Does not stay balanced.

just what I wanted

I am honestly surprised at how difficult this telescope is to use. We have had telescopes in the past and have never had this many issues. The viewfinder is basically useless. It's very difficult to get anything in focus. When we do manage to, the telescope typically falls. The tripod has numerous faults, and the telescope itself is big and bulky, and we are constantly fighting to keep it still under its own weight. This is definitely a pass. There are so many decent telescopes out there, but this isn't one of them.

The lunar eclipse was great through this telescope. Very easy to put together.

Rugged construction. However instructions leave a bit to be desired

works ok but not very powerful , going to order 2x barlow

It’s not the greatest. Can’t get it to focus on the mood.

This telescope is EASY to use and a great value for your money. Bought this for viewing the moon. I saw the craters inside of craters with great detail.

I have the Celestron equivalent of this telescope and mount tripod combination. First, this setup is a nightmare. The nightmare begins when you attach the scope to the mount and then try to view the sky. The mount is so flimsy it can't handle the weight of the telescope, so anything you originally point at, once you tighten the slewing stick to hold the telescope up. It sags and you lose what you first aimed at. This will never get better. If this were a equatorial mount than all would be at least fair, and in fact when this scope was first introduced a few years ago. It had that option and cost $50.00 more, but worth it. Now, for the telescope itself. its a reflector and you wont see things correctly if used to view things here on earth. You will see them reversed. Also, this a compound telescope meaning, it will never come to true focus. NEVER, it is what is called a bird jones scope, it has at the bottom of the eyepiece tube a lens corrector, the mirror is imperfect and needs the corrector to make it at least okay. And that it may do, if you could collimate it, which you really cant. the process of collimation means you need to take the corrector off or it wont be accurate. Anyone even know what I'm saying..no? Well, no insult intended, but, if I know the difficulties it takes with this scope, then I know that anyone with less knowledge will just never do it. and frankly it just cant be done, I tried, and found that the setup to be so poor that it was designed to look as though it was possible, it just is not. So you will never get a decent view of anything, maybe, just maybe enough to see the moons craters, but nothing on any of the planets. Terrestrial views are okay if you don't mind viewing the world through what would like a mirror, you will just find it hard to follow anything that moves. The only redeeming item would be the tripod, although it is light, it is pretty functional and really good for small items like a light weight camera or a much smaller telescope. The price has come down considerably and it appears that they may be discontinuing this item. It wont be missed, if you want to view the heavens then please do not purchase this telescope, you will be disappointed. Even at its current price.