion Controller 3 and DJI Goggles N3.

Should you buy the DJI Avata 360?

As 360-degree drones go, the DJI Avata 2 is incredibly well-priced compared to the Antigravity A1 and is so much more agile, thanks to its FPV credentials. Image quality is similar in many respects, but the ability to shoot in the flat D-Log M profile does give the Avata 360 the edge here.

The ability to fly the Avata 2 either as a standard camera drone with a smart controller, or as an FPV drone with the Motion Combo, is also fantastic. Having the ability to choose one controller option, or even both, will undoubtedly make it attractive. The only downside to flying a drone when wearing FPV goggles is that you must have a spotter/observer with you when flying outdoors.

If this drone isn't for you

The Antigravity A1 follows a camera drone design but is controlled using a motion controller and FPV goggles. It has a great FPV flight mode for capturing smooth, sweeping videos, and the automated flight modes are also impressive.

The DJI Neo 2 is an inexpensive selfie drone with impressive autonomous flight modes and subject tracking. Like the Avata 360, it can also be flown as a camera drone and an FPV drone when paired with the right DJI accessories.

If you’re looking for a fully fledged FPV drone, but one that can be incredibly easy to fly, the DJI Avata 2 is a great choice. Unlike traditional FPV drones, this one can hover and be paired with DJI’s Motion Controller 3.

• Back to top

If you're into astrophotography, you'll reach a point where standard tools like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop will only get you so far. Although these tools work as expected from an image-editing perspective, astrophotography requires you to work from a slightly different set of rules — often aligning, calibrating and stacking images of celestial objects — and many standard tools often don't provide these features.

Enter Siril, a free, open-source astronomical image-processing software designed to meet the needs of astrophotography enthusiasts. It's compatible with Linux, Windows and macOS, and it's becoming an increasingly popular choice among amateur astronomers who are seeking a cost-effective, at-home solution for their image-processing needs. We took the 1.2.6 version of the software for a spin to find out how it works.

Siril astrophotography software review

Siril astrophotography software: Pricing

• Free due to open-source approach
• Frequent updates that are often shared across the community

Siril is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0, allowing users to download, use and modify the software at no cost, as long as the right credit and credentials are provided where appropriate. If you use Siril in any of your work, you're asked to credit the software using specific information featured on the Siril homepage. At a time of mass consumer photo editing software, this rather DIY, homespun approach that used to be the norm in the early days of computing is nice to see — and worth supporting.

The software is available for Linux, Windows and macOS, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of users. And because it's based on community-driven development, the software benefits from contributions from a dedicated group of developers and users who continuously work to improve the features and performance. The commitment to being a free and open-source tool makes Siril an attractive option for budget-conscious astrophotographers, as there are no costly subscriptions. What you get instead, however, is a steeper learning curve and less of a focus on shiny user-interface features to help you through the process — there's a lot to learn in Siril.

Siril astrophotography software: User interface

• Minimal user interface that may be unfamiliar to some
• Simple navigation once you understand the workflow

When presented with the initial view of Siril, you'd be forgiven for thinking the overall effect is a little intimidating, and perhaps akin to some of the early image-processing, script-based software programs you may have used in years gone by. But it's worth persevering; Siril's interface is organized into tabs that guide users through the sequential steps of image processing, from calibration to enhancement, and it's quite well laid out when you know what you're looking for. Before you delve into anything, visit the Siril tutorial section, which guides you through everything from getting started with the software to learning how to automate scripts, work with more advanced images, use noise reduction and complete complex computations, depending on the results you're after.

You'll be presented with an initial screen, and if you follow the tutorial, you'll need to put all of the images you want to work with in a separate folder and, within that, four other folders for "darks," "lights," "flats" and "biases." Once you do that, you can run a preprocessing script that essentially stacks these images for you automatically.

Siril astrophotography software: Key features

• Powerful automated stacking
• Postprocessing features that produce fantastic results

Once this stacking is completed, you will be presented with a file to open. This file will render your picture with all of the combined images together. (It will be placed in the Home folder, and you can open it by pressing Open on the top left of the Siril window.) You're not done yet, though. What you'll be presented with at first may look like a blurry, black-and-white approximation of what you hope your final image will look like.

There are a few steps to be completed next, including extracting the background and gradient, and using photometric color calibration to calculate the light that's emitted from each celestial body to correct the color. This feature is especially impressive, as the software will connect to global star databases and identify which stars and deep-sky bodies are in your image. If there's a match, it will automatically adjust the image to correct the color and focus based on these areas of the image you wish to highlight. It also offers multiple star alignment methods, including global star alignment and one-star alignment, thus facilitating the precise stacking of images to improve output.

All of this points to an advanced image-enhancement capability that sets Siril apart from other image-editing software. Its feature set encompasses the essential tools required for high-quality astrophotography image processing, especially of deeper space and detailed images. The preprocessing capabilities address common issues, such as sensor noise and vignetting, and lay a solid foundation for subsequent processing steps.

Siril astrophotography software: Astrophotography features

• Noise reduction algorithms
• Automated star recognition, which is powerful for color correction

In addition to the photometric analysis tools that can enable you to study a range of dark-sky features, the astro features of Siril extend beyond just image processing. Siril can handle a wide range of image and video formats, providing flexibility in data input and output. It's possible to use the software for a variety of scientific research applications, thanks to the rich detail it provides.

At the heart of Siril lies its scripting model. The ability to create and execute scripts enhances efficiency dramatically when you're dealing with extensive collections of high-quality images. The best part is that it is also highly customizable. If you know how, you can write your own scripts to edit specific elements of images.

From an astro perspective, one of Siril's key strengths is the way it handles noise during the stacking process when it aligns and combines multiple exposures. By stacking many frames, Siril uses statistical methods — like median or average stacking with rejection algorithms (e.g., sigma clipping or Winsorized sigma) — to naturally reduce random noise, such as thermal or read noise, while preserving real signals, like stars and nebulae.

Powerful background-extraction and gradient-removal tools help suppress unwanted light pollution or uneven illumination that can resemble noise, and post-processing. It offers wavelet-based denoising, allowing users to target noise at different levels of detail. This method preserves fine structures while minimizing grain, which is a critical feature for astrophotography, where the detail of your image is everything.

Should you download the Siril astrophotography software?

There's a lot to learn in the world of astrophotography, but when it comes to image editing, Siril opens up a whole new world by giving you ultimate control over your images. Because the software is open-source, it benefits from a huge amount of online information about it, and there are plenty of tutorials, images to practice on and expert guidance available for free, which is commendable in its own right.

For these reasons, I highly recommend Siril, and there are few competitors, especially when you consider this software is open-source and offered to the community for free.

For many people who are happy to tackle the formidable task of learning Siril inside out, there's no doubt that this software will be an invaluable resource for both seasoned and novice astrophotographers. By continually evolving through community-driven development, Siril ensures that users will always have access to cutting-edge tools for capturing and processing the wonders of the night sky.

If the Siril astrophotography software isn't for you

While Siril has a steep learning curve, Skylum Luminar Neo allows for fast editing and is affordable. There are many one-click editing tools available as well as AI tools to help make the job easier. If you're looking for a good software for noise reduction, DxO PhotoLab 7 should be your go-to. It has the best noise removal tool that we've tested.

If you're looking to only edit astro photos, Affinity Photo 2 is your best option. We've rated it as the best photo editing app for astro in our best photo editing apps guide. You can stack various types of calibration frames and it has a handy AI editing tool.

If you're looking for a scientific star projector, look elsewhere now. The Yachance Night Light star projector isn't for adults, and its cartoonish stars and moon projections are about as far from scientific as you can get. But if you are looking for a projector that can act as a sleep aid for babies and young children, we don't think you can get much better than this.

Reasonably priced and with an excellent build quality, the Yachance Night Light star projector looks fantastic, and thanks to rubberized feet, it stays put wherever it's placed. Buttons on the front of the unit make it easy to control, though a remote control (included) offers easier access to the star projector's full functionality.

In fact, marketing the Yachance Night Light Star Projector as just a star projector does it a bit of a disservice. This is a full sleep aid, including a white noise machine with a range of soothing sounds built in, the ability to play music of your choice, and a night light. The bright and bold projections are merely the cherry on top of what is surely one of the best star projectors and specifically, one of the best star projectors for kids.

Design

• Looks fantastic
• Very well made
• Easy to control

A dome shape on three feet, we love how the Yachance Night Light star projector looks. It's sturdy and stylish, and looks more high-end than its $39.99 price tag would suggest. It can be controlled entirely via the touch buttons on the front of the unit, but it also comes with a small remote control, which makes operating the projector from across the room much easier.

Unlike some other projectors, there are no interchangeable parts of the YACHANCE Night Light Star Projector. The dome here acts as the projector, with the lights and bulb hidden inside. The dome cannot be swapped out for any other domes, as it can in the One Fire Night Light projector. As long as you're happy with the cartoonish star images offered by this projector, they're not an issue. It’s fewer parts for little hands to fiddle with and lose.

There's an LCD display on the front of the projector, which shows how much time is left on the sleep timer if you've opted to use the functionality. It has the potential to be a little distracting, but it's subtle and not bright enough to outshine the projections themselves.

Performance

• Fantastic reach
• Good choice of colors
• 360-degree rotation

As we've already mentioned, the Yachance Night Light star projector doesn't offer up scientific projections or even aurora-like projections. Instead, it projects bold, cartoonish stars and moons on the wall and ceiling. It's bright and vivid, but there's no doubt these projections are better suited to children than to adults.

The projections do have a wide reach, however, and are likely to cover the entire ceiling of an average-sized bedroom. The projector is very quiet in operation, too; only if you turn on the rotation function (which moves the projections around 360 degrees) will you hear a slight whirring, but it's never distracting.

There are multiple colors to cycle through on the projector; you can opt for single colors or a duo. You can't choose a color with the touch of a button, which may be a problem for some; you can only cycle through every option available, either by pressing a button on the projector itself or using your remote control.

It's a small issue, though, as every color available looks great. The projections from the Yachance Night Light star projector are bright, clear and vivid, even in a room that isn't completely dark, and with three levels of brightness, you can opt for a mode that best suits your environment: the lowest setting might be ideal for creating a relaxing ambience before bedtime, while the brightest is a great option for a space-themed party.

Functionality

• Speaker with built-in relaxing sounds
• Comes with a memory card so you can preload your own music or sounds
• Sleep timer and night light

One of the best things about the Yachance Night Light star projector is all the extra bells and whistles it packs in. There's a handy night light, which can be set to three different brightnesses on the projector base itself, a built-in speaker, and a sleep timer, which can be set in five-minute increments all the way up to 995 minutes.

While we're not entirely sure why you'd want to set something on a sleep timer for 16 and a half hours, having full control of the timer beyond the usual 30 or 60 minutes is certainly handy.

There's a sound machine built right into the projector, too, which features 29 soothing sounds, from white noise, a running stream, birdcalls and a heartbeat. Perfect if you're planning to use the Yachance Night Light star projector as a sleep aid, either for yourself or a baby. While you can't connect to the projector via Bluetooth, it is equipped with a card slot and ships with a 128MB memory card so you can add your own sounds and music.

While Bluetooth would make it easier to play your own music, we do appreciate the extra safety that is offered by having no connectivity. It's a safety measure that shouldn't be overlooked, particularly if you're planning to use the Yachance Night Light star projector with young children,

Should I buy the Yachance Night Light star projector ?

If you're looking for a star projector that's suitable for children, well-made, offers a variety of functions and makes a great sleep aid, we really think the Yachance Night Light star projector is one of the best on the market. At $39.99, there are cheaper options available, but it's still reasonably priced considering everything this projector packs in.

If the Yachance Night Light star projector isn't for you

If you're looking for a projector that's more suited to adults, however, you'll want to look elsewhere. If a night light is important, we recommend the Jiawen Galaxy Projector Light, which is stylish, reasonably priced and offers soothing aurora-like projections. And if you're looking for something a little more scientific, we think the Sega Toys Homestar Flux is one of the best scientific star projectors currently on the market.

The Sigweis night vision binoculars are currently retailing at $189.99 on Amazon and they have hovered around this price for the last four years. The cheapest we've seen them is $139.99, but only for very short periods at a time — flash-sale-type events.

On paper, these night vision binoculars boast impressive specs, including an infrared light that stretches 980 feet (298 m), a daytime viewing mode and seven brightness levels. Not only that, but it can record 1080p videos and 3MP stills on the supplied MicroSD memory card.

The binoculars arrive in a custom-fit military-grade hard case. Also supplied is a carbon-tipped lens cleaning brush, a 32 GB high-speed MicroSD Card, a shoulder strap and soft carry bag and everything else you need to get going, apart from batteries — more on that later.

But are they worthy of a spot in our best night vision binoculars guide? Read on to find out.

Sigweis night vision binoculars review

Sigweis night vision binoculars: Design

• Large LCD screen
• Robust build
• Good placement of buttons

Compared with models we've tested previously, including the Nightfox Swift, the Sigweis feel solid in the hand and less toyish. However, this does come at the cost of them being noticeably heavier (1.3 kg with batteries inserted) and bulkier, something you will want to consider if you're taking these out on the trails with you.

There are six large buttons on top of the night vision binoculars that are easy to reach with your fingertips when you're holding them to your face. The most-used buttons are on the outer edges, with the power and menu buttons in the middle of the device. Each button gives reassuring audible feedback (as a click) when pressed, and the buttons depress enough that you can easily feel you have pressed it, even with cold hands or thick gloves. The textured casing helps wet fingers to keep a secure grip on the binoculars, which is especially useful, as the Sigweis can be used in inclement weather, thanks to their IP56 waterproof rating.

There is a wrap around the large LCD screen, but we'd have liked this to mould to our face by being more malleable; it lets in a lot of light, especially from the bottom, which makes the screen very reflective. We found ourselves staring back at ourselves in certain daytime lighting conditions, making it difficult to see the image on the screen.

Unlike previous night vision binoculars, where the lenses are within the unit's body, in the Sigweis, they protrude from the front. One is a lens, and the other is an infrared LED light. The lens rotates to focus; left to close objects and right to focus on something further away.

Sigweis night vision binoculars: Performance

• Very clear nighttime viewing
• Fixed optical zoom, 4x digital zoom
• Illumination only comes from the right

The infrared illumination range is 980 feet, which is 750 feet more than the Nightfox Swift, which is only marginally cheaper. The illumination only comes from the right-hand side of the unit, which means that sometimes you get noticeable shadows even if your target is right in front of you. Not important when just observing, but something to be mindful of if you're filming or taking photos.

When the unit is turned on, the default mode is video. By pressing the mode button, you can cycle through to photo mode and media playback mode. You can just observe without recording or taking stills if you want to.

Eight symbols visible on the LCD screen indicate the mode, night vision sensitivity, space on memory card, image resolution, SD warning, battery indicator, zoom level and IR level.

The 3x optical zoom is fixed, but the digital zoom (sensor cropping) extends to 4x. As with digital zooms, image sharpness decreases the more you zoom.

The large focus wheel is smooth to turn, with an obvious start and end point. You could turn it with just one finger but we found it easier to operate like you would a camera lens. Once in focus, the image on the large LCD screen is pleasingly sharp and clear in both daytime and at night.

Sigweis night vision binoculars: Functionality

• Six AA batteries required (doesn't take rechargeable batteries)
• IP56 waterproof rating
• Daytime mode

When the Sigweis night vision binoculars arrived, we were keen to start testing that evening. Having recently tested the Nightfox Whisker, which was handily chargeable via USB-C, we'd hoped for more of the same. Sadly, though, we found that the Sigweis need 6x 1.5V (AA) batteries. Cool, we have some rechargeable ones in the cupboard. Except, wait, on reading the warning note on the back of the binoculars, it said to not use rechargeable batteries. We tried it anyway just in case, but true to the warning, rechargeable batteries did not work, and the binoculars did not boot. Our testing was put on hold until we bought some non-rechargeable AA batteries. This is the worst thing about these binoculars. Non-rechargeable batteries are not only expensive but also have a significantly worse environmental impact than rechargeable alternatives.

Putting our qualms about the non-rechargeable batteries aside, the Sigweis Night Vision binoculars feature a generous IP56 rating. The '5' means the binoculars have limited dust protection, and the '6' means they can withstand protection against strong water jets in all directions. You can use them in all-terrain locations (like sandy deserts or pollen-filled fields) and in inclement weather without worry.

Although you can use these night vision binoculars anywhere, the weight is a significant factor. As a comparison, the recently reviewed Nightfox Whisker weighs 609 g, including the rechargeable battery; the Nightfox Swift weighs a tiny 360 g, including the battery. The Sigweis weigh a hefty 1.3 kg. They are tripod mountable, which helps if you're staying in one place, but if you have a long way to walk to your viewpoint, you'll definitely feel the weight in your rucksack or kit bag.

While these are primarily night vision binoculars, you can use them in the daytime too. The best application for this would be research (e.g., animal surveys), as the image/video quality isn't good enough for inspiring footage or stills. It's a handy feature, though and means they aren't completely redundant once the sun comes up.

The hard shell case is of excellent quality. The other accessories, like the soft case and neck strap, are fine, but nothing to shout about.

Should you buy the Sigweis night vision binoculars?

We want to really like the Sigweis night vision binoculars, but there are two big downsides. The weight, but more importantly, the fact that you need 6x non-rechargeable batteries. Although you can apparently use them for 8-16 hours, depending on IR levels and screen brightness, this still doesn't seem good enough to warrant the extra expense of buying new batteries each time, or the negative environmental impact.

If those things don't concern you, these are a good pair of night vision binoculars at a very affordable price. They do what they are meant to — allow you to see objects, animals and people in the dark and take stills or videos for future reference.

They are very easy to use; we only had a read of the user manual to see what it contained. The English grammar throughout is pretty poor, but that is fairly common when products have been made in a place where English is not spoken as a first language. Still, you can find everything you'd need in terms of operation and troubleshooting. We spent a couple of minutes getting to grips with what each button did and navigating the menu system — that was enough to get going.

If the Sigweis night vision binoculars aren't for you

We recently reviewed the Nightfox Whisker night vision binoculars. We think they are comparable regarding operation and image/video quality, but they are lighter, rechargeable and more compact. The one thing they are missing compared with the Sigweis binoculars is a waterproof rating. This only really matters if you purposely plan to use them around water or in inclement weather often.

For casual observing or monitoring, we recommend the Nightfox Swift, which, thanks to the head mount and maximum viewing distance of around 75 yards, are more akin to goggles than binoculars. The battery is rechargeable via micro-USB, and it weighs a tiny 360 g. The Swift are particularly helpful if you need your hands free while observing, perhaps while feeding animals at a rescue center at night, or developing photos in a dark room.

If you need a pair of night vision binoculars with higher magnification, check out the Luna Optics LN-G3-B50. The magnification ranges from 6x to 36x. This gives the flexibility of wide-area scanning and close-up viewing. There is also built-in image stabilization at 6x to help minimize wobble. At 16MP, the resolution is also better, but they are more expensive.

For alternative ideas, check out our round-up of the best night vision binoculars. We regularly review this guide and update it with the best models we find as they come to market.

The Fujifilm X-H2 is the high-performance, detail-focused member of the X-series of Fujifilm cameras. Released in 2022 along with the speed-focused X-H2S, the model suits the professional photographer or videographer who demands high-end specs within the Fujifilm X ecosystem.

The X-H2 captured a wide range of celestial objects, including the Orion Nebula (M42), constellations and star clusters. It shares the same 40MP sensor and processor that delivered strong astro performance in the X-T50, but in a more robust body. Could it be one of the best cameras for astrophotography?

Retailing around $2300, it's a camera with a price tag for professionals or high-level hobbyists, but it could be worth it if you do long, demanding shoots under the stars or in the studio.

Fujifilm X-H2 Review

Fujifilm X-H2 : Design

★★★★★

• 40MP sensor
• Sturdy body
• Professional functionality

The X-H2 is the Fujifilm workhorse camera designed for professional photography use and packed with plenty of customizable controls. It houses the same 40MP APS-C sensor and X-Processor 5 processing engine that is found in the X-T5 and X-T50, but delivers more professional features.

The mode dial is chunky, offering seven custom modes that a user can assign different shooting profiles to. This is a camera built for a professional photographer who knows how to fully manipulate the camera's settings and knows what they are shooting. There is a lot of functionality here that would be overkill for a beginner or maybe even an intermediate hobbyist, such as a CFexpress slot, 8K video capability and pixel shift multi-shot.

All these premium features come in a hefty 1.46 lb (660 g) body that feels sturdy in the hand during shooting. The 5.8-million-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) sits at the top and offers boost modes depending on your situation, including a low-light priority mode to boost the display in darker settings.

The three-inch touchscreen is standard for professional use and is fully articulating with 1.6-million dot resolution. Alongside plenty of manual dials and a joystick for exposure and menu control, there is extended touchscreen functionality when needed.

A secondary black LCD-screen sits at the top of the camera and displays details for battery life and photo count, as well as exposure and shooting settings when in use.

The Fujifilm X-H2 can easily handle the bigger XF lenses like the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II and XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR, so there is no overbalancing issue, like with smaller Fujifilm models.

Fujifilm X-H2: Performance

★★★★

• Captured astro targets easily
• Strong dynamic range
• No more noise handling than X-T50

For astrophotography testing, I took the X-H2 to a Bortle 4 site in South West England, along with the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II lens, XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR lens and XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR lens.

The X-H2 is a highly versatile camera that can keep up with heavy shoots for different styles of photography, whether that be street, portrait or astro. A sunset shows off the high dynamic range, whilst still retaining enough detail to resolve the crescent moon alongside Venus in the twilight.

Despite this, the X-H2 was highly capable of capturing a range of celestial objects, including Orion’s belt and the Orion Nebula (M42), the Big Dipper asterism, the Pleiades star cluster (M44) and Jupiter. Whilst there wasn’t amazing high ISO noise handling, dark spots in images weren’t as grainy as the noise found in similar images taken with a Sony A7CII.

Because it is a larger camera than the X-T5 and X-T50, I would assume an increase in the image sensor size, too, which would mitigate high-ISO noise problems common in astrophotography. This is not the case because the X-H2 houses the same 40MP X-Trans CMOS 5 APS-C sensor and X-Processor 5 as these smaller X-series cameras. This is not necessarily a bad thing, it just has the same level of higher ISO noise handling as a camera smaller and cheaper than it.

It handled shooting with a heavy wide-angle lens like the XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR lens easily and it managed to capture a wide portion of the night sky even with significant light pollution in a Bortle 6 area.

Fujifilm X-H2: Functionality

★★★★

• Handles bigger XF lenses
• 1,000+ compressed raw buffer
• Strong battery life

The bulk of the X-H2 body helps the camera house all of its premium features. It can handle bigger XF lenses, so you don’t have to worry about your setup feeling underbalanced or not being able to make the most of the best glass.

The X-H2 has seven custom mode slots on the main mode dial as well as ten function buttons for extreme customization depending on your favorite and most used settings and shooting profiles.

This functionality makes it suitable for extended hybrid use by a professional. Paired with a UHS-II SD and CFexpress type B slot, the X-H2 can work as fast as you do and prevent any annoying buffers, with the CFexpress type B handling 1,000-plus compressed RAW images. This is essential if you need to shoot in heavy bursts or capture 8K video footage. It also sports a full-size HDMI port for video output and jacks for mic and headphone use.

I found that it was great for a long astrophotography session, and the NP-W225 battery didn’t fail on us either. You could hook the X-H2 up to an external power bank for added battery life, but at a 540-shot rating, you probably don’t need to do that unless shooting lots of video. During testing, I found that even after a long night of long-exposure shooting, the battery wasn’t fully depleted and never gave up on me midshoot.

The fully articulated screen meant that working from a tripod is easy, and you don’t have to bend to weird angles to see the frame before you start shooting. This is a plus for astrophotography, but there are no astro-specific features besides a boosted view in the electronic viewfinder for low-light and plenty of manual exposure dials.

Fujifilm X-H2: User reviews

The overall online consensus of the X-H2 is good, with users finding the 40MP sensor great for creating high-res images. The deeper grip on the X-H2 was preferred when using larger lenses, too. Paired with 8K video and a robust build, the X-H2 is rated as a premium hybrid camera.

Some downsides were the dependence on lenses to get the most out of the 40MP sensor and some users missed the dedicated ISO and shutter dials found on other Fujifilm models.

How we tested the Fujifilm X-H2

I tested the Fujifilm X-H2 with the following lenses: XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II lens, XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR lens and XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR lens.

I used the camera for street and landscape photography as well as conducting more focused astro use. To shoot astro, I went to a Bortle 4 area and a Bortle 6 area in South West England. The nighttime temperatures reached 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius). I photographed a range of night sky objects, including the constellation Orion, the Big Dipper asterism, the Orion Nebula (M42), the Pleaides star cluster (M45), Sirius and Jupiter.

Should I buy the Fujifilm X-H2?

The X-H2 has good astrophotography performance, but it is no better for handling immediate noise than the smaller and cheaper X-T50. Even so, the larger body of the X-H2 means it acts like a bigger heat sink, with better thermal noise reduction during heavy shoots. It lacks a range of astro-specific features that you would expect in a larger camera, such as a bigger sensor and a night-vision mode on screen.

If you do a lot of professional hybrid shooting, then features like a CFexpress type-B slot and 8K video capability would suit you. There is no limits on the range of lenses you can use or the amount of work you can put it through. For this reason, it is a diverse camera for different uses but I would only recommend it to someone who already makes money from photography or videography.

If the Fujifilm X-H2 isn't for you

If you would prefer a full-frame camera that can handle a lot of the same demanding workload, take a look at the Sony A7R V. It has a full-frame 61MP sensor, 8K/24p video capability and 693-point AI autofocus.

If you want the best mirrorless camera for astrophotography, choose the Nikon Z8. Starlight mode with autofocus detection down to -9EV makes the Z8 perfect for sharp star focusing even in the darkest places. It even has a dedicated mode that tinges the screen red to preserve night vision when out shooting.

If you want a Fujifilm but don’t want one as tailored to professional use, the X-T50 is a good intermediate choice for hobbyists. The X-H2 and X-T50 share the same powerful 40MP sensor, but the X-T5 has a few stepped-down features. It still has great video performance at 6K and is way more portable than the X-H2, whilst still delivering strong high-res photography.

As far as beginner telescopes go, the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ — from our extensive tests — is the gold standard in instruments. Fully equipped with a range of accessories of good quality, with the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ, you get much more than what you pay for, especially given the main attraction: an award-winning and patented StarSense sky recognition technology that allows observers to tour the night sky with ease, and with the assistance of their smartphone.

Once you have downloaded the free SkySafari app, navigating to targets is seamless, and quite handily, this refractor is supplied with a phone dock for a hands-free experience. A major highlight of the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ is the quality of the optics, especially given the price point: chromatic aberration, or color-fringing around brighter, high-magnitude objects, wasn’t catastrophic, and I found that I could enjoy some exquisite detailing on a selection of targets, especially within the solar system. Could this be one of the best telescopes?

While this model is increasingly difficult to get in the US, it is still available in the UK and Europe. The Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ is still available in the US and is pretty similar in specs, with a larger aperture.

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ telescope review

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ: Design

• Portable design, ideal for traveling, and for all the family
• Some features felt of a flimsy quality
• Largely smooth operation, but lacks fine-tuning

On arrival, the telescope came very well-packaged, and at a weight of approximately 7.4 lbs (3.35 kg), I had high hopes that the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ’s lightweight build would be a winning design not just for beginners, but for the whole family. Admittedly, I was slightly concerned that the whole set-up would topple over during my observations, especially as winds were strong in the open spaces I had selected for my test site.

For the price-point, the overall build of this refractor is fair — some features (such as the star diagonal) are perhaps not of the very best quality being made of plastic. However, for a little less than $269, it’s what I have come to expect of telescopes that pride themselves in being the “entire package” without breaking the bank. Additionally, being considered an “entry-level” telescope, set up took less than 10 minutes without the enclosed manual, and this was discovered by timing a family member who had only ever used a telescope once or twice in their lifetime. The Celestron StarSense LT 70AZ certainly ticks the box in being easy to build.

Once built, I took the opportunity to move the telescope from the kitchen to the garden. Refraining from affixing the dewshield to the objective lens, I peered into the optical system: the glass is fully and multi-coated to a beautiful standard, and I noted the internal structure to be of excellent quality. The telescope’s focal length is 700mm, offering a focal length of f/10 — the Celestron StarSense LT 70AZ is a “slow” telescope, making it best for observing the ‘nearby’ solar system and the moon, as well as brighter deep-sky targets such as double stars.

The Kellner eyepieces are of a fair build, but I recommend investing in some higher quality accessories to get the full benefit of this instrument, keeping in mind to be respectful of the highest useful magnification, which is 165x, and the lowest being 10x. You can find some of our favorite eyepieces in our best eyepieces for telescopes guide.

The altitude-azimuth fork mount is basic and features a slow-motion control for slewing along the altitude axis, along with tightening screws to lock the tube into position. I did notice a slight drooping once I’d aligned the tube to my daytime reference point, no matter how much I tightened the setup. Looking through the eyepiece, my target hadn’t moved too far from the center of the field of view, so I was optimistic that my observations would go unhindered. I appreciated the basic design of the rack and pinion focuser, which made bringing daytime objects into focus a breeze. However, I was conscious of the lack of ability to fine-tune.

Downloading the StarSense app onto my iPhone 15, IOS version 18.4.1 was simple, and I encountered no problems. You’ll need an Android 7.1.2 and higher, or iPhone 6 to install this free software. In addition, my smartphone fitted snuggly in the phone dock with no slipping as I moved the setup and the tube around.

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ: Performance

• Good, small views of the planets
• Optical system can pick up the brighter deep-sky targets
• Alignment through the app offered decent accuracy for a beginner telescope

I decided to go through the alignment process shortly before my observations to see how long it took — I was delighted to see that this two-step process took less than a few minutes, is incredibly accurate and easy to implement. You can read a bit more about how it works by reading Celestron’s dedicated page on the StarSense Explorer Technology.

Powering up the StarSense app, I was pleased to see that the software was recommending one of the targets that I’d added to my wishlist a few nights prior: king of the solar system, Jupiter, which was dazzling in the west at a magnitude of -2.0. Clicking on the planet in the app so that I was given navigational guidance, it was just a simple case of nudging the tube in the direction of the on-screen arrows until Jupiter was in my field of view — at least according to the app (which offers a green signal to let you know you’re on target).

Locking the tube in place by tightening the screws, I peered through the eyepiece to see that, while the gas giant wasn’t slapbang at the center of my field of view, it was only out by a few degrees as I brought my target into focus. The 10mm offered pleasing views of a bright ball of light, with small pinpoints — three of the four largest of Jupiter’s moons, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto — visible with good clarity and contrast. Chromatic aberration was at a minimum, which was pleasing to see given the price point of this refractor, but I needed dark blue and yellow filters to enhance Jupiter’s atmospheric belts and zones.

Mars also made for a good target through the optical system of the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ. Shining at a magnitude of +1.0 in Cancer, and not too far away from a moon in waning gibbous phase at 77% illumination in Leo, the contrast and clarity of the planet was of decent quality — and is sure to delight astronomers, who are just getting started in skywatching. It’s important to note that through the field of view of this refractor, and with the accessories supplied, targets will have a small angular size.

Slewing to the moon, and with the StarSense app continuing to demonstrate its reliability, I have to say that the rugged lunar surface, with its smattering of impact craters and mare, was a highlight during my observations. A moon filter (not supplied) added to the sight, with impressive clarity and only a slight hint of purple fringing around the moon’s limb. Crater Tycho was a standout feature, along with Stevinus, and the lunar seas Mare Vaporum (Sea of Vapours), Mare Crisium (Sea of Crises) and Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility).

But what of the deep-sky objects? The Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ provided pleasing views of some of the brightest targets, as recommended by the StarSense app. In Taurus, the Pleiades was glowing in the west at magnitude +1.3 and was a model target given its contrast and clarity in my field of view, as was the Beehive Cluster in Cancer, glowing at a dimmer magnitude of +3.1.

I discovered galaxies were a touch too faint through the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ. However, it was possible to just pick out Messier 81 (+6.9 magnitude) and Messier 82 (+8.4 magnitude) in Ursa Major, as well as several galaxies within the constellation of Leo. Globular clusters Messier 13 and Messier 3 could be seen using the supplied eyepieces, appearing as fuzzy blobs of light.

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ: Functionality

• Easy, free download of the StarSense app
• App does recommend targets that are too faint for the optical system, so be cautious!
• Impressive app accuracy and great target recommendations

What makes the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ so special is the ability to be able to make use of your smartphone for simple, fuss-free tours of the night sky. The StarSense app behaves like your personal astronomer, recommending targets to view from one night to the next. I would, however, err on the side of caution when making your selection, as with this setup and accessories, you’ll be hard-pressed to see some of the night-sky wonders that are recommended. I recommend diversifying your arsenal of filters and eyepieces to truly get the best out of this refractor, again, being respectful of the highest and lowest useful magnifications.

That’s not to say that you should limit yourself, and once you are comfortable with how the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ works, I wholeheartedly agree with following up on the app’s suggestions — something it does very well by offering up a choice of “Tonight’s Best” and a whole slew of some of the more challenging, fainter objects to get stuck into.

It’s worth noting that the StarSense app will take up around 520 MB of your phone’s storage space, so I advise keeping this in mind, as well as downloading it over a WiFi connection to save on your data allowance. The app can, very cleverly, use your smartphone’s camera, gyroscope and accelerometer to accurately pinpoint your location, and recommend a selection of targets in your vicinity in real-time. It was a pleasure to watch the app at work, despite it being broad daylight, as I watched it continually recalibrate for the most accurate, most up-to-date guidance.

With my iPhone securely docked and waiting for the skies to become darker, I took on board some of the StarSense app’s recommendations that would keep me occupied over the course of a few nights. There’s plenty on offer and all within reach of the refractor’s optical system.

Should you buy the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ?

The smallest of the Celestron StarSense Explorer family, the LT 70AZ is undoubtably a great telescope for the beginner, particularly children and casual skywatchers. Being lightweight, the set-up is ideal for observers on the go and seems to be resistant to gusts of wind that are often more prevalent during the cooler months. What’s more, it’s very easy to setup and use, even if you’ve had very limited use of a telescope previously.

The planets are certainly its strength during observations but given its ability to show a variety of targets — from those within the solar system, to the farthest reaches of space — along with the generous selection of accessories, I feel you can't go wrong with the price tag. The Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ is certainly a bargain in this regard.

I do feel that you can get more from the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ’s optical system, so recommend accessorizing with eyepieces and filters for the very best views.

If the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ isn't for you

With a larger aperture than 70mm, the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ and Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ Newtonian reflectors within the StarSense Explorer line of telescopes are just as simple to use and build, but will open the universe even further to those looking for an instrument that surpasses the limitations of a smaller aperture. There is also the Dobsonian range — Celestron StarSense Explorer 114AZ, Celestron StarSense Explorer 130AZ, Celestron StarSense Explorer 150AZ, Celestron StarSense Explorer 8-inch and Celestron StarSense Explorer 12-inch.

The Nightfox Whisker night vision binoculars, on paper, seem to pack a punch for their size. They have been designed for anyone who wants to explore after dark without the bulk, weight or price tag of pro-grade gear.

They appear to offer clear, detailed viewing from dusk to total darkness. They feature a built-in rechargeable battery (thankfully!), HD recording, a focusable infrared beam and a simple five-button control. A smart blend of practicality and performance — exactly what you need for wildlife watching, animal research and surveys, camping trips, surveying outside or just satisfying your nighttime curiosity of what happens in your back garden after dark.

After reviewing the Nightfox Swift and the Nightfox 100V a couple of years ago, it's now the turn of the Nightfox Whisker, which seems superior on paper. Will they earn more than three and a half stars and make it into our best night vision binoculars guide, though?

Nightfox Whisker night vision binoculars review

Nightfox Whisker night vision binoculars: Design

• Nice build quality
• Multi-use buttons
• Firm zoom and focus wheels

The Nightfox Whisker has a nice weight to it; it feels sturdy but without being heavy. Compared with the Sigweis night vision binoculars that we reviewed in tandem, this is almost half the weight, no doubt mostly due to the lack of six AA batteries, as this unit is rechargeable.

There are five buttons on top of the unit in a line, with two wheels at the front on the left and one on the right.

The buttons control power, IR level, zoom, photo and video capture and mode selection. The IR level and zoom share the same buttons — a quick tap adjusts the IR level, while a long press controls zoom, which does take a little getting used to. We also occasionally found ourselves accidentally long-pressing the power button, turning the device off instead of pressing the adjacent zoom button. A different placement or textured finish on the power button would have helped prevent this. As the unit takes about four seconds to reboot, there’s a real chance you could miss your target if you hit the wrong button mid-action.

The left wheel controls optical zoom and focus, and the right wheel focuses the infrared beam and there is also the zoom adjustment. The wheels are fairly stiff to turn, and we found we needed a finger and thumb to make adjustments, much like how you would manually focus a camera lens. Perhaps these will loosen over time, with more use, but we like that they are unlikely to be accidentally knocked out of position once we have them where we want them. They each turn around 180 degrees with an obvious start and end point.

Once in focus, the image on the large LCD screen is pleasingly sharp and clear. You get plenty of detail, and the IR does a great job of what it is supposed to do: allowing you to see in the dark.

The casing's texture helps prevent slips, though since these night vision binoculars don't have a waterproof rating, it's unlikely you'll be using them in inclement weather. That said, we have taken them out in drizzle after dark and didn't feel they were particularly at risk of damage from a small amount of moisture. We did dry them off carefully afterwards, though.

The wrap around the large LCD screen seems to be well-shaped and doesn't let in much light when held up to the face, which minimizes reflections and glare on the screen.

Like the Sigweis (review to follow), one lens is an actual lens, and the other is an infrared LED light. The lens rotates to focus; anticlockwise to turn it into a focused spot, and clockwise to make it more of a floodlight.

Nightfox Whisker night vision binoculars: Performance

• Clear display with good detail
• Adjustable optical zoom
• Illumination only comes from the right

Once you've charged up the binoculars after unboxing, you're good to go. The 32GB micro-SD comes pre-installed, so you're also ready to take photos and record videos of your finds straight away if you want to.

