Bushnell Monocular Lie!

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JayTee United States of America
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Bushnell Monocular Lie!

#1

Post by JayTee »


A couple years back I picked up this monocular because it was relatively inexpensive (<$20) and because it is a Bushnell. I own a pair of Bushnell 10X50 binos and they are of good quality so I thought this mono would not disappoint.
Bushnell Mono.jpg
It is advertised as 16X50 monocular. At first inspection, I could tell it certainly did not have a 50mm objective. But the 16X does seem to be reasonably accurate. And then I noticed the numbers on the other side of this monocular.
Mono Numbers.jpg
Anyone care to hazard what information they are trying to convey here?
So this is an image looking straight down from the objective end with some measurements. The true aperture measurement turns out to be 37mm.
Mono Vert.jpg
When did Bushnell start lying?

Just another of the unanswered questions from the curiosities contained in my weird optical drawer.

Cheers,
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

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Re: Bushnell Monocular Lie!

#2

Post by Bigzmey »


Even funnier they lie with precision. Not 16x50, but 16x52. :lol:
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
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Re: Bushnell Monocular Lie!

#3

Post by smeyer8015 »


I can't find it on the official Bushnell web site.
Chinese knock off maybe?
Celestron Classic 8, Old Sears 60mm f/15 refractor, Old Edmund Scientific 6 inch F/8 newt, GSO 2" Diag, ES 30mm/70, ES 25mm/70, Orion 32 Super Plossl, Mead 24mm MA,
X-Cel LX 18mm, Luminos 15mm, F/6.3 reducer, Luminos 2.5x barlow, Telrad, Celestron 9x50 RACI, DIY Baader Solar Filter, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Bresser EXOS-2 Goto, Revolution Imager R1

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Re: Bushnell Monocular Lie!

#4

Post by JayTee »


I thought that if it were a Chinese knockoff, it would be spelled Buschnell.

JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

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Re: Bushnell Monocular Lie!

#5

Post by helicon »


Very interesting JT. I have never seen a case such as this. I hope it is a knock-off and not something from Bushnell. I have a pair of 10x50's from them that are fine.
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
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Re: Bushnell Monocular Lie!

#6

Post by ARock »


A while back, I bought one of the cheap monoculars sold all over Amazon/Ebay under different names and prices for around $20. 12x50, Bak4 prism, Waterproof/Fogproof Nitrogen Purged (they say). Can be kept in the car and fits in a (baggy) pocket, the front lens cap is attached. Comes with a useless mini tripod and phone mount which might be repurposed.
Same aperture problem, the outside diameter of the monocular is 50mm, not the objective lens. And maybe it is purged with 80% Nitrogen :lol:

Views are not too bad, and the twist up eyecup fits my 1.25" filters.
AR
Scopes: Zhumell Z8, Meade Adventure 80mm, Bushnell 1300x100 Goto Mak.
Mount: ES EXOS Nano EQ Mount, DIY Arduino+Stepper drives.
AP: 50mm guidescope, AR0130 based guidecam, Canon T3i, UHC filter.
EPs: ES82 18,11,6.7mm, Zhumell 30,9mm FJ Ortho 9mm, assorted plossls, Meade 2x S-F Barlow, DGM NPB filter.
Binos: Celestron Skymaster 15x70 (Albott tripod/monopod), Nikon Naturalist 7x35.
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Re: Bushnell Monocular Lie!

#7

Post by goldstar »


I was given a similar item by a friend to evaluate. Looked identical to your item except no Bushnell label, in fact no label at all and was claimed 20X 50 and zoom!!!
It turned out to be 6 X 32 (no zoom) and the view was AWFUL! Horrible field curvature and only about 20 % of the field was in focus and rainbow colored at that!
I also could not even guess the intention of the barrel scale. Field of view different between day and night?
It came with a phone adapter which didn't fit.
I was very happy to return it to my friend so that he could consign it to the garbage and spare me the trouble.
I can't believe Bushnell would ever agree to attaching their name to such a piece of junk.
I have a pair of Bushnell 6 x 42 bins that are excellent, in fact better than another pair of 6 x 42 Olympus' I own at X3 the price.
I suspect foul play here......
Scopes: 200mm f6 DOB:CR 6 150 mm f 7.5 refractor, SW ED 80 mm f 7.5. 2 X 80 mm f7.5 guides.
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Re: Bushnell Monocular Lie!