The 'M' or mode button lets you switch between photo and video shooting, or view and manage your previous media. The navigation is simple and can be figured out without referring to the manual. Ideally, we'd have liked separate buttons for video recording and photos, rather than having to cycle between modes, but it takes hardly any time at all to flick between them. The 'OK' button takes the photo or starts/ends recording when the appropriate mode is selected.

There are a whole heap of other settings at your disposal when you long-press the 'M' button. Here you can change the photo resolution, video size, backlight level, exposure, contrast, video sound (on or off) and more.

When observing, in the top left of the screen, a small blue icon tells you what mode you are in, next to that, in white, the resolution of the photo, or the recording quality of the video as well as the IR level, from zero to seven. In the top-left corner of the screen, you see the current time; in the bottom-left corner, the battery level indicator, which appears accurate.

The IR illumination range is 900 feet, which is 700 feet more than the Nightfox Swift. We could see the detail on an unlit building on the other side of a large playing field, even though it was pitch black. We could even play 'fetch' with our black dog without a flashlight, streetlights, or glow-in-the-dark balls!

Although the image on the screen seemed sharp during live viewing, the images we snapped while out and about turned out fairly low quality when we downloaded them, though good enough to serve as a record of your sightings, even if you won't win Wildlife Photographer of the Year with them. Remember, we're used to seeing images from some of the best cameras on the market, so perhaps our expectations were a little too high for this 16MP unit.

Nightfox Whisker night vision binoculars: Functionality

• Rechargeable (with long battery life)
• Includes a 32GB microSD card
• No waterproof rating

The Nightfox Whisker is a robust digital night vision binocular that blends practical performance with advanced features for wildlife observation, surveying and general low-light outdoor use. A 32GB microSD card is supplied, and transferring the images from the device to your computer is as easy as transferring files on a memory card, just the same as a normal camera.

At its core is an adjustable optical zoom ranging from 1x to 10x, which gives you the option of either a wide 57-degree field of view at low magnification or the ability to zoom in for a closer look. Unexpectedly, the image sharpness becomes softer the more you zoom.

One standout practical feature is the long-life 5000 mAh rechargeable battery. Depending on the IR level usage, the battery lasts about five hours. This is great for extended viewing sessions. With the IR off, you can get around ten hours use out of the Nightfox Whisker (we haven't tested this personally). You can use it to record your daytime findings, too.

The Whisker feels sturdy in hand and is designed to withstand field conditions while remaining ergonomic and, compared with other models like the Sigweis Night Vision Binocular, relatively lightweight. As we mentioned, there isn't a waterproof rating, so although we think they would be fine in fog or drizzle, we wouldn't risk using them outside in anything worse than that.

Should you buy the Nightfox Whisker night vision binoculars?

The Nightfox Whisker is a versatile option for both daytime and nighttime viewing, whether at close range or over long distances.

We think, compared with other models we have reviewed, the Whisker offers excellent value for money thanks to its extra features. The Whisker gives you greater control over zoom and focus and can record what you see as 16MP photos or AVI videos. We think this makes them ideal for field research.

Unlike some models that require up to eight non-rechargeable AA batteries, the Whisker doesn’t need any, saving you ongoing costs.

At the time of writing, these binoculars are available for around $200.

If the Nightfox Whisker night vision binoculars aren't for you

If all you want from your night vision binoculars is to see what's in front of you in the dark, the Nightfox Swift does just that. They are head-mounted and more like night vision goggles for close-range viewing, and they are cheaper, too. The Nightfox 100V is even more affordable and better suited to stealthily watching wildlife in your back garden than for long-distance use.

Another pair of night vision binoculars we have recently tested (review to follow) are the Sigweis Night Vision Binoculars. They can also record photos and videos, but they require single-use batteries and are quite sizable.

For more ideas and alternative models, check out our round-up of the best night vision binoculars. We regularly update this with the best models as we find and review them.

There have been plenty of Lego Star Wars AT-ATs over the years, all coming in various shapes and sizes. We've had micro-scale ones, motorized ones, giant Ultimate Collector's Series ones and just about everything in between.

Lego's new-for-2026 AT-AT is a little different, though. Built to a scale to match the recent wave of mid-sized display ships, it's one of the most affordable AT-ATs I've seen to date. And dare I say it, perhaps one of the most desirable.

After all, this is more than just an AT-AT; it's an entire diorama bringing a moment from the Star Wars movies to life. It captures an AT-AT in motion as a tiny Snowspeeder attempts to thwart it by entangling its beastly legs in rope. The sense of motion captured by Lego, which I'll delve into further in this review, is just one of the reasons I love this set so much.

Given its budget-friendly price and the fact that it looks so wonderful, I'm pretty sure this is a model destined for a place on our best Lego Star Wars sets list. Whether you want it as a standalone piece or to add to a growing Lego Star Wars collection, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Lego Star Wars AT-AT review: Build

• Mostly fun and straightforward
• Legs feel repetitive
• Experienced youngsters could tackle this without hassle

The Lego AT-AT is a designed-for-adults 18+ set, but there's nothing too taxing here that should stop an experienced youngster tackling it. It's mostly a fun build, one that will likely take around 90 minutes to two hours to complete. While there are some neat techniques used here, it can also get a little repetitive at times.

You'll start by building the central structure of the AT-AT, and from here you'll work on adding its legs and head. The head is a standout part of the build for us, making excellent use of parts. It looks great when finished; despite its size in comparison to larger and more expensive Lego AT-ATs of the past, it carries all the details needed, and it's instantly recognizable.

Building the legs is where the Lego AT-AT gets a little repetitive. Three of these are identical, so it's up to you if you tackle them one by one or attempt to build three at once. The fourth leg is dealt with separately simply because it's bent, but it's not so dissimilar from the three that came before it. It gets a little tedious, but the size of the set means it won't take too long to complete.

Lego Star Wars AT-AT review: Design

• One leg is bent to give the impression of movement
• Speeder is held by a translucent rod, which looks like a tow cable
• The head is attached by a rod, too, which allows for a little movement

There are a few things to note about the design of the Lego AT-AT. First, the structure of the AT-AT itself allows for some movement in the head. It is built separate from the main body, then attached via a rod, which is a clever idea and ultimately makes it feel more sturdy than it would as one singular unit. Having a slight bit of movement adds to the feeling of momentum the set tries to capture, and it works to great effect.

Next is the base of the set. While it's clearly designed to sit alongside other mid-sized Lego Star Wars sets like the Acclamator-Class Assault Ship and the Executor Super Star Destroyer, its base isn't quite uniform with these. It's to be expected, given how different an AT-AT is from a flying ship, but it's something worth bearing in mind if you're wanting to display this as part of a series. It still sports a printed display piece, however, and I think it looks stunning whether it's alone or part of a set.

It really is hard to criticize much of the design of the AT-AT, honestly. The Lego designers have done a stellar job in shrinking a behemoth Star Wars icon into a small package. It may pale in comparison to the now-retired UCS AT-AT, but given the price difference of the two, I know which I'd rather have on my shelves. This one doesn't command an entire desktop to display, either.

One of our favorite things is the way it so easily captures the sense of motion. With the AT-AT's legs positioned as if it's trying to take a step, it's very easy to picture it slowly but forcefully moving along a battlefield, all while a snowspeeder fights to stop it. Held by a translucent rod, it really does look as if the snowspeeder is flying independently from the AT-AT. A very neat effect indeed.

Should you buy the Lego Star Wars AT-AT?

Yes! I have no doubt at all that you should buy the Lego AT-AT. If you've never bought a Lego version of the AT-AT before, this one is an excellent version to add to your collection. And even if you have, this one is different enough to merit a purchase regardless. It looks great, it's an accurate representation, it's a pleasant build and it doesn't cost the earth: what more could you ask for?

Other sets to consider

Given that I think the Lego Star Wars AT-AT would look great alongside some of Lego's recent mid-sized Star Wars ships, a worthy alternative is the Acclamator-Class Assault Ship. With a similar price and size, this very neatly designed ship looks great on any desktop surface, and I think it's one of the best Star Wars sets of recent years.

If you want something with a bit more...character, what about the festive-themed Gingerbread AT-AT? I reckon both sets would look great side-by-side — and actually, despite being made up of more than 150 extra pieces, the Gingerbread AT-AT is $5 cheaper. Figure that one out.

If you're looking for a star projector that doesn't take up much space and will neatly nestle into the clutter on your bedside cabinet, then the Herhoter Galaxy Projector is well worth considering. This inexpensive projector will fill your bedroom with laser stars and cover a portion of your ceiling with colorful nebula-like projections, making for a relaxing, attractive ambience.

There is no speaker built in here, but as far as projections go, the Herhoter Galaxy Projector has all the features you'd expect: rotation, multiple colorways, stars that can be turned on and off and a sleep timer. There are some nice display options too, such as making auroras 'breathe' in and out, and the ability to increase and decrease the speed at which they rotate.

There are numerous buttons on the base of the projector itself, but you'll want the remote control to hand to access the full range of operations. For those on a budget, the Herhoter Galaxy Projector may well be one of the best star projectors you can buy; after all, it offers a pretty good package for less than $20. It's ideal if you're looking for star projectors under $100 and star projectors for kids.

Design

• Very small form factor
• Comes with an optional stand
• Buttons are on the base of the unit

The Herhoter Galaxy Projector is smaller than a coffee mug, so nestled on your bedside cabinet, you're barely going to notice it. We love its small form factor; it's well-designed and, despite its size, it feels solid and well-built. That's a very welcome factor given that this projector currently retails for $18.99 and is frequently on offer.

In the box, you'll find two optional stands, which allow you to angle the projector towards a wall. One is set with a 25-degree angle, and the other with a 45-degree angle. It works perfectly fine without it, shooting straight up to the ceiling. It's a shame it doesn't come with an adjustable base, as it's not ideal to switch out the stands to change the angle. But we imagine most people will stick with the same angle once they've found what works best for them.

Strangely, the buttons to control the projector are on the base of the unit itself. If you're using one of the stands, they're a little more accessible, but if you're projecting straight up to the ceiling, you'll need to pick it up to change settings. Thankfully, it also includes a remote control, so you'll likely want to make use of that as it allows easier access to the full range of the projector's functions, too.

Performance

• Limited reach
• Colorful and sharp projections
• Green laser stars

The Herhoter Galaxy Projector offers up a relaxing, rippling nebula-like projection. Multiple colors are available, including single colors (red, blue and green) and combinations. Whatever option you choose, projections are sharp and bright, and thanks to the various functions, you can fully control how they appear.

You can opt for a still image, have it pulsing in and out, or have it rotating at different speeds. This level of customization means you can create an ambience to suit any mood: a slow rotation suits a calming, meditative atmosphere, for example, while a faster-moving aurora projection might make for a more lively, party mood.

The downside is that the projections don't have the widest reach, covering only a section of our fairly small double bedroom. Turn on the laser stars, and they will reach across most of the room, but the stars here are the same green laser stars you'll find in most budget star projectors. We think the projections look much better with the stars turned off, but your own preferences may vary.

Functionality

• Useful remote control
• Sleep timer
• No speaker

The Herhoter Galaxy Projector doesn't have a built-in speaker, which, given its MSRP, isn't surprising. It isn't a great loss, either, as any speaker in a budget projector is usually tinny at best. If you want music to accompany your projections, you can simply use your phone or a dedicated music player.

The included remote control, which comes with a battery pre-installed, is very useful for controlling the projections. You can change some settings on the base of the unit itself, but with the remote control, you can easily change the brightness, speed and color of the nebula projections. You can also turn stars on or off, and set a sleep timer.

The sleep timer built into the Herhoter Galaxy Projector allows you to choose one of five times: 30 minutes, one hour, two hours, three hours or four hours. There's a 'cancel' button, too, if you decide you want to cancel any timer you've previously set. It's a useful function to have if you plan on using the projector to help you fall asleep.

Should I buy the Herhoter Galaxy Projector?

If you are on a budget and you're looking for a simple nebula-style star projector, then the Herhoter Galaxy Projector is a great choice. You won't find scientifically accurate projections here, but you will get colourful, relaxing projections that won't break the bank.

If you do want scientific projections, then we'd recommend looking at the Sega Toys Homestar Flux, or another projector from the Sega Toys range. It's significantly more expensive, but interchangeable discs allow for realistic projections, including an accurate representation of the Northern Hemisphere night sky. If you don't want to spend quite as much but still want something with a bit more accuracy than the Herhoter Galaxy Projector, the Orzorz Galaxy Lite is also worth considering.

The Lego Star Wars theme is off to a good start for 2026. Not only have we had the excellent mid-sized AT-AT, but we’ve also got this wonderful Venator-Class Attack Cruiser. It’s part of a series which Lego calls the Starship Collection, and it joins other excellent sets including the Executor Super Star Destroyer, the Acclamator-Class Assault Ship and the 25th Anniversary Millennium Falcon.

The Venator is certainly up there with the best of them, although it’s put in a tricky position, being instantly dwarfed by the Ultimate Collector’s Series version of the ship — incidentally, one of our favorite UCS sets. But given this mid-sized Venator-Class Attack Cruiser is available for a fraction of the price, there’s a lot to love here.

Obviously, it lacks the details of the UCS, given its much more modest size. But that’s no bad thing: measuring 12-inches in length, it’s still respectably sized, and there’s no mistaking the Star Wars vessel this model is aping. And for those of us who have smaller homes and less space to display giant sets, this really is the mid-sized set we’ve been waiting for.

There are some details we wish Lego Star Wars Venator-Class Attack Cruiser had captured better — there’s no external detail to give it a sense of scale, for example — but overall it’s hard to find fault with this set. Not only is it one of our favorite mid-sized Star Wars sets to date, but it’s perhaps also amongst the best Lego Star Wars sets, particularly if you’re a fan of starships.

Lego Star Wars Venator-Class Attack Cruiser review: Build

• Enjoyable build
• Some tricky sections, and a bit of repetition
• Neat building techniques are used

Putting together the Lego Star Wars Venator-Class Attack Cruiser is a straightforward and mostly enjoyable process. The bricks are split up over five bags and altogether, you can expect this 643-piece set to take roughly two hours to put together, perhaps a little longer if you’re new to building Lego.

You’ll start the process by building a central structure and, by the end of bag one, it’s likely that you’ll be wondering where things are going. As often is the case with Lego sets, the Venator-Class Attack Cruiser doesn’t begin to take form until the end of bag two, with the earliest parts of the build revolving around structure and integrity.

By the time you’re beginning the third bag, though, you’ll see some of the angular shapes that give the Venator its form. The Lego designers have used some clever parts to achieve this, which we’ll talk about in more detail shortly.

Perhaps the only part of the build we didn’t enjoy was building the wings. Despite them being almost identical (albeit reversed), the instructions tell you to build both separately. It can get a bit tedious, particularly with some sections that can be a little fiddly to complete.

Once it all comes together, however, the Lego Star Wars Venator-Class Attack Cruiser feels very sturdy and robust. Like all other sets in the Starship Collection, it stands proudly on a black base with a plaque to match the rest of the set.

Lego Star Wars Venator-Class Attack Cruiser review: Design

• One leg is bent to give the impression of movement
• Speeder is held by a translucent rod, which looks like a tow cable
• The head is attached by a rod, too, which allows for a little movement

You’ve only got to take a fleeting glance at the photos to know that the Lego Star Wars Venator-Class Attack Cruiser is a seriously good-looking Lego set. It’s instantly recognizable as the Venator, and despite being dwarfed by the UCS build of the same ship, it somehow manages to live up to it. Sure, it lacks some of the detail purely because of its size, but a lot has been packed into its 30 cm length.

The Lego designers behind this model have used some great building techniques, including a sort of ‘sandwich’ effect on the wings. You’ll see that flat plates have been used on the top and bottom of each wing, leaving an empty space in the center, which has cleverly been filled in on the edge with detailing. It’s a unique technique and one that works very well in capturing the shape of the cruiser.

Our only real complaint is that there’s no external detail here to give a sense of scale to the ship. On the Executor Super Star Destroyer, we had a ‘tiny’ Star Destroyer flying alongside it to emphasize the sheer size of the ship. And Lego did the same with the new AT-AT set, fixing a tiny Snow Speeder alongside it. The Venator-Class Attack Cruiser still feels grand and imposing, but that extra bit of flair would have gone a long way.

Should you buy the Lego Star Wars Venator-Class Attack Cruiser?

Yes! You should absolutely buy the Lego Star Wars Venator-Class Attack Cruiser. This is an excellent addition to Lego’s mid-size ships range. If you already own a few of them, it will make a great addition to your collection. If you haven’t yet purchased any, this is a great place to start, and the Venator will look fantastic standing on its own.

Other sets to consider

If you’ve got the space and the money, of course, there’s the option of buying the Ultimate Collector’s Series Venator instead. You can, and you won’t be disappointed — it’s a great set. But do you really need a Lego set that big when this one does such a great job of recreating the ship?

In the same range as the Venator-Class Attack Cruiser, we’d also recommend the AT-AT, which we recently reviewed and also loved. Along with the mid-range sets we’ve also mentioned, there’s also the Home One Starcruiser and the Tantive IV, both providing excellent replicas of their respective ships.

A barebones projector designed for kids, the One Fire Star Projector is inexpensive, cute and easy to use. However, it has a few design flaws that prevent us from ranking it among the best star projectors you can buy. But even with a few issues, we think it'll be an ideal star projector for kids who want fun stars and shapes projected on their bedroom ceiling.

It goes without saying that this isn't a scientific projector, and if you're shopping for an adult, you should look elsewhere immediately. The One Fire Star Projector comes with interchangeable projection domes, which means, along with the standard cartoonish stars and moon projection, it can also project colorful dinosaurs, jellyfish and unicorns on the ceiling. There's also, inexplicably, a Christmas-themed projection dome in the box. Fun over the festive period, that's for sure.

The One Fire Star Projector doesn't have any additional features, however. With no remote control, everything it can do is controlled with just three buttons on the body. That makes it easy enough to use for kids, but outside of projecting and turning on and off a rotating motor, there's nothing else. No night light, no music player, not even a sleep timer. This is purely a projector, so if you’re looking for a more rounded package, this isn't the one for you.

Design

• Easy to control
• Projection domes are flimsy
• Cheap construction

The One Fire Star Projector sports a lightweight, simple design with a star-shaped body. Atop is a dome which acts as the projection element. It's available in two colorways, pink and blue. With only three buttons on the side of the device and no remote control, it's simple to use: one button turns it on and off, one button cycles through color options, and the final button turns the rotation function on and off.

It is, however, fairly cheaply made, which isn't all that surprising given its $22-or-so asking price. It comes with six projection domes, which change the images projected on the walls and ceiling, but these are made of thin plastic and are easily bent or broken, particularly when handled by young children. More concerning is that when you remove the dome to change it over, the projector's components are bare underneath. Not only does this mean the projector is likely to be easily damaged, but they get rather hot in use, and a child could touch it when attempting to change the dome.

Performance

• Wide reach
• Fun, colorful projections
• Choice of projection domes included

With six different projection domes to choose from, the One Fire Star Projector is far more than just a star projector. In fact, only one of its six domes has a star and moon theme. The others feature dinosaurs, unicorns, jellyfish and Christmas imagery. No matter which dome you install, though, you're going to get colorful, bright images, with a choice of colors to cycle through.

Despite the projector's size, it has a very wide reach, covering most of the ceiling and walls of a small to medium-sized bedroom. It's capable of creating a magical atmosphere, but that's about it: without any extra features, it's very barebones in what it can offer, particularly considering the star projections here are far from scientific. It's best suited to very young children, who would appreciate the additional fun projections on offer, like dinosaurs and unicorns.

Functionality

• Limited extra features
• No remote control
• Rechargeable battery

As we've already mentioned, the One Fire Star Projector has limited functionality outside of being a projector. There's no sleep timer, no night light, no music player. It doesn't even come with a remote control. If you're looking for a projector with various features, this isn't it.

One thing it does have, however, is a built-in battery. It can be powered via USB, but unplug it and a 2400maH battery will keep it running for up to seven hours before needing charging again. This is ideal to move around the house, or take away on trips; you could even use it while camping. This could be a selling point by itself, as most projectors require to be plugged in at all times when in use.

Should I buy the One Fire Star Projector?

If you want something cheap and cheerful for young children, the One Fire Star Projector does a decent enough job of offering colorful, wide-reaching projections. But its flaws, including its flimsy design and the fact that components are exposed when changing projection domes, hold us back from fully recommending this.

If you're looking for something a little more sturdy or something that packs in more functionality for kids, we highly recommend the YACHANCE Night Light Star Projector. While it doesn't have interchangeable projections, it does boast an excellent build quality and features a night light, a sleep timer and a sound machine.

If you're looking for a more scientific projector, take a look at the Hommkiety Galaxy Projector. It's suitable for both adults and kids, and can project 10 different images thanks to the range of discs it ships with.

The Antigravity A1 is the first true 360-degree drone with dual cameras that can capture up to 8K video without capturing itself; the A1 remains invisible in the photos and videos you capture. It’s also a sub-250 g model, so it’s compact and lightweight, and even includes advanced features such as collision avoidance. This is extremely useful because of the way the A1 is controlled.

This is a camera drone, not an FPV drone, but the camera view, all 360 degrees of it, is viewed in a pair of high-quality FPV goggles where you can look in all directions. There’s also head tracking for changing direction, while the majority of control is provided by the motion controller. Basically, it’s just like the DJI Avata 2 in terms of control, but it isn’t an FPV drone in design or performance.

The A1 is arguably one of the best camera drones and the best drones because it’s the only 360-degree drone currently available, but it produces imagery on par with 360-degree action cameras and offers some impressive features. It works on a principle of capture first and reframe later, which means you capture photos and videos in 360 degrees, then choose the 2D camera view later, or export 360-degree photos and videos.

You can also make the drone appear to roll, flip and dive, like an FPV drone, but without the advanced piloting skills required for this type of flight, thanks to easy software reframing. Then there are Sky Genie automated flight patterns that are like Quickshots on other drones, and these allow you to set the drone to fly around a selected subject in interesting ways not possible with the motion controller.

• Back to top

Antigravity A1: Design

• Folding sub-250 g design
• Vision goggles for a 360-degree camera view
• Motion controller

The A1 features a folding design that reduces its size for storage and transportation, like most camera drones these days. It comes with a case that keeps the two cameras safe, although it is possible to change the lenses yourself if they get scratched. The drone is white, rather than the usual gray of most drones, which has no effect on performance.

The drone has top and bottom-mounted cameras. These are mounted on the dampened front section of the drone. Image stabilization is software-based rather than provided by a mechanical gimbal. This front section of the drone also houses two forward-facing binocular vision sensors that look like cameras.

To keep the bottom camera off the ground during take-off and landing, there’s retractable landing gear where two legs extend when the drone is switched on and when it’s landing, while they retract when it has taken off. It’s one of those small features that’s incredibly simple but still manages to impress because it’s a never-before-seen feature.

As previously mentioned, the A1 is a camera drone rather than an FPV drone, so it’s a new direction for a camera drone to use FPV goggles and a motion controller. The Vision Goggles provide the camera view on dual 1.03-inch Micro-OLED screens, each with a 2560 x 2560 pixel resolution, creating a square in-goggle image. The battery for the goggles can be attached to an included lanyard that you can conveniently wear around your neck, so it’s not dangling on its cable.

Other Google features include diopters with a range of -5.0 D to +2.0 D, which is great if you wear glasses. Then there’s 30GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for capturing goggle footage if you wish. There’s also a screen on the front left of the googles, so people can see the forward-facing camera view while you fly, and this is used to display information during firmware updates.

The A1 offers two battery options, but there is a caveat in that the larger capacity option takes the drone over the magic 250 g threshold. The 2360 mAh battery provides up to 24 minutes of flight time, while the higher-capacity 4345 mAh battery provides up to 39 minutes of flight time. The standard batteries were used during testing, and these typically provided around 16 minutes of flight time before Return to Home was automatically initiated.

Antigravity A1: Functionality

• Great flight performance
• Automated flight modes
• Subject tracking

The A1 flies incredibly well with Cinematic, Normal and Sport flight modes. Sport, like most drones with collision avoidance, is the one mode where the feature is deactivated. Despite the name Sport, the flight doesn’t feel particularly fast, which may be because I’m more used to using FPV goggles when flying faster FPV drones.

Flight is fun and immersive, but it’s certainly not as thrilling as flying FPV drones. This does, of course, make flight with the A1 much more accessible. You can, however, take advantage of the fly first, frame later approach, where you reframe photos and videos in Antigravity Studio and can increase speed and make the drone appear to dive, flip and roll similar to FPV drones, but it's not quite the same either.

Control is provided by the Vision Goggles through head tracking alongside the motion controller, where you point to where you want to fly. There’s also a dial on the motion controller that can be used for turning instead of using head tracking in the goggles. The two work well together for flying in FreeMotion Mode, while in FPV Mode, things are a little different.

In FPV mode, you simply pull the trigger to fly forward and tilt the controller left and right to turn. FPV mode allows for smooth and sweeping drone movements and is a great flight mode when you get used to it. It’s certainly a flight mode that you need to understand because if not, the drone can feel like it’s flying away. Furthermore, it’s not really an FPV mode; that’s just a name.

With motion controllers, you are limited in the ways you can control drones compared to a traditional stick-based controller. So, for flying around a pre-selected subject, Sky Genie provides six automated flight patterns that enable you to capture video with ease using sometimes complex movements. Sky Genie modes include Orbit, Spiral Ascend, Comet, Antigravity Line, Fly Away and Ascend.

Then there’s Sky Path, which is like waypoints, where you can pre-program flight paths so you can revisit locations multiple times and replicate flights, or allow other people to wear the goggles and enjoy a 360-degree view without flying the A1. There’s also a subject tracking mode that works incredibly well and requires you to select the subject to be tracked. Subject tracking takes advantage of Insta360's impressive Deep Track technology.

There’s also Virtual Cockpit in FPV mode, which provides an augmented reality overlay in the goggles and at the time of writing, you can fly with a dragon. It’s a bit of a gimmick, but some people will no doubt enjoy it, and more skins will be added in the future. Finally, when you use the Antigravity landing mat, it provides a precise Return to Home point and works surprisingly well, making landing incredibly easy.

Antigravity A1: Performance

• Dual cameras produce great image quality
• Invisible drone technology
• Up to 8K video capture

The image quality produced by the A1 is excellent, but this must be considered in context. It’s excellent for a 360-degree camera. Antigravity was incubated by Insta360, so it has a fine pedigree behind it when it comes to 360-degree photo and video capture. It’s not, however, as good as the image quality of a standard camera drone.

For example, the A1 captures 360-degree video in 8K, while most camera drones capture a single view in 4K to 6K, depending on the model. This is far higher-resolution, ultimately, than the A1. But let’s not be negative here because the A1 does capture great image quality for the type of cameras it uses.

During testing, the camera was set to Auto when capturing both photos and videos, and the A1 captured photos and videos with balanced exposures. You can also shoot in manual, so it’s up to you whether you take the easy option or go for the more consistent yet involved manual option.

The dual cameras both include a 1/1.28-inch sensor and an f/2.2 aperture. These create a 360-degree view where the drone is invisible, which is great. Photos can be captured in INSP and DNG formats at a resolution of 14MP (5248 x 2624) and 55MP (10486 x 5248). Shooting modes include Normal, HDR, Burst, AEB and Interval. You can reframe photos in several different formats and even create animated photos. These are fun and interesting and are exported as short videos.

Please note the footage below was shot in 8K, but our video player only plays in HD.

Video can be captured in 8K at up to 30 FPS, 5.2K up to 60FPS, 4K & 1080p up to 30FPS and 4K and 1080p slow motion at 100FPS. The maximum bitrate is 170 mbps, and video can be encoded in H.264 or H.265. Photo and video editing can take place in the Antigravity smartphone app or the Antigravity Studio Desktop app. Both offer templates for quick and easy edits, but there are more available on the phone app.

Antigravity Studio is basically a reskinned version of Insta360 Studio, which is easy to use and will be familiar to many people. The software allows you to choose camera angles, add camera movements and even speed up drone flight to mimic FPV drones. The editing part of the image-making process is incredibly important and is where you can add flips, rolls and dives to your videos.

Antigravity A1: Price

The Antigravity A1 was launched on December 4, 2025. It’s also more expensive than other sub-250 g drones, including the DJI Mini 5 Pro, simply because of the FPV goggles that are part of the three kits that are available. It’s an innovative and, indeed, exciting drone, but its cost and reliance on goggles could be a dealbreaker for some drone pilots.

There are three kits available: the Standard Bundle, the Explorer Bundle and the Infinity Bundle. The Standard Bundle includes the drone, motion controller, FPV goggles, one battery and accessories. The Explorer Bundle includes all this plus three batteries in total, a battery charging hub, a shoulder bag and spare propellers.

The Infinity Bundle is the same as the Explorer Bundle, but it includes higher-capacity batteries for longer flight times. The Standard Bundle costs $1599 / £1299, the Explorer Bundle costs $1899 / £1399 and the Infinity Bundle costs $1999 / £1499.

Should you buy the Antigravity A1?

If you would like a 360-degree drone capable of capturing 55MP 360-degree photos and 8K 360-degree video, then you should absolutely buy the Antigravity A1. It’s also the only 360-degree drone currently available, so it enjoys a monopoly, for now at least.

The reliance on FPV goggles does raise the price of the drone and means that you need a spotter to keep an eye on the drone while you fly. This might be a hassle you’re not willing to endure. It’s a shame that Antigravity didn’t also offer a standard stick controller option that can be used with a smartphone as a budget option.

The drone is exceptionally well-made and offers some fantastic features that make it stand out. The Sky Genie automated flight patterns are also great for focusing on subjects, while subject tracking works incredibly well. Flight speeds aren’t the quickest, but the capture first, reframe later approach means you can speed things up in the Antigravity Studio software.

If this drone isn't for you

If you'd prefer to capture true FPV video, the DJI Avata 2 is incredibly easy to fly with the DJI RC Motion 3 Controller. Flight is intuitive, even for beginners, and flight is so much more thrilling than with the Antigravity A1, which is quite slow in comparison.

The Potensic Atom 2 is an incredibly cost-effective sub-250 g drone that won’t break the bank. Despite its competitive price, image quality is excellent, and it has all the features most beginners and intermediate pilots will need, making it a great choice if you're on a budget.

If you’d prefer what is arguably the most innovative drone made to date, albeit not a 360-degree drone, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro could be what you’re looking for. This drone features three cameras, including the main camera with a Micro Four Thirds sensor, while the gimbal can be rotated.

• Back to top

The Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope might boast three models in one, but you might as well forget about the other two. While the microscope isn't terrible, the spaceship really isn't worth building. It doesn't matter, though, because the telescope itself is more than enough to justify the asking price alone.

Despite being made up of only 278 pieces, the telescope is perfectly formed, comprising a tripod, an adjustable mount, a scope and interchangeable lenses. As a bonus, it also comes with a model of the solar system, although with only seven planets, it's inexplicably not accurate.

That doesn't matter, though; the solar system model isn't large enough to use as an accurate educational tool anyway, and the main focus here is the telescope itself. Thanks to its realistic appearance and its neat projector function, a pleasant surprise, given the price point of the set, the Space Exploration Telescope has secured a place amongst our best Lego space sets.

In this review, I'll be focusing mainly on the telescope model, given it's the highlight of the set, and, quite frankly, there's very little reason to build the other two models.

Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope review: Build

• Combines regular pieces with Technic
• Suitable build for all ages
• Solar system can be fiddly and isn't a complete model

Given that the Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope is aimed at kids aged eight and above, it's no surprise that it's an easy, fast build. I put the telescope together in roughly 45 minutes. Kids or less experienced builders may take a little longer. It's a great set for beginners and more advanced Lego fans alike, given that it combines standard Lego bricks and some Technic pieces. Nothing is too complex here, though, and the set makes use of some very nice techniques.

The first stand-out part of the build is the adjustable mount. By turning a cog, you can move the telescope up and down, changing its angle. I am slightly disappointed that the tripod doesn't adjust, but I imagine this is more of a functional choice than anything else. While having a folding tripod would make this telescope feel more realistic, the position of its legs means it's perfectly sturdy, and, if they folded, it would be difficult to maintain the structural integrity of the set.

Perhaps the fiddliest part of the building process is the extraneous model of the solar system. This small structure simply adds another point of interest to the build, and features a large sun surrounded by seven planets and some moons. Why seven? I'm not really sure, but given that they were tricky to fit into the model, it seems like it may simply be a case of not being able to make space for one more.

Don't look too closely and you'll not notice. Just don’t consider using it as an educational tool. Hopefully, a full solar system model is on the cards from Lego at some point soon, but until then, there's the Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit set to consider.

Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope review: Design

• Telescope is unquestionably the highlight
• The microscope isn't that bad
• The UFO isn't great to build or look at

I've got to talk about the niftiest part of this model: A very clever use of the light brick, which turns the telescope into a mini projector. Once the telescope has been built, one of three 'slides' can be inserted just behind the lens. By pushing a button, the light brick will shine through the lens, casting an image from the slides onto a nearby wall or flat surface.

There's a star, moon and planet, and while the projection isn't exactly clear or mind-blowing, it's a seriously neat feature. It's one I certainly didn't expect, given the budget-friendly price of the set.

I should talk about the other builds here, too. Along with the telescope, the Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope can also be rearranged into a microscope and a UFO. It's worth noting that you can only build one of these at once, so if you want to build the microscope, you'll need to first disassemble the telescope, and so on.

The microscope isn't too bad, looking suitably like the scientific instrument it's supposed to resemble. The light brick isn't used to such a good effect here, however, simply illuminating the slide images from underneath rather than offering some kind of realistic projection. It's also a shame that Lego hasn't included any microscope-specific slides; some flora or fauna to look at would have been a nice touch. It's almost as if Lego knew I'd only build the telescope.

The third model, the UFO, is the clear weak link of the set. The small model lacks any real detail or ingenuity and isn't even particularly nice to look at. Granted, it's been a while since we've had a good UFO model from Lego, but this isn't it. Stick with the telescope and don't waste your bricks on building this one.

Should you buy the Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope?

Despite disappointing secondary models, the Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope is still very much worth its asking price. It's a fantastic model of a telescope, featuring moving parts, a very clever use of a light brick and all the features you'd expect to find on a 10-inch tall telescope. Costing just $34.99, it's an absolute steal — one of our favorite Lego space sets and a model that's a must-buy for any stargazer.

Other sets to consider

For another budget-priced Creator 3-in-1 set, why not consider the Space Robot? This cutesy little set costs only $24.99, and along with a robot, can also be turned into a space dog and a rocket. It's slightly more expensive at $54.99, but there's also the 3-in-1 Space Astronaut. One of our highest-rated Lego space sets, it can be turned into a dog or a spacecraft, but the realistic astronaut is the star of the show.

If you want something a little more meaty, the Lego NASA Artemis Space Launch System is just about the best Lego space set you can buy right now in terms of realistic models. It's huge, though, and with a price tag of $259.99, it's not one to buy on a whim.

Launching in February 2025 as part of Canon’s video-focused 'V series', alongside the Canon R50 V, the Canon Powershot V1 is a vlogging-focused hybrid compact camera with a built-in lens, 3x optical zoom and a 22.5MP sensor. It rivals Sony's ZV range of cameras, which are also aimed at content and video creation.

With an active cooling fan and Canon Log-3 recording mode for professional shooting ability, video is the main function of this camera. The ultra-wide-angle lens is specifically good for selfie-style vlogging and capturing everything in frame.

That being said, I tested it for a range of modes, including video and stills photography and found that it performed well in a hybrid workflow. I wasn't expecting strong astro performance from the Powershot V1, but I was pleasantly surprised with its ability to capture constellations, the Milky Way and even the Andromeda galaxy (M31).

Canon Powershot V1 review

Canon Powershot V1: Design

• Small but hefty body
• Deep grip for a hybrid compact camera
• Lacks electronic viewfinder

The Canon Powershot V1 feels good in the hand, even if a bit bulky, thanks to the cooling fan. Some users may find the design too chunky or the 0.94 lb (426 g) weight an issue, but I thought it was a handy size for taking on trips without having to take into account a separate body and lens. It's a great grab-and-go camera for hybrid shooting thanks to its 1.4-inch 22MP sensor.

Primarily a vlogging camera, the build is constructed so that it is easy to hold in a selfie stance, but if you want to shoot extended videos with it, I would recommend grabbing one of the best travel tripods.

For stills shooting, the built-in lens has an ultra-wide, 16mm full-frame equivalent, focal length with a 3x optical zoom extending that up to a telephoto length equivalent to 50mm full-frame. The maximum aperture for the wide-angle focal length is f/2.8, which really helped during my astrophotography testing.

The 3-inch (7.5 cm) LCD screen has a 1.04-million dot resolution, allowing for bright viewfinding and media playback during day and night. A lack of astrophotography-specific features, like night vision mode, means that it can be hard to preserve night vision while out in dark sites.

Touchscreen capability for most functions makes changing exposure settings very simple. It has touch-to-focus and touch-to-shoot functionality along with access to the quick menu for easy manipulation of your favorite settings. For those who might want a more traditional experience, the lens ring twists easily and can be used to change aperture and ISO in creative modes.

The back panel is a simple array of the usual buttons, but lacks as many tactile exposure controls as a full-frame or APS-C camera. The mode dial comes with auto, creative and custom functions, along with an easy lever for changing between camera and video functionality. The shutter button is easy to use with a lever at the side for zoom operation. Next to the shutter is a red record button, which can be used at any time to start shooting video, and a power button.

Canon Powershot V1: Performance

• Decent astro shots
• Wide maximum aperture of f/2.8 when set to 8.2mm focal length
• High ISO noise

For astrophotography testing, I took the Canon Powershot V1 to a dark field in South West England with a Bortle level of four. I mounted it easily on a basic tripod and set about trying to capture some night sky treasures.

For an all-in-one camera, I was amazed by the astro capability of this camera. The low-light performance was impressive, and I managed to capture the constellation Aquila and the Big Dipper asterism. In the Big Dipper, I was even able to resolve the double stars of Mizar and Alcor. Thanks to the ultra-wide perspective, I was also able to frame a copse of trees under the starry night sky, along with the Pleiades star cluster on the right-hand side.

The Canon Powershot V1 even had good high ISO performance and was able to capture the core of the Milky Way at ISO 3200 with an f/2.8 aperture and 15-second shutter speed. Zooming into these images finds a mid-level amount of noise, but it is acceptable for the class of the camera. Pumping the ISO up to 6400 made the dust lanes in the Milky Way more visible, but made it quite noisy.

For a camera that is not focused on stills or astrophotography in any way, the Canon Powershot V1 performed way above what I expected it to. Despite the noise, I think that a hybrid camera that can shoot Milky Way dust lanes and clear constellations has something worth shouting about.

My most impressive target with this camera was the legendary Andromeda galaxy (M31), which I shot with an f/4.5 aperture and 20-second shutter speed. Despite being a small yellow smudge in the centre, it clearly shows the stretched shape of the galaxy well enough to identify it as part of the Andromeda constellation.

Canon Powershot V1: Functionality

• Flip-out vari-angle LCD
• Vlog-ready mics
• Lacks tactile controls

The flip-out, fully articulating screen is really handy during astrophotography shoots in the summer when it is easy to manipulate controls in the warm weather. Touch screen controls are useful in some conditions, but some users may find the lack of tactile controls annoying, especially when trying to preserve night vision or in cold weather, when it is harder to use touchscreens. Whilst there is a small dial on the back panel and a bigger lens dial that can be used to change exposure settings, it doesn't feel as easy or as satisfying to change as on bigger models.

Most of the functionality is geared toward its primary use as a vlogging camera, such as a headphone and mic jack, along with a USB-C and micro HDMI port for charging and output. The inclusion of a high-density windscreen (deadcat) is a nice touch for those who are really focused on getting high-quality audio on their recordings. It has a built-in cooling fan to prevent overheating during extended video use, but this adds a lot of bulk to the camera. As a purely still-focused camera, it is quite thick when compared to competitors like the Sony ZV-II.

If you plan on using a tripod a lot with the Powershot V1, then make sure you use an appropriate baseplate so you can switch out SD cards and batteries without having to take it off the tripod head.

The battery compartment was nice and easy to open with a sliding latch, but, honestly, I didn't need to replace it as I charged it via USB-C during use and never needed to replace the battery during my shoots.

When I first started using the camera, I was using an SDHC SD card, and single shooting was fine, but there were errors when I tried to shoot video or do burst shooting. I would make sure that you have an SD card with at least a V30 speed rating for good write speeds.

How we tested

I tested the Canon Powershot V1 in a Bortle class 4 area in southwest England in August 2025. The nightly temperature was around 53-degree fahrenheit (12-degree celsius).

I shot images of the constellation Aquila, Big Dipper asterism, Milky Way core and the Andromeda galaxy (M31). I also used the V1 for recording some video content as well as shooting different photography styles.

User Reviews

Other users find the camera’s 4K video quality great, especially when used in home studio setups, with the ultra-wide angle able to capture everything in frame. Most of the praise comes from its strong video capability, with users praising the built-in ND filter and built-in fan to prevent overheating.

Some users have complained about the battery life but I didn’t have any issues with it during my testing. A majority of the criticism comes from the camera's optimization for videography over photography. As a pure photography camera, some users thought that it lacked the functionality required of a stills-focused camera like a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF).

Should you buy the Canon Powershot V1?

If you want a small but powerful video camera that can get you shooting immediately out of the box, then go for the Powershot V1. If you are a hybrid shooter who likes to take a wide range of styles of photography/videography, this will offer the adaptability to choose. It really is optimized for vlogging and videography, so this should be your main requirement if buying this camera.

I have tested it successfully for astrophotography and was impressed with the low-light performance for an all-in-one camera. Whilst it is capable of pretty good photography in a range of styles thanks to the sensor and 3x optical zoom lens, stills-focused users will probably feel a bit underwhelmed with the stills performance compared to stills-focused cameras.

If the Canon Powershot V1 isn't for you

If you are looking for a similarly sized camera but with more of a creative photography focus and the ability to change lenses, check out the Fujifilm X-M5. It has a 26 MP APS-C sensor and can shoot 6.2K open-gate video, so you are getting a strong photography camera with a strong video performance, although it does lack the built-in cooling fan and neutral density filter of the V1. You can also use any of the XF series of Fujifilm lenses that are available, allowing you to upgrade your images.

For a rival within the same brand, try the Canon R50 V, which has interchangeable lenses as well as a larger APS-C 24MP sensor. It also features dual tripod threads for different mounting styles while shooting.

The Nikon Z fc is a good option for those who want a compact, photography-focused camera. Whilst bigger than the V1, the Z fc offers an electronic viewfinder (EVF), a slightly larger APS-C sensor and compatibility with Nikon Z series of lenses.

The Fujifilm X-M5 is the lightest and smallest camera in the X-series line-up, alongside the X-T5, X-T50 and X-H2. It was released in late 2024 and is targeted towards content creators and travel users, with good hybrid capability and easy switching of film simulation styles.

With only a 26MP APS-C sensor and a lack of an electronic viewfinder (EVF), I expected the X-M5 to have weak astro performance but I was impressed with what this little camera could do. I managed to shoot a range of night sky subjects with the XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ kit lens and leveling up to XF lenses with wider apertures only allowed more stellar details in the shots. Could this be one of the best cameras for astrophotography? Or perhaps just one of the best cameras we've reviewed? Read on to find out.

Fujifilm X-M5 Review

Fujifilm X-M5: Design

★★★★★

• Vintage styling is attractive and appealing to film lovers
• 26MP APS-C image sensor not ideal for astro, but performs well
• Fully articulating rear screen is useful for awkward tripod compositions, especially without an EVF

The Fujifilm X-M5 has a wonderful vintage housing reminiscent of black and grey film cameras and cuts a small size so you can carry it wherever you go. Despite the compact body, it can be used with all of the Fujifilm XF lenses, although it does start to feel overbalanced with larger zoom models.

It has a 26 MP APS-C image sensor, which might put off some astrophotographers who prefer full-frame models, but it handled astrophotography well for a camera of its size. It only weighs in at 7.8 lbs, including battery and SD card, making it pretty light for a camera with interchangeable lenses.

This camera has a creative streak with the addition of the new film simulation dial, where you can change the film recipe depending on your photography style. While I mostly shot in Provia/Standard for astrophotography, it was fun to use this dial for different photography styles, like portrait and landscape. Shooting in these different styles doesn’t change the format, so you can either shoot the style ‘baked-in’ in JPEG format or keep it non-destructive with RAW.

The three-inch, fully articulated touch screen is handy for shooting on a tripod as you can adjust it to any working angle, something that is not available on mid-range Fujifilm models like the X-T50 and X-T5.

It has a range of onscreen touch controls like focus, zoom (with a power zoom lens) and custom functions assigned to a directional swipe. The X-M5 still has the tactile, manual controls that are classic features of any Fujifilm camera. It features a mini-joystick for menu and focus point selection, a command dial for exposure control and the mode dial for selecting shooting style. A switch lever on the shutter button made it super intuitive to turn on and off as it was right near my right index finger, although left-handed users won’t benefit.

The X-M5 is a beginner camera with a focus on creativity and content creation, with the film simulation dial, vlog mode on the mode dial and red instant video record button. While it lacks the high resolution that some intermediate photographers may want, it also stands as a great learning camera with the ability to grow with different lenses for the reasonable $899 price tag.

Fujifilm X-M5: Performance

★★★★

• Amazing astro results for a non-specialist APS-C camera
• Combined with an appropriate lens nebulas are easily imaged
• High ISO sensitivities introduced a bit too much noise, for our liking

To test this camera for astrophotography, I went to a Bortle 4 area in a field in South West England during late February with nighttime temperatures of 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius).

For a non-specialist astrophotography camera, I was amazed with the astro results I got during testing. When paired with the right lens, I managed to get some decent shots of constellations and deep-space objects.

Using the XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II lens, I was able to get a pretty good shot of Orion’s belt with the Orion Nebula (M42) glowing purple below it. With a superfast XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR lens, I captured the Big Dipper asterism, the full constellation of Orion, Sirius and the planet Jupiter. I even captured some star clusters like the Pleiades and Beehive cluster, albeit on a wider scale but it is still impressive to see a small camera capture a faint deep space object.

A lens with a fast aperture really helped this camera perform in the astro space but it performed well with the recommended kit lens. Shooting with the XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ lens, I managed to capture Orion and Sirius in good detail. The kit lens suited the small size of the X-M5 body better than the larger XF lenses.

Whilst being able to shoot a range of night objects, the high ISO performance hindered the overall image quality. I shot around ISO 2,000-2,500 and there is a fair amount of luminance noise when zooming into dark space and plenty of color noise throughout the image too, showing up as purple, red and green dots. I pushed the ISO to 25,600 and whilst able to distinguish star patterns, the photo was very noisy and largely unusable.

Fujifilm X-M5: Functionality

★★★★

• Ideal beginner or travel camera for astrophotography
• Battery life suitable for long nighttime shoots
• Compatible with high-end XF lenses but may feel unbalanced when shooting

The best part about the X-M5 is how small and portable it is — it would make a great travel camera or a go-to option for casual shooting without having to take a heavy full-frame with you. I found myself reaching for this camera to take out for street photography more often than bigger cameras like the X-T50 or X-H2, and I wasn’t disappointed with its performance apart from a lack of an electronic viewfinder (EVF) for precise shooting.

While in theory the X-M5 is compatible even with huge XF lenses, it will probably feel unbalanced. The XF 18mm didn’t feel awkward, but with the XF 16-55mm and XF 8-16mm, it felt a bit lens-heavy. If you already own a host of larger XF lenses, you might be better off investing in a larger Fujifilm camera body.

If you are a beginner or want a smaller travel camera, the X-M5 is ideal, and the recommended kit lens, the XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ, is fantastic for getting the basics of photography down with some basic astro functionality.

The battery life has a quoted life of 330 shots in standard mode and I didn’t run out during astro shooting sessions. The battery compartment has a nice nail slide latch that opens easily, should you need to replace the battery during a shooting session.

It has a single SD card slot, mic jack, mini HDMI and USB-C port, so you get access to the major connections you would want from a camera of this size. If you are planning on utilizing the X-M5’s 6K/30p and 4K/60P video capabilities, then I would recommend at least a V30 speed class SD card.

Fujifilm X-M5: User reviews

Amazon customers like the compact size of the X-M5 while not skimping on photo performance. The film simulation dial is praised and one user mentioned using it within hours of getting the camera.

Other users praise the compact and lightweight nature of the camera and say it is ideal for vlogging, street photography and content creators. Downsides reported include the lack of an electronic viewfinder (EVF), difficult ergonomics and a screen that can be difficult to see in bright conditions.

How we tested the Fujifilm X-M5

I tested the Fujifilm X-M5 with the following lenses: Fujifilm XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ lens, XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II lens, XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR lens and Fujifilm XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR lens.

I used the camera for a range of different photography styles, including portrait, street, landscape and astrophotography. For astrophotography testing, I went to a Bortle 4 area in South West England in February 2025. The nighttime temperatures reached 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius). I photographed a range of night sky objects, including the constellation Orion, the Big Dipper asterism, the Orion Nebula (M42), the Pleaides star cluster (M45), the Beehive cluster (M44) and Jupiter.

Should I buy the Fujifilm X-M5?

If you are a beginner photographer and want to get a camera that will teach you the ins and outs of photography, the X-M5 is ideal. Manual tactile controls get you used to manipulating exposure and the film simulation dial can help with your style. It will equally suit someone who wants to make a lot of video content, as it supports 6K video at 30p and 4K video at 60p. Bear in mind, you will have to make sure to buy a lens with it but this gives you the option to get new lenses as you develop your craft.

Some users may rightfully want an electronic viewfinder (EVF) for more precision during shoots and, while a lack of an EVF on this camera can be annoying for some, it helps to bring the size down. It’s a small but mighty camera that is capable of most styles of photography, as long as you like shooting via a screen.

If the Fujifilm X-M5 isn't for you

If you are looking for a compact camera that has an even bigger video focus, look at the Canon Powershot V1. It has an internal cooling fan for extended video shooting and a built-in ultra-wide lens for selfie-style vlogging. We photographed some constellations with it, too!

If you already know the photography basics and want a camera that will keep you learning as you grow, try the Fujifilm X-T50. It has an electronic viewfinder (EVF) for photography precision and has more professional photography features like a 40MP APS-C sensor and in-body image stabilization (IBIS). It also features the same Film simulation dial that is on the X-M5.

If you are put off by the fact that this camera has a crop sensor, try a full-frame camera like the Sony A7C II, which has a 33MP sensor, a compact EVF and professional features like IBIS and weather sealing.

Whenever you go on a stargazing trip, you'll need to pack some essential items such as a pair of the best binoculars for long-distance viewing or your best camera for astrophotography and your best camera lenses. You'll need something to pop this gear into and the Peak Design 7L sling bag might be the perfect solution.

If you're looking for a lightweight carrying solution for a few small items, the Peak Design 7L sling bag fits the bill perfectly. Photographers might want to protect their best camera for astrophotography by pairing it with a separate camera cube, as there's no padding. However, the Peak Design 7L sling bag's organization and comfortable design are a winning combination.

Peak Design 7L sling bag: Design

★★★★

• Deceptively spacious design
• Lots of pockets and storage for accessories
• Very comfortable and lightweight bag

The Peak Design 7L sling bag is surprisingly spacious for such a small bag, providing a comfortable and lightweight solution for lovers of the outdoors and photographers who don't want to carry much gear. Unlike the outdoor backpack, this bag has lots of internal storage to store your cards, batteries, power bank and other accessories.

The main compartment has three mesh pockets and an internal zip pocket that contains another, smaller pocket and four additional mesh pockets. On the front, there's a zip pocket with a key tether. On the back, there's a hidden phone drop pouch with a magnetic clasp — a feature I particularly enjoyed. There aren't any pockets on the strap, but I found it comfortable to wear and easy to carry. There are also cord hooks underneath the bag to hold a raincoat, walking poles or a small tripod; I thought it was perfect for my Joby GorillaPod.

Peak Design 7L sling bag: Performance

★★★★1⁄2

• Ability to fit a variety of gear combinations
• Lack of gear protection (without a camera cube)
• Good fit but reduced capacity with X-small camera cube

I used the bag both with and without the X-small camera cube, and I found pros and cons of both setups. Without the cube, there is much more room inside the bag, and I could fit a vast array of gear combinations, including a camera and two lenses, one big telephoto lens with accessories and a drone setup. The downside of not having the cube is that the bag doesn't offer any kind of padding for your gear, so if the bag is dropped, there's nothing to protect your equipment. Having the X-small camera cube inside adds more protection, but the cube reduces the capacity; I could only fit a full-frame camera with two small lenses inside it.

Users have said the X-small cube was an odd fit inside the sling bag, but I actually thought it was a very good fit. However, the bag itself doesn't have any loops for attaching the cube to the bag with the included C-clips.

Peak Design 7L sling bag: Functionality

★★★★

• Convenient hidden phone drop pouch
• Tricky zippers
• Potentially disastrous quick-release clasp

I would have liked a safety feature on the quick-release clasp on the strap. It can be activated very easily when you're adjusting the bag or picking it up. That means that, if the clasp is accidentally triggered while you're wearing the bag, it — and all of your expensive gear inside it — could end up crashing to the floor. With the lack of padding in the bag, I dread even imagining it.

I also found the zippers a bit fiddly to pull with one hand, even though they seemed strong and the toggles were easy to grab. The hidden drop phone pouch is great if you're using the bag when traveling, as it keeps your phone safe but is still easy to access.

Should you buy the Peak Design 7L sling bag?

If you're looking for a smaller bag that can fit enough gear but won't get too heavy, I'd recommend the Peak Design 7L. It's great for travel and for times when you want to take your camera out, just in case, but don't want to commit to a bigger backpack. It isn't the cheapest bag, but I think it offers good value and will last a long time.

If this product isn't for you

If you carry more gear regularly, you may want to consider additional options. Peak Design also sells a larger Outdoor Backpack, which is designed for a mixture of outdoor purposes. However, if you want a dedicated camera bag, you'll be better off with Peak Design's Everyday Backpack, which has internal storage and is targeted more toward photographers.

How we test

I tested the Peak Design sling bag with numerous combinations of gear to truly test its versatility, including a general photography setup, a wildlife photography setup and an aerial photography setup.

I wore it on longer walks and as a quick ‘grab-and-go’ option, and I assessed its ease of use and accessibility both with and without a camera cube inserted, noting how easy it was to put my gear in and take it out, plus the convenience of the internal compartments and pockets.

Late last year, we published an article about retired Lego Star Wars sets we’d love to see make a return. And with the older BB-8 model now retired (2017-2019), we wondered if this new model lives up to the expectations to sit in our guide to the best Lego Star Wars sets.

We adore BB-8, one of our favorite Star Wars droids and one of the best things to come from the Star Wars sequel trilogy. This orb-shaped robot is joyous, and this little Lego model is perfectly proportioned to capture it in all its glory.

It is a small set, though. Measuring roughly six inches tall, you won’t need to worry about finding space to display BB-8. It’s sorely disappointing in comparison to the now-retired BB-8, which was a rather grand nine inches in height. It also had twice the piece count (1106 pieces versus 569) - and yet that 2017 BB-8 only cost $10 more (£5 in the UK).

That’s really our biggest complaint here, but we shouldn’t be surprised considering how much the price of Lego (and most things in life) has increased in the last nine years. Read on for our full review, and to find out whether we’ll be recommending BB-8 as one of the best Lego Star Wars sets you can currently buy.

Lego Star Wars BB-8 review: Build

• Straightforward build
• Some unique mechanics
• No stickers

The 569 pieces of Lego Star Wars BB-8 are split over four bags. It’s obvious from the start that this is going to be a fairly straightforward build, given its low piece count and its age 10+ rating. It means that the instructions are easy to follow and you’ll never need to manage more than a few new pieces at any one step. Perfect if you’re new to Lego.

It’s not all entirely straightforward, though. BB-8 has some nice parts usage and a very cool mechanism that means he randomly turns his head from side to side as you roll him forward on his singular wheel. It’s a nice touch that requires a bit of ingenious work with rubber bands without ever being too complex to put together.

Like most Lego models, it’s very hard to tell what you’re building when you start out with BB-8. With the first two bags being concerned with the core structure and central mechanism, it’s not until you get onto bag three that the little droid will start taking shape.

The Lego designers have done a great job in creating a rounded shape for BB-8, thanks to cleverly built rounded corners. Built in two halves, with the mechanics hidden away inside, large circular plates are added to BB-8’s body to add more detail and to finish off its rounded appearance.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable build with nothing too complex or fiddly to deal with. It’s also worth noting that there are no stickers used at all here: BB-8 has a lot of detail, but it’s all printed. This is something we love to see, and might also explain a little why the price tag of this set feels a little high.

Lego Star Wars BB-8 review: Design

• Feels a little wobbly
• Great, rounded design compared to the 2017 version
• Can't quite decide if it wants to be a playset or a display set

As we’ve already said, we love how Lego Star Wars BB-8 looks. Despite it being much smaller than the previous BB-8 model, we can’t deny that it’s much better designed in terms of visual appeal. While the 2017 BB-8 was rather blocky, BB-8 is smoother and more circular, making the model look more like the real thing.

Sitting somewhere between a display set and a playset, BB-8 has a limited number of functions. Thanks to its mechanism, its head will move from side to side as you roll it, and a front ‘hatch’ opens up to reveal a set of tools. But given the fact that the set comes with a display plaque, it’s probably better suited to sitting on a shelf and looking pretty.

It’s also a rather wobbly set, so we aren’t confident it would withstand heavy-handed play from children. While it’s perfectly stable when sat on a flat surface, we wouldn’t like to think it was being flung around haphazardly. Its circular plates in particular lend themselves to a feeling of instability thanks to the fact that they attach to the main body in such a way that they spin around when touched.

Given that this is a 10+ set, we’d have liked to have seen a few more interactive features on it, but it’s not the first display set that Lego has marketed to a younger audience. Last year’s Grogu with Hover Pram was the same: a 10+ set designed to be purely decorative. It’s an odd choice, but as long as you know what you’re getting, it’s not a real issue.

Should you buy Lego Star Wars BB-8?

We really like Lego Star Wars BB-8, but its high asking price really gives us pause. This is half the size of the previous BB-8, but carries practically the same price tag. And in other Lego themes, 1,000+ piece sets can be picked up for around the same price. It’s annoying, and as nice as BB-8 is, we’re just not sure it’s worth $90.

Ultimately, you should probably wait for a discount before picking up this little drone, unless you’re absolutely eager to have it in your collection. For around $60 to $70, we think this is a fantastic set, but at full price, it’s a little disappointing.

Other sets to consider

With the previous BB-8 long discontinued, this set is your only option if you’re desperate for Rey’s companion droid. Used second-hand models can be picked up without breaking the bank, but if you like your sets to be new and sealed, you’d be silly to go for the 2017 model now.

Other Lego Star Wars droids are available, though. Chopper is adorable, costing $99.99 for over 1,000 pieces. And we are big fans of R2-D2, which again will cost $99.99 for 1,050 pieces. Both of those sets arguably offer much better value for money than BB-8.

Astrophotography requires a bag that can handle rugged terrain and satisfy photographers' needs. After all, you want to be able to carry your best camera for astrophotography around with confidence.

At first glance, the Peak Design 25L Outdoor Backpack seems like it could be the perfect solution. Peak Design is known for its quality camera bags and photography equipment, so I was keen to see how a bag designed for the outdoors would compare. I tested it with an S-medium camera cube, but you'll need to purchase a camera cube separately for photography purposes.

Peak Design 25L Outdoor Backpack: Design

★★★1⁄2

• Odd color choice (white) for an outdoor bag
• Easy roll-top entry
• Deep pockets that comfortably fit a tripod

It's clear that a lot of thought went into the Peak Design 25L Outdoor Backpack, with its accessibility, versatility and quality of materials. Designed as an outdoor bag that photographers can use with one of the compatible camera cubes, it's suitable for hiking to remote dark-sky sites with all of your photography equipment and everything you need to stay warm and hydrated.

It has two deep side pockets that can easily hold a tripod and a water bottle, a laptop sleeve (that can also be used for a hydration pouch) and an easy-to-access roll-top opening to reach your gear without having to open the back panel. The zippers are easy to grab and very strong, but there's not much padding to protect your gear.

Peak Design 25L Outdoor Backpack: Performance

★★★

• Wide straps, which are uncomfortable for users with a small frame
• Easy access to gear
• Cinch feature that keeps the bag secure

There are two sides to the coin when it comes to performance. The first includes the bag's practicality and ease of use out in the field. We found it easy to access our gear and really liked the roll-top entry with the cinch hook to tighten and loosen the top compartment. There are mesh pockets in the straps to keep your phone or a power bank, which made it very easy for us to access our phone during a hike. We would have liked this bag to be compatible with a Capture clip, though.

The other side of the coin is comfort. Although we found this backpack fairly comfortable to wear for long periods when we wore a coat while walking around a nature reserve, we can't say the same for when we wore this bag on an 8-mile (13 kilometers) hike in just a long-sleeved shirt. For most users, it will likely be fine, but for people with small frames, the straps will be too wide. We found the straps digging into our arms while we walked, and as a result, the straps didn't fit over our chest properly when we had to tighten the sternum straps.

Peak Design 25L Outdoor Backpack: Functionality

★★★1⁄2

• No internal storage
• Utility as an outdoor bag
• One large compartment

Although the Peak Design 25L Outdoor Backpack is very functional as a general outdoor bag (which is what it's designed for, after all), it's not very useful for photographers without a camera cube.

There's no internal storage — not even small pockets for cards, batteries or filters. And even when a camera cube is inside, you need to fully open the rear panel to access your gear. This adds an extra cost to an already expensive bag. Therefore, the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack is best suited to users who do as much hiking as they do photography, so it can be used for both activities.

How we test

I wore the Peak Design 25L Outdoor Backpack on multiple outdoor trips, including a walk around a nature reserve in a padded coat and an 8-mile waterfall hike in a thinner T-shirt.

I fully assessed all of the compartments, straps and attachments for quality, practicality and comfort in a range of conditions to give a thorough review of how the bag would perform for different uses.

Should you buy the Peak Design 25L Outdoor Backpack?

The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack better serves as a general outdoor or hiking bag as opposed to a dedicated photography bag, so if you’re looking for a versatile bag that can also comfortably fit your camera gear as and when you need it, it’s a good pick.

That said, there are other more affordable alternatives that could do the job just as well. For photographers who want to use it specifically for remote shoots, I’d only recommend it if you already have camera cubes.

If this product isn't for you

If the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack didn't hit the mark, consider the Peak Design Everyday Backpack, which has internal storage. This makes it better for photographers, because there's no need for a separate camera cube. Plus, there's space for a Capture clip.

For something more lightweight, consider Peak Design's 7L sling bag. It's surprisingly roomy, but there's no internal padding. You also may want to look at the Wandrd Prvke, which is a favorite among photographers. It has internal storage and an easy-to-access roll-top entry that make this bag a great option for traveling.

The Carson VX 12x50mm binocular is a budget-friendly entry into the world of higher-magnification binoculars, many of which feature in our best binoculars guide. With this power, you can use these binoculars across a range of fields, with improved detail and performance not readily available with lower-powered rivals.

The best binoculars for long-distance viewing tend to have 12x magnification, if not more. These binoculars feature 12x magnification and are capable of some decent astronomy. They are waterproof and nitrogen-purged to prevent fogging and protect against dust and dirt, which is very welcome. Furthermore, the glass is multicoated and phase-corrected, helping to reduce glare and reflections — ideal for sharp stargazing images. Not only this, but with 50mm objective lenses, there's a reasonable field of view of 258 ft at 1,000 yards, also enabling good low-light performance.

But how well did the Carson VX 12x50 binoculars fare during our testing? Read on to find out.

Carson VX 12x50 binocular review

Carson VX 12x50 binocular: Design

• Solidly made
• Good quality shoulder bag
• Large 50mm objective lenses

The Carson VX 12x50 binoculars feel well-made and are reassuringly heavy to hold. They look chunky and straightforward, which gives an impression of quality, and they live up to this. Armoured with a textured rubber coating and a groove on the underside where the thumbs naturally rest, they provide good grip.

Durability is also good with these Carsons — I took them out to my test site on cloudy days in quite damp conditions, especially first thing in the morning, and they performed well with no fogging. This is due to them being waterproof and fogproof, making them able to withstand rough weather conditions.

The Carson VX 12x50 binoculars use a roof prism design that is commonplace nowadays. The prisms have BaK4 dielectric coatings with anti-reflective elements and are phase-corrected, which improves color and light transmission through the lens. However, while studying the moon, some chromatic aberration was present. Using a tripod mount is recommended for stargazing, as at full 12x magnification, there's quite a bit of shake and blurriness in the received images. However, a tripod mount isn't included in the basic package. There's also a diopter adjustment ring that allows adjustment from -5 to 5 diopters, which helps to ensure sharp viewing.

The accessories that come with these binoculars include a decent shoulder bag with the usual fabric strap. The straps are sufficiently thick, which means you can carry the binoculars safely in the bag even while hiking. The bag is made of nylon fabric and appears weatherproof. While the binoculars themselves are fogproof, the shoulder bag also helps to keep them safe from the elements. Furthermore, it's padded on the inside, further increasing the protection in case of any bumps or knocks.

Lens covers are included for both the top and bottom lenses. However, the bottom objective lens covers are secured with a plastic band to the binoculars themselves. The top cover just sits over the caps without a tether, potentially making these easy to misplace.

Carson VX 12x50 binocular: Performance

• Good low-light performance at dawn and dusk
• Rugged and waterproof, enabling use in the rain
• Tricky to use at full magnification because of shaking

The inclusion of a 50mm objective lens allowed me to use the binoculars well into dusk and at dawn, when there was little available light. Whilst using the binoculars to observe the recent conjunction between the moon and Jupiter, I was able to discern the various craters and fissures of the moon's surface with some clarity; the view of Jupiter was more of just identification rather than any detail, though. The Geminids meteor shower was visible through these Carsons as well, though with little detail; it wasn't visible to the naked eye, making the use of the optic a pleasurable experience.

The evening of one of my test sessions was rainy, which I used to my advantage. Keeping the Carson out in this weather proved that the waterproofing has been well executed. I didn't experience any fogging or clouding of the lenses, even in the heavy rain I experienced. The shoulder bag also proved helpful here, as the exterior is durable enough to withstand a heavy downpour, whilst the soft liner enabled me to slide the optic in and out with gloved hands.

Although using the binoculars for birdwatching was OK, I found the use of the tripod mount for stargazing important. The maximum 12x magnification is a useful feature as long as you can rest your hands on something solid, like a wall or fence; otherwise, the view of smaller celestial objects is affected.

The limited eye relief of 0.63-in (16mm) meant that using spectacles was limited. This amount of relief means that the field of view is dramatically reduced when using spectacles. More would have been a good addition. The eyecups are made from hard rubber and could be more comfortable, though the multi-stage twist-up mechanism is nicely judged.

The focus ring is large and falls easily to hand. It's well weighted and feels of good quality, if not the smoothest, compared to the action of more expensive models. The feel of this part of a binocular is essential to the overall feel of quality of design, and I feel the Carson could be better here.

I was able to capture clear, crisp images, especially during the day, with these Carsons. I found them particularly good at focusing on moving objects, thanks to their wide 50mm objective lens, which allows for fast tracking of birds and moving objects at sporting events.

Carson VX 12x50 binocular: Functionality

• 12x magnification enabling close focus on distant subjects
• Wide field of view of 258ft at 1000 yds
• Solid waterproof construction with a good shoulder bag

There is plenty to like about the Carson VX 12x50 binoculars, such as the field of view, which is helpful as it lets you accurately track moving objects, like when birdwatching. The 50mm objective lenses also help here, as they let in a lot of light. The body of the Carson VX 12x50 binoculars is covered in a textured rubber material, with proper indents on the underside that help hold the Carsons steady whilst in use.

The inclusion of 12x magnification on the Carson means that stargazing is a possible use. They are at the limit of handheld focusing at that magnification, but there is a threaded port on the hinge for a tripod mount. I found this very fiddly to set up, as there's very little room to access the small cap which covers the port. And, as stated before, the tripod mount is an optional extra and isn't included in the basic package.

The lens and prisms are fully multicoated and also phase corrected, with the prisms being made from Bak4 glass. There's good use of light, but I did notice purple fringing while observing the moon, indicating chromatic aberration. The image is also quite soft at maximum focus, but it is in line with a unit of this price.

I tested both the shoulder bag and the binoculars for waterproofing, since lots of my test days were very wet. Neither caused any problems, and the nitrogen purging stopped the lens fogging really well.

Overall, I liked the Carson VX 12x50 binoculars and felt they performed well across various situations for their price point.

Should you buy the Carson VX 12x50 binocular?

The Carson VX 12x50 binoculars proved themselves in my tests, being a good pair of optics for lunar observation and looking at stars in the night sky. They are pleasant to use and have great views regardless of what you are looking at. I recommend them for beginners to the world of both astronomy and birdwatching, with a reasonable price point at $260.

If you are planning on an extended skywatching session, we would recommend using them with a tripod, as at 12x magnification, handheld shake can start to get in the way of detailed observations.

Waterproofing and fogproofing at an IPX6 rating make it a robust choice for those users who often find themselves in heavy rain or challenging weather conditions.

If the Carson VX 12x50 binoculars aren't for you

If the Carson VX 12x50 binoculars aren't for you, then we would recommend a few other models depending on what you want out of your binoculars. If you are serious about using binoculars for stargazing, then we would recommend the Celestron Nature DX 12x56 binoculars, which are heavier but have a larger objective lens at 56mm, which can let more light in when looking at dim night sky objects.

If you want the same level of magnification but are worried that you might not be able to hold them steady for observation, a pair with image stabilization (IS) might be worth the extra money. A pair like the Canon IS 12x36 III binoculars or the Fujifilm TechnoStabi TS-L 1640 binoculars is suitable for getting detail at higher magnifications and offers a much easier handheld experience while stargazing.

If you don't need that much magnification, the Celestron Cometron 7x50 binoculars offer a levelled-up stargazing experience for wide-field targets like constellations and the moon, whilst offering a huge amount of light in thanks to the same 50mm objective lenses.

Back in 2024, Lego delivered an excellent (and huge) Icons model of the NASA Artemis Space Launch System. With a price tag of $260, a footprint of 10 x 11-inches and a height of 27.5-inches, however, not everyone has the budget or space to accommodate it. For those people, enter the brand new Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket.

It costs less than a quarter of the Lego Icons version and yet, in terms of the rocket itself at least, looks just as realistic. While the larger NASA Artemis Space Launch System may have a more realistic scaffold, it lacks any sort of interactive functionality — and that’s where the new Technic version shines. By turning a crank, you’ll get to witness the rocket launching, showing three distinct stages. Not only does it boast a very clever design, but it’s an educational set, too.

Where to buy the Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System

• 🧱 Lego.com for $59.99 — new model
• 💵 Amazon.com for $59.95 — new model
• 🎯 Target for $59.99 — new model
• 🚀 Lego NASA bundle at Costco for $249.99 — includes Space Shuttle
• ✨ Kohl's for $59.99 — new model
• ✅ Walmart for $59.95 — new model

For children with an interest in space, rockets and NASA, the Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket is an absolute must-have. But even for the grown-ups amongst us, it’s a very enjoyable build that manages to be just challenging enough without ever being frustrating. It’s safe to say that this set will earn a place in our guide to the best Lego space sets currently available.

Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket review: Build

• Easy to follow instructions
• Engaging and rewarding build
• Very clever Technic mechanism

You’ll need to carve out around two to three hours to put together the Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket, although your exact mileage will depend on how well-versed you are at building Technic. Before you go into this set, it’s important to note that putting together a Technic set can be an altogether different experience from assembling a standard Lego set. Regular bricks are replaced with lugs and rods and, generally speaking, form is replaced with function. But while some Technic sets leave a lot to be desired, aesthetically speaking, I think the NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket lends itself very well to its Technic construction. It looks just as realistic as its Lego Icons counterpart, despite having five times fewer pieces.

Its smaller size means it’s an easier, quicker build, and its 9+ age rating indicates it’s suitable for kids and adults alike. I wouldn’t recommend giving this to a child as their first Lego build, but for someone with moderate experience in putting together Technic sets, it should be a straightforward and rewarding project.

Unsurprisingly, the rocket is one of the last parts that you build, with most of the legwork taken up with structure, form and technical innards. The first couple of bags are concerned with getting the mechanisms in place; essentially, a lever that will, eventually, raise and lower the rocket from a launch position to take off. It’s a clever set-up of cogs and rods, one that will delight and fascinate in equal measure — providing it’s all put together accurately. The instructions are clear and concise, and due to the age rating here, you’ll never be dealing with more than a few pieces at any one time, which makes things nice and easy to follow.

Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket review: Design

• Very clever design
• Hidden mechanism that can be viewed via a lift-up flap
• Three-stage launch process

Lego, give the designers of the Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket a raise, because this is one of the best Technic sets I've built to date. Not only does it look wonderful (not to mention easily identifiable), but it features an incredibly clever mechanism that can launch the rocket.

Turning a crank on the bottom-right-hand side of the model will set in motion a system that rotates a large twisted rod, to which the rocket is attached. As this rod rotates, the rocket begins to ascend. When it reaches a certain point, its two rocket boosters will separate from the core, and the final stage of the launch will see the Orion spacecraft separate. Turn the crank the other way, and everything will return to a pre-launch position. If only a real rocket launch were so easy.

The main components of the mechanism are hidden in the base, for which you’ll build a plain black cover. Cleverly, you can lift up part of this cover to admire the cogs at any time and, in fairness, it is pretty satisfying to watch everything work as you turn the lever. Everything else is obscured by the rocket itself, so unless you turn the model around, you won’t see any of the chains and pulleys that keep the top part of the model sturdy when it’s released from the base.

The only real complaint is that you’ll need to keep both hands on the set as you turn the crank. It’s a little too lightweight and wobbly to turn with one hand, so you’ll need to use your other hand to keep it steady. It’s hardly a big deal, of course, but a little extra weight in the base to counteract this would have been nice.

Should you buy the Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket?

You absolutely should buy Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket. This is a seriously slick Technic set, with one of the best mechanisms I’ve seen to date. It’s simple but effective, and whether you’re looking for a set to educate a child about rockets or simply want a fun, realistic space-themed set for yourself, you absolutely cannot go wrong with this one. It’s an entertaining build too; despite having a fairly complex mechanism at the heart of it, the instructions are easy to follow.

The best thing? At $59.99, it’s not going to break the bank, either — and I often see Technic sets get pretty deep discounts during their lifetimes (though it’s worth every penny even at full price).

Other sets to consider

The most obvious alternative is the Lego Icons NASA Artemis Space Launch System. At 3,601 pieces and costing $259.99, however, this version is significantly bigger than the Technic version, and undoubtedly more complex to build. But it doesn’t feature any Technic mechanisms, and you certainly can’t launch this one. Given the weight of it, you certainly wouldn’t want to!

If you’re looking for a realistic space-themed set that’s more reasonably priced, I absolutely love the Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope, which is worth every penny of its $34.99 asking price. It can also be built into a microscope or a tiny UFO, but the telescope itself is excellent. For another Technic set with moving parts, I’d recommend taking a look at the Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit. It’s a little pricier at $74.99, but it provides a nice model of the Earth and Moon, with a working orbit around the Sun.

The Carson 10x50 RD binoculars are a great beginner pair of binoculars for the hybrid observer, thanks to their contrasted daytime views and ability to observe nighttime objects, albeit with some pesky chromatic aberration.

If you only use binoculars for stargazing, then we would seriously recommend a different pair for sharper and cleaner views. That being said, if you want to look at a range of different targets like birds or other terrestrial viewing, they strike a great balance between magnification and objective lens diameters. 10x is just enough that you can hold them steadily and a 50mm objective lens means that images are nice and bright, even in dim conditions.

The open-bridge design makes them easier to wrap your fingers around, allowing for sturdy and direct control of the observation subject. This also helps the binoculars cut their weight down to only 1.76 lbs, making them an attractive option for grabbing quickly for a walk or sports game. The Carson RD 10x50 are a strong general-purpose pair of binoculars that will help you get a better view of the world around you.

Carson RD 10x50 binocular review

Carson RD 10x50 binocular: Design

• Bridgeless design helps with grip
• Smooth surface on the chassis
• The 50mm objective lenses let in lots of light

The Carson RD 10x50s have a lovely, simple design with a smooth chassis, looking like a mix of a lightweight adventure binocular and a full-size model. This is mainly due to the lack of a bridge, but the open-bridge design of the Carsons is well-executed. It enables easier handling whilst minimising shaky images at higher magnification, as you can grab both sides of the optical tubes firmly.

The focus wheel is furled and appears very large compared to the rest of the optic, but I found this to be a good thing, as it's easy to use whilst wearing gloves in colder weather.

The shoulder bag comes with a padded strap that clips on using sturdy plastic clips. However, the bag's material is more in keeping with cheaper binoculars, as it's pretty thin and proved only showerproof on a particularly wet day during testing. Sadly, it's not really suitable for the proposed rough-and-ready nature of the RDs.

There's a threaded screw in the lower part of the bridge assembly that's removed to fit a tripod adapter. With the binoculars mounted on a tripod using this mount, I found them quite unstable, as the lack of a bridge assembly behind this fitting results in uneven weight distribution. This design may prove a weak point in the chassis without the support of a conventional bridge, as it places significant strain on a relatively small piece of plastic.

Carson RD 10x50 binocular: Performance

• Poor low-light performance at night
• Good, sharp views with good contrast during the day
• Rugged and waterproof, though the bridgeless design could be a problem in the long term

For my test, I was predominantly looking at how the Carsons would perform whilst stargazing. My test site for this was in a dark-sky reserve, where I measured a sky quality of 21.4 SQM and a Bortle class 4. A tripod was on hand to help with shakes and vibration. The light from the 50mm lenses was enough to focus on fairly bright stars, but the resulting chromatic aberration, especially around bright stars, was hard to ignore.

The view through the Carsons is excellent for a binocular at this price point, even without the additional coatings of their fully multicoated stablemates. However, the lack of phase-correction coatings on the roof prisms did result in limitations at night. Whilst observing the conjunction of the star Regulus and the moon, I could observe Leo's brightest star quite clearly at the full 10x power of the Carsons. Still, there was a lot of purple fringing around the edge of the view, consistent with chromatic aberration, and the inclusion of phase correction on the prisms could have helped here.

Sadly, the chromatic aberration meant I was a little disappointed with their astronomical performance. The chromatic aberration only appeared around the outer edge of the views, so it wasn't too much of a distraction, but it was disappointing nonetheless.

As mentioned, the roof prisms don't have phase correcting coatings, and it shows. If you are thinking of purchasing these binoculars purely for stargazing, I would find it hard to recommend this model and would suggest you look further up the model range, where phase correction is included.

That being said, on other duties, the optics fared well. Birdwatching is fun with these binoculars, as they are very easy to maneuver thanks to their lack of a bridge. They feel very sure in the hand, as you can wrap both hands around both optical tubes. Long-term, this bridgeless design may affect the durability of the binoculars, as there is less brazing at the joint between the two optical tubes. While I found these binoculars to be good for birdwatching, the focus wheel is low geared, so fine focusing whilst tracking birds is quite cumbersome.

Carson RD 10x50 binocular: Functionality

• Lightweight and compact
• Easy, sure grip thanks to the bridgeless design
• Good daytime ability with clear views

The Carsons weigh 1.7 lbs and are only 5.7-in wide, making them easy to fit into a large pocket. This meant that I rarely used the included carry case and made them my first choice for a quick stroll or outing, as they can be thrown in a pocket and used as if they were a monocular.

The lightweight, compact size of these binoculars makes them appealing to walkers and to people using them at sporting events and concerts, for example. In use, the bridgeless design enables the hand to wrap around the entire instrument, increasing a sense of security and inspiring confidence in using them in any circumstance. They aren't as thickly covered as some units, so care is needed to ensure they are not dropped on hard surfaces.

Should you buy the Carson RD 10x50 binocular?

Looking elsewhere is a good suggestion if you are going to use the Carson RD 10x50 binoculars solely for astronomy, as their chromatic aberration can leave you disappointed with your views of celestial objects. At 10x magnification, they can definitely give you a better view during stargazing sessions but don't expect the wow factor from these binoculars.

On the other hand, if you are wanting a pair of binoculars for general observation of a range of targets, think birdwatching, terrestrial viewing and sports matches, then these are a phenomenal budget pair of optics. This is thanks to the 50mm objective lenses which helps let lots of light into the view and keep images bright.

Waterproofing and fogproofing are an added bonus for using in challenging conditions, so you can rest assured they will keep performing even in the rain and cold.

If the Carson RD 10x50 binocular isn't for you

If this product isn't for you, what about trying the recently tested big brother of this binocular, the Carson 12x50 VX binoculars? They're a little more expensive but include phase-corrected prisms to improve astronomical observations and seriously reduce chromatic aberration that is present in the 10x50 RD binoculars. They also offer a stronger magnification at 12x, which can help to see deep space objects up-closer.

If your budget can stretch a little more, the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD monocular would be a wise purchase thanks to the inclusion of extra-low dispersion (ED) glass for better light transmission and sharper views of celestial objects. With monoculars, you often get better quality optics, as you are only paying for one optical tube.

If the budget is your main concern, then check out the Celestron Cometron 7x50 binoculars, which offer great wide-field astronomical views for under $50. They have 7x magnification and 50mm objective lenses, which are great for getting brighter views of of larger celestial objects like the moon and constellations.

Smart telescopes are great, but they are expensive. Even the least expensive, such as ZWO's SeeStar S30, will set you back in the region of $400. Yet most of us already have a smart device in our pockets. If we could just mate our smartphones to some kind of telescopic device, could we not have our own DIY smart telescope?

That's the ethos behind Vaonis's Hestia. It's not a smart telescope, or even a normal telescope. Think of it as a lens to which you can attach your smartphone and, by using an app on your phone and your phone's built-in camera, you can take images of the night sky. We call this afocal photography; it can be achieved, to an extent, by using an inexpensive smartphone adaptor that holds your phone's camera up to a telescope eyepiece. However, with the addition of Vaonis' Gravity app, the Hestia has a much wider range of guidance, exposure settings, stacking and catalogues of varied objects to choose from.

In short, it's more sophisticated than simply holding your phone up to a telescope eyepiece, but simpler than a smart telescope. The question is, how does it compare?

Vaonis Hestia review

Vaonis Hestia: Design

• Feels solid, not flimsy, unlike the tripod
• Lightweight and portable
• Can be adjusted to fit all models of smartphones

The Hestia comes in a nicely padded protective case, and is about the size of a hardback book, though not nearly as heavy. It comes with a tripod sporting a pan-and-tilt handle so that you can manually move the Hestia around the night sky. The Hestia's mostly white finish is of similar quality to the plastic housing of Vaonis' smart telescopes, such as the Vespera II.

One side of the Hestia is a black metal plate with magnetic clasps that can be moved around and adjusted to fit your choice of phone, and then all you need to do is position your camera over the small opening where the Hestia focuses the light.

None of Vaonis' telescopes are particularly aesthetically eye-catching, and the Hestia is probably the ugliest of the lot, with the rubber 'camera-cup', safety warning text and the unappealing black metal plate. If you want an astronomical instrument that looks good, then the Hestia certainly does not match up to a classic refractor. Although its utilitarian appearance suits its economical design, ultimately, it is not about how it looks, but what it can do.

Vaonis Hestia: Performance

• Perfect for imaging the Sun (with solar filter) and the Moon
• Gravity app allows you to stack images
• Lack of motorised tracking is a big limitation

Ordinarily, an aperture just 1.2-inches (30mm) in diameter would be far too small for any half-serious astronomical observing, but most smart telescopes have a small aperture. The Hestia has the same size aperture as the SeeStar S30, for example. The small apertures in these devices are mitigated somewhat by the fact that they are 100% focused on imaging, not visual use, and imaging collects photons and integrates over exposures, building up a picture — something the human eye cannot do, of course. Nevertheless, the limited aperture does constrain the resolution, and the low magnification means that other than the Sun and the Moon, nothing really fills the field of view.

It is possible, via the Gravity app, to stack individual images together to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and help the faint details stand out. However, this still runs into the problem of having to manually track your target while keeping it aligned in the field of view.

The lack of tracking is also a serious limitation. Again, it's fine for the Sun and the Moon, which are both bright and only need short exposures anyway. It is also okay for stars and star clusters, since you only need a short exposure to see them. For nebulae and galaxies, however, where many integrations over long exposures are required to tease out their faint light, the Hestia is not really suitable. For example, the SeeStar S30 can track the Orion Nebula for half an hour and build up a wonderful image, but after only 30 seconds, all you can see at that point is a faint smudge. Those 30 seconds are really all you get with the Hestia. I did try manually tracking, but it is difficult to keep your target perfectly aligned each time.

Vaonis Hestia: Functionality

• Very simple to use
• The Gravity app is user-friendly
• No motorized tracking

The Hestia will never run out of power because it does not require a battery or any external power. This gives it a significant leg-up over smart telescopes, which have a battery life of between 4 and 8 hours, depending upon the model and weather conditions (cold weather drains batteries faster). All I needed to remember was to keep my phone charged!

I found that getting my smartphone's camera to line up with the rubber cup wasn't as easy as it might at first seem. The two magnetic brackets are quite loose, slipping and sliding across the metal plate. Although they are meant to be that way, and for good reason, as if they held on with too much magnetic strength, they would be difficult to adjust. It does mean that lining up your phone's camera is finicky business, and if you don't take due care, the phone can be nudged out of position. Even if it is just a slight nudge, it means light will fall on a different part of your camera sensor, resulting in a double image.

The accompanying tripod is not the sturdiest, with quite thin lower legs, but the Hestia is not heavy, so as long as you position it on firm ground and are careful not to knock into it, then it should be okay.

The Hestia does not have a tracking mount or any machinery, motorized or otherwise. The focal length and f/ratio are not provided, but the magnification is 25x through a small 1.2-inch (30mm) aperture. But given that it is not motorized it means that it cannot track objects in the sky. This limits exposures of deep-sky objects to about 30 seconds before they start to visibly trail. You could try and manually track objects, using Vaonis's Gravity app as a guide and taking care to center the object each time, but again, a misalignment could lead to a double exposure.

The Hestia comes with a solar filter that I could screw in over the aperture. Users must ensure that the solar filter is attached before pointing the Hestia at the Sun — the intense bright sunlight could otherwise damage the Hestia's optics, your phone's camera and even your eyes if you looked directly through the rubber eyecup at it. There is a warning next to the rubber eyecup reminding you not to do this.

To take images, I had to download Vaonis' free Gravity app from the App Store (or Google Play if you have an Android device). It first asked me to register my Hestia by scanning the QR code on the reverse of the instrument (it's hidden by the tripod head, which I had to unscrew to get to the QR code). Then the app guides you through the positioning of your phone so that it is receiving focused light (focus is achievable with a slider in the app) through the camera. Gravity has three observing modes — Sun, Moon and 'Catalog', which has everything from stars and galaxies to nebulae and planets. I found the Gravity app very easy to use.

Should you buy the Vaonis Hestia?

The Hestia works surprisingly well for imaging the Sun and the Moon. It is well suited to watching sunspot groups, spying large prominences and tracking the changing phases of the Moon. It also works well for stars and star clusters, but beyond that it is not suitable for deep sky imaging. If a user wishes to image a galaxy or a nebula, their best choice is to get a smart telescope.

If you are not too concerned about taking images then I would argue that a good pair of large binoculars (anything bigger than 10x50s) or a medium-aperture telescope of 5- or 6-inches provides a better view of the Moon, the stars and definitely the planets than the Hestia does. Because of its wide field of view and low magnification, the planets do not look like anything more than bright lights, but this is a common failing of all smart telescopes with their small apertures and wide fields. I could not see the belts of Jupiter or the rings of Saturn, for example.

User reviews of the Vaonis Hestia

Reviewers on amazon.com were broadly supportive of the Hestia, highlighting its portability, the functionality of the Gravity app and its appeal to users who want to try out astrophotography but who don't have the skills, money or time to purchase dedicated large imaging cameras and telescopes. On the negative side of things, some users found focusing to be difficult and lamented the lack of motorized finding and tracking.

If the Vaonis Hestia isn't for you

There isn't really an instrument quite like this on the market, but if you are interested in low-cost afocal photography and already own a telescope, I suggest just buying a smartphone adaptor that can attach to the eyepiece.

If you are looking for something more sophisticated, then try Vaonis' range of smart telescopes, in particular the Vespera II or the Vespera Pro.

Although it is marketed as a white-light solar telescope, the iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope is really a nighttime scope (which can be purchased on its own) alongside a detachable solar filter from Thousand Oaks. This may be a perk for users who don't own a telescope and want to purchase a kit that's ready for both solar and lunar viewing. However, it's likely not of interest to anyone who already has a larger scope.

The telescope is lightweight with a streamlined design, and two handy eyepieces are included. The smaller aperture of the telescope — 2.4-inches (60mm) with the solar filter attached and 3.1-inches (80mm) without the solar filter — makes this telescope more suitable for beginners. And, the price is reasonable for this audience.

iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope review

iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope: Design

• Simple aluminum body in bright blue
• Sleek 60mm solar filter
• Traditional 9mm and 25mm eyepieces

The iOptron 80mm telescope is a simple-looking refracting telescope with a 3.1-inch (80mm) aperture. It's bright blue, with a clear iOptron logo at the end of the telescope. At the base of the telescope, there is a rack-and-pinion focus with a 1.25-inch (32mm) eyepiece slot. The lack of a finder scope and the eyepiece opening at the very end of the scope give it a sleek and streamlined look. The kit also includes a 45-degree erect glass prism, allowing for easier viewing of high-altitude objects. Simple 0.35-inch (9mm) and 1-inch (25mm) eyepieces are also included.

A unique selling point of this telescope is the featured SolarLite solar filter from Thousand Oaks. The filter has a simple design, mounting onto the end of the telescope with three screws. The solar filter has an aperture of only 2.4 inches (60mm), which decreases the usable aperture size from the 3.1-inch (80mm) telescope measurement. Thousand Oaks is a trustworthy producer of solar filters, so you can have peace of mind that the filter is safe.

The iOptron 80mm was designed primarily as a night-sky telescope, which is apparent from the safety label with a warning against its use for solar observations. This label is somewhat helpful, to remind you to attach the solar filter before pointing at the sun. However, it might be confusing for customers who purchased the telescope-solar-filter package especially for solar viewing. Rest assured: With the solar filter attached, solar viewing is safe.

The cosmetic finishes on the telescope are not high-quality. The plastic rack-and-pinion focus has small, white discs to hide the screws underneath, yet one popped out during my first observing session.

iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope: Performance

• Easily visible sunspots
• Inclusion of useful 9mm and 25mm eyepieces
• Views of soft, golden-orange sun
• Potentially problematic plastic focus knob

I tested the iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope on a clear, cloudless day at around 4 p.m. The sun was not at its highest by this time — but I live in a dry location over 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) above sea level, so atmospheric conditions are generally quite stable for nighttime and solar astronomy.

With the solar filter attached, the aperture of the telescope is only 60 mm wide. Through the 9mm eyepiece, the sun filled up the view nicely, but the wider 25mm view was more forgiving for non-tracking mounts. The sun appeared a nice golden orange through the solar filter.

The telescope performed as expected for a 60mm aperture white-light scope. Sunspot regions were visible (even through the 25mm eyepiece), with the difference between the umbra (the dark center of the sunspot) and the penumbra (the lighter edge of the sunspot) at the edge of visibility to a keen eye. As with all solar observations, your viewing experience will depend on the size and presence (or lack thereof) of sunspots on a given observation day, which will change constantly. At the time of my observations, only small sunspots were near the center of the sun, with a larger region rotating into view.

The images above show a comparison between a photograph taken through the iOptron telescope (a single shot from a Sony A7 IV with a Barlow lens) and a white-light image of the sun from the space-based Solar Dynamics Observatory. Naturally, the image from space is much clearer and sharper, but the iOptron telescope still picked out all of the sunspot regions. A more ambitious photographer could obtain sharper sun images by stacking multiple images together.

My primary criticism with the telescope's performance is the plastic focusing knob, which is a little stiff and not of the highest quality. When I turned the knob, it caused the telescope to wobble a fair amount and thus required readjustment of the telescope.

iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope: Functionality

• Lightweight, portable design
• Easy setup
• No finder scope, which may cause difficulties for beginners

The iOptron 80mm is lightweight and easy to carry over long distances. The setup is instantaneous; the telescope easily mounts onto a tripod, and the solar filter is easy to attach to the end of the scope. Don't forget this step! The 45-degree erect glass prism is a nice inclusion; it allows you to angle the eyepiece away from the telescope for easier viewing while the sun is high in the sky.

The iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope has a basic design. It lacks a finder scope, which would need its own solar filter, or at least an indication of where the sun is relative to the pointing. By contrast, most dedicated solar telescopes include this feature to help you find the sun. For this reason, it may take beginner astronomers a little time to find the sun within the field of view.

User reviews of the iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope

There do not appear to be any online reviews of the solar-filter-telescope combination. However, there are reviews of the telescope without the solar filter, rated on its use for nighttime astronomy. On the High Point Scientific website, two reviews independently mention the issues with the focus knob that I also found during my testing:

"A good basic refractor telescope. Useful for terrestrial daytime viewing and wide field viewing of moon, and large objects like comets. However, cheap plastic focusing housing causes image shift making astrophotography difficult. (4/5)"

"The view through the iOptron 80 is good, but there is a problem with focusing. When you turn the knob to focus, the object moves from side to side depending upon which way the knob is turned. Sometimes it can move completely out of view. You can see the eyepiece holder move side to side as you turn the knob back and forth. (3/5)"

Should you buy the iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope?

The iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope is a decent purchase if you do not already own a telescope and want to buy something versatile for both solar and lunar astronomy. It has a small aperture, but it's easy to set up, making it suitable for beginners.

If you already own a regular (nonsolar) telescope, it is probably better to purchase a solar filter directly for the scope you already own. This will save you money and may provide you with a larger aperture than the 60mm solar filter included with the iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope. Thousand Oaks, the company that makes the solar filter included with this product, also sells solar filters for other telescope sizes.

If the iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope isn't for you

If the iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope isn't for you, you have a couple of options. If you already own a telescope, the cheapest option is to buy a Thousand Oaks filter to fit your scope. That may even provide better results, if your scope's aperture is wider than 80mm.

Alternatively, if you want a basic, out-the-box solar telescope setup, consider the Celestron EclipSmart Travel Solar Scope 50 telescope or the PowerSeeker 60AZ refractor telescope with free EclipSmart solar filter, which serve a similar function as the iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope, but come with a tripod and finder scope (at the expense of a smaller aperture).

If you want to invest in a solar-specific telescope, then H-alpha observations provide a far better view of the sun than white-light solar telescopes do. White-light filters are restricted to observing the sun's surface, the photosphere, while H-alpha filters observe a higher layer in the sun's atmosphere, called the chromosphere. In addition, H-alpha observations can reveal filaments called solar prominences. However, H-alpha telescopes are much more expensive than the iOptron 80mm White Light Solar Scope. Trusted H-alpha brands include Lunt, which sells 40mm, 50mm and 152mm-aperture options.

DJI's Mini Pro range of drones has been a huge hit since the launch of the Mini 3 Pro – the first model in the line-up. This was the first sub-250g drone with professional photo and video credentials.

After the 4 Pro, which was little more than an incremental upgrade, we now have the DJI Mini 5 Pro. Not only is this a serious upgrade, but it also sets a new bar for what's possible in the most popular drone category.

There are numerous impressive new features to shout about, not least the 50MP 1-inch sensor in the camera, which can rotate 225 degrees in addition to 90 degrees for portrait capture.

There's also forward-facing LiDAR as part of the Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance system, and HDR video capture, to name a few notable features. It's safe to say that the Mini 5 Pro is one of the best drones and best DJI drones available, as well as being one of the best camera drones.

Image quality for photos and video is fantastic, thanks to the large sensor that's been magically added to the familiar Mini drone design. It is, however, slightly heavier than other sub-250 g drones at 8.81 oz / 249.9g. Plus, users have reported that some drones actually weigh in at up to 251 g, although aviation authorities seem to be overlooking this slight discrepancy.

• Back to top

DJI Mini 5 Pro: Design

• Sub-250g model with a folding design
• Palm-sized when folded
• 1-inch camera sensor

One thing you can rely on is that DJI Mini drones look remarkably similar, so there's no mistaking them for any other model or manufacturer. The Mini 5 Pro follows this rigid style with its folding design, where Omnidirectional Collision Avoidance sensors are visible on the airframe. In terms of size, it's pretty much as you'd expect at 6.18x3.74x2.68 in / 157×95×68 mm folded and 10.04x7.13x3.58 in / 255×181×91 mm unfolded.

It's a sub-250g model, like previous versions, and the 5 Pro weighs in officially at 8.81 oz / 249.9g, although some users have reported that the drone weighs as much as 251g when they've weighed it themselves. This hasn't caused any issues with the drone's place in the sub-250g category according to aviation authorities, and the slight weight increase is remarkable given that DJI has managed to cram a 1-inch sensor into the rotating camera.

In terms of overall design and aesthetics, the 5 Pro looks extremely similar to previous models but is differentiated by the darker grey of the airframe and, of course, the bulkier camera to accommodate that larger sensor.

Flight times are advertised as being up to 36 minutes per 2,788 mAh battery, but in real-world flying conditions, flight times are around 20 minutes before Return to Home is initiated when the battery reaches 20% capacity. This is often the case, and the 20-25 minute range is still impressive considering the small size and capacity of the batteries.

As always, there are two controller options: the budget DJI RC-N2, which requires attaching your phone, or you can opt for a smart controller. The DJI RC 2 smart controller features a built-in 5.5-inch FHD display and provides a much more convenient experience if your budget extends a little further. It's well worth it if you can afford it.

DJI Mini 5 Pro: Functionality

• Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing with LiDAR
• 360° ActiveTrack subject tracking
• Rotating camera

The Mini 5 Pro is an impressive performer in the sky, whether taking manual control yourself or using one of the automated flight modes and 360° ActiveTrack. Subject tracking is fantastic, and although this isn't a selfie drone like the DJI Neo 2 or HoverAir X1 Pro/ProMax, it still manages to successfully track people and cars, etc. In complex environments, it even manages to dodge trees and branches, which is thanks to its advanced collision avoidance system.

The Omnidirectional Vision Sensing system includes forward-facing LiDAR alongside fisheye lenses on the front and rear for sensing forward, backward, left, right, and upward. The bottom of the drone is fitted with binocular lenses and a 3D infrared sensor, enabling omnidirectional obstacle sensing. It's highly effective, and the LiDAR is designed to improve obstacle sensing and Return to Home in low-light conditions and at night.

The camera is extremely impressive, and although we'll go into more detail in the next section, the camera can rotate up to 225 degrees and it opens up many creative possibilities for capturing video. The camera also rotates 90 degrees, allowing for both landscape and portrait format capture, with the latter being ideal for social media.

There are automated flight patterns that allow you to capture cinematic video at the touch of a button, and these include MasterShots and Quickshots. There's also Free Panorama, which offers more manual control over how panoramas are captured. The new 2x 48mm equivalent zoom is claimed to be a vast improvement over older digital zooms, and image quality is certainly good when zooming in.

Advanced Return to Home utilizes Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance and LiDAR for a safer and more reliable Return to Home by calculating the most efficient route back to the take-off point. There's even Non-GNSS RTH, where the 5 Pro memorizes the path home when light levels are high enough, so you can get the drone safety home without satellite signals. This wasn't specifically tested, but RTH was always reliable when initiated during flight testing.

With all these features, the Mini 5 Pro takes a little of what the DJI Mavic 4 Pro and DJI Air 3 S have to offer, making it an incredibly advanced sub-250 g model able to take on professional work where a smaller and lighter drone is required.

DJI Mini 5 Pro: Performance

• 50MP 1-inch sensor
• 24mm f/1.8 camera
• Excellent image quality

The camera offers a 24mm equivalent focal length and has a fixed f/1.8 aperture with focusing from 50cm to infinity. The camera houses a 50MP 1-inch CMOS sensor, and you choose between 12MP and 50MP modes. Shutter speeds available are between 1/8000 and two seconds, while in 12MP mode, you also get two and a half to eight seconds for simulated long exposure.

The image quality produced is excellent when capturing photos and videos, although photos taken in the 50MP mode are on the soft side. You can capture photos in Raw and JPEG when shooting in both 12MP and 50MP modes, although you can achieve better results using Adobe Lightroom's Super Resolution feature to increase the size of Raw files.

Video can be captured in Standard (for straight-out-of-camera use), the D-Log M flat color profile for color grading, and HLG for HDR capture with up to 14 stops of dynamic range. This makes it ideal for beginner and professional video capture. And with that fast f/1.8 fixed aperture, ND filters are extremely useful for maintaining a correct shutter speed during video capture.

Video can be captured up to 4K at 120 FPS and 1080p at up to 240 FPS for slow motion capture. 8-bit video is captured in H.264 while 10-bit HLG/D-Log M is captured in H.265 with a maximum bitrate of 130 Mbps. Photos and videos can be saved either on the 42GB of internal storage or on a microSD card inserted into the rear of the drone.

Please note the footage below was shot in 4K, but our video player only plays in HD.

Off-State QuickTransfer allows for remote wake-up via the DJI Fly app within Bluetooth range. The Mini 5 Pro or the controller doesn't need to be switched on, and you can transfer files to your smartphone at up to 100 MB/s via Wi-Fi 6. It's pretty handy if you want to share photos and videos quickly and easily.

DJI Mini 5 Pro: Price

With the ongoing issues with the availability of DJI products in the US, the Mini 5 Pro isn't available in the US, and therefore, no pricing is available. For UK-based drone pilots, several kits are available, with the basic option costing £689. With this kit, you get the DJI RC-N3 controller and a single battery alongside the drone and accessories.

To get the most out of the drone and increase flight times, one of the Fly More Bundles makes sense as they offer three batteries, a battery charging hub and useful ND filters for controlling shutter speeds when capturing video.

The Fly More Bundle, which includes the budget DJI RC-N3 controller, costs £869, while the DJI RC 2 smart controller Fly More Bundle costs just £979. Considering the smart controller kit is only marginally more expensive, this kit represents fantastic value for money.

Should you buy the DJI Mini 5 Pro?

If you're looking for a sub-250g drone and have the budget available, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is worth getting. And as previously mentioned, if you can stretch to the DJI RC 2 Fly More Bundle, you will enjoy fantastic functionality and value for money. The features on offer, including Omnidirectional Vision Sensing, 225-degree camera rotation, 360° ActiveTrack and more, are fantastic.

The 1-inch sensor produces excellent image quality for both photos and videos, although shooting in the high-resolution 50MP mode can produce softer images than 12MP shooting. It's no big deal and you can use Adobe's Super Resolution in Lightroom to increase resolution more effectively if necessary.

If this drone isn't for you

If you'd prefer a larger and more powerful drone with similar features, but two cameras instead of one, look no further than the DJI Air 3S. This drone also has a 1-inch sensor in the main camera and a second telephoto camera with a 70mm equivalent focal length.

The Potensic Atom 2 is an incredibly cost-effective sub-250g drone that is much less expensive than the Mini 5 Pro. Image quality is excellent, and it has all the features most beginners and intermediate pilots will need, but it’s not as feature-heavy as the Mini 5 Pro.

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro is the flagship prosumer model and is the most advanced drone of this type to date. Image quality is exceptional, and the innovative new gimbal design allows for full rotation of the three cameras alongside landscape and portrait format shooting.

• Back to top

Just a year after the DJI Neo was released, DJI hasn't wasted any time in producing a new and seriously improved version, the DJI Neo 2. It's not often we see a drone model replaced so quickly, but it seems that DJI is keen to dominate the selfie drone market. This includes the impressive HoverAir X1 Pro and ProMax models.

With the new features, which include improved camera performance, Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance with combined vision and LiDAR sensors and 49GB of internal storage, up from 20GB in the Neo, to name but a few new features.

The Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance is particularly useful because it significantly reduces the risk of crashes when using intelligent tracking modes. The DJI Neo 2 is one of the best camera drones available since it does what it's designed to do incredibly well.

This small and lightweight drone maintains its FPV cinewhoop-style design with built-in propeller guards. This makes it safer to fly close to people and obstacles. It can also be controlled without a phone or controller, with the DJI Fly app, with a DJI RC-N3 controller and with DJI FPV accessories for FPV flight. So, plenty of options to suit a wide range of drone pilots.

What's so impressive about this drone is that it's inexpensive. This makes it ideal for beginners and those looking for a small, fun and easy-to-use drone. So, if you're looking for a drone that can intelligently track you on your adventures, the DJI Neo 2 could be the perfect solution.

• Back to top

DJI Neo 2: Design

• Cinewhoop-style design
• Compact and lightweight
• Several kits available

The Neo 2 doesn't look drastically different from the Neo, but there are some obvious upgrades. It's safe to say that even the untrained eye could tell that the two drones are related. It maintains the FPV cinewhoop-style design with completely enclosed propellers that both protect them in crashes and keep people safe when the drone is intelligently tracking people.

The main visual and technological differences between the Neo and Neo 2 are the transceiver on the rear that comes with the Neo 2 in the Fly More Bundles. This allows the drone to connect to controllers and goggles.

There's also a display on the front that shows the active flight mode, a LiDAR sensor and a couple of obstacle avoidance sensors. The display is useful because it makes it so much easier to identify the active flight mode when using the drone without the app or a controller. Controls on the side of the drone allow you to scroll through the flight modes.

The drone weighs 5.6 oz / 160g with the transceiver or 5.3 oz / 151g without, which is incredibly lightweight, but has a fixed rather than folding design. It's still compact at just 167x171x54 mm / 6.57x6.73x2.13 in, and you can easily slip it into a backpack, handbag or camera bag. The Fly More Bundles strangely don't include a carry bag.

The kit sent for review was the DJI Neo 2 Fly More Combo and includes a DJI RC-N3 controller. This features a telescopic phone holder at the top and allows you to fly the Neo 2 like a camera drone. This will likely be the most popular kit, although the Motion Controller Fly More Bundle with FPV goggles is an attractive option.

DJI Neo 2: Functionality

• Excellent flight modes and performance
• Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing
• 49GB of internal storage

Despite its FPV-style design, the Neo 2, like its predecessor, flies well as a camera drone using the DJI RC-N3 controller. In fact, even the on-screen digital controls for manual flight in the DJI Fly app work well and are useful when you want to keep your carrying weight to a minimum. This, however, is a selfie drone that's designed to capture selfies and track moving subjects, whether you're running, cycling, skiing or walking.

It does a fantastic job of these thanks to its intelligent flight modes, which include Follow, Skiing Follow, Cycling Follow, SelfieShot, Dronie, Helix, Rocket, Circle, Boomerang, Dolly Zoom and Spotlight alongside Manual Control. This is further enhanced by the addition of Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance with combined vision and LiDAR sensors. When following you in complex environments, the Neo 2 does a fantastic job of avoiding obstacles and keeping the subject centered in the frame.

You also get Quickshots, which are DJI automated flight patterns for capturing professional-looking video at the touch of a button. These include Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight, Helix and Boomerang, so there are tons of flight modes to enjoy. All this is great for beginners and people who want to capture themselves on their adventures.

The 1606mAh batteries are advertised as being able to last for up to 19 minutes, although in reality, you're looking at around 10 minutes of flight before Return to Home is initiated. This is typical for selfie drones and DJI FPV drones, of which the Neo 2 is one, if you choose the Fly More Bundle that comes with a Motion Controller and goggles, or if you already own compatible accessories.

This is a drone that relies entirely on internal storage since it doesn't have an SD card slot. So the increase in storage to 49GB is a welcome upgrade. The Neo 2 can save up to 105 minutes of 4K/60fps video, up to 175 minutes of 4K/30fps video or 241 minutes of 1080p/60fps video, which should be more than enough storage for most people.

Once photos and videos have been captured, you can connect to the drone via WiFi with your phone to transfer the footage at up to 80 MB/s using the DJI Fly app. This is great for mobile editing and quick sharing, and you can download to a computer using a USB-C cable.

Other potentially useful and interesting features include Gesture Control, where the Neo 2 can be controlled using a range of gestures, and is useful when you don't have a controller. Most people will often have their phone with the DJI Fly app. I've never been a fan of gesture control myself, but I appreciate its usefulness. Then there's voice control, where you say your commands to the DJI Fly app, which then transmits them to the drone.

DJI Neo 2: Performance

• 12MP 1/2-inch sensor
• Photos are only captured in JPEG
• Excellent image stabilization

The Neo 2's image quality is good for photos and much better for video, with the former only captured in JPEG format and no Raw option available, which is a shame. It's certainly not designed to be a photography powerhouse like the DJI Mini 5 Pro, but this is to be expected from a selfie drone with great subject tracking capabilities.

The Neo 2 features a 1/2-inch sensor, which allows for the image Rocksteady Electronic Image Stabilization to completely smooth video footage. During testing, the Neo 2 was practically shaken, and although movement could be seen, the Electronic Image Stabilization did an incredible job – truly impressive.

The sensor has a 12MP resolution and provides an equivalent focal length of 16.5 mm. The aperture is fixed at f/2.2, while focus is between 70 cm and infinity. ISO can be set between 100 and 12,800. Video can be captured in 4K at up to 60 FPS, 1080p at up to 60 FPS and vertical shooting 2.7K (9:16) 1512×2688 px is available up to 60 FPS.

Please note the footage below was shot in 4K, but our video player only plays in HD.

Video is captured in the Normal/Standard color profile, so it can be used straight out of the camera, and the maximum video bitrate is 80 Mbps. Rocksteady Electronic image Stabilization keeps the video smooth and the horizon straight, producing what is a remarkably impressive effect that’s as good as a mechanical gimbal. This system is ideal for the Neo 2 with its two-axis gimbal that offers a tilt movement so you can adjust the camera angle.

DJI Neo 2: Price

The DJI Neo 2 was released on November 13, 2025, and comes in at a slightly higher price than the DJI Neo. That's really not an issue, though, because the Neo 2 is packed with many more new and advanced features, making it a much more rounded offering.

The DJI Neo 2 costs £209 drone only, which means you get one battery and can control the drone with the DJI Fly app. The DJI Neo 2 Fly More Combo costs £349 and includes the drone, three batteries, a battery charging hub and a DJI RC-N3 controller.

If you're feeling a little more adventurous, you could opt for the DJI Neo 2 Motion Fly More Combo, which costs £509. This includes the extra batteries and charging hub alongside a Motion Controller and FPV goggles. All options are reasonably priced.

Should you buy the DJI Neo 2?

Unfortunately, the DJI Neo 2 isn't available in the US through DJI, but you may be able to get your hands on one another way. For those who can get hold of a Neo 2, if you're looking for either a selfie drone, an inexpensive beginner drone or an inexpensive and easy-to-fly FPV drone, the Neo 2 is a great option.

The fact that it can cover all of these bases, as well as having the ability to be used with the intelligent flight modes, drone only, or manually with the DJI Fly app, makes it incredibly versatile.

The new and improved features, alongside the Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance, are also positive factors that work in the drone's favour. If you're looking for a camera drone specifically, you might want to consider other models.

If this drone isn't for you

The HoverAir X1 Pro is another selfie drone, but this one has a folding design, which makes it more compact for transportation and storage. Performance is excellent when capturing up to 4K video, and there's a range of useful accessories available.

The Potensic Atom 2 is an affordable sub-250g drone that is a standard camera drone and a great alternative as a more powerful camera drone. It can capture video up to 4K and photos in both JPEG and Raw, with a range of useful features available.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is the best sub-250g drone available and also offers excellent subject tracking. It's not a selfie drone, but with its advanced subject tracking and excellent image quality, it's a much more versatile option than the Neo 2 in many ways.

• Back to top

I'm a huge fan of the Space Shuttle programme, and shed a tear when the last shuttle was retired in 2011. Admittedly, it wasn't particularly cost-effective, but for me, it was the face of post-Space Race space travel. The International Space Station likely wouldn't exist without it.

Now, thanks to Lego's Icons range, you can commemorate the Space Shuttle, carried as it often was, on the back of a Boeing 747. This 2,417-piece Lego Icons Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is effectively the replacement for the also-retired Lego NASA Space Shuttle Discovery set, albeit with a slightly higher price tag at $229.99 / £199.99.

At 25 inches long, it's not as big as, say, the Lego UCS Star Wars Venator set, but you'll still need a reasonably-sized table or unit to display it on; it's unlikely to fit on your average shelf. It'll take you 8 - 10 hours to build, which leaves the question: Is it worth the effort?

For the answer, read on for my Lego Icons Shuttle Carrier Aircraft review. And if it leaves you wanting more, we have rounded up the best Lego space sets.

Lego Icons Shuttle Carrier Aircraft: The build

• A fun build, with some interesting techniques
• Shuttle and jet each have their own instruction book
• Includes 19 stickers, too many for our taste

The Lego Icons Shuttle Carrier Aircraft took me ten hours to put together, working at a relatively leisurely pace. It's split into sixteen paper bags, which seems daunting at first, but it means you'll never have to look far for the piece you need.

It's split into two builds and two manuals. One for the Space Shuttle Enterprise and one for the plane, a Boeing 747, used to taxi the shuttle back and forth. The set's rated for builders 18+, but the shuttle is within the reach of junior builders and, taking three or so hours to put together, shouldn't test their patience too much.

The bigger set, the jet, is a little fiddlier and requires more dexterity to assemble, so I'd recommend that it be an adult-assisted build at least. If you're working solo, it's advisable to start with the shuttle. That's not to ease yourself into the build, however. Instead, it's because once you've got the shuttle together, you can glance at it to spur you on through the jet's initial section.

Because, while the Lego Icons Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is, on the whole, a fun set to assemble, it's not super motivating to start with a chunk of skinless fuselage that resembles nothing in particular.

Fortunately, once you're over that speed bump, the build comes into its own, taking on the shape and coloring of the custom Boeing 747. It's constructed in sections, beginning with the central fuselage and gears, then the cockpit, the tail, the wings and finally the tail fins.

This build employs a diverse and satisfying range of building techniques that will have you smiling when, section by section, it all comes together. Admittedly, I was puzzled as to why that opening jet section required so many cogs and connectors. But I had a big grin on my face as I turned the cog on the underside and watched the plane's gears raise and lower.

A neat touch is the way that the four engines attach, using a combination of a hinged piece and a flat triangle to hold each steady. I'd never in a million light-years have come up with that.

Unfortunately, there is one blot on this build, and that's the presence of 19 (count 'em) stickers. The majority of these are used to apply the NASA etc logos to the shuttle and the jet and, statistically, you're bound to get a hair or a piece of dust behind one of them. That, or you'll end up having to realign them to get everything just right.

Unfortunately, these stickers are transparent, which amplifies the visibility of smudges and fingerprints. My shuttle and jet are currently displayed facing left, because the right-side NASA sticker is faintly off-white.

Lego Icons Shuttle Carrier Aircraft: Design

• Shuttle and jet and be displayed separately, on or off stand
• Shuttle wheels and engines are stored inside cargo bay
• Cargo bay doors can stick

Unlike the Lego City Modular Space Station, which we also reviewed, the Lego Icons Shuttle Aircraft Carrier is not built with play in mind. The shuttle itself is sturdy enough to be swooshed around outside, but while the jet is just as well put together, it's so large that I wouldn't recommend it. I already bumped a Lego Star Wars AT-ST to its doom today, and I'm not repeating that mistake.

However, there is a degree of interactivity in that the space shuttle can be removed from the plane. Unlike the jet itself, the landing gear has to be physically removed, but they, with the engines, can be stored neatly inside the shuttle's cargo bay.

The one snag is that the shuttle's cargo bay doors can catch, to the point you may need two fingers to close them properly. It's not a deal-breaker, but given how much effort Lego has put into getting the set right (stickers aside) it's slightly disappointing.

The set's appearance, however, is anything but a letdown. You have the option of displaying it on the included stand, in a take-off position, and that's absolutely the best way to behold it. It's a seriously striking set, and as accurate as you could hope for, given its scale.

You don't have to apply much pressure to remove and reattach the shuttle from the jet; unlike the wheels and the engines, there's nowhere to store the tail cone. Nor will you be peeking inside the jet, not least because it isn't minifigure scale.

But it's still impressively detailed, down to the aforementioned working gears, and gorgeous to look at. And, if you're a relative stranger to the space shuttle, the base plaque and the manuals contain a host of useful factoids.

Should you buy the Lego Icons Shuttle Carrier Aircraft?

If you've the slightest interest in the space shuttle, and aren't buying for play, this Lego Icons Shuttle Aircraft Carrier is absolutely worth your money, especially since the previous shuttle set has been retired. Am I okay with all those stickers? No, but unless Lego takes their NASA range to the next level, I can't see them manufacturing printed elements for one or two sets.

Perched atop a suitably sized shelf or table, this is as impressive and as accurate as you could hope a set of this scale to be, and it's a blast to build, too. And while it's worth the $229 asking price, it's always worth keeping your eyes open for the best Lego deals; I saved 20% on this set during Black Friday.

Other sets to consider

If you're looking for a more play-friendly but still realistic set, consider the Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Astronaut, or if it's a pocket-friendly sci-fi ship you're after, have a look at this Lego Interstellar Spaceship. The Lego City Modular Space Station makes a nice companion piece to this set. Or if you've got a little more to spend and want a spacecraft that's still in active use, this Lego NASA Artemis Space Launch System is for you.

We continue to review the ever-growing list of the best star projectors that are entering the market, and we get especially excited when brands we rate release new models.

In September, Govee released two new models to its star projector portfolio, joining the now year-old Govee Star Light Projector (Nebula), which we reviewed earlier this year.

The first, Govee Star Light Projector (Ocean Wave), is only slightly different from the aforementioned model, offering dynamic water-inspired patterns as opposed to Nebula-inspired ones.

The other, which we are reviewing, is the model H609D, a disk-based projector. It projects an 8K ultra-high-definition image from the supplied disks. It still includes a built-in speaker, white noise effects and laser 'stars'. But does it stand up against the stiff competition in the disk-based star-projector world? Let's find out.

Govee Star Light Projector review

Govee Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro: Design

★★★★

• Nicely designed packaging
• Fairly large footprint
• Quality-looking unit

As with the Govee Star Light Projector (Nebula), the packaging of the Govee is nicely designed and stylish. It is a large rectangular box made from high-quality materials and the unit is packed securely inside with polyethylene foam. It would be wonderful to give or receive as a gift.

Unlike some units we've reviewed, the spelling and grammar are correct (we often find them as a result of poor translations), which can instantly reduce the perceived integrity of the product.

This relatively large projector comes with a separate rubberized stand. The purpose is not entirely clear, except to give the user the freedom to adjust the projection angle from ceiling to wall, although other models have incorporated this functionality into their main stands. It is not a drawback, just an observation.

The unit adopts a modern capsule-style design, moving away from the American football shape seen in previous Govee models. Its interface is straightforward, with the projector lens and lasers positioned on one side and a disk tray with four control buttons on the top. It is a sleek, unobtrusive device that would blend comfortably into most interiors.

The eight supplied disks are packaged in a compact booklet, which we prefer to the individual plastic cases often used for single disks. The book format is far more practical for storing small, thin slides.

Govee Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro: Performance

★★★★

• Fast smart home connection using "Matter"
• Bright enough for use in dark rooms and on dark walls
• Noisy motor

As with the previous version of the Govee projector, "Matter" connectivity means we were up and running in seconds, unlocking all functionality in the Govee app and linking it to our Google Home account. You can also integrate it with Alexa, which we expect is just as easy a process.

As this is a disk-based projector, there is limited customization in terms of colors and patterns, as it does not offer this functionality. The stars either 'diffuse' or 'gather', head from the outside edge in, or the inside edge out. That said, there are still several 'scene' modes displayed on the app, that tweak things like the rotation speed, the arrangement and movement style of the lasers and add 'white noise'.

The Class 1 lasers are very bright, even in a brightly lit room; however, the disk-based projection requires a dark room, even when it's at full brightness.

The lasers are the most dynamic we have seen. They don't simply rotate in a circle; the different scene selections activate some lasers, turn others off, make some bright and some dull, and some move quickly, while others move slowly. You get the idea. They are more like dancing fireflies than predictable laser dots. This was our favorite thing about the device.

The disk-based projections are attractive, but there is no indication of what each disk is meant to depict. Unless you are already familiar with nebulae or space imagery, you are essentially looking at something pretty without knowing what it represents. Disks from previous models are not compatible with this unit; the new disks use a square format, and we have not yet found anywhere to purchase additional ones.

We also noticed that most of the detail in each projection sits around the outer edge of the disk. A more even distribution would have avoided the effect of a colorful ring with a largely empty centre. Naturally, the further the projector is from the wall or ceiling, the larger that circle becomes. It is also worth mentioning that a few Amazon reviewers report that the disk images fade quickly. We have not used the unit long enough to confirm this ourselves, but it is concerning, given that we still do not know where replacement disks can be sourced.

We were hopeful that the motor noise present in the Govee Nebula we reviewed earlier this year would be addressed. The unit is pleasantly quiet at first, at least until the cooling fan activates. The fan is obviously necessary to prevent overheating, but it is fairly loud and typically switches on after 20–30 minutes of use. On several occasions, we used the projector to fall asleep, only to be woken by the fan's whirr. It is something to keep in mind if you plan to use it as a sleep aid without white noise or music to mask the sound. If you are using the projector while watching a film, gaming or hosting a party, the noise is unlikely to be an issue.

Govee Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro: Functionality

★★★★

• Smart integration is great
• Requires mains power
• Good Bluetooth Speaker

Although you can use the on-body buttons for basic controls, the Govee app unlocks all of the star projector's advanced features.

Setup through the dedicated Govee app is seamless — no error messages, no frustrating reboots or restarts. It just works.

20 scene modes adjust the speed, brightness, white noise track (if enabled) and laser direction. The variations between modes are subtle, but distinct enough to have standouts — our favorites being Cosmic Waves and Interstellar Travel.

Within the app, you can control the sleep timer and the wake-up timer. The unit is set to turn off automatically after 120 minutes. This is apparently designed to help increase the disks' lifespans. We'd have preferred it to be a little longer, to account for watching alongside long movies or an evening gaming stint, but it's easy enough to turn the unit off and on again to restart the timer.

As well as being able to pair the star projector with another Bluetooth device (like your phone) to play music, it also comes with 50 'white noise' sounds — though 'ambient noise' would be a better description. There is themed music and sound effects, but funnily enough, no actual 'white noise'.

The speaker is good enough for a pleasant listening experience. Lacking large amounts of bass, like most Bluetooth speakers do, but good enough for background music, podcasts, audiobooks and spa music.

This is a mains-powered unit and, unfortunately, isn't rechargeable. In reality, you're likely to find a good spot for your projector and leave it there rather than moving it around too often, so this isn't a deal breaker for us.

Should I buy the Govee Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro?

This isn't a budget-friendly star projector; in fact, it sits at the pricier end of the spectrum (unless we're talking about the truly expensive ones). At the time of writing, it's currently retailing for $149.99, which we do think is pretty steep, especially when much cheaper models are available and probably do just as good a job. For example, the Orzorz Galaxy Lite disk-based projector is one of the best models we have reviewed for image vividness and brightness; however, it lacks a built-in speaker.

For a good 'lights and patterns' style projector, the Cadrim, which we reviewed earlier this year, is a very affordable option that operates quietly and only takes up a tiny amount of space. It is controlled by a supplied remote control rather than an app, so it's great for keeping children off their screens, too. The Cadrim would be a good option to give as a gift, whereas this Govee model would be better as an indulgent 'me to me' holiday purchase.

If a disk-based projector without a speaker is definitely what you are after, the Sega Toys Homestar Matataki is our top choice for a plug-in device, and the Pococo Galaxy Star Projector is the best rechargeable option. For a disk-based option with a speaker, this is the best we've come across to date.

The Fujifilm GFX 100S II is the company’s answer to a portable version of the GFX 100 II, their medium-format flagship. It lacks the full hybrid capability of the GFX 100 II, which features massive 8K video capability and extended video recording connectivity. Both of the cameras boast the same 102MP sensor and X-Processor 5, but the GFX 100 S II is lighter and is primarily focused on shooting stills.

It's definitely one of the best cameras for photography, as it can handle a range of different styles, including landscape, portrait, nature and astrophotography. We tested it for all of these styles, and we think it is a great camera for the astrophotographer who uses extreme cropping or is involved in publishing large-scale prints. It doesn’t come cheap, but it crafts amazing imagery with huge amounts of detail and dynamic range, which makes subjects pop.

Fujifilm GFX 100S II review

Fujifilm GFX 100S II: Design

• Huge medium-format sensor
• 102MP sensor resolution
• Highly customizable

The design of the GFX 100S II is sleek and portable for a medium-format camera. At 1.95 lbs (883 g), it is fairly heavy compared to some full-frame models but it is actually lighter than the Nikon Z9 and Canon EOS R3. It is even lighter than its direct 100MP competitor from Hasselblad.

What makes this camera stand out is the huge medium-format sensor, which measures 43.8 mm x 32.9 mm and is approximately 1.7 times bigger than a full-frame sensor. In theory, a larger sensor should be able to capture more light, and therefore, we should expect a medium-format camera to be a strong choice for astrophotography. We think it would be a good choice for astrophotographers who are interested in large-scale prints or for photographers who do a lot of cropping. This is thanks to the 102MP sensor resolution, which allows extraordinary detail to be retained when an image is blown up or extremely cropped.

The top controls feature a mode dial with six custom shooting modes for professionals who need lots of flexibility when shooting different subjects and styles. An easy mode switch takes you easily from still to video shooting and vice versa. For a camera with so much customizability, the range of buttons does not feel too overwhelming and is actually very intuitive. Take, for example, the exposure compensation found just in front of the shutter button, which makes adjusting exposure easy and quick during shooting.

The back panel reflects the same ethos, with a range of buttons but not too many as to be confusing. I found myself using the quick menu button a lot to change a range of things, including file capture type, film recipe simulation, ISO and timer settings. The quick menu is a small Q on the back of the body placed where it is easy to access with the right-hand thumb. A joystick makes it easy to move through the 16 customizable menu items.

The three-way tilting main LCD screen helps when shooting some high and low angles, but you would expect a fully articulating screen for the premium price of over $5000.

Fujifilm GFX 100S II: Performance

• Shutter button lacked response
• Three-way tilt of LCD screen was useful for astrophotography
• Performed well for astrophotography

You can feel the professional weight of the GFX 100S II during handheld use, but it handles well thanks to a deep-shaped grip covered in Fujifilm’s trademark Bishamon-Tex leather-like coating. This was especially useful when handling the camera with heavier GFX lenses, which added considerable weight to the setup.

Whilst the operation of such a pro-level camera did seem intimidating, it was relatively simple to change exposure settings using the rear and front command dials on the body of the camera. I found the pressing of the shutter button didn’t have as hard a physical response as a Sony camera, so the actual process of shooting the frame felt a tad delayed. This is just my preference and the camera response speed is definitely not slow.

Despite not being a fully articulating LCD screen, the three-way tilt screen did help a lot during astrophotography shoots when the camera was tripod-mounted and aimed at the night sky.

I managed to shoot a range of night sky targets while shooting with the GFX 100 S II. I used the GF 20-35mm f/4 R WR lens to capture lots of wide-angle targets in the night sky. I captured the galactic core of the Milky Way with plenty of dust lanes visible. Some of these open wide shots that capture the Milky Way were prone to some color noise when cropping into the photograph from ISO 3200 upwards. With a larger-than-full-frame sensor, I would expect better noise handling, but it wasn’t anything that post-processing couldn’t fix.

I shot a few other deep space objects like star cluster NGC 752, the Triangulum Galaxy (M33) and the Pleiades star cluster (M45) using the GF 110mm f/2 lens and offered a closer telephoto length for some fainter deep space objects. The full-frame equivalent of using a 110mm lens on this medium format sensor is 87mm.

This focal length is not good for serious telephoto photography and therefore, the moon was still quite small in my frame. Even with an extreme crop, a strong level of detail is retained in the lunar disk and is a testament to the 102MP sensor.

Fujifilm GFX 100S II: Functionality

• Dual SD-card slots
• No mode for protecting night vision
• X-processor 5, AI-powered autofocus, eight stops of in-body-image stabilization and a 5.76 million dot OLED viewfinder

The GFX 100S II is full of premium features and functionality you would expect from a camera of this calibre. The camera feels like it is tailored towards the individual with six custom shooting modes on the dial, four assignable function buttons and custom touch gestures on the rear LCD. The trademark Fujifilm quick menu button makes finding all necessary settings easier because you don’t have to go into the more complex main menu.

The camera uses the NP-W235 lithium-ion battery, rated at 530 frames per charge, and it never gave up on me during a long session of interval shooting for the Perseid meteor shower. The battery is charged via the USB-C port on the left side of the camera body, which also doubles up for external SSD recording and data transfer. It also features a micro-HDMI port and two 3.55 mm jacks for microphone input and headphone output. The GFX 100S II has dual SD-card slots, which gives you a good level of storage, but I am disappointed that there is no CFexpress card slot, especially as 102MP photo files are not small.

The secondary LCD monitor on the top of the camera body is helpful for quickly reading your exposure settings while shooting and the amount of frames remaining on the memory card. In darker environments, you can illuminate this secondary LCD so you can see this information at night, but there is no specific mode that helps preserve night vision.

The GFX 100S II brings significant upgrades to its predecessor, including the new X-processor 5, AI-powered autofocus, eight stops of in-body-image stabilization and a 5.76 million dot OLED viewfinder.

How we tested the Fujifilm GFX 100S II

I tested the Fujifilm GFX 100S II with a range of lenses: the GF 110mm f/2 R LM WR, the GF 20-35mm f/4 R WR, the GF 63mm f/2.8 R WR and the GF 30mm f/3.5 R WR. For astrophotography testing, I went to a Bortle 3 area in some fields and took photos of the Milky Way, the Big Dipper, the moon and some deep space objects. During testing in the UK, nighttime temperatures were on average between 54-59 degrees Fahrenheit (12-15 degrees Celsius).

I also tested the camera out for a range of other photography styles, including landscape, art and portraiture.

User reviews of the Fujifilm GFX 100S II

Users of the GFX 100S II praise the sharp image quality delivered by the 102MP sensor and the impressive dynamic range.

The upgraded eight steps of in-body image stabilization is praised and, whilst autofocus is improved, some users note that it is slower than the best full-frame models (think Sony A1 or Nikon Z9).

The large raw file sizes are also pointed out as being troublesome to deal with in volume, making storage and computer upgrades inevitable.

Should you buy the Fujifilm GFX 100S II

The GFX 100S II is a camera for the professional market and is suited to someone who makes money from photography, as the price tag is not for the faint of heart. Despite this, it has a host of features that would benefit the professional portrait, landscape and studio photographer.

If you are an astrophotographer who is well versed in post-processing, using dark frames to reduce noise and has a focus on producing large-scale prints, I would highly recommend the GFX 100S II. Thanks to the size and 102MP resolution of the sensor, this camera is able to capture a wide portion of the night sky in relatively good detail and whilst there are some star trails, a star tracker would really help resolve high-resolution detail.

This extra width added by the medium format sensor helps those who want a wide focal length but hinders those who work at extreme telephoto lengths. With the GFX range of lenses rather limited and expensive, it really is worth thinking about what kind of shooting you want to do with this camera. They also lack features from modern full-frame lenses, such as f/1.4 apertures on wide focal lengths and wide apertures on telephoto lenses.

If the Fujifilm GFX 100S II isn't for you

For those who want a camera that works even harder and can handle heavy hybrid use with 8K video and a CFexpress slot, we would recommend Fujifilm’s flagship model, the GFX 100 II.

If the jump to medium-format seems like overkill, a strong full-frame camera might seem more suitable. Our best camera overall is the Nikon Z8, which features a full-frame 45MP sensor and has a dedicated red mode for preserving night vision. The Sony A7R V is another great full-frame alternative, with strong AI-powered autofocus and a strong 61MP sensor.

If you want a Fujifilm camera but don’t fancy paying your life away for it, go for the Fujifilm X-T50. It has a 40MP APS-C sensor and a film simulation dial for easy changing of styles. We used it for astrophotography, and it performed well, capturing the planets Jupiter and Mars as well as the Orion nebula (M42).

Move over, Star Wars, and get out of here, Marvel, because there is finally an official Star Trek Lego set… and what a set. The first Star Trek Lego set was always going to be some variation of the USS Enterprise, but as a massive The Next Generation stan, I'm glad that it was my beloved: the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D.

With an 18+ recommended age rating and a hefty 3600-piece count, it's certainly not for the faint of heart. That's fine, though, because I have to imagine that just about everyone who wants one of these things is someone who watched the original show back in the day. Who knows, though, maybe Paramount+ is bringing in the next generation of Next Generation fans?

It's also a hefty $400 — a price point that will make you yearn for the moneyless society of the show. So, was it worth the wait, and is it worth the money? Let's head into the review at warp seven and find out.

Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D: Build

• Body constructed with two mirrored halves
• 3600 pieces
• Some easy-to-apply stickers and printed pieces

The Lego Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D is made from 3600 pieces, split across 30 different bags and two instruction books. The first book covers the ship's main body and the flight stand, while the second book is devoted to the saucer section.

To make it so, the build starts with the main body and wings that hold the nacelles (aka the ship's warp engines). You actually construct the body from two mirror halves, which are then attached using several long cross-axle pieces (the long plus-shaped bars). I was especially impressed with how the designers crafted the main deflector array — that blue oval on the front of the ship that's always firing off tractor beams and tachyon pulses — which is made from two, custom-printed cockpit windscreen pieces that you invert, creating the concave shape of the array.

With the body constructed, it's time for a quick detour to assemble the flight stand, as the fixed position it offers makes attaching the engines much easier.

Speaking of which, you'll move on to building the nacelles themselves, which make good use of blue and red transparent pieces to recreate the iconic look of the ship's glowing engines. Once assembled, the nacelles slot into place nicely, and by this point, you've got a working ship… as long as you don't mind commanding your daft-looking ship from the battle bridge.

The back half of the build is a lot more technical, as you're building a larger circular disc out of square and rectangular Lego pieces. This feat is achieved by first constructing a central frame, similar to the spokes of a wheel, and then attaching it to the main body. I ran into an issue here, as I discovered I'd made a mistake in section 1 that only reared its ugly head here. A single piece was rotated 90 degrees in the wrong direction, and it stopped the saucer from slotting in. Fortunately, I was able to repair it without disassembling the entire thing, but my heart did stop for a second when I discovered my mistake.

Once the frame is in place, you then attach the top panels, which use angled pieces and hinge attachments, slotting together into a damn impressive approximation of a circle.

Things get trickier from here, though, as the final stretch has you repeating this process on the underside of the ship. The instruction book seems to imagine that you've got infinite room to work underneath the ship while doing this, but in practice, it's quite tricky. I gave up in the end and just flipped the whole thing over, which felt very sketchy, and I ended up knocking a few random pieces off during the operation.

Despite my brief (and self-inflicted) cardiac episode, I had a fantastic time building the Enterprise. The nine minifigures are scattered throughout the build, providing a nice palette cleanser as you work through this sizeable build. They're all simple to construct as you'd expect, though Riker's trombone is an impressive — and rickety — piece of engineering.

Some mirror sections effectively call for you to build the same thing twice, but the fact that it's mirrored — and not identical — keeps you on your toes. There are some special printed pieces, along with some stickers scattered throughout the build, but they're all easy enough to apply.

Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D: Design

• Great display model
• Comprehensive collection of minifigures
• Can be a little fragile to handle when completed

I've been waiting a very long time for a Lego Star Trek set, and I'm thrilled to say the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D was worth the wait. The design team has perfectly replicated the iconic starship in exquisite detail — no small feat given its awkward size and shape. I was skeptical of how the circular saucer section would look when built out of flat-edge pieces, but it looks stunning.

Some easter eggs are hiding around the ship that fans will appreciate, including the dedication plaque that emblazons the back wall of the Enterprise's bridge (complete with a hilarious typo). Sadly, this set isn't big enough to have a minifig scale bridge hidden inside it, so the plaque lives in a hidden compartment instead.

Speaking of minifigures, the collection included here is comprehensive, with almost all of your favorite characters from the show (bad luck to the Tasha Yar and Chief O'Brien stans out there). They all look wonderful, each with their own unique accessories ranging from Worf's phaser through to Riker's ridiculous trombone.

There are some unique Lego pieces used here, too, including Worf's "hair" and Guinan's flamboyant headpiece. There is a platform to store the minifigs on, and a printed display piece with cool facts and figures about the Enterprise on it, too.

Another neat touch is the "pin" that locks the saucer section in place, which is cleverly disguised as a shuttlecraft approaching the shuttlebay. It's a cute piece of design, though the detachable saucer section itself is — much like in the show — a gimmick that you'll rarely use.

The model is too fragile to handle (since completing it, I knocked a piece off while showing it off on webcam and can not for the life of me find where it came from). Beyond that, there is no display stand to hold the saucer section on its own, so unless you're recreating the end of Star Trek: Generations, it's not worth detaching.

Should you buy the Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D?

If you're a Star Trek fan and a Lego collector, of course, you should buy this set. And by the looks of it, a lot of you already did because the Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D sold almost immediately out on launch day. If you missed the first wave, don't worry, because we're sure it'll be back in stock at warp speed.

The Enterprise is a brilliant set to build and a gorgeous display piece when it's done. It's expensive, as you'd expect from a 3,600-piece Lego set, but I think it's well worth the price of admission for Trekkies. Your wallet's shields never stood a chance.

Other Lego sets to consider

As we said in the intro, the Lego U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D is the first and only Star Trek Lego set out there for now (unless you count the Type-15 Shuttlepod that came with the pre-order), so we don't have any other Trekkie sets to recommend to you.

If you're agnostic in the Trek vs Wars divide, there are plenty of amazing Star Wars Lego sets to consider, though. My personal favorite is the Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser, an enormous 5,374-piece monster that dwarfs even the Enterprise.

If the $649.99/£559.99 price tag on that set has triggered a red alert from your bank, there are some cheaper sets we love too; namely, the Mos Espa Podrace Diorama and the adorable Grogu with Hover Pram, both of which can be had for under $100.

The Canon 8x20 IS binoculars fall almost into the compact binocular category. At just 14.82 oz (420 g) without the battery, they are Canon’s lightest image stabilized binoculars and you feel that immediately when holding them. They are powered by a lithium-ion battery that has advantages (less waste) and drawbacks (proprietary charging).

Overall, they are attractive in an anthracite gray color and with sweeping, curved design. The rubber eyecups fit comfortably around the eyes, though only give two options for eye relief (folded up and unfolded). They perform well for stargazing, mainly for wide-field observation of asterisms and constellations due to the 8x magnification.

Purchasers should be aware that they are water resistant (not waterproof) so do not expect to operate these binoculars under moderate to heavy rain.

Canon 8x20 IS binocular review

Canon 8x20 IS: Design

• Porro prism design
• Good placement of strap holders below eyepiece sections
• Attractive anthracite gray giving variation from normal black color

The Canon 8x20 IS binoculars are indeed compact binoculars. Canon states they’re its lightest model without the battery (as of Canon Inc research, September 19, 2019) and we would have to agree. They feel incredibly light in the hand. Surprising considering that, while they are small, they’re not the smallest compact binoculars (or smallest image stabilized compact binoculars) I’ve ever tested. They look like they should be heavier than they are, and to my mind I am pleased because I prefer something a little more chunky, something about it just feels ‘right’ in my hands. They feel legitimate. This is all probably due to their porro prism design, an optical system that directs light through the lenses in such a way that generally improves views over the roof prism design, but is certainly bulkier. But the shoulder line (down the length of the binoculars) still remains slim, and I’m particularly impressed with Canon’s decision to place the strap holders on and just below the eyepiece sections, rather than out to the side of the binoculars, as on many competitor models.

The outer armor is a rigid plastic with a recessed, dotted texture. It feels solid and the texture that envelopes the top, eyepiece sections and underneath the thumb grips helps with grip. However, they are very smooth. I found them slipping, nearly to the ground, on a few occasions that I placed them down on a nearby flat rock whilst moving between the binoculars and a camera whilst stargazing. I would love to see the addition of some rubber feet on the underside of the binoculars to prevent this, as it’s eminently fixable, should Canon desire to. Or failing that, simply encasing these binoculars in a rubberized armor coating as seen in other Canon models (the 15x50 or 18x50 IS) would remedy this.

They come in a lovely anthracite gray color and have a speckled, metallic appearance which I find very attractive compared to the standard black most binoculars come in.

Canon 8x20 IS: Performance

• Good image stabilization performance
• Limited to wide-field observations due to magnification
• Would suit hobbyists or beginners to stargazing

I would not have immediately thought these Canon binoculars would be stargazing worthy, based on their magnification and size of objective lenses. In general, a larger aperture (objectives) allows more light in and as such provides more detailed views of the dim stars. However, in practice, I found them very capable. They weren’t the brightest views I’ve ever seen, but I would say four out of five stars (no pun intended) for this. What bumps up their usability further is the all-important image stabilization (IS).

With the stabilization turned on, it’s almost as if I had them mounted to a tripod. Smaller hand shakes and bodily sways were greedily absorbed by the IS. On some nights when the winds bent the trees over in front of me, I had to reposition by stepping backwards and sideways slightly on flat, open ground and this was the only time I found the IS’s limits.

The binoculars we tested had 8x magnification which meant only wide-field observations of the night sky were possible. That would not be an issue for the hobbyist or newcomer and would actually be ideal to accompany a more powerful telescope. But if this became frustrating for those who wanted to use the binoculars more generally, say, for daytime bird spotting, then I’d recommend grabbing the 10x20 versions instead.

There was some color fringing around the brighter stars like Vega and it was noticeable when observing the moon when the moon was not completely centered in the middle of the image circle. A little softness around the edges crept in also but would not spoil views if keeping targets towards the center of view. Overall, I was impressed with the quality of the optics in such a small form factor.

Canon 8x20 IS: Functionality

• Texture of focus wheel is optimal for all-weathers
• Simple, faff-free engagement of IS
• Small battery keeps these binoculars compact

These binoculars are easy to operate and hold with one hand, once you’ve set the diopter correctly for the right eye. Said diopter ring was slightly too loose on the model we’ve reviewed here — we found it slipped once or twice during the several week’s use, but perhaps a brand new pair would be stiffer.

The eyecups are rubber and have two positions for those with and without spectacles. They simply stand protruding out from the eyepieces and feel soft, comfortably forming a good light-seal around the eyesocket which reduces flare from the sun during the day or streetlights and car lights at night. I’m not a huge fan of the fact that they fold back for spectacles wearers. I prefer eyecups that adjust in three or more increments as they twist into the eyepieces (easier for differently set eyesockets or size of eyeglasses to get a good view) but they are perfectly usable.

The focus wheel (the heart of binocular operation) is fantastic. The knurled texture is super and provides awesome grip for either bare hands or when wearing gloves of any material. This makes it easy to use when hands are cold and/or wet.

Image stabilization (IS) can be engaged with a button on the top of the binoculars. A single press turns it ‘on’ and ‘off’ and whilst it is on, the IS lamp glows green and the light and IS will remain on for five minutes before automatically disengaging to preserve battery. By pressing and holding down the button, stabilization is engaged for the entire time the button is depressed but turns off as soon as you let go. I found the IS button didn’t sit under where my fingers naturally rest on the binoculars, but from experience, preference for this largely depends on the size of your hands.

The stabilization is powered and requires a single CR123 battery that is inserted into the center of the binoculars between the eyepieces. Having such a small battery is handy to reduce size and weight. However, finding a CR123 battery in any given store might prove slightly trickier than the standard AA or AAA batteries most stores stock, so take a spare if you’re going on longer trips.

User reviews of the Canon 8x20 IS binoculars

Reviews online are positive with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. One user highlights their image stabilization, stating that “I've developed a tremor making it hard for me to hold a normal pair of binos steady. The image stabilization is remarkably good here so I keep them handy…”.

While another user compared them to a pair of Leica binoculars (a brand which we are familiar with in testing and love), to say, “Image stabilizing works wonderfully. Because of the stabilization, I can see more detail than with my Leica 8x32 Ultravids. It is like having the binoculars on a tripod.”

Some do mention a dislike for the plastic-feeling neckstrap and state that the eyecup covers tend to fall off and are easily lost, something which we would agree with.

How we tested the Canon 8x20 IS binoculars

Tested over four weeks, I reviewed the binoculars for stargazing in areas with Bortle Classes of 3-6 during the summer. Cloud cover was mixed with some nights remaining clear and others with thin stratus that occluded views but did not prevent observations of the brighter stars. Seeing ranged from poor, to fair and good and on the best nights Mars was the only planet still in the twilit sky and it was moderately twinkling.

I used them for general star hopping between constellations but also attempted views of the brighter galaxies and star clusters in the night sky, normally only observable with averted vision.

During stargazing with the Canon 8x20 IS binoculars, I used them two- and one-handed to test the image stabilization. I also took them for general daytime wildlife observing, testing them in sheltered bird hides, out in the open in clear weather and up hills with stronger winds and light rain.

Should you buy the Canon 8x20 IS binoculars?

If you love Canon and want a compact and lightweight binocular with in-built image stabilization then these are worth the money at around $500. They’re beneficial for those that like to travel light but still want to observe stars and wildlife in equal amounts. Even though the 20mm objective lenses aren’t ideal for night time viewing (restriction of light), the image stabilization more than makes up for this and gives observers the opportunity to see details otherwise lost to hand shake. Also, those with tremors in the hands and arms or who have grip or strength issues may want to try these binoculars because of the in-built stabilization and lower weight.

If the Canon 8x20 IS isn't for you

Perhaps you’re not a Canon fan, or want to be able to leave your compact binoculars placed down on any old nearby flat rock and not worry about them sliding off. In that case, I’d recommend you take a look at the Nikon stabilized 12x25 compact binoculars. They, too, have good stabilization built in and are lighter again and even smaller in size thanks to their roof prism design. Views were a tad darker through these and they’re around $100 more expensive but the trade-off on size and weight is worth it.

Perhaps size or budget isnt important to you and you just want to get the best bang for your buck? In that case, I’d heartily recommend the Canon 10x42L IS WP which are also image stabilized, have a larger 10x magnification and bigger 42mm objective lenses. They are three times more expensive than the Canon 8x20 IS (around $1500 at the time of writing) but the exit pupil is large, views are generous and sharpness is perfect edge-to-edge with very minimal chromatic aberration, if any.

Although the specifications of the Canon 12x36 IS III don't lend themselves solely to being a great stargazing binocular, the 12x magnification does allow for good views of smaller objects, which is great news for stargazers. Due to their price point, these binoculars are probably best for those looking to do some amateur stargazing but also wanting to use these binoculars for more general, and daytime use.

There are many features that make these binoculars worth investing in, one of which is the fantastic image stabilization. In terms of stargazing, the IS allows the sharp views of the night sky to be held steady, helping you to identify the stars or constellations you may be viewing.

While IS aids stargazing, a further development within the binocular sphere is the best smart binoculars, which can help you to identify stars. Sadly, these Canon's are not smart binoculars but they sure impressed me during my testing period and may become one of the best binoculars in my testing roster.

Canon 12x36 IS III binocular review

Canon 12x36 IS III: Design

• Dust and fingernail marks easily mucks and dents the rubber coating
• The Porro II prism design is leaner than traditional porro binoculars
• Operating the image stabilization is intuitive and simple with up to 9 hours of life

The Canon 12x36 IS III binos are designed primarily with wildlife in mind. A smaller 36mm objective lens diameter doesn’t strictly drink in dim starlight but the 12x magnification does give extra reach for smaller subjects which, in the case of stargazing, is particularly useful.

The binoculars feel durable in the hand and there’s a definite premium quality when holding them. A solid body underneath a fully rubber-coated armor means that they should stand firm against a few knocks and bumps. They are matte black in color which is good for stargazers who need to protect their night vision from lights and reflective surfaces. Plus, the objective lenses themselves are recessed into the body of the housing, further reducing light exposure across the lenses while in use.

While not lightweight at 1.45 lbs (660 g), they are comfortable to handhold for long periods when stargazing. It’s easy enough to pop them down in between using a telescope or camera to image the night sky and pick them up again when you are ready to do so. The stabilization is so good (more on that later) that we do not feel the need to use a tripod. Thereby, reducing the amount one needs to carry to dark sky spots, which is always welcome.

The flexible rubber eyecups are either fully protruding or tucked down, bent backwards against the eyepieces. This allows for 14.5mm of eye relief which is just acceptable for eyeglasses wearers but reduces versatility compared with other models that have multiple ‘notched’ sections in the twist-up designs, which I prefer.

Canon 12x36 IS III: Performance

• Flare is reduced thanks to recessed objective lenses and coatings
• Eyecups only have two positions
• Image stabilization helps with stargazing

Ordinarily, I would recommend the longer magnification binoculars like this with a caveat that you use a tripod but due to the stabilization in these binoculars I do not need to insist on this.

There is nothing more pleasing than using a pair of image-stabilized binoculars that are smooth and dependable and the Canon 12x36 IS III binoculars fit the bill. Image stabilization is key for holding views of constellations still, enabling you to suss out which star you might be looking at, or for searching for nebulas. While I was viewing the Orion nebula (M42), the image stabilization didn't disappoint.

Unlike other binoculars that have a twisting function for the eyecups, these Canon's have eyecups made of flexible rubber, meaning they can be placed in only two positions: Flap-up or flap-down. This is important to note for spectacle wearers. For those with limited dexterity, it is easy to flex the eyecups around the eyepiece lenses. However, the traditional rotation of the eyecups to adjust the height is my personal preference. The rotation of the eyecups to adjust the height is also better for eyeglasses wearers, as it offers a more flexible approach, allowing a user to get the right distance from the eyepieces with minimal vignetting.

With the objective lenses being recessed deeply in the housing, the glass is protected from scratches when placing the binoculars down on outside objects such as rocks or sand, for example. This might not be much of an issue for stargazing but is important to note if you plan to use these binoculars for general use, too. The deeply recessed objective lenses can also help with stargazing, cutting light from any light sources such as streetlights, if you're stargazing in an urban environment. The super spectra coating also helps with flare and ghosting.

For stargazing purposes, chromatic aberration (color fringing) shouldn't be an issue as I only noticed this when the edges were highly contrasted, such as dark birds against a bright, overcast sky. Furthermore, the views from these binoculars are sharp from edge-to-edge — this is down to the field flattener lens and the Porro II prism design.

Canon 12x36 IS III: Functionality

• Intuitive access to image stabilization
• Focus wheel is smooth making use easy
• No lock for diopter ring but it's stiff enough to avoid nudges

The image stabilization is intuitive to use, with a button on the top of the binoculars that turns it on and off. This varies from other binoculars I've used and tested, where the button sits in the center, in front of the focusing wheel. The placement of the button on the Canon 12x36 IS III's is ideal, allowing you to adjust the focusing wheel with your index finger while pressing the IS button easily with your middle finger.

The focus wheel on these binoculars is perfectly balanced, not being too stiff or too loose. This means it's not easy to knock it by accident during observation, which is a bonus. Furthermore, the focus wheel glides when you do use it, meaning use is dreamlike. For binoculars of comparable sizes, the focus wheel on these Canon's is small but I assume this is to make room for the IS button. While it initially feels odd to have a smaller focus wheel, if you're used to other binoculars, it makes sense when you're used to using the IS button.

For binoculars that cost $800, I'm surprised not to see a locking diopter ring, especially when I've seen competitor models of a similar price offering this feature. The overall build of these binoculars is impressive, including the battery compartment that feels solid and reliable.

User reviews of the Canon 12x36 IS III binoculars

User reviews are extremely positive with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 across online platforms. Positive feedback includes praise for its durability and build quality. Users note they are good for use at night, "In night viewing they are great for the moon and constellations". Criticism seems to lie only with the lack of objective lens covers and price.

How we tested the Canon 12x36 IS III binoculars

Tested over three weeks in the summer, I tested these binoculars for wildlife spotting in the countryside during the day and at twilight and for stargazing in and out of the city in areas with Bortle classes of 4-5.

I started tests with stabilization disengaged and relied only on the quality of the optics for judgment. I looked for barrel and pincushion distortion, softness around the edges of the image circle, chromatic aberration around contrasted subjects and ghosting or flaring from the sun or nightlights. Remember to NEVER look directly at the sun, with or without binoculars.

After testing the speed and smoothness with which I could operate the focusing wheel, I then moved onto the image stabilization itself, noting how steadily it can hold views both vertically, horizontally and moving diagonally. While observing, I shook the binoculars to the point that the stabilization failed and worked backwards from there to determine optimum speed and movement for tracking subjects. I also used these binoculars in fair and inclement weather, but not in heavy rain or snow.

Should you buy the Canon 12x36 IS III binoculars?

The 12x magnification makes these binoculars truly fantastic when compared against more generalist 10x models. The image stabilization cannot be faulted whether you're using these binoculars for daytime or nighttime use. I was able to view the Orion nebula and other constellations while using these binoculars, with the image stabilization helping to hold the sharp views steady.

If the Canon 12x36 IS III isn't for you

While not being the most cumbersome of binoculars, depending on what you want to use them for, some may find them too large or heavy. If you're looking for something more compact but with image stabilization, I would recommend the Nikon Stabilized 12x25 S binoculars. While they are visually pretty identical to their non-stabilized counterparts, these Nikon's are small and light. However, the views are not as great as these Canon's with slightly darker views and softer edges.

The Celestron Nature DX 12x56 binoculars will offer you a bit more reach but no image stabilization and might be just what you're after if IS isn't high on your priority list. With fantastic build quality, my preferred twist-up eyecups and rubberized armor, these are a pair worth investing in at around 25% of the cost of the Canon's, at the time of writing.

What makes a pair of binoculars good for stargazing? First of all, they need to be the best binoculars for long distance viewing. This means they need large magnification and wide objective lenses so you get up close and clear images of the night sky. Can anything top these requirements? Yes, image stabilization which the Canon 18x50 IS UD have.

Large magnification binoculars tend to be heavy and it's hard to keep night sky views steady, unless you use a tripod. The addition of image stabilization on these Canon binoculars takes this problem away. While these are heavy and bulky binoculars, I still think they're a great option for stargazers and should be considered by anyone keen to get good views of the night sky, if their budget allows.

Canon 18x50 IS UD all-weather binocular review

Canon 18x50 IS UD: Design

• Fantastic optics
• Worth noting they're not waterproof or fogproof
• Grip undeterred even in sub-optimal weather

Although advertised as all-weather binoculars, I think it's worth noting that they are not waterproof, and from my research, also not fogproof. They do offer some protection in bad weather due to their water resistance, JIS-4. JIS is the Japanese waterproofing rating system and this rating effectively means they can withstand splashing from any direction. You can also get optional eyepieces that are anti-fog (AE-B1) which can reduce external fogging.

Being a porro prism design means these binoculars benefit from better optics than a roof prism design. However, it does make them larger and wider.

The 15mm eye relief is ideal for those who wear eyeglasses or if you find yourself needing to wear sunglasses on a sunny day. The rubberized armor does a good job at protecting the binos from knocks and scratches, while the grip performed well even in light showers. On the hand placement areas of the binos, further grip is available due to the indented texture.

Canon 18x50 IS UD: Performance

• Strong images thanks to the Ultra-low Dispersion lens element and Super Spectra coating
• The need for a tripod is removed by superb image stabilization system
• Field of view is more than ample

The Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) lens element helps to provide clear and sharp views while also removing any color fringing. This, with the Super Spectra lens coating, means you get bright images, and this include the stars.

While the image stabilization is an amazing bonus for these heavier binoculars, you can use them without it engaged, too. However, for stargazing, the 18x magnification makes it tricky to keep them steady to get good views of the stars so it's recommended to use the IS to get the best experience.

These binoculars didn't make me feel like my views were blocked or restricted, and this is thanks to the field of view (60.3-degrees, apparent). The brightness level was satisfactory thanks to its higher-level light transmission.

Canon 18x50 IS UD: Functionality

• Light is blocked by the rubber eyepieces to make for good stargazing
• Single button press to engage IS
• Sadly, no locking diopter ring

The flip-up and flip-down covers on binocular eyepieces are a bit of a bugbear for me — for eyeglasses wearers, there are limited adjustments that can be made to suit them. However, this is personal preference so I won't knock Canon for including them on these binoculars. Luckily, the rubber eyepieces are pleasant, causing no irritation to the skin and sufficiently blocking distracting urban light during stargazing sessions.

A single button press engages the image stabilization system — it couldn't be simpler. There is also a green LED lamp on top of the binoculars, next to the IS button, that lights up when it is engaged. A quick glance can tell you if you've left it engaged when you didn't mean to, and save you battery.

I was impressed with the diopter adjustment — it offered enough friction without being too rigid. But, something I always like to see, is a locking diopter which sadly these Canon's do not have.

Despite the porro prism design, and thus bulkiness, the way the neck strap connected to points underneath the eyepieces meant that they sat neatly into my chest when using the neck strap. The padded neck strap was also comfortable to wear for longer periods with no rubbing.

User reviews of the Canon 18x50 IS UD binoculars

Reviews of the Canon 18x50 IS all-weather binoculars online are generally positive, sitting at average ratings between 4.2-4.5 stars out of 5. One reviewer on Amazon stated that "While these are heavy and not practical for all applications, they work extremely well when weight is not an issue". Which we would agree with as they are over 2.5 lbs (1.18 kg). While others report that while the optical quality is fantastic they are unhappy with the eyecups, "The eyecups are hard to use and you have to jam them onto your face to get a good field of view or fold back the eyecups. I wish they had the standard twist outs that every other manufacturer seems to have that provide light control and is comfortable as well". With some reviewers even demonstrating they've cut the eyecups or added accessories to make them more comfortable.

How we tested the Canon 18x50 IS UD binoculars

I tested these mammoth image stabilized binoculars over three to four weeks in the summer in the UK. I stargazed in areas with Bortle Classes of between 3-6 with mixed weather during that time.

I did mount the binoculars to a camera tripod with a ball-head but found that navigating using this method was not ideal and the image stabilization was actually better, as long as my arm strength/stamina held. But for longer location stargazing or when hiking, I'd recommend a tripod with a gimbal head.

I did not test these binoculars in the rain because they are not waterproof but I had no issues with fogging during use, even though they are not fogproof.

Should you buy the Canon 18x50 IS UD binoculars?

The strong magnification, UD lens element and Super Spectra lens coating make these a great option for stargazers as you will get vivid views of the night sky. Stargazing in urban areas, I was able to see the fainter nebula (M42) and galaxies (M31) which was impressive.

If the Canon 18x50 IS UD isn't for you

Beginners and those interested in the odd stargazing session may not want to fork out so much for a pair of binoculars, especially as these have a premium price tag attached. They may also not suit those looking for a more travel-friendly pair of binos. Therefore, I'd recommend the Canon 10x20 IS as they are Canon's second-lightest pair of image-stabilized binoculars and they're cheaper. You also get good wide-field views of the night sky.

Another alternative is the Nikon 12x25 S image-stabilized binoculars. They come in a little cheaper than the Canon 18x50 IS UD's but still offer sharp views of the night sky. Plus, the image stabilization performs well and they're smaller and lighter.

The biggest appeal of the Canon 10x20 IS binoculars is that they are small, light and have image stabilization built-in. That means they’re eminently pocketable and could be one of the best compact binoculars, but they also provide suitable, rock-steady views of stars and nature subjects.

I have also reviewed the Canon 8x20 IS binoculars, which are identical for all but the magnification size (8x instead of 10x) and the fact that the 8x versions are 10 g lighter (420 g versus 430 g excluding the CR123A lithium battery), which I would argue is imperceptible when in use.

Their curved shape is complemented by an anthracite gray color, which is pleasing both to look at and to hold. Despite their portability, they are not waterproof or fogproof. They are water-resistant so use in light rain is permissible but this would only be a problem when stargazing if they are not packed away during showery spells.

Canon 10x20 IS binocular review

Canon 10x20 IS: Design

• Compact and lightweight
• Strap attachments hidden
• Smooth hard plastic does make them prone to slipping on uneven surfaces

I would categorize the Canon 10x20 IS binoculars as compact binoculars in that they are only 10 g heavier and slightly larger than the 8x20 versions, which are the lightest in the Canon image stabilized line-up, at time of writing. I could immediately feel this when using them because they feel lighter than they look. At 430 g without the CR123A battery, they can easily be used handheld for longer periods without fatigue, especially when looking up at the night sky.

The battery is a CR123A lithium unit, smaller than traditional AAA or AA batteries, that slips into the center of the binoculars. I do find they are not as commonly stocked in stores though, so I advise taking spares when traveling.

There is no tripod mount attachment on these binoculars so stargazers with poor hand grip or arm strength may struggle if using for extended periods. However, serious astronomers will likely opt for larger binoculars that have greater magnification and bigger objective lenses that are more suited to night sky observations.

They are cleverly designed though, with the strap attachments hidden underneath the neckline of the eyepieces, sitting flush with body.

The binocular enclosure is made of hard plastic, which I found to be a blessing and a curse. They are beautiful, smooth and curved, feeling great in my hands. I love the color and think they look stylish enough to display on the shelf at home when not in use. The grip areas (where the hands rest) are dotted with texture to improve grip, but the hard plastic casing can be slippery. That makes it hard to place them down on uneven surfaces like rocks or jaunty fences or posts. I discovered this at the coast, to my detriment, saving them from falling into the sand only by the skin of my teeth. Placing them objective lens-down reduces this issue, as there is a rubber ring around the front edge of the binoculars which prevents them from slipping. But I would discourage readers from doing this on surfaces that are anything but flat, in case the glass front elements become scratched.

Canon 10x20 IS: Performance

• Image stabilization aids stargazing
• Some chromatic aberration that can be excused at this price point
• Minimal coma distortion during use

You may be forgiven for expecting me to tell you these are not suitable for astronomy. After all, they are small, have only 10x magnification (better for wide-field observations) and the objectives are only 20 mm which is restrictive for the dim starlight raining down on earth. However, it’s mostly in their image stabilization that puts them firmly in the ‘good for stargazing’ camp.

The image stabilization works extremely well and holds views steady without problem. Due to this, it’s possible to observe dimmer constellations, and distant nebulas, for longer periods. The eyes adjust nicely to the dark sky and detail can be picked out even through the smaller 20 mm lenses, with these details being otherwise lost due to trembling hand movements when using traditional non-stabilized binoculars.

I was met with a little chromatic aberration around brighter stars and planets (Vega and Jupiter, for example), with sometimes pink and other times blue shifts around the edges of the pinpoints of light. But at this price point, for this size and the fact they feature stabilization, this can be forgiven. Coma distortion was minimal in the center of the image circle during my use stargazing, but is certainly greater towards the edges of the view. To counteract this though, I simply moved the binoculars so that my desired night sky object was in the center. It does restrict peripheral vision somewhat, making star-hopping slightly trickier to the uninitiated stargazer, but it’s not drastic enough to dissuade my recommendation.

Canon 10x20 IS: Functionality

• Only two adjustments for eyecups
• Easy to hold with one hand
• No fogproofing
• Focus wheel is superb

The Canon 10x20 IS binoculars function well for stargazing and general use, like wildlife spotting during the day. They are light and small, easy to hold even with only one hand so those with grip or strength issues will benefit from this.

The rubber eyecups are comfortable but only have two adjustment points to make use of the 13.5 mm eye relief. Arguably, this isn’t quite large enough for some spectacle wearers to feel comfortable, but I found them good enough to work with my eyeglasses.

As previously mentioned, they are not waterproof (only water resistant) so do not expect to take them out in downpours. They are also not fogproof. The lack of fogproofing only proves a problem if moving between warm and cold climates (in and out of houses/a car), as internal condensation can build up before they are fully acclimatised. But since they are designed with travel in mind, I would expect most stargazers to spend enough time outside with them for this not to become an issue very often.

The focus wheel is superb, giving accurate and speed focus pulls when needed during daytime use and is easy to ‘set and forget’ for stargazing. I found the knurled texture easy to grip with both bare hands and gloves, with it feeling premium and smooth.

The game-changing feature is in the image stabilization (IS). Press the button on the top of the binoculars and a green light will illuminate for the entire time the stabilization remains active. After five minutes, it will automatically disengage to preserve battery, plenty long enough to observe stars between periods of rest. If you don’t want to press the button twice (and why would you? That sounds like hard work!) to turn the IS on and off, you can simply press and hold the button to keep IS active and then releasing the button will automatically disengage the stabilization without an additional press.

User reviews of the Canon 10x20 IS binoculars

Online reviews sit favorably near full marks, on average at 4.8 out of 5 stars. With one user stating, “The size and weight are wonderful: 261 grams, 9 ounces lighter than the [Canon 12x36 IS III]”.

Other users rate them for their ability to use on the water, “Great binoculars for a travel cruise! Sturdy, comfortable, and viewing stability is excellent!” which I can attest to, having used them on smaller fishing boats when observing water birds.

How we tested the Canon 10x20 IS binoculars

Used for one month, I tested the Canon 10x20 IS binoculars for stargazing in areas local to me with Bortle Classes ranging from 3-6 during the summer months. Seeing ranged from poor to fair and on the best nights, when it was good, Mars was moderately sparkling in the twilit sky. Weather was mixed with some thin stratus and fragmented cumulus, occluding views at times.

Sitting at 10x magnification, I used them mainly for constellation and asterism observations but also observed the bright summer stars in the Northern hemisphere (Vega etc) and to observe planets like Jupiter and Mars.

Should you buy the Canon 10x20 IS binoculars?

Canon fans who like to stargaze while traveling should seriously consider these binoculars. No, they’re not the traditional astronomy binocular you might expect to find in our recommendation guides, but their solid image stabilization and compact size makes them more useful than many for portable stargazing. This feature is especially useful for those with grip or strength issues or where using a tripod is not feasible.

If the Canon 10x20 IS isn't for you

Perhaps you’re not a Canon fan, or want to be able to leave your compact binoculars placed down on any old nearby flat rock and not worry about them sliding off. In that case, I’d recommend you take a look at the Nikon stabilized 12x25 compact binoculars. They, too, have good stabilization built in and are lighter again and even smaller in size thanks to their roof prism design. Views were a tad darker through these and they’re around $100 more expensive but the trade-off on size and weight is worth it.

Perhaps size or budget isnt important to you and you just want to get the best bang for your buck? In that case, I’d heartily recommend the Canon 10x42L IS WP which are also image stabilized, have a larger 10x magnification and bigger 42mm objective lenses. They are three times more expensive than the Canon 8x20 IS (around $1500 at the time of writing) but the exit pupil is large, views are generous and sharpness is perfect edge-to-edge with very minimal chromatic aberration, if any.

The Monarch M7 8x42 binoculars are ideal for those looking to invest in a quality pair of binoculars but don’t have the cash to splash on the higher-end models that break into four figures. We were super impressed with them so they may gain a place in our best binoculars guide.

The Monarch M7 binocular line comes in 8x30, 8x42, 10x30 and 10x42 models and, for stargazing, we’d normally recommend higher magnifications and larger objective lenses. However, the 8x42 pair that we’ve reviewed here perform excellently for their price point. They are sharp, bright and the 8x magnification is best suited to star hopping and getting a closer look at the constellations we first learn as beginners. That makes them suited to beginner to middling astronomers and those with friends and family who might not have much knowledge of the night sky but are interested enough to use the binoculars when passed around between the group. For this reason, they're not a bad choice as one of the best beginner binoculars.

Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 binocular review

Nikon Monarch M7 8x42: Design

• Slim and compact design
• Locking ring for diopter adjustment
• Durable rubber armor exterior

I adore Nikon design and the Monarch M7’s are no different. Slim and compact, the roof prism design makes the M7’s small enough to pocket in a large jacket or stow away in a sling bag or backpack. The rubber eyecups are twistable for easy adjustment for those with or without eyeglasses, and are comfortable enough against the eyesocket to cushion against the skin.

If you need to attach them to a tripod, a 1/4-inch thread is revealed by unscrewing the knurled cover towards the front of the binoculars. This texture is repeated on the smooth focusing wheel that sits in the middle but towards the back of the hinge mechanism.

A key part of the design and something that sets it apart from many other competitor binoculars at this price point is the locking ring for diopter adjustment. Every single binocular you will likely ever try should have a diopter adjustment ring (the right-sided focus adjustment that allows for focusing differences between the two eyes). But very few, sometimes even on the most expensive models, feature a locking diopter ring. As a beginner, it’s not much of an issue but any observer with tens or hundreds of hours of binocular experience under their belt will immediately appreciate the convenience of a consistent focus for the two eyes.

Protective rubber armor encases the entire binocular and has a mottled texture throughout which is both attractive and practical. This texture is beneficial both for grip but also for covering up the inevitable rub and scratch marks that binoculars pick up throughout their life, which would otherwise be much more visible on smooth rubber seen on cheaper competitor binocular models.

Rubber lens caps are attached to the binocular through rubber straps that straddle the circumference of the optical tubes. The grip is strong enough to ensure they are not knocked off when putting in and taking them out of a bag but can be removed easily if you would prefer to use or travel without them. They don’t get in the way at all, and unlike other binoculars we’ve reviewed (there’s a pair of Celestron’s that are particularly frustrating for this), the caps do not reattach themselves accidentally when dropping the binoculars down on the neck strap and lifting them back up to the eyes.

Nikon Monarch M7 8x42: Performance

• Clear, sharp views throughout the entire image circle
• Easy to navigate the night sky without having to remove the binoculars from the eyes
• 5.3mm exit pupil allowing for plentiful views

Edge-to-edge sharpness gives clear views throughout the entire image circle, meaning I could use what little peripheral vision I had within the binos to scan for other nearby stars. This kind of detail is so helpful for observers because it allows for easy star hopping. The ability to navigate to other stars and night sky objects without having to take the binoculars away from the eyes or having to move the binoculars much to navigate the night sky is ideal.

For instance, we found it quite simple to move between Ursa Major’s stars Alkaid, Mizar, Alioth, Magrez and Phecda etc and then follow Merak and Dubhe to reach Polaris, the North Star. Also, navigating from Cassiopeia’s Caph and Schedar down to Andromeda’s Almach, we hopped over to Mirach and across to the Andromeda galaxy (M31) with ease, not losing our way once through the sharp, clear views from the Monarch. As with most binoculars, fainter night sky objects like the Andromeda galaxy were hard to make out. Appearing as a fuzzy gray mass when viewed with averted vision but views of galaxies and star clusters of this size are only really improved with either a huge pair of binoculars like the Celestron SkyMaster 25x100 or a decent-sized 6-inch (or greater) reflector telescope or similarly powered catadioptric.

Considering the compactness of the Monarch M7’s roof prism design, views are plentiful thanks to the 5.3mm exit pupil. Some smaller binoculars feel cramped and difficult to look through when observing, and this is a particular bug-bear of mine as it’s the first thing you notice when looking through the binoculars. Fortunately, as with many other Nikon products I’ve tested, they have thought of this for a pleasant experience right from the start.

Nikon Monarch M7 8x42: Functionality

• Waterproofing offers peace of mind if caught in a shower
• Fogproofing makes these binoculars ideal for stargazing in your backyard

The Monarch M7 8x42 binoculars are waterproof and fogproof which is helpful on two points. First, it means using them in the rain or snow won’t damage the interior glass and focusing. While you might think this isn’t so much a problem for astronomers, because precipitation means clouds and no opportunity for stargazing, but as any astronomer will tell you, it doesn’t always stay cloudless and star-studded throughout the night. Banks of cloud and intermittent showers can wash over while you’re observing and, if you’re using binoculars in conjunction with a telescope, then it’s possible to leave them placed on your bag or on the ground during a quick shower whilst trying to cover up the (usually) much more expensive telescope and associated accessories. Having this waterproofing is peace of mind when dodging the rain through the night.

Second, a fogproof binocular means no more internal fogging when moving between warm and cold environments. Internal fogging is the worst because it can’t be immediately wiped away with a microfiber cloth like the externally accessible elements of the glass. At the price point of the Monarch M7’s, I’d expect to see more backyard stargazers enjoying these binoculars and occasionally taking them away on vacation. Usually, this means plenty of popping into and out of the home or a hotel room to do some stargazing and then warming up with a warm drink or waiting for cloud to pass. This temperature shifting causes fogging which makes stargazing most unpleasant, having to wait for the binoculars to come up to (or down to) temperature to reduce this condensation, dragging out observing time and driving down excitement and interest. Fortunately, this problem is overcome with the nitrogen-purging by Nikon in these binos.

User reviews of the Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 binoculars

Online reviews are generally positive with average ratings between popular merchants sitting around 4.5 to 4.8 stars out of 5. Verified customers highlight their appreciation of the clarity and brightness of these binoculars, which parallels what we have experienced in testing.

One customer at B&H Photo Video states, “Whether it's viewing birds by day or astronomical objects at night, these binoculars are truly superb and deliver a wide, flat field and bright images across the entire field of view.” On Amazon, users praise the locking diopter ring, stating, “I LOVE the locking diopter adjustment (although I recognize this is only a helpful feature for single-user binoculars”, which tallies with our thoughts. It isn’t so much of a problem when passing around the group so long as differences between vision aren’t extreme (even then, the eye relief provided is suitable for those with spectacles to use them simultaneously).

How we tested the Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 binoculars

Over several weeks and months, and with repeat testing over a year and a half, I tested the Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 binoculars in both light-polluted cities, suburban towns, remote rural locations and dark sky nature reserves ranging between Bortle class four and six during this time.

The binoculars got wet in the rain, moved in and out of the home and colder outdoors, in and out of cars and vans and were stowed both in their carry pouch and just on their own, in that time.

This intermediate binocular lends itself to skywatchers that are into astronomy with an enthusiastic passion but perhaps not all that well-versed with the night sky, beyond the average person, for stargazing. Thus, we used them to navigate the northern hemisphere in the summer (on this occasion) and winter (in previous tests) through the most commonly observable constellations such as Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Boötes, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Cepheus, Cygnus, etc and even managed to spot some other targets such as the Andromeda galaxy, Orion nebula and the Hercules globular star cluster.

Should you buy the Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 binoculars?

Yes, if you’re looking to invest in a quality pair of binoculars, allowing you to take a step up from your previous beginner-level pair but you're not keen to drop four figures on binos. I’d heartily recommend the Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 for this reason. Of course, you could opt for one of the other three model variants (8x30, 10x30 or 10x42), which are of equal quality. However, if you are using these regularly for stargazing then we’d perhaps advise against the 8x30 model only, due to the light restriction you would see with the smaller 30 mm objective lenses.

If the Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 isn't for you

At an intermediate level, based on our extensive testing over the years, we’d recommend the Monarch M7’s over pretty much any other model we’ve tested at this price point. However, absolute beginners might not want to drop so much cash on a pair, to which we’d recommend you look at the Prostaff P3 or the Celestron Nature DX 12x56, both of which have good, durable build qualities, can be useful for a range of purposes (stargazing, wildlife spotting etc) but are also very affordable.

If budget isn’t a problem, or if you think these Monarch M7’s aren’t quite refined enough, then we’d recommend you take a look at either Nikon’s top-tier series in the Monarch line, the Nikon Monarch HG 10x42, which comes with even higher quality optics, less chromatic aberration and a locking diopter ring. Another option is the Leica Trinovid 10x42 binoculars which contain much the same quality and build but have a more stylish, sleek design that looks eye-wateringly beautiful.

Astrophotography is most commonly shot using full-frame cameras but, despite their smaller sensors, APS-C cameras are just as effective. With much improved noise handling over previous generations, modern APS-C cameras often offer a lighter weight and more compact alternative. This can be incredibly useful when shooting in locations that require trekking to reach.

The same goes for lenses, which are also typically smaller and lighter, and the Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro lens, with its 40.5mm equivalent focal length, is much more compact than a 35mm f/1.2 full-frame lens. Plus, whether you’re on a budget or not, you’ll be pleased to hear that it costs just $578 / £530, making it an incredibly inexpensive lens considering the specs on offer. Later, I’ll delve into build and image quality further.

This 27mm APS-C lens is available in Fujifilm X, Nikon Z (APS-C) and Sony E mounts and provides an equivalent focal length of 40.5mm. For the review, I tested the lens with a full-frame Sony camera set to crop mode, so the performance of the lens was identical to a Sony E-Mount camera.

The 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro is perfect for astrophotography, landscape, cityscape, street and portraiture, so it’s a highly versatile all-rounder that will undoubtedly see plenty of use. For astrophotography, 35-40mm is a great focal length for incorporating more prominent foreground interest into shots. So, pair this lens with one of the best cameras for astrophotography (there are some APS-C options on the list) and you could potentially be looking at a match made in heaven.

Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro lens review

Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro: Design

• Compact for an f/1.2 lens
• Excellent build quality
• Weather sealed

APS-C lenses are smaller and lighter than their full-frame counterparts and the 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro is no exception. This is despite the extremely generous f/1.2 maximum aperture that’s perfect for capturing the night sky. f/1.2 lenses are typically large so it’s impressive to see one that manages to remain fairly compact. It is, however, much larger than slower f/1.8 APS-C prime lenses.

The lens is quite stumpy, you could say, with a maximum height and length that are almost the same. The tall front section of the lens, with its 67mm filter thread, is the result of the fast maximum aperture, but it still isn’t cumbersome at all.

The 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro is 3.23 x 3.62 in / 82 x 92mm with a weight of 19.93 oz / 565 g, so it balances well with Fujifilm, Nikon and Sony APS-C mirrorless cameras. As the ‘Pro’ moniker suggests, build quality is excellent with a full metal body. Plus, the lens is weather sealed, so it’s perfect for professional outdoor use, including astrophotography.

The lens feels solid and the unassuming black design will blend well with any of the cameras the lens is compatible with. It features a wide manual focusing ring that can be easily used when wearing gloves. The manual aperture ring is also suitably wide and grippy for gloved operation, with the ability to be set to clicked or clickless operation. The latter is ideal for video capture, where a stepless aperture is often preferred.

When it comes to controls, there’s an AF/MF switch, a focus lock button and a click switch for the manual aperture ring. This is a slightly more basic design than the full-frame PRO and LAB Viltrox lenses, but in terms of prime lenses in general, the 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro offers no more or less than the competition in terms of controls. On the lens mount, there’s a USB-C port for firmware updates, which is great for a third-party lens that can’t be updated through the camera menu.

Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro: Functionality

• No optical image stabilization
• Fast and silent autofocus
• Short minimum focus

The AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro is a fairly standard prime lens in terms of functionality, with the main selling points being excellent image quality alongside a fast maximum aperture. This is a hybrid lens that can be used for both photography and video, with the clickless aperture being ideal for video. For stills photography, including astrophotography, the clicked aperture option is more appropriate.

Autofocus is fast, silent and accurate thanks to the stepping motor, which is useful for both photography and video, although manual focus is used by both astrophotographers and videographers because it’s more reliable in these situations. The manual focus ring provides a comfortable amount of resistance that allows for fast and precise manual focus.

As is often the case with prime lenses, the 27mm f/1.2 Pro doesn’t feature optical image stabilization, so no surprises here. But if your camera has In-camera Image Stabilization (IBIS), you can still take advantage of this feature, albeit not through the lens itself. This is best left switched off when shooting with the camera attached to a tripod.

Despite being an APS-C lens, the 27mm f/1.2 Pro can still be used with Sony FE and Nikon Z-mount series full-frame cameras since these two lens mounts include APS-C and full-frame cameras. To use APS-C lenses with full-frame cameras, you simply have to set the cameras to crop mode so that less of the sensor is used to meet the APS-C format.

In reality, you would never buy this lens specifically to use on a full-frame camera. You might, however, use it on a full-frame camera if you have both APS-C and full-frame bodies. For APS-C camera owners, it’s a fantastic combination of focal length and maximum aperture.

Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro: Performance

• Excellent image quality
• Impressive sharpness at f/1.2
• Suitable for photography and video

The front element of the lens features a water and smudge-resistant coating. This is handy for outdoor shooting, of course, but it’s always best not to touch the front element or allow rain droplets to hit it where possible. The included lens hood offers a degree of protection alongside helping to reduce flare and haze.

The 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro is made up of 15 elements in 11 groups including two ED, five elements with a high refractive index and one aspherical lens. There’s also Viltrox’s HD Nano multi-layer coating to minimize ghosting and flare.

The 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro produces exquisite sharpness even wide open at f/1.2. Levels of sharpness are impressively high across the frame, even in the corners, making it a truly stunning lens.

All apertures produce impressively sharp images with excellent corner sharpness, although at f/16 diffraction does come into play to produce the least sharp result of all apertures. f/8 is the sweet spot that resolves the sharpest detail, but for astrophotographers, it’s the impressive performance at f/1.2 that will be of most interest.

Vignetting is strong wide open at f/1.2, but Adobe Lightroom Lens Profiles take care of this and the tiny amount of barrel distortion that’s present. The latter is minimal and barely visible to the naked eye. Vignetting is all but gone at f/2.8, although the fact that Lens Corrections removes the strong vignetting at f/1.2 is most important.

The minimum focusing distance is short at 11 in / 28 cm, which is useful for general photography but not so much for astrophotography. It’s handy to have if you need it, so no complaints. The aperture is made up of 11 blades, making it circular, so bokeh highlights are also circular, although once again, this isn’t relevant to astrophotography since distant stars are the point of focus rather than close-up subjects.

Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro: Price

Lenses with an f/1.2 maximum aperture are typically expensive. Even those with an f/1.4 maximum aperture command a typically hefty price tag, but the Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro bucks this trend to deliver some incredible value for money. At just $578 / £530, this well-made lens with a useful equivalent focal length of 40.5mm is a bargain.

In reality, there aren’t any direct alternatives available, so this is a lens that stands alone. In the box, you get the lens, a lens hood, front and rear lens caps and a soft lens pouch. This is the standard for most lenses, and many photographers will store their lenses directly in their camera bags rather than a lens pouch.

Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro: User reviews

Online reviews for this lens agree that the Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro is an extremely well made lens with excellent sharpness overall and in particular at f/1.2. They also comment that autofocus is fast and reliable, while the lens is available at an excellent price.

How we tested the Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro

The Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro was tested in combination with the Sony A7R III, which offers a high resolution which is reduced to 18MP in crop mode for APS-C lens compatibility. The lens was tested at night with a focus on astrophotography, and in daylight to assess sharpness, distortion and general functionality.

Should you buy the Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro?

If you shoot with a Fujifilm X, Nikon Z or Sony E-Mount APS-C cameras, the Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro is a fantastic lens offering a 40.5mm equivalent focal length. This is pretty close to the useful full-frame 35mm focal length. What’s more, the ultra-fast f/1.2 maximum aperture is a boon for astrophotographers.

The lens is also designed for both photo and video capture, so it has huge scope for use alongside being suitable for a range of subjects. With excellent build quality, great image quality and a highly cost-effective price, this is a lens well worth considering for capturing the night sky.

If this lens isn't for you

The Sigma 14mm F1.4 DG DN HSM ART is an incredibly fast and wide full-frame lens with an APS-equivalent focal length of 21mm. This could be perfect if you’re looking for a fast, wide-angle prime.

The Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART is an APS-C prime offering an equivalent focal length of 30mm alongside a compact and lightweight build at an affordable price for Sony E-Mount cameras.

The Sony 20mm f/1.8 G is a stunning full-frame wide-angle prime that produces a 30mm equivalent focal length when used with APS-C cameras. It also provides longevity if you plan to upgrade to full-frame in the future.

• Back to top

As I've said already, we loved both the BioLite 425 and, before that, the BioLite 330, so we were excited to test run the new BioLite Dash.

For this review, I took the BioLite Dash on a five-day trekking expedition in China, where the sun set just before 6 pm. I was able to get a lot of use out of it when navigating the dark Hutons of Beijing, to safely traversing the rocky mountainous terrain around my guest house at night.

Taking something new on your travels is always a risk but given our previous experience with BioLite, I knew it wouldn't let me down.

Read on for my thoughts but this headlamp will definitely be making its way into our best headlamps buying guide.

BioLite Dash 450 Headlamp Review

BioLite Dash 450 Headlamp: Design

★★★★ 1/2

• Available in three colorways
• Lightweight design
• Low-profile lamp

On first glance, the Dash 450 looks just like the 425 but there are some subtle differences. The profile of the lamp is smaller — at just 10 mm, it doesn't protrude from the head as much and it's easy to forget you're wearing it. The snug fit means bounce is reduced. This is especially convenient for runners or fast hikers.

Because the battery sits at the back of the head, the lamp is much more likely to stay put. It is less likely that the lamp will slide off your forehead as you adjust your astronomy or astrophotography equipment.

Obviously, the smaller the package, the more travel-friendly things become. The Dash 450 weighs just 2.75 oz / 78 g — much lighter than several models in our existing best headlamps guide. Because it has a locking function, you can throw it in your backpack worry-free.

The moisture-wicking headband features much more reflective material than the previous iteration, which is great for being spotted in the dark by other walkers, cyclists and motor vehicle drivers.

Three colorways are available: Ocean Teal (our review sample), Midnight Grey and Ember Fade.

BioLite Dash 450 Headlamp: Performance

★★★★

• Comfortable to wear
• One-button operation
• Reserve mode is handy

I'll start with a low point: On full power, the battery only lasts for three hours. The 450 lumens are thrown 90 m, which is a lot and you're unlikely to need this for more than three hours so I understand. The burn time of the lowest 5-lumen setting, with a distance of 15 m, is 60 hours.

Each lighting mode (spot, flood, spot and flood, red flood and strobe) can be made dimmer or brighter by long pressing the single operation button. The articulating front lamp allows you to either light up the floor immediately in front of you, point the beam at a 90-degree angle from your face and anywhere in between. Adjusting it to suit your lighting needs becomes second nature.

BioLite Dash 450 Headlamp: Functionality

★★★★★

• Charges using USB-C
• IPX4 Water resistance
• The rear red light is helpful in group situations

USB-C charging, hurrah! Unfortunately, some major brands still use micro-USB charging. On my recent trip, I was happy to only have to carry one USB-C charging cable, not having to remember different cables for different devices. You can also charge the headlamp while it is in use. Aside from being able to do things like read in your tent as it charges, you could also use this functionality in the field by running a charging cable from the lamp to a portable power bank in your pocket or backpack.

The rear red light is helpful for group situations, whether a skywatching party or a group run. It lets nearby people see you're there without dazzling or ruining their night vision. I've used it on my bike helmet on a couple of occasions for increased visibility for vehicles approaching from behind.

The Dash 450 has an IPX4 waterproof and dustproof rating. It is resistant to light rain, sweat and humidity but it will not stand being submerged — very few headlamps would (one example that can be submerged is the Knog Bilby).

Unlike the Petzl Tikka Core, which we recently reviewed, the downside to a built-in battery is that you can't carry spares. If you're likely to need more power when you're out and about, you either need to carry a portable power bank with you or take a spare headtorch.

Should I buy the BioLite Dash 450 Headlamp?

This is a great grab-and-go headlamp with a beam that stretches far enough and is plenty bright enough for most adventures, especially fast-paced ones.

If you want to be able to change the battery on the move, I'd recommend the Petzl Tikka Core (or the Petzl Actik Core). With this headlamp, you can swap the 'Core' battery for another one or use three AAA/LR03 batteries instead.

If you need something with a higher waterproof rating, you can't go far wrong with the Black Diamond Storm 400. We're reviewing this as we speak, so we'll update you with our thoughts. It takes 4 AA batteries and has a green light that helps show details on maps and star charts but the downside is that it is quite heavy. Avoid it if you're a runner but go for it if you're into caving, fishing or simply enjoy nighttime wanders in the rain!

I also recommend the Nitecore NU31. Like the Dash 450, it has a comfortable, reflective headband and USB-C charging. It has an impressive waterproof rating of IP66 which means it's protected from powerful water jets from all angles.

Not to be confused with the numerically similar Canon EOS R50 or R50 V, which, like this Nikon, squeezes an APS-C sensor into a compact chassis, the Z50 II updates and revitalizes its brand’s entry-level mirrorless camera. With an eye on hitting an affordable price point, it doesn’t come with a mains charger for its removable battery, just a USB lead without a mains plug. However, the body is lightweight and doesn’t feel plastic-y. Plus, there’s a decent-sized handgrip that most budget models lack.

So, while ostensibly the Nikon Z50 II is an entry-level camera that sits below the full-frame sensor models in its Z series mirrorless range, does its operation and delivery see it punching above its weight? It may be relatively inexpensive compared to the likes of the OM System OM-3 or Fujifilm X100 VI, but can it still provide a competent tool not just for multiple subjects but specifically for astrophotographers? We tested it to see if it could make it into our best cameras for astrophotography guide. Here are the results...

Nikon Z50 II: Design

★★★★

• Conventional consumer DSLR-type layout, albeit in a more portable mirrorless form
• Flip-out and tilt 3.2-inch LCD screen plus ultra-high-resolution eye-level electronic viewfinder
• Dedicated buttons for the selection of ISO while exposure control in tandem with the touchscreen aids fledgling astrophotographers

It may sound like an obvious thing to note, but the Z50 II very deliberately looks like a Nikon; its DSLR-style appearance nodding to the design and layout of its maker’s cameras over the past quarter of a century. It’s reassuring that when buying a Nikon, you do so in the knowledge of getting pretty much exactly what you anticipate.

In practice, this means that, despite the compact chassis, there are still enough physical buttons and controls that you can exercise tactile, manual control. At the same time, its layout and operation should not feel overwhelming for the uninitiated. The largest and most prominent control on the camera is a raised shooting mode dial with both Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual settings enabling us to exert some manual control for night sky photography, plus a fully auto mode. You also get a Scene mode with pre-optimized settings for common subjects, plus further user-customizable settings for saving personal preferences. All pretty standard stuff.

This chunky dial is ergonomically encircled by a lever for flipping between stills and video modes, while the raised shutter release button found on the slope of the hand grip is similarly encircled by the camera’s on/off switch. Thankfully, this proves easy enough to locate and operate with a flick of the thumb in the pitch dark when attempting astrophotography.

A one-inch, 2360K dot resolution eye-level electronic viewfinder with built-in eye sensor for self-activation sits directly above the flip-out, tilt and swivel 3.2-inch LCD. For added convenience, the latter is also a touch screen. This works well as key settings can be adjusted in the dark when shooting the night sky via the screen rather than having to delve deep into menus. The LCD offers a respectable 1040k dot resolution, so if attempting manual focusing, you can be reasonably sure you’ve got your scene sharp.

Both EVF and LCD offer 100% frame coverage, so what we see is what we get in terms of shot composition. Nikon claims the camera’s EVF is the brightest in its class and, in practice, it proves sufficiently large and clear as to be useful whether shooting indoors or out. Like others of its ilk, I can forget I’m not looking at the scene via an optical viewfinder, so life-like is the image.

A decent-sized handgrip on an entry-level model isn’t always easy to find, but fortunately, you do get one here. The design of the Z50 II enables a firm and steady grip in the right hand, while your left hand is curled around whichever lens you’ve fitted. There’s no sophisticated body integral sensor shift image stabiliszation mechanism here, unfortunately, as I’m used to in models costing just a bit more. Only electronic vibration reduction is provided. As ever, if you want a budget camera, you must make some compromises.

Nikon Z50 II: Performance

★★★★

• APS-C CMOS sensor providing a 20.9MP effective resolution from 21.51MP total
• Up to 4K resolution video clips at 60FPS
• 3:2 aspect ratio images by default mirrored in 3:2 aspect ratio of provided LCD screen

Shooting to a single SD/SDXC card slot, it may be the ‘baby’ model in its maker’s Z series, but the response times of the Nikon Z50 II are as swift as I’d expect from a mirrorless camera based on a DSLR-like design and control layout. A half-press of its shutter release button and images are captured quicker than it took me to blink.

In this way, I can keep my attention fully focused on my subject rather than what the camera is doing, which is exactly as it should be. The Auto Focus detection range here is more than adequate, being able to find focus in conditions from the equivalent of -9 to +19EV. If I wanted to, I could pretty much point and shoot all the way. However, I did dip into manual settings to more precisely control results for night shooting. For example, I was typically manually setting exposure times via the lozenge-shaped virtual backscreen buttons for night sky photography. I set it to between two and five seconds in duration. On top of this, I was shooting at maximum aperture, which in the case of the Nikkor Z 14-24mm S series lens is f/2.8. I adjusted the ISO speed to suit, varying it from ISO 800 to ISO 1600 and monitoring results on screen. This gave a broad indication of what I was achieving in the dark.

However, something to be aware of is the fact that the brightness of the screen under such circumstances can trick your eyes into thinking you’ve captured an image a little brighter than it subsequently appears when downloaded and viewed in daylight on a desktop monitor.

At all times for shots of celestial objects, I was using a tripod and setting the camera’s self-timer to a delay of two seconds, after the shutter release button was fully pressed, to avoid any instance of camera or tripod wobble resulting in blurred image detail.

While I feel the 20.9 effective megapixel images this camera offers are more than plentiful for not only capturing celestial objects but landscapes, wildlife and more, inevitably some critics will complain that you’re getting a smaller APS-C sensor here rather than the full frame chip found in Nikon’s top-end ‘Z’ models. Balanced against this is a lower price tag. And, if all you are thinking of doing is reviewing the shots you take on a laptop or desktop rather than producing wall-sized prints, then arguably a full-frame sensor isn’t required and the money saved can be spent on lenses and other accessories.

Nikon Z50 II: Functionality

★★★★

• A choice of JPEG, HEIF or RAW formats when shooting stills
• MOV or MP4 formats selectable for video
• ISO 100 to ISO 25600 light sensitivity settings allow plenty of in-camera adjustment

Direct compatibility is offered with Nikon Z-mount lenses as well as Nikon’s older F-mount lenses via an adapter. If you use the Nikon Z50 II with the retractable 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 kit lens, you first must fully unfurl it before you can operate either the camera or lens. This adds a further couple of seconds to your start-up time, which is potentially an issue if you spot a potential image in your mind’s eye before the Nikon is powered up and ready. Many may feel, however, it’s worth it to maintain a relatively slim profile for camera and lens combined. If using the chunkier and more prominent Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S series lens, this isn’t an issue; screw the lens into place before you head out for the evening and you’re ready for whatever the night sky reveals to you.

As noted, with its manufacturer’s proprietary Expeed 7 processor on board, the Nikon is swift to respond when it comes to AF performance, which here takes the form of hybrid phase/contrast detection Auto Focus. Furthermore, you’re offered subject detection for up to nine subject types, functionality inherited from its higher-end Z8 and flagship Z9 cameras.

For videographers, as well as the ability to shoot 4K resolution clips at up to a cinematic looking 60FPS, alternatively, you can capture Full HD at 120FPS to achieve slow motion results. Interestingly, the Nikon Z50 II is also the first in its series to feature a Product Review mode for those presenting to the camera who want to subtly shift focus to objects they’re showing in the foreground during recording. Another first is a self-timer accessible in video mode as well as when shooting stills, thereby allowing for a delay before recording starts. As noted earlier, setting the self-timer for astrophotography is obviously a must to avoid the mere pressing of the shutter release button jogging the camera and thereby potentially introducing blur to a long exposure capture.

Nikon Z50 II: User reviews

Fellow users and reviewers of Nikon Z50 II claim that it is a fun performer for those on a budget. Others summarize that it exudes professional power in a ‘baby’ body. Though it lacks in-body image stabilization, which is unfortunate, it’s still described as a pocket rocket that’s a worthy successor to the 2019 original. The consensus follows its maker’s claim that it is designed to appeal to first-time camera buyers who may have just previously used a smartphone to take pictures and record video. One of the best value mirrorless cameras around at this moment in time is the conclusion of many.

How we tested the Nikon Z50 II

I used the Nikon Z50 II in daylight conditions that included both overcast days and strong sunlight and was pleased to witness a good degree of detail maintained in both shadows and highlights. Whereas I mostly used the compact kit lens for general-purpose everyday shooting, it was the Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S that I used for night sky photography.

Initially, during my test period, heavy cloud meant only the brightest of celestial objects, such as the North Star, were visible. Fortunately, when the weather improved,the Big Dipper / Plough came clearly within sight of my lens.

Should you buy the Nikon Z50 II

The Nikon Z50 II is a very approachable everyday mirrorless camera at an affordable price point that should appeal to both fledgling photographers and would-be content creators alike. In doing so, it battles directly with the likes of the Canon R50 V and Sony’s ZV compact series. But in my opinion, it feels more like a real camera than both thanks to its more conventional control layout and design, including eye-level viewfinder as well as flip-out and twist LCD screen.

The Nikon’s menus are easy to navigate — results straight out of the camera look impressive and its operation is sufficiently intuitive not to require recourse to any manual. Yes, it doesn’t have the full-frame sensor and body integral image stabilization of rivals at twice or even three times the price, but as ever in life, you get what you pay for. For what’s requested in terms of outlay, the Nikon Z50 II feels like a very fair proposition.

If this camera isn't for you

Like Canon’s R50 V, the Nikon Z50 II is aimed at budding content creators of every description, so Canon’s more pared-back rival is an obvious direct alternative. We weren’t keen on the fact that the Canon omits both an eye-level viewfinder and a built-in flash, but those who want a camera that concentrates on the essentials may find it viable.

For those who prefer a camera that not only obviously looks like a camera, but one with retro looks borrowed from the days of film, further alternatives to the Nikon Z50 II include the Fuji X100V and VI cameras. These, like both Nikon and Canon, incorporate an APS-C-sized sensor.

One further caveat is whichever system you choose, be mindful that accessories and lenses aren’t directly transferrable — at least not without an adapter. So, if you already own a bunch of Nikon F lenses from the early days of digital or further back in the heyday of film, it might be worth sticking with Nikon. If you’re trading up from a smartphone, however, which I reckon most of the Nikon Z50 II’s potential audience will be, then it’s not an issue and you’ll find this one a capable contender at a value-added price.

• Back to top

Today's world is filled with "smart" devices and binoculars are no exception. The Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binoculars stand out for their onboard vibration correction (image stabilization) — a function conveniently powered by a single AA battery. This inevitably pushes up the price but, thankfully, doesn't add too much weight or bulk. The "WP" in the name further indicates that these binoculars are waterproof, making them even better suited to outdoor use and clear, cold nights for stargazing.

Those are the claims but how do these binoculars pan out in practice, and how useful are the smart features for skywatching and wildlife spotting? Will they make it into our best binoculars guide? We put them to the test to find out.

Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binoculars review

Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP: Design

★★★★

• Ridged focus ring that's ergonomically placed between lenses
• Manually adjustable interpupillary distance
• Included protective rubber caps (for the eyepieces only)

With an attractively futuristic look, the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binoculars are commendably compact for a device that features built-in vibration correction. That mechanism typically makes binoculars noticeably bulkier and heavier than a standard pair. However, that's not the case for the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binoculars, which are made of polycarbonate resin, a type of plastic known for its strength and impact resistance.

As a further aid to visibility, the lenses are multicoated to maximize light transmission and contrast while reducing flare. Another plus is that the interpupillary distance between the eyepieces can be manually adjusted to comfortably match the user's eyes.

The binoculars come with a pouch and a strap, but I could squeeze them into a winter jacket pocket. Predictably, the quality of these extras doesn't match that of the binoculars themselves, but they are useful nonetheless. Protective rubber cups are provided for the eyepieces, but you don't get any caps to cover the lens glass on the front.

Overall, the design and construction are of a high standard, typical of Japanese manufacturing. The materials, the positioning of the controls and their ergonomic implementation are top-notch. The centrally located and ridged focus wheel had just the right amount of give to enable me to make precise adjustments without needing to take my eyes away from the subject. A top-mounted lever allows the vibration correction to be powered up or down with the flick of a thumb. Again, this switch is large and obvious enough that I could feel for it without needing to remove my eyes from the eyepieces.

What you don't get is a screw thread for the binoculars to be tripod-mounted for extended periods of observation. Because the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binoculars are all about onboard image stabilization to enable rock-steady use, it's understandable that the manufacturer would omit that feature.

Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP: Performance

★★★★★

• Sharp and bright views
• 10x magnification
• Onboard vibration correction

The built-in vibration correction on the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binoculars has a couple of operational modes, although the feature is fully automated. It detects and corrects "fine vibrations," such as minor hand tremble, as well as compensates for more pronounced movements, or "large vibrations," such as quick panning, switching modes as appropriate. When I used the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binoculars to view the moon at the maximum 10x magnification, I could clearly identify large craters, such as Copernicus and Tycho, and radiating surface scars.

However, these binoculars' image stabilization was particularly useful for stargazing. When I used them handheld, without the vibration correction activated, at night, I initially got streaky light trails, and the stars appeared to dance. This effect was amplified by any slight movement of my hands.

However, with a flick of the image stabilization switch, the shaky trails of light suddenly snapped back into pinpoint focus, and readily identifiable asterisms, such as the Big Dipper, became clear.

As noted earlier, the inclusion of image stabilization allowed Kenko to omit a screw thread for tripod mounting — a feature that tends to be found on most premium binoculars. Therefore, I'm very pleased that the vibration correction works so smoothly.

Another plus is that a single AA battery, inserted into a screw-top compartment alongside the lens, can deliver up to 28 hours of continuous use. For comparison, anti-shake-equipped alternatives, such as the Canon 12x36 IS III and the Nikon 10x25 and Nikon 12x25 stabilized binoculars, typically manage eight to 12 hours at best.

There's no automatic power-off feature, which enables uninterrupted use of the vibration correction for stargazing, tracking wildlife and watching sports, concerts and other events.

The Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binoculars excel at providing sharp and clear views free of typical artifacts, such as chromatic aberration between areas of high contrast, in both daytime and nighttime use. In fact, the crisply defined, high-contrast images have an almost three-dimensional quality. Yes, you'll pay more for these binoculars than for a standard 10x30 pair, but I think the clear views are worth it, particularly for skywatching enthusiasts.

Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP: Functionality

★★★★

• Multicoated optics that boost contrast and light transmission
• Two-tier vibration correction
• Minimal chromatic aberration

The Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binoculars also benefit from an anti-fog feature, which helps maintain image clarity on cold, damp nights. Plus, the binoculars are waterproof for use in inclement weather, which provides peace of mind when you're making such a large investment.

The light-shielding slide shutter is another handy, practical feature for using the binoculars at night with the vibration correction activated. It can be slid across to obscure the tiny pilot lamp that otherwise glows green when the power is on and the image stabilization is active, thereby eliminating what would have been a distracting light in the dark.

The combination of a standard 10x magnification with a 30mm objective lens is a decent specification, with a lens of that size allowing for continued observation even in low light. However, I would have liked to see a slightly higher magnification to really zero in on detail for lunar observation. The counterargument is that this would have added to the overall weight and bulk.

As always, there are trade-offs to be made to balance portability, performance and price. But the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binoculars function well and are some of the most intuitive stabilized binoculars I've handled.

How we tested the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP

I tested the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binoculars during the day, in both bright sunlight and low light, and at night with a full moon and a cloudless view of the sky, and they proved to be a versatile viewing companion.

I tried observing skittish wildlife during the day and the stars and moon at night, with the vibration correction on and off to view the difference it made and thus determine whether it's worth paying a premium for this feature. In my opinion, it did make a clear difference and is indeed worth the investment.

User reviews of the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binoculars

Users say the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binoculars are perfect for outdoor use and for hobbies such as bird-watching or skywatching. Users agree that the quality is amazing and the image quality is exceedingly sharp, even without the image stabilization switched on.

Should you buy the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP?

The Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP offered me sharp views whether that was of the moon and stars or wildlife. The built-in vibration correction performed outstandingly, helping to create a great stargazing experience. Although the image stabilization boosts the price of these binoculars, I think it's worth it, especially for viewing the night sky and avoiding streaky star trails. Even though there's no tripod mount, this isn't something you'll miss on these binoculars due to the high-performing image stabilization. Although there was no off button for the image stabilization, with 28 hours of battery life, I don't think this is an issue, unlike on other pairs of image stabilized binoculars where the battery life is much shorter. While I enjoyed using the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP, the 10x magnification doesn't allow for extreme close-ups which might disappoint some users.

If the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binoculars aren't for you

If the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binoculars aren't for you, be aware that over the past 10 to 15 years, Canon has faced little competition for image-stabilized binoculars, allowing the company to charge a premium for its products. However, that is changing. Although the recent Canon 12x36 IS III is worth considering, Canon now has competition from rivals such as Fujifilm's waterproofed Techno-Stabi binoculars (I recommend the TS 16x28 WP option) and Nikon's 10x25 and 12x25 Stabilized duo. That could result in more competitive pricing in this market segment.

However, the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binoculars sit in the middle of the current options and accrue plenty of praise for their competitive price and impressively sharp image quality. They're a solid choice if 10x magnification is sufficient for your skywatching needs.

Fujifilm’s latest round of Techno-Stabi binoculars was released in January 2025 and two pairs were released: The 20x40 and the 16x40. The Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 binoculars are good for stargazing with 16x magnification, 40mm objective lenses and a three-degree image stabilization (IS) angle.

Without IS, views from any 16x binoculars are going to be shaky. The same can be said of the TS-L 1640, but once the IS switch is clicked on, the view immediately steadies and allows smooth and precise movement over land and sky.

Going up against rival binoculars, the price can seem quite premium at $1399, with the Canon 15x50 IS at $1349 and the Canon 18x50 IS at $1549, but they do offer premium features. The TS-L 1640 binoculars' precision optics, lighter body and IPX7 rating make it a standout pair for traveling to dark sky sites and out hiking in the inclement weather.

Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 review

Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640: Design

• Stylish, modern design
• Lightweight
• Ribbed housing

The TS-l 1640 binoculars are designed to match the stylish X-series of Fujifilm cameras and suit a professional photography set-up as well as a good first pair for beginners. Coming in a space grey color, they offer up a strong technical aesthetic as well as delivering strong optical performance, with 16x magnification. Plus, they have some of the strongest image stabilization on the market, rivaled only by the Opticron Imagic 16x42 binoculars (three-degree correction angle) and Fujifilm's own Fujinon TS-X 14x40 binoculars (six-degree correction angle).

They have features that lean towards benefitting serious outdoor and travel use, like an IPX7 waterproof rating (submersible up to one meter for 30 minutes) and a weight of only 1.9 lbs (856 g). The light weight is thanks to the roof prism design of the TS-L 1640, which brings the objective lens and eyepiece in a straight line and allows them to be built slimmer and more streamlined compared to porro prism binoculars. During travel to a dark site, I found they didn’t add too much weight to an already heavy astro setup, which included two cameras, six lenses, three tripods and a telescope.

The eyepieces jut out from the body in separate housing and have an interpupillary adjustment of 56-70mm, making them suitable for a wide range of users. You have to twist each eyecup at the same time to move the distance to prevent slipping during observation.

The eye relief on the TS-L 1640 binoculars comes in at 15.7mm, providing ample space for eyeglass wearers who may need more space to see the full image without vignetting. The diopter adjustment is also easily adjusted on the right eyepiece to compensate for the difference in focus between your left and right eyes.

The image stabilization (IS) switch is intuitive and sits just in front of the eyepieces during observation, where I could use my right index finger to turn it on. Some users may prefer a button-activated image stabilization system, especially if they are planning on using these binoculars in freezing temperatures, but I found no issues with usability when out in the field.

The body is ergonomic but sturdy and features a ribbed plastic housing and a bottom rubber grip for good handheld use. To keep everything as slimline as possible, the focusing wheel is embedded in the middle of the body and stays flat, so it stashes away easily during travel.

Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640: Performance

• Sharp light transmission
• Smooth image stabilized stargazing
• Stiff focus wheel

Whilst only having 40mm objective lenses, the image from the TS-L 1640 is still nice and bright for general stargazing and terrestrial viewing. This is thanks to the phase correction lens coatings, which help to produce a sharper and brighter image. Any chromatic aberration was kept under control by extra-low dispersion glass (ED) and gave me clear views of my targets.

Using the binoculars handheld without the image stabilization (IS) engaged is understandably shaky, but once the IS is activated, the image stabilizes and provides a still view of wherever you are looking. This is immensely valuable when you are stargazing and trying to locate certain sky objects like star clusters and galaxies.

I observed stars in northern asterisms such as the Big Dipper and the Northern Cross, but found that these binoculars are not suitable for super-wide field-of-view observations of the full constellations Ursa Major and Cygnus. Panning across the sky in a smooth motion from the IS makes manual star location much easier and is good for star hopping your way along a larger constellation and getting views of smaller objects.

My highlights were the Pleiades star cluster, followed by Aldebaran in Taurus and the Alpha Persei cluster in Perseus, with the brightest star Mirfak. I observed the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), but it remained a smudge in the sky due to light pollution and 40mm objective lenses, which couldn’t collect as much light for fainter objects. It is worth mentioning that when focusing, I had to move my hands from the holding position so my fingers could reach the focusing wheel and it felt stiffer than models with a more prominent focusing wheel.

16x magnification also makes the moon a beautiful target with the full lunar disk visible and detailed views of craters and seas. A wobble-free lunar view feels like a luxury experience and you won’t want to have a pair of high magnification binoculars without IS ever again. They also worked wonders during terrestrial viewing of the landscape and looking over a city from a viewing point. Nature watchers will also benefit from the IS, as it makes it easy to track flying birds and individual creatures.

In places with light pollution, the binoculars still held up thanks to the strong magnification and extra-low-dispersion (ED) phase-coated glass, which helped to keep stars well contrasted in the view.

Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640: Functionality

• Long battery life
• Strong image stabilization
• IPX7 waterproofing

The binoculars take two AAA batteries, with Fujifilm claiming a battery life of 30 hours of continuous use. During my month of testing, I didn’t have to change the batteries and I used them for long sessions stargazing as well as during the day for terrestrial use. I always turn the image stabilization (IS) off when not in use anyway to make the battery life go even further. The battery compartment is sleek on the side of the housing and access is controlled by a screw part that loosens the compartment flap. After insertion, the compartment tightens up and is almost invisible when in use, meaning you don’t have to worry about knocking it when out observing.

Turning the IS on and off is easy, as the switch is just in front of the eyecups. The change is noticeable immediately as shaky views of your targets become smooth views panning across your area of observation. Not only does it benefit stargazers for careful star and object identification, but helps with views of moving subjects like animals, people and vehicles. You start to forget that these binoculars are so high magnification because of how stable the views are during handheld use. When IS is active, a small green LED lights up in between the eyecups so you can make sure to turn it off when not in use.

They are rated IPX7, meaning that they are waterproof to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes and work down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius). This is serious proofing that means they excel in harsh weather conditions and naval use where submersion may be likely. Another feature that makes them good for use on boats and unsteady surfaces is the massive three degrees of image stabilization, which blows rival models' specs out of the water.

The binoculars come with an attached hand strap for holding comfort and a thick neck strap for extended observation sessions. A singular rubber lens cap is provided, but this isn’t attached to the binoculars, so watch out for misplacing it. Everything fits nicely into a small grey pouch that has a zipper and a button for secure storage while traveling or not in use.

How we tested the Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 binoculars

I tested the Fujinon TS-L 1640 binoculars in the fields (with lower light pollution), the city (with more light pollution) and during the day and night. For stargazing, I tested them in a field with a Bortle scale of 3 and a city center with a Bortle scale between 5 and 7. My primary observation targets were the constellation Perseus, the Pleiades star cluster, the Andromeda galaxy and the moon. For terrestrial viewing, I used them from a city lookout point, along a river for waterfowl and a park for smaller birds.

During testing in the UK, nighttime temperatures were on average between 54-59 degrees Fahrenheit (12-15 degrees Celsius).

User reviews of the Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 binoculars

User reviews for the TS-L 1640 are generally quite positive, with people impressed by the powerful image stabilization (IS), with some claims that it is more effective than Canon’s image stabilizing binoculars. Further benefits users report are the strong weatherproofing rating of IPX7 and crisp views even with IS activated.

Like us, some users found that the focus wheel was fairly stiff but this does mean accidental adjustments are avoided. Some users also thought that the views were dimmer in low light than their 50mm counterparts.

Should you buy the Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640?

The perfect user for the Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 image stabilized binoculars is someone who loves the outdoors, whether that be trekking to dark sky sites to gaze at celestial wonders, navigating the wilderness or identifying wildlife from a distance. Their lightweightness and adherence to an IPX7 rating make them ideal for bringing on outdoor adventures in inclement weather without weighing you down.

The high-quality optics in these binoculars mean that your views are crisp and bright, with a strong +/-3-degrees of image stabilization (IS) for stable views needed for quick handheld use or unsteady environments. If you have the budget for image stabilization, then I would definitely recommend it.

If the Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 isn't for you

The Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 might not be for you for a number of reasons. If you are prioritizing the brightest views possible, you will want to get a pair of image stabilized binoculars with large objective lenses, such as the Canon IS 15x50 binoculars or a model that has even more magnification, the Canon IS 18x50 binoculars.

If you aren’t bothered about image stabilization, then I would recommend either the Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 binoculars for a similar power but with larger objective lenses. For those who want affordable stargazing, I would recommend the Celestron Nature DX 12x56 binoculars, which do a great job of balancing magnification and objective lens size for a relatively low price point.

We're absolutely loving Lego's continued focus on bringing new space-themed sets onto store shelves. Alongside the core City range — which has had a space sub-range for a long time — we've also seen space slip into Technic, Creator and even Friends. This set comes from Lego City and, while it's a fun set in its own right, it's been designed to interact with some existing sets, too, which is a nice touch.

Lego City Modular Galactic Spaceship is a new set for January 2025: It is the only City space set to release this year so far. It goes alongside some of 2024's sets, including the Lego City Modular Space Station, which we reviewed (and loved) last fall. These two sets can be connected to make a huge playset, but it's not necessary to enjoy what's here.

By itself, the Galactic Spaceship is still a big set — it's made up of 717 pieces and when it's built up, it's 15.5 inches long — and offers plenty of interactivity for kids. But where the Space Station earned a place on our best Lego space sets list, will the Galactic Spaceship follow suit or will it crash and burn?

Read on for our Galactic Spaceship review, or go read about some of our other favorite Lego space sets, including the Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit and the Creator 3-in-1 Space Astronaut.

Lego City Modular Galactic Spaceship: The build

• Not the most challenging build
• Great for cooperative building, as sections are built separately
• Astronaut and alien minifigures

With bricks split over six bags, building the Modular Galactic Spaceship took me around two hours, going at a slow and steady pace. Kids will likely take much longer, but there's nothing too taxing here — the set has an age rating of seven and above. I think most seven-year-olds should be able to build this with minimal supervision.

If you have already built the Modular Space Station, some elements of the Galactic Spaceship will feel familiar. With the same connector system and a couple of similar modules, the two sets go hand-in-hand. It might make some elements of the Galactic Spaceship a little repetitive, especially if you've recently built the Space Station too, but for the most part, this is an entertaining and varied build.

Essentially, the Lego City Modular Galactic Spaceship is made up of three separate objects. There's a space shuttle and two separate builds that make up the landbase. Because you build each object separately, it keeps the build nice and varied — and it also means that multiple people can work on building the set together. It's a great choice for multiple siblings to build together, for instance.

There are some interesting pieces used that I've rarely seen before, including some unique rail-like pieces that are used to attach the wings to the shuttle. Some great building techniques have been used, too, to create some interesting patterns with colors, like the white, blue and black layering on the wings.

You'll need to build each of the three pieces individually before you can construct the Lego City Modular Galactic Spaceship into one huge craft. Thankfully, it's a fairly easy process that only takes a few minutes — but you will need to remove and add a few different pieces. You'll need to take the wings from the shuttle, for instance. Just make sure you keep any spare pieces safe so you can easily switch between the two forms of the set.

As you make your way through the six bags of the build, you'll uncover a series of minifigures. There are four humans and one alien, all kitted out in space suits and helmets. I love that they're all differently-colored, making the set fun to look at and play with. Even better, their space helmets can be removed and replaced with hairpieces, giving kids options for their imaginative play.

Lego City Modular Galactic Spaceship: Design

• Can be either a large spaceship or a smaller shuttle and base
• Not the most colorful
• Storage space for helmets and hair pieces

Whichever format you choose to have the Galactic Spaceship in — whether it's the large spaceship or the smaller shuttle and base — there's plenty of fun to be had. Keeping them separate allows you to access the inside of the base, which is filled with neat little details. There's a lab, a medical bay and a kitchen, with each area filled with accessories that can be used by the included minifigures.

The shuttle also packs in some neat details, like a cockpit complete with a screen and seating for one minifigure. The back area can also be accessed, ideal for storage — maybe your minifigures' helmets or hairpieces can be stowed away in here when they're not in use.

Thankfully, these areas can still be accessed when you turn the set into a full spaceship, giving kids some options as to how they choose to interact and play with the set. When the set is configured into one large spaceship, it's a little large, so I'd say to make sure kids are careful if they want to 'swoosh' it through the air. Drop it, and that's more than 700 pieces of Lego that are going to go flying into all corners of the room — and nobody wants that.

I kind of wish that the Lego City Modular Galactic Spaceship were a little more colorful. Its color scheme of white, orange and gray-blue feels a bit too safe and almost corporate. Since this is very much an imaginative playset, I feel that the designers could have been more adventurous with their choices. It's not a dealbreaker; it's still a nice-looking set, but perhaps not the most exciting.

Should you buy Lego City Modular Galactic Spaceship?

There's an awful lot to like about the Lego City Modular Galactic Spaceship and I think it's a great set to buy for kids who love space. There are plenty of interactive elements, giving kids lots of opportunities for imaginative play. In terms of a display set, however, there are certainly nicer-looking sets out there. This is one that definitely deserves to be swooshed through the air (carefully, of course).

At $80, it is a little on the pricey side. I'd perhaps suggest waiting for a sale before you pick this up — and since we often see Lego City sets reduced by up to 20%, you shouldn't have to wait too long before you see a decent discount here.

Other sets to consider

As I've already mentioned, the Lego City Modular Space Station makes a nice companion piece to this set but it's also a great set in its own right. That set is even more expensive than this one, though, so if you're looking for a fun space set on a budget, I suggest the Interstellar Spaceship (only $20!) or the $35 Space Science Lab.

For something a little more adult-friendly — or at the very least, a set that's going to look great on display — I absolutely love the Lego NASA Artemis Space Launch System. It's huge and not cheap, though, so you'll need deep pockets and a lot of display space!

Holy Stone has established itself as one of the most active drone manufacturers at the beginner end of the market, offering a wide range of options to suit the requirements of beginners. The Holy Stone HS600D is an upgraded version of the HS600 and delivers 4K 30 FPS video and large 48MP photos from its automatic camera.

The HS600D faces some stiff competition in the beginner category with a price of $400, but thanks to its size and power it may still be one of the best beginner drones. It's certainly not one of the best drones, but that is one of the most difficult categories for any drone to secure a position in. The HS600D does, however, offer some interesting features that expand its usefulness and creative potential for beginner pilots.

It could be used by more advanced pilots for basic professional aerial tasks, but the fully automatic camera and mixed image quality will always be a hurdle to its use for more advanced operations. For beginners, this is a drone with GPS positioning, which in turn delivers features including GPS Return to Home and subject tracking. Plus, there are other creative features including timelapse, panorama, slow-motion video and Quickshots automated flight patterns.

• Back to top

Holy Stone HS600D: Design

• Folding design
• 3-axis gimbal
• Great controller

The HS600D sports a folding design where the propeller arms fold out, taking it from a compact 7.95 x 3.74 x 3.27-in / 202 x 95 x 83 mm when folded for travel, to 14.76 x 10.16 x 3.27-in / 375 x 258 x 83 mm unfolded for flight. The propeller arms fold in, in such a way that the large fixed propellers, rather than those made of two swivelling parts, sit parallel to the sides of the airframe.

Where the HS600D differs from most other folding drones is that its two front legs also fold out from the propeller arms to raise the front of the drone when on the ground. Despite these, the airframe still sits low to the ground so a landing mat will be a useful accessory for take-off and landing. Just bear in mind that this mid-sized drone weighs 21.03 oz / 603 g, so although it's lightweight, US-based amateur pilots will need to register with the FAA.

The build quality of the drone is good and can’t be faulted, although it's more plastic than metal. It's fair to say that it's not quite at the standard of the best drones available but don’t let that in itself put you off because there's a huge price difference involved in many cases.

The gimbal and camera housing are also made of plastic, which is likely to keep both costs and weight down, but the 3-axis mechanical gimbal paired with Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) does a great job of stabilizing video footage.

The 3500 mAh LiPo batteries are advertised to provide up to 40 minutes of flight, so with two batteries in the kit that's up to an impressive hour and 20 minutes of potential flight time. Testing of the drone was conducted in early winter in the UK when temperatures were around 32°F / 0°C, so flight times were much lower at around 25 minutes, so a fair assessment couldn’t be made. In warmer months, battery life would naturally be extended.

The controller that comes with the HS600D looks like it's modelled on the DJI RC-N2, but with a screen to show flight information. There's a telescopic phone holder at the top where the phone cable can be stored and the control sticks can be removed and stowed in rubberized compartments at the bottom of the unit.

There are also seven direct access controls to make operation more convenient by providing quick access to commonly used settings and features, which reduces the need to use app control. The controller and drone take 40 seconds to pair each time one or both are switched on, and with each flight in a new location, you'll be prompted to calibrate the compass; this only takes around 15 seconds to complete so it's never an issue.

Holy Stone HS600D: Functionality

• Auto Return to Home
• Timelapse functionality
• GPS subject tracking

Most drones these days come packed with a range of useful and, indeed, creative features. The HS600D is one such drone and delivers a handful of features that enhance the overall experience of using the drone from both a safety and creative point of view. Firstly, one feature that US pilots will appreciate is that the HS600D features a built-in Remote ID to meet FAA requirements.

This is also a GPS-enabled drone which means that it will hold a hover. Although, it's not the most precise in this area — there is some horizontal and vertical movement. Sadly, you cannot rely on its precision at low altitudes and close to obstacles.

GPS does, however, deliver a couple of useful features which include GPS Follow Me, which uses the GPS signal from your smartphone to track you. Then there's Return to Home (RTH) functionality with Smart RTH to return to the take-off point. Return to Home also offers Failsafe RTH and Low Voltage RTH, which bring the drone back in situations where the signal to the controller is lost and when the battery charge is low, among other situations.

Another safety feature, although one you wouldn’t need to use too often, if at all, is Optical Flow Positioning for indoor flights when a GPS signal is unavailable. This ultimately isn’t the type of drone that's well-suited to indoor flight.

The HS600D also offers shooting modes including Panorama, Time-lapse and Slow Motion. All are easy to use but when creating a panorama, the final image is only available on your smartphone with low-resolution dimensions that vary from shot to shot but are typically around 2346 x 633 pixels.

This is despite the 48MP resolution of the sensor. There's also AI Subject Tracking, which works well to follow the selected subject, but the drone either remains in a hover or you have to fly it manually if the subject is moving.

Then there are Quickshots automated flight patterns, including Point of Interest, Catapult, One-key Ascension and Spiral Up. Other options within the same menu include Gesture Selfie and Selfie Video, Camera Filter and Portrait Format Capture. For the latter, a 9:16 format 4K video is captured while a landscape format image is captured on the microSD card; the upright photo is saved to your smartphone in 9:16 format 4K dimensions.

Holy Stone HS600D: Performance

• Mixed image quality results
• Auto camera control only
• Photos in JPEG only

The HS600D camera features a 48MP Sony 1/2.3 in CMOS sensor and a fixed f/1.8 aperture. Information about the equivalent focal length produced by the lens is unavailable. The camera itself is fully automatic, so you simply point and shoot to capture photos and videos. The only adjustments available are for white balance, contrast, saturation, sharpness and brightness.

Frustratingly, there's no control over exposure compensation, so in some situations, the camera will naturally over- or underexpose photos and videos slightly. This is an incredibly simple control that's essential for any camera, but arguably most important for a fully automatic camera. With the sun behind the drone with the camera facing forward, however, exposure is typically fine. Image quality, like most drones, is best in brighter conditions.

Photos and videos are captured in two formats: one on the microSD card that's inserted into the drone and another on your smartphone. Photos are captured at 48MP with dimensions of 8000 x 6000 pixels when saved to the microSD card in the drone. These are also saved to your phone at 3840 x 2160 pixels (4K).

Please note the footage below was shot in 4K but our video player only plays in HD.

Video here

Panoramic images are only saved to your phone at low resolution rather than on the microSD card at a higher resolution. Video is captured at 4K 30 FPS when saved to the microSD card while 720p 30 FPS is set to your phone. It's pretty basic, but the main thing here is that 4K video is captured at 30 FPS.

The image quality is pretty good, but what's strange is that there's a noticeable fall-off in depth-of-field further back into the scene you’re shooting, particularly with photos. The front of the scene is perfectly sharp but the fall off is visible. Video is much better when the drone is moving because the eye can’t settle on a fixed point, but with static video, you do notice the fall-off in sharpness.

Holy Stone HS600D: Price

The Holy Stone HS600D costs $400, which puts it up against some serious competition from the likes of the Holy Stone HS900, DJI Mini 4K and the DJI Mini 3. All three of these models are also regulator-friendly sub-250 g models. However, the HS600D is a larger and more powerful drone, which undoubtedly has advantages in certain situations.

The HS600D comes in a kit that includes the HS600D drone, a controller, two batteries, phone connection cables, USB-C cables for battery and controller charging, a spare set of propellers and a shoulder bag to carry everything. In a nutshell, this is everything you need to get started except for registering with your local aviation authority.

Should you buy the Holy Stone HS600D?

If you're looking for a point-and-shoot drone where you have no control over camera exposure settings for photos and videos, the HS600D is one of the larger and more powerful models to offer this basic beginner functionality. There are also several other features available including time-lapse, slow-motion video, panorama and GPS subject tracking, so you do have creative options available.

As previously mentioned, the HS600D faces some stiff competition from some impressive drone models in the same price bracket. In light of this, you have to consider these models alongside the HS600D to decide which is ultimately the best model for you.

If this drone isn't for you

The Holy Stone HS900 is the best drone Holy Stone has produced to date with excellent flight capabilities and a great camera to match. It's also less expensive than the HS600D.

The DJI Mini 4K is DJI's least expensive drone that's capable of capturing 4K video. Image quality is great for a drone with a small sensor. Plus, it flies well and is incredibly easy to use.

The DJI Mini 3 is an affordable mini drone with a fantastic camera that can be rotated 90 degrees for capturing photos and videos in landscape and portrait formats. It's a great sub-250 g all-rounder.

• Back to top

Holy Stone continues to release beginner-friendly drones at a range of sizes and price points to cater to the needs of a wider community of beginner drone pilots. The Holy Stone HS360E is a sub-250 g model that looks a little like the DJI Mini 4K and is similar in many ways but offers a much more basic camera.

Camera specs are thin on the ground but it's 12MP and features a 2-axis gimbal for tilting the camera, which is supported by Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) rather than the more effective mechanical stabilization that's delivered by 3-axis gimbals. It certainly smooths video, but it can't eliminate larger movements of the drone during flights.

This produces FPV-style video footage where the tilt pitch and roll of the drone are captured to produce a more immersive type of video. This isn't for everyone, but if you'd like this type of video capture, the HS360E could be one of the best beginner drones for you. Video is captured at 4K 30 FPS on the microSD card in the drone, while 720p 30FPS video is captured on your smartphone with the HS Fly app installed.

Photos are captured in JPEG format in either 4000 x 3000px or 3840 x 2160px (4K) dimensions on the microSD card. Photos saved to your smartphone are in 4K dimensions. Image quality isn't the best but we'll cover that in more detail later. Several features are great for beginners and these include GPS Return to Home, subject tracking, timelapse, panorama, slow-motion video and several automated flight patterns.

Holy Stone HS360E review

Holy Stone HS360E review: Design

• Folding design
• Well-made drone
• Solid controller

The HS360E, as previously mentioned, looks similar to the DJI Mini 4K with its light gray airframe and folding design. The propeller arms fold out horizontally, which takes it from 5.5 x 3.5 x 2.17in / 140 x 90 x 55mm when folded to 8.37.1 x 2.17in / 210 x 180 x 55mm when unfolded, with a weight of 8.78 oz / 249 g. This means that US pilots won't have to register the drone with the FAA if flying recreationally.

The overall design is simple, but the build quality is good. The overall kit looks and feels like good value for money. There are no sensors on the drone for collision avoidance, but there is a much more basic optical flow sensor facing downwards on the bottom of the airframe.

There is also a light on the bottom that changes color to signify whether or not the controller is connected. In low-light conditions, the light on the bottom of the drone could allow the pilot to identify the orientation of the drone. In daylight, it's impossible to see once the drone is in the air.

The HS360E gimbal is extremely simple with only a 2-axis movement for changing the tilt of the camera, with smoothing of video provided by Electronic Image Stabilization. The tilt mechanism of the gimbal isn't the most refined — it's difficult to position it between -90 and 0 degrees and easiest to either set the camera to look forward or straight down.

The 2000 mAh Li-ion batteries are advertised to provide up to 30 minutes of flight. During testing, flight times were coming in at around 19 minutes before a low battery warning came on. This was in 50°F / 10°C temperatures, so during the summer, it's safe to assume that this would increase slightly but certainly not to 30 minutes. So, with only one battery in the kit, a second and possibly even a third would be a worthwhile investment.

The controller that comes with the HS360E is the most common controller with Holy Stone drones and it looks like it's heavily inspired by the DJI RC-N2 controller, but with a basic screen to show flight information. Build quality is lower than the DJI RC-N2, but it's not bad either and it's comfortable to hold and easy to operate, which is most important.

There's a telescopic phone holder at the top where the phone cable can be stored and the control sticks can be unscrewed from the gimbals and stowed in rubberized compartments at the bottom of the unit.

Where most of these controllers come in dark gray to match Holy Stone drones that are typically this darker tone, this version comes in light gray to match the HS360E. There are seven direct access controls to make operation more convenient.

Holy Stone HS360E review: Functionality

• Auto Return to Home
• Timelapse and slow-motion features
• Basic subject tracking

The HS360E uses the same Holy Stone app as the higher spec and more expensive Holy Stone HS600D; the features and functionality of the two drones are extremely similar, despite the HS360E being the more basic model of the two.

The HS360E does fly well and the flight controls are responsive, allowing for smooth operation of the drone to achieve a range of maneuvers, so no complaints here. It's not the fastest and most powerful drone, with a maximum wind resistance of just 12.3 mph, making it unsuited to windy conditions.

This is a GPS-enabled drone like most, if not all, consumer camera drones. This holds the drone in a hover so it doesn't get blown along in the wind. Although, there is both vertical and horizontal movement of the HS360E to the extent that it's best to keep a close eye on the drone when hovering at lower altitudes. With no collision avoidance, this drifting could result in a collision but is, of course, much less of an issue when flying at higher altitudes.

GPS also allows for GPS Follow Me, which uses the GPS signal from your smartphone to track you. This works reasonably well but it's far from the most sophisticated application of the feature. GPS also delivers Return to Home (RTH) functionality with Smart RTH to return the drone to the take-off point at the touch of a button. Return to Home also offers Failsafe RTH and Low Voltage RTH, which return the drone when the signal to the controller is lost or when the battery charge is low.

RTH is both a functional and safety feature that can be extremely useful in a range of situations, as the feature's application suggests. This, alongside the take-off and landing button on the controller, makes it safe and easy to get the drone up and into the air.

This button also initiates an emergency stop when depressed for two seconds, but this only works when the drone is below 16 ft. Then there's Optical Flow Positioning for indoor flights when a GPS signal is unavailable.

The HS360E also offers shooting modes including Panorama, Time-lapse and Slow Motion video. These are easy to use and certainly provide some creative options for beginner pilots. One point to make concerning panoramas is that these are saved to your smartphone, rather than the microSD card, and that they're captured at such low pixel dimensions that they're only suitable for web use.

Within the Multi-functions menu, there are automated flight patterns available, including Point of Interest, Catapult, One-key Ascension and Spiral Up. AI Subject Tracking is a feature where you draw over the desired subject in the HS Fly app and the HS360E camera follows the selected subject effectively. The drone remains in a hover, so you have to fly it to maintain tracking of moving subjects. Other options within the menu include VR capture, Gesture Selfie, Selfie Video and Camera Filter.

Holy Stone HS360E review: Performance

• Automatic camera control
• Photos in JPEG only
• Images are soft

Camera specs are thin on the ground, but we know that the camera has a 12MP sensor. This can capture photos in JPEG format in either 4000 x 3000px or 3840 x 2160px (4K) dimensions on the microSD card in the drone. Photos saved to your smartphone are in 4K dimensions. Video is captured at 4K 30FPS on the microSD card, while 720p 30FPS video is captured on your smartphone.

The camera itself is automatic, so you simply point and shoot to capture photos and videos. The only adjustments available are for white balance, contrast, saturation, sharpness and brightness, so there is some control available but it is limited. The exposure of the automatic camera is pretty good and if you find it's too light or too dark, it can be adjusted using the brightness control.

One issue with the camera only having a 2-axis gimbal for tilting the camera while relying on EIS to smooth video, is that the pitch of the drone is captured when you first fly forwards or backwards. Any movement of the drone is captured in videos with the EIS removing only vibration. This produces an FPV look in videos. To combat this to a degree, flying slowly and smoothly does reduce the pitch and roll of the drone, so it's less prominent in videos.

For photos, the roll of the drone into the wind when hovering can result in the horizon being captured at a 45-degree angle. Image quality from the automatic camera is on the soft side and JPEG processing is visible in photos. Video quality is better, as is often the case with drones, and videos shot in brighter conditions typically look best. This does mean that it's not the best drone at this price point for camera functionality.

Holy Stone HS360E review: Cost

The Holy Stone HS360E costs $249 / £269. This is a good price for a beginner drone in the sub-250 g category but the HS360E faces some stiff competition from several manufacturers.

The HS360E comes in a kit that includes the drone, a controller, one battery, a charging hub, phone connection cables, a USB-C cable for battery and controller charging, a spare set of propellers and a shell case with a shoulder strap to carry everything. The case offers two cutouts for batteries but I think it would be worth purchasing a second battery to increase flight times.

Should you buy the Holy Stone HS360E?

The HS360E is a basic drone with a point-and-shoot camera that relies on Electronic Image Stabilization to smooth video, which produces a more FPV style of video capture. It does fly well and features available include time-lapse, slow-motion video, panorama and GPS subject tracking, so you do have creative options available.

Build quality is good and the HS360E is undoubtedly easy to set up and use. The size and weight of the drone are also ideal for beginners. However, if you'd prefer a drone with a more advanced camera and gimbal functionality, this isn't the drone for you.

If the Holy Stone HS360E isn't for you

The Holy Stone HS900 is the best Holy Stone drone available and is also a sub-250 g model. It offers excellent flight capabilities and a high-quality camera for capturing photos and videos.

The DJI Mini 4K is DJI's most basic sub-250 g drone that's capable of capturing 4K video and Raw photos. It flies incredibly well and benefits from DJI build quality and overall performance.

The DJI Flip is a selfie drone with camera drone functionality. This means it can track you intelligently or you can fly it yourself to capture aerial photos and videos. Plus, it features built-in propeller guards.

There's a delightful irony in stealing the schtick of one of sci-fi's most infamous parasitic organisms. Nemesis is a cooperative-ish sci-fi board game developed by Awaken Realm Studio. But more accurately, Nemesis is Alien. Its creators have latched onto Alien's face, incubated the game inside its chest and burst forth onto the board gaming scene. Fortunately, Nemesis is more of an Alien and less of an Alien Covenant, because it's one of the best space board games ever made.

The setup is simple. You and up to four other players awaken from hypersleep to find the corpse of an unfortunate crewmate splayed across the floor, with a rather large hole in their chest. From there, your mission is broadly to survive. You'll need to make sure that various ship systems haven't been damaged and make it back into stasis before the ship jumps into hyperspace again, killing anyone who isn't tucked into bed.

Oh, and you'll need to keep an eye on your crewmates because one or more of them might have their own nefarious agenda. Of course, you've usually got bigger problems to deal with, what with the xenomorph menaces running around the ship trying to chop your head off or lay eggs in your chest. So, teamwork makes the dream work, but you'll need to watch your back.

Nemesis: What's in the box & setup

Nemesis is a big board game — it comes in a huge box and it's packed full of highly-detailed miniatures for the player characters and aliens (called Intruders). There's also a double-sided board, loads of room tiles, multiple decks of cards and a mountain of tokens and widgets.

The plastic miniatures are gorgeous and there are loads of them too. Each of the six playable characters gets a mini, complete with a color-coded base rim so you can easily identify where you are on the board. However, the real stars of the show are the Intruders, who come in five different forms of ascending size: Larvae, Creepers, Adults, Breeders and the Queen. The adults are by far the most common, so they have multiple sculpts. All the included minis are stunning and if you want to paint them up yourself, you can make them look even better.

Alongside all that, you get a comprehensive rulebook and a pair of quick reference cards that let you know what you can do in all the various rooms on the ship. Reading that rulebook should be your first port of call before setting up your first game. There's quite a lot going on with Nemesis and the rulebook includes a handy set-up guide explaining everything you need to do before your sci-fi horror adventure gets underway. Everyone chooses a character, gets their starting equipment and a pair of objectives that will appear later in the game.

Each character has unique equipment and abilities. The Soldier is best at fighting, the Captain can order other players about, the Engineer is good at fixing things etc. As a result, your character choice can have a huge impact on how you choose to play the game.

The ship is set up with a randomized room layout (in the game's lore, you all have cryosleep-induced amnesia, which explains why none of you know the layout of your spaceship). The easy "side A" layout is recommended for your first few games, whereas the reverse of the board has an alternative layout for experienced players. You'll also need to shuffle the various decks of cards and keep containers of tokens nearby for things like wounds, fires, broken systems and doors.

From there, you simply place everyone in the hibernatorium and the game begins.

Playing a game of Nemesis

At first glance, Nemesis is quite a complicated-looking game, and while it's true that there are a lot of moving parts and mechanics, it's surprisingly intuitive once you get into the swing of things. Before long, everyone will know when to roll for noise, when to place a token down on the board and what they need to do in their turn.

Nemesis is a mostly cooperative game…Mostly. You see, each player broadly needs to stay alive, and you'll have a better chance of fixing the ship if you work together, but every member of the crew is also given two private objective cards at the outset. One of these is a personal objective, and it's usually fairly benign — send a signal, make sure everyone survives — that sort of thing. The other is your corporate objective, and, in fitting with Alien's core messaging of "giant corporations are bad", these objectives tend to be a bit more devious. You might be tasked with smuggling an alien egg off the ship, getting a specific player killed or even blowing up the ship (jettisoning yourself in an escape pod).

Players don't have to choose an objective until the first alien shows up, but you'll never know which objective your crewmates have chosen. There are more friendly and neutral objectives than truly despicable ones, so odds are that you're all on the same page, but you'll never know for sure.

The game will typically last for 15 turns (around 2-3 hours), assuming the ship and/or players survive that long. If you're not careful, fires, malfunctions and the dreaded self-destruct system can all bring about the demise of the Nemesis long before it reaches its destination.

The ship is made up of a series of rooms connected by corridors, but you won't know which rooms are where until you move into them. Each room has a special action that you can perform there, so it pays to explore the ship early on to find all the key locations — you don't want to be blindly stumbling through the hallways, clutching a bite mark, desperately trying to find the med-bay. Some rooms are in fixed locations, such as the engines and bridge — both rather vital systems that you'll want to make sure are in working order.

At the start of each round, players draw up to five cards. From there, each player takes two actions — things like moving, shooting, etc. — before handing over to the next player. When the action swings back around to you and you can still do more, you get another two actions. Once every player has expended their available moves (or passed), the round ends.

The twist here is that every action has a cost, paid using the cards in your hand. As a result, you're eternally being forced to make sacrifices as you choose which cards to play and which to burn to pay for your actions. Do you want to move into the next room normally and save some resources, or move quietly and throw away that repair card that might come in handy later?

Every time a player moves, they make a noise roll that usually results in leaving a noise token in a corridor. Careful movement costs you an extra card, but it lets you pick where the noise token goes, instead of leaving it to fate. This is often essential, as if you ever have to place a noise token where one already exists, you'll attract the attention of the Intruders.

When someone does make enough racket to draw the attention of the Aliens and the proverbial space poop hits the fan, your best-laid plans will quickly melt away. Aliens range from tiny Larvae that infect you à la Facehuggers, all the way up to the mighty Alien Queen herself, who is more likely to bite your head off. The majority of your time will be spent facing off against Adults — these most closely resemble Gieger's iconic movie monster, and they're just as much of a handful to deal with.

Combat with the Intruders is unreliable and quickly depletes your resources. They can deal serious damage to you in a heartbeat if you're unlucky, so you'll need to make smart choices about whether to burn through your ammo, work together to bring down a beast, or run away and leave someone else to deal with the problem.

Nemesis is a game that forces an unrelenting tide of difficult choices on you. Run-ins with the Intruders can lead to you getting infected, which creates numerous issues for you. Your deck gets gummed up with useless infection cards, reducing your effectiveness. If you don't get those infection cards scanned (using the nifty scanner device included in the game) and removed from your deck, they can end up killing you, even after the game has finished.

So do you risk running the gauntlet to the med-bay to treat yourself — and potentially get mauled by Aliens along the way — or do you climb back into your cryo pod and take your chances?

Event cards throw more spanners into the works too, unleashing some form of calamity onto the ship at the end of each round. These can break systems, start fires, lock doors or even trigger the self-destruct system, while also potentially causing Intruders on the board to move to adjacent rooms.

The first player to be eliminated can even take control of the Intruders if they want, turning on their former allies.

And then there are the other players — can you trust them? Someone checked the engines and said they were working fine, but they've been acting suspiciously and heading toward the escape pods for the past few turns. Maybe they're just heading to the nearby armory to reload their guns, but maybe they're a no-good, double-crossing son-of-a-gun.

Even when you are all working together, there's no guarantee of success (or to put it another way, "I can't lie to you about your chances, but you have my sympathies"). I've died more often than not playing Nemesis. Escaping the nightmare requires you to complete your objective, set the ship's destination correctly, have two of the three engines functioning, avoid too many fires or malfunctions and then either enter the hibernatorium or an escape pod.

That's a lot of things to juggle while biomechanical nightmares are trying to give you a fashionable new torso piercing. Mess any of these things up and it's game over.

Almost everyone I've ever played Nemesis with has instantly been clamoring for another go — it's a real story-generating machine. There was the game where our soldier went out in a blaze of glory fighting the Alien Queen, while the cowardly scientist was munched in his own lab, trying to smuggle out an egg. Another time, the escape pod I was running to malfunctioned and jettisoned as I reached the door, leaving me to watch in horror as my chances of survival faded. No go is ever the same.

Should you buy Nemesis?

If you like big board games, Nemesis is an easy recommendation for me as it's probably my favorite board game of all time. There's a lot going on and that can be intimidating for new players, but it's shockingly intuitive, and after a few turns, it all falls into place.

There are always choices for the players to make, and there's a ton of variety and replayability thanks to the varied objectives, randomized ship layouts and chaotic nature of the game.

Yet it's the co-op-ish nature of Nemesis that elevates it to gaming greatness for me. There are plenty of traitor games out there but Nemesis does something more with it. Everyone could be working together but you don't know if there is someone out to screw you over, and this creates a delightful undercurrent of paranoia throughout the whole game.

It might be lifting a lot of its inspiration from Alien, but it nails the tone and messaging of the universe. Alien was the perfect organism, but Nemesis is the perfect Alien board game.

Other board games to consider

If you like the sound of Nemesis, but don't want to invest in such a heavy-duty, expensive board game, then you should absolutely check out Alien: Fate of the Nostromo. Ironically, it's just a simplified version of Nemesis. It's the same core experience with a lot of the crunchy details streamlined away, and it's an actually licensed Alien game, so you get to play as Ripley and the Nostromo crew!

The Captain is Dead is also a stellar option. It's a 2 to 7-player game where you must all work together (no sneakiness here) to defend your spaceship from attacking aliens whilst trying to get the Jump Core back online. The fun, colorful artwork alongside the easier gameplay, making for a shorter playing time (60-90 mins), means this space board game would suit those newer to strategy board games as well as a younger audience.

Finally, you could also go digital and enjoy some of the best Alien games of all time.

Whether or not you believe that bigger equals better, the HoverAir X1 PROMAX is the highest-resolution selfie drone available that also beats most camera drones. With up to 8K video capture, 10-bit HLG, up to 4K slow motion video capture and 48MP JPEGs, this small and highly portable selfie drone punches well above its weight in terms of image capture. The PROMAX could be one of the best camera drones.

Selfie and even vlogging drones like the DJI Flip are growing in popularity. These drones feature built-in propeller guards to keep you safe while the drone autonomously tracks you using clever algorithms that work like magic. The first drone of this type was the HoverAir X1 which has subsequently led to the more advanced HoverAir X1 PRO and the HoverAir X1 PROMAX.

The higher-end HoverAir X1 PROMAX is aimed at professional content creation which is why it features a 1/1.3in CMOS sensor and a 16mm equivalent lens alongside the high-resolution image capture capabilities. Whether you’re walking, running, cycling or skiing, for example, the PROMAX’s autonomous intelligent flight modes will track you with impressive precision.

There’s also a range of optional accessories that can improve and enhance the performance of the drone. These include physical controller options that offer alternatives to the excellent app control for manual flight. The PROMAX can be operated drone-only for the intelligent flight modes, with the app for flight modes and manual flight, with the Beacon and with the controller, with the latter being comprised of the Beacon and joysticks.

• Back to top

HoverAir X1 PROMAX: Design

• Compact and lightweight folding design
• Built-in propeller guards
• Multiple control options

The X1 PROMAX is a compact and lightweight folding drone with built-in propeller guards that fold out from below the small airframe. These keep objects and people safe when the drone is flying autonomously, since the propellers are encased in a protective frame. This feature also allows for safe palm take-off and landing.

The drone is small enough to fit in a jacket pocket at 4.13 x 5.86 x 1.34 in / 105 x 149 x 34 mm when folded. Unfolded, it’s still pretty small at just 6.81 x 5.86 x 1.53 in / 173 x 149 x 39 mm, with a weight of 6.79 oz / 192.5 g. This means that US-based pilots flying the drone recreationally won’t need to register it with the FAA. UK-based pilots will still need to register with the CAA as an operator.

The design is simple with a single circular button and two directional buttons around this in a circular design. There’s also an OLED screen above to show the currently selected flight mode and this is most useful when flying the drone autonomously without any other control device connected. The battery slots neatly into the top of the airframe.

The batteries are small and lightweight with a 1920mAh capacity, and battery life is extremely close to the advertised 16 minutes of flight time. This may not sound long, but for a drone that’s primarily designed for subject tracking, which typically takes place in short bursts of a minute or two at a time, this is perfectly adequate. Although, higher capacity batteries would still be useful.

The PROMAX can be flown ‘drone only’ and with the Hover X1 app. The app is required for setting up the drone, to set the parameters of the intelligent flight modes and to adjust settings, alongside offering excellent virtual controls for manual flight, like a camera drone. Several other controller options are built around the Beacon, which is an optional accessory.

In isolation, the Beacon improves tracking capabilities and offers some crude physical flight controls. This can be paired with one of the Joysticks for a one-handed motion controller. Other options include pairing the Beacon with both Joysticks to provide a camera view on its small screen, or with your smartphone acting as the screen when attached to the Beacon and Joysticks. All of these options work well for smooth flight. There’s also voice control available if that's your thing, but it's not really necessary since other options are so easy to use.

The drone features 64GB of onboard storage alongside a microSD card slot that's compatible with cards of up to 1TB capacity. If you’re capturing video in 8K, it would be worth installing a microSD to extend storage to be sure that you don’t run out because file sizes are large.

HoverAir X1 PROMAX: Functionality

• Highly effective subject-tracking
• Palm take-off and landing
• OmniTerrain feature

The PROMAX is incredibly easy to set up and fly using the intelligent flight modes for autonomous flight, or for traditional manual flight using any of the controller options. To get flying, all you have to do is unfold the drone, switch it on, select the flight mode using the arrow keys then press the main button with the drone camera facing you. To land, simply place your open palm beneath the drone and it will land. For manual control, simply open and connect to the Hover X1 smartphone app or connect the Beacon and Joysticks.

The manual flight interface in the app offers excellent virtual on-screen controls. They’re so good that you can perform smooth and complex maneuvers, alongside moving the gimbal with the on-screen control to adjust the pitch. These are all less effective than physical controllers, as you’d expect, but they are fantastic for quick and easy flights with a transmission range of up to 1640 ft / 500 m. The transmission range is extended up to 0.62 miles / 1 km with the Beacon and Joysticks.

The drone is fast and nimble despite its small size. Although, to get the fastest flight speeds in manual flight mode, you have to adjust the settings since the defaults are fairly slow. Flight speed is up to 26 mph with bursts of up to 37 mph when tracking, so during testing the drone was always able to keep up when cycling. The wind resistance of the PROMAX is Level 5, which equates to 24 mph. In gusts around the level, however, the drone did return to home with a high wind warning, so this level appears to be slightly optimistic.

The intelligent flight modes are the feature that seems to work almost like magic. This is highly effective on its own, but you can increase tracking precision using the Beacon accessory. The intelligent flight modes available include Hover, Zoom Out, Follow, Orbit, Bird's Eye, Dolly Track Side Track, Ski Mode, Cycling Mode, Indoor Follow and 360° Spin — there are many to choose from. They all perform incredibly well and the PROMAX was able to successfully fly in complex environments thanks to rear-side collision detection provided by proximity sensors and vision-based sensors.

Other features include Return to Home functionality and OmniTerrain, which when active means the PROMAX can be safely flown over water, snow, cliffs and at night. You just have to be sure that the OmniTerrain icon is highlighted green and active in the Hover X1 app or on the Beacon screen before flying in these environments.

HoverAir X1 PROMAX: Performance

• Excellent video quality
• Photos in JPEG only
• Effective stabilization

The X1 PROMAX camera features a 1/1.3in CMOS sensor with an equivalent focal length of 16mm and a 107-degree field of view. This provides a great wide-angle view where the subject and their environment can be captured. Although, you can set the tracking distance in the Hover X1 app, and with the propeller guards, it is safe to fly close to subjects for tighter shots.

The video quality produced by the X1 PROMAX, like the majority of drones, is better than photos, while both are most effective when captured in brighter conditions. This isn’t a huge issue because this is a drone that’s designed primarily for subject tracking and that is where it excels.

Photo image quality is good, but not as good as the DJI Mini 4 Pro, for example. It’s also much better at lower ISO levels since high ISO noise reduction and JPEG processing are stronger at higher settings. The camera only captures photos in JPEG with noticeable processing even at ISO 100. ZeroZero Robotics has said that Raw photo capture is on the way with a future firmware update, and this should hopefully improve photo quality and open up flexibility for photographers.

Photos can be captured in 4000 x 3000 px dimensions, which equates to 12MP, or 8000 x 6000 px which is 48MP. There's also a 2x zoom that captures these dimensions, and image quality only reduces by a small amount, which is impressive since digital zooms usually degrade image quality significantly.

Please note the footage below was shot in 8K but our video player only plays in HD.

Moving back to video, this can be captured at 8K up to 30 FPS, 4K up to 120 FPS, 10-bit HLG (HDR) up to 60 FPS and FHD up to 120 FPS. The maximum bitrate is 160 Mbps. You can also capture vertical video in 4K up to 30 FPS, 2.7K up to 60 FPS and 1080p up to 60 FPS, which includes 10-bit HLG. This is cropped on the sensor rather than the camera rotating 90 degrees, but 4K vertical using this method is an impressive and useful feature.

Image Stabilization is provided by SmoothCapture 2.0, which is a combination of the two-axis gimbal and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS). It works as well as you’d hope with videos looking smooth regardless of the speed and movements of the drone.

HoverAir X1 PROMAX: Price

The HoverAir X1 PROMAX is available in a Standard kit, which includes the drone, one battery, a USB-C cable and a soft storage bag for $699 / £639. The Basic Combo kit includes all of the above plus a second battery, a two-battery charging hub, a 65W charger and a combo case for $879 / £799. This Basic Combo kit will make sense for many people because of the useful accessories that are included.

The drone itself is part of a wider accessory ecosystem where you can buy further kits that include certain accessories or you can purchase them separately to enhance the performance of the drone. Accessories include the Beacon and Joystick bundle for $228 / £208, The PowerCase for $169 / £155, the Multi-function Carry Bag for $79 / £69, the HandleBar Mount for $20 / £19 and the ND Filter set for $69 / £65.

Should you buy the HoverAir X1 PROMAX?

The HoverAir X1 PROMAX is an impressive selfie drone offering excellent intelligent tracking modes, camera drone functionality and up to 8K video and 48MP photo capture. It’s also lightweight and compact, which is ideal for a drone designed to be carried around and deployed in a matter of seconds.

The drone does exactly what it’s designed for and does it well, but for many people, the cost of the PROMAX will make it difficult to justify. In this situation, the X1 PRO may be an appealing alternative. However, pair the PROMAX with the accessories and you get an interesting and versatile drone with high-resolution image capture.

If this drone isn't for you

The HoverAir X1 is the older and more basic selfie drone from ZeroZero Robotics, but it offers the same intelligent tracking modes and is the most affordable of the X1 models available.

The DJI Neo is a multi-use selfie drone with several control options including drone only, app control, a standard DJI controller and it can even be flown as an FPV drone using DJI FPV accessories.

The HoverAir X1 PRO is extremely similar to the PROMAX but video tops out at 4K. For many people, this will be sufficient, and it’s also much less expensive making it a more affordable option.

• Back to top

Beginner drones come in many shapes, sizes and styles these days, making the list of the best beginner drones more varied than ever. The Bwine F7GIM is a pretty run-of-the-mill beginner model that’s easy to use and offers a fully automatic camera for capturing photos and videos. It’s nothing special, but that’s certainly not a bad thing.

The Bwine F7GIM is something of an oddball in terms of weight because at 12.6 oz / 357 g it will require registration with the FAA in the U.S, even for recreational use. The focal length of the camera is 60 mm, which means you can capture subjects from further away, which works well given the weight. Put simply, you don’t have to fly as close as with a 24 mm equivalent camera.

Image quality is respectable, and you can capture photos in JPEG format up to 5700 x 3200 px, which equates to 18MP. Video can be captured up to 4K 30 FPS, while reducing the capture resolution to 2.7K and 2K allows for 50 FPS capture. This is all pretty standard for a basic drone like this, which also offers a handful of useful features we’ll cover later.

The drone is perfectly adequate in most ways, but it is on the expensive side considering the other drones are available for a similar price. These include the DJI Neo and the Potensic Atom 2, both of which are superior drones. However, the F7GIM could still be exactly what you’re looking for, and it does excel in one or two areas, including wind resistance.

Potensic Atom 2 review

Bwine F7GIM review: Design

• Pleasant gray and orange color scheme
• Lightweight but over 250 g
• Folding design

This is a compact folding drone that’s just 6.50 x 3.54 x 2.56 in / 165 x 90 x 65 mm when folded and 14.17 x 11.02 x 2.56 in / 360 x280 x 65 mm when unfolded. Looking at it, you could easily mistake the F7GIM for being a sub-250 g model, but it sneaks in at a weight of 12.6 oz / 357 g. As previously mentioned, this means it has to be registered with the FAA in the United States. The drone does feature Remote ID, making it FAA-compliant.

The weight of the F7GIM certainly isn’t the end of the world, but it is something to consider if you’re only looking for a drone for recreational flight. Many beginners opt for sun-250 g models precisely because of not having to register. Not to mention, they’re also smaller and lighter to carry around.

Getting back to the design, the drone comes in a dark grey with orange accents on the propellers, which does look good. Build quality can’t be faulted, while the camera and 3-axis gimbal are well-made.

There’s also an optical flow sensor on the bottom of the airframe for detecting the ground during low-level flying and to assist with landing. As you’d expect, there’s no collision avoidance.

The controller is of a reasonable quality and is quite chunky and comfortable to hold thanks to rubberized grips. It features a small screen that shows basic information, but it’s not bright, so it can be difficult to view in sunny conditions.

The controller offers a range of direct access controls, and the control sticks can be stowed at the bottom of the controller for transportation and storage. The phone holder extends from the top of the controller with space to store the phone cable when not in use.

Bwine F7GIM review: Functionality

• Level 5 wind resistance
• Smart Return to Home
• Basic subject tracking

The F7GIM comes with a level 5 wind resistance rating, which equates to wind speeds of up to 24 mph. The drone was tested in winds of this speed and it had no issues whatsoever, although this is the same wind resistance level as many lighter sub-250 g models. With the weight increase, a power increase would be welcome, but it’s unfortunately absent.

Flying in winds of around 25 mph provided flight times of around 22 minutes, as opposed to the advertised 35 minutes, but it’s safe to assume that less windy conditions would provide longer flights. This would most likely be just a few additional minutes rather than the full advertised 35 minutes per battery, which is optimistic at best.

The F7GIM features GPS and Return to Home (RTH) functionality, and you can set the RTH altitude within the Bwine Mini app. By default, this is set to the minimum of 20 m, so be aware of your surroundings when making your first flight and adjust accordingly.

Return to Home can be initiated by the pilot when the battery is low and when the controller connection is lost. Smart RTH allows you to also control the drone during the return process to avoid obstacles.

There are a few basic subject tracking functions available, but during testing these weren’t the best examples I’ve experienced. The GPS follow was the most reliable since it tracks the controller, but the subject doesn’t always remain in the centre of the camera frame. Orbit, where the drone orbits the subject, was unreliable and haphazard.

Despite these features lacking in performance, overall flight performance is great and can’t be faulted. The controller allows for precise movements, and the gimbal is smooth when incorporating gimbal movements with flight to capture interesting video footage. This is always a good test of drone gimbals, and the F7GIM passed with flying colors.

Within the main feature menu, there are also quite a few other options, including Route Planning, VR Split Screen, Digital Zoom, Night Mode to increase brightness in the app camera view and several other options.

The Bwine Mini app is basic and easy to use, which is ideal for beginners. One point to mention is that by default, the drone is set to Beginner Mode, which limits altitude and flight distance, so you’ll have to manually switch this off to increase both of these.

Bwine F7GIM review: Performance

• Fixed focus 60mm lens and 3-axis gimbal
• Up to 4K 30 FPS video
• Automatic camera

The F7GIM camera features a 1/3.2 in Sony sensor with a 60mm equivalent focal length and an f/2.0 aperture. This is a long focal length for a single-camera drone, but it seems to work. The camera is supported by a 3-axis gimbal, resulting in smooth video capture.

The important point to make here is that the camera is fully automatic with fixed focus, so you have no control over any settings. This is perhaps ideal for photography beginners, but less so for enthusiasts.

Image quality is surprisingly good despite the fully automatic camera, although it does have a depth-of-field issue. Objects closer to the camera are lovely and sharp, but those in the distance do fall out of focus.

The centre of the frame is also characteristically sharper than the outer area, which is normal for most drones, and since the camera is automatic, it’s best to shoot with the sun behind the drone for more reliable exposures. With no control over exposure compensation, shooting towards the sun results in underexposure.

Bwine F7GIM video

The only variables that can be changed are the resolution and frame rate of video, while the resolution of photos can be adjusted to three different amounts. Photo sizes are in a 16:9 ratio and are captured in JPEG format. The resolutions available include 3840 x 2160 px, 4096 x 3072 px and 5700 x 3200 px.

Video can be captured in 4K 30 FPS, 2.7K 50/30 FPS, 2K 50 FPS and 720p 30 FPS. 720p is stored on your phone, alongside photos, so you have to keep an eye on how much storage it’s using over time. It’s a shame this can’t be switched off if desired. Other footage and photos are stored on the microSD card in the drone, and the F7GIM can accept 16 to 128GB cards. Video quality is, as is often the case with drones, better than photo quality.

Bwine F7GIM review: Cost

The Bwine F7GIM is a respectable beginner drone, but where it ultimately falls is in its price of $400 / £296. This puts it in direct competition, price-wise, with the DJI Neo and the Potensic Atom 2, which are both more advanced drones with superior flight performance and features in general.

If the F7GIM was less expensive, it would be a much more attractive proposition, although it’s not a bad drone at all if you’re willing to pay that price. Like all tech, it depends on what you're looking for in terms of brand and features.

The drone comes in a kit which includes the drone, controller, two batteries, an extra set of propellers, an extra set of controller sticks, phone cables, USB-C cables for charging, a carry case and other accessories. This is everything you need to get started.

Should you buy the Bwine F7GIM?

This is a tricky one because the F7GIM is a good beginner drone. It flies well, image quality is good for a basic model of this type and the fully automatic camera makes it incredibly easy to capture photos and videos. What’s more, the kit comes with everything you need and more in terms of the accessories that are included.

The main issue is the price, which is too close to bigger-name and more advanced drone models. However, if price isn’t an issue for you, you won’t go wrong with the F7GIM. It may be the simplicity of the camera that attracts some people to it because it’s very much a point-and-shoot affair.

If the Bwine F7GIM isn't for you

The DJI Neo is a sub-250 g beginner drone that can be flown autonomously with impressive subject tracking functionality, with the DJI Fly app via your smartphone or using a traditional controller. The drone can capture 4K video and photos in JPEG format.

The Holy Stone HS900 Sirius is another sub-250 g beginner drone worth considering, thanks to excellent flight performance, impressive image quality and useful features. Video can be captured up to 4K and photos in Raw and JPEG.

The Potensic Atom 2 is the best DJI alternative available in a regulator-friendly sub-250 g package. This impressive drone is available at an attractive price and can capture 4K video and photos in Raw and JPEG.

We're always on the lookout for good-value products. This WindFire flashlight caught our eye because it is priced at around $25 but on paper, it boasts some impressive specs.

We've been reviewing torches long enough to know there aren't the '500,000' lumens specified in this torch's title on Amazon but we'd estimate you get around 3000 lumens out of it on the highest level. This is still incredibly bright.

The colored accents on the torch are a curious addition but have purpose — they glow in the dark to help you find this flashlight in your kitbag, tent or elsewhere. The design resembles a (larger) tactical flashlight but does its functionality reflect its hardy looks?

We are in the process of reviewing several flashlights and we're continually updating our best flashlight guide with our favorite models. Will this one make the cut? We're about to find out.

WindFire LED flashlight review

WindFire LED flashlight: Design

★★★1/2

• Feels solid in the hand
• Unusual fluorescent highlights
• One button operation

The WindFire flashlight is a well-built unit that can withstand bumps, knocks and drops. Of course, we respect all our gear but this flashlight has been designed to be used without worry. Chucked it in your kit bag or thrown it into your tent? Accidentally missed your pocket and dropped it? No worries, it will be fine.

Six unusual fluorescent colored highlights surround the lamp, a curious contrast to the otherwise tactical-looking design. In the daytime, we can't help but think these colors make the flashlight look a little toy-ish but they do serve a purpose in that they glow in the dark — helpful for finding the torch in your kitbag. When the torch is turned on, these little accents also light up to mimic the setting of the main LED. A nice touch but we would like the option to prevent this from happening.

The flashlight's bulbous, convex lens is protected by the surrounding case which, although bezel-like to look like a tactical torch, is only made from plastic so you'd struggle to smash double-glazed or reinforced glass without using lots of force.

The LCD display that shows the remaining battery level is useful and, from our tests so far, has proved accurate. If you're going out for a walk in the dark, this LCD indicator takes away the guesswork and you can feel confident that you won't be left in the dark.

The rubber button sits on the handle where your thumb would naturally be placed. The only issue we found with this is that the rubber USB-C port cover is directly opposite — we found ourselves pressing this on occasion, wondering why it wasn't turning the torch on. On a tactical torch, the button's location must be unmistakable.

WindFire LED flashlight: Performance

★★★★

• Very quick to switch from spotlight to floodlight
• Very bright
• The color of the beam might not be for everyone

There is no denying that this WindFire flashlight is bright. Turn it on and wow, it is obnoxiously bright on the highest setting, like a security light protecting a government building bright!

There are three brightness level, a strobe light and an SOS light. We've found ourselves sitting on the low setting for our dog walks and campsite wanders. We actually found this torch a little too bright and would have welcomed a dimmer setting. We had to put it under our clothes to make it appropriate to use in our tent and en route to the toilet at the campsite so as not to wake up the whole site!

Switching between a very focused spotlight and a wider flood couldn't be simpler. Push (for spot) or retract (for flood) the end of the torch. It would be possible to use your thumb and forefinger to do this with one hand but you'll probably find using two hands is easier. We could light up an expanse of land in front of us or zoom in to focus on trees way in the distance. The advertised beam length is 3280 ft (around one kilometer) and we think this is pretty accurate.

WindFire LED flashlight: Functionality

★★★1/2

• Charges using USB-C
• IPX6 water resistance
• Handy battery indicator
• Power bank functionality

The main function of this flashlight is to create a lot of light. Although that sounds obvious, today flashlights, headlamps and tactical lights often serve multiple purposes.

The secondary function is that it can be used as a power bank. Though we didn't need this, it is a 'nice-to-have' in case you need some emergency power.

The IPX6 water resistance means the unit is protected from powerful water jets. We tested this by leaving it outside on a very rainy night. True to its word, it was absolutely fine and operated perfectly in the morning and for the remainder of our trip.

A couple of features we'd have liked to see on this torch include a locking function to prevent it from accidentally turning on during transit and a momentary on button to quickly light up an area without actually turning the torch fully on. We do understand why they aren't on a torch that sits at such a low price point, though. Any additional functionality will add cost.

There is no tail cap power switch, like you'd expect to find on tactical flashlights, so having been used to using the Olight Perun 2, we'd have liked to have seen a magnetic base. We use this functionality often, especially when camping, to attach the torch to a gazebo or tent pole while cooking or getting dressed.

The LED battery indicator was useful, something that the Olight Perun 2 mentioned above lacks. It was accurate too so there was no anxiety about being left in the dark when venturing away from our tent.

Should I buy the WindFire flashlight?

If you want a very bright rechargeable torch without spending a lot of money, this WindFire flashlight is a good choice.

We think it would be best for large parks or gardens, farms and surveillance of large areas like warehouses and playing fields.

It seems strange to say that it is too bright, although we did find ourselves physically covering up the bulb to make this torch usable in some environments.

It is rugged and waterproof so it is a great choice to have lying around camp for trips to the toilet block. However, be mindful of other people — they might think car headlights are heading for their tent!

For an alternative non-tactical flashlight, we can recommend the Olight Perun 2. It has a lock mode, a 30-lumen 'low' mode and a handy magnetic base. This is our go-to torch for camping, dog walks and working on close-up objects like woodwork and mechanics.