#8

Post by ARock »


AR
Scopes: Zhumell Z8, Meade Adventure 80mm, Bushnell 1300x100 Goto Mak.
Mount: ES EXOS Nano EQ Mount, DIY Arduino+Stepper drives.
AP: 50mm guidescope, AR0130 based guidecam, Canon T3i, UHC filter.
EPs: ES82 18,11,6.7mm, Zhumell 30,9mm FJ Ortho 9mm, assorted plossls, Meade 2x S-F Barlow, DGM NPB filter.
Binos: Celestron Skymaster 15x70 (Albott tripod/monopod), Nikon Naturalist 7x35.
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Re: Bushnell Monocular Lie!

#9

Post by j.gardavsky »


The last one, from Amazon, with the elegant appearance as they say, is the most expensive.

Thank you for the chuckle,
JG
6" F/5 Sky-Watcher achro, 2" BBHS Star Diagonal, 2" zenith prism, 1.25" Takahashi prism
Leica 82mm APO Televid
Eyepieces: Docter UWA; Leica B WW and WW Asph. Zoom; Leica HC Plan S and L, monocentric; Pentax SMC XW, O-, XO; Tak MC O, Carl Zeiss B WW, and Pl, E-Pl, S-Pl, W-Pl;
Swarovski SW; Baader Symmetric Diascope Edition; Nikon NAV SW, ; TMB supermonocentric; Rodenstock; Vixen HR; TV Delos
Filters: Astrodon, Astronomik, Baader, Balzers, Zeiss West and East, Lumicon
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Re: Bushnell Monocular Lie!

#10

Post by Bigzmey »


OK, I can understand fake Rolex, but fake Bushnell? :lol:
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
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Re: Bushnell Monocular Lie!

#11

Post by JayTee »


Bigzmey wrote: Wed Dec 04, 2019 1:49 am OK, I can understand fake Rolex, but fake Bushnell? :lol:
Yup, pretty much like a fake Casio watch. So let's call it for what it is. A cheap knock-off, probably Chinese.

The exterior housing diameter is 53.7mm, so none of the numbers match. Boy, wouldn't that throw off the calcs for mag, FOV, eye relief (ER) if we used the exterior housing diameter when figuring those numbers!

So, the focused image in the center of the FOV is clear enough for daytime use. It would work adequately well for sporting events, birding, even the theatre. But the spherical aberration and the CA are pretty atrocious. Plus at 16X, which I believe it is, makes for a very shaky experience. As a little kids toy though, it would be prize possession. [mention]notFritzArgelander[/mention] maybe this is the scope you should have gotten your grandchild (just kidding).

Anyway, thanks for all your responses. It is now going back into the optical curiosity (read junk) drawer.

Cheers,
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."

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Re: Bushnell Monocular Lie!

#12

Post by SKEtrip »


Did you read the reviews?
Almost as fake as the product - "it ship on time no crush"
AD10, SV102T, AR127 & ST80
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ES82 11 18 24, ES100 5.5 9 14 20, KK Orthos, BCO's, Vixen HR 2.4, 3.4 Vortex 10X50,
ACD 75 Astro Mutt - Rest in Peace Wubby
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Re: Bushnell Monocular Lie!

#13

Post by notFritzArgelander »


JayTee wrote: Mon Dec 02, 2019 9:39 am I thought that if it were a Chinese knockoff, it would be spelled Buschnell.

JT
Or maybe Buxnell.... ;)
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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Re: Bushnell Monocular Lie!

#14

Post by notFritzArgelander »


Bigzmey wrote: Wed Dec 04, 2019 1:49 am OK, I can understand fake Rolex, but fake Bushnell? :lol:
It's because no one would be fooled by fake Zeiss or Takahashi? ;)
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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Re: Bushnell Monocular Lie!

#15

Post by notFritzArgelander »


JayTee wrote: Wed Dec 04, 2019 2:18 am
Bigzmey wrote: Wed Dec 04, 2019 1:49 am OK, I can understand fake Rolex, but fake Bushnell? :lol:
Yup, pretty much like a fake Casio watch. So let's call it for what it is. A cheap knock-off, probably Chinese.

The exterior housing diameter is 53.7mm, so none of the numbers match. Boy, wouldn't that throw off the calcs for mag, FOV, eye relief (ER) if we used the exterior housing diameter when figuring those numbers!

So, the focused image in the center of the FOV is clear enough for daytime use. It would work adequately well for sporting events, birding, even the theatre. But the spherical aberration and the CA are pretty atrocious. Plus at 16X, which I believe it is, makes for a very shaky experience. As a little kids toy though, it would be prize possession. @notFritzArgelander maybe this is the scope you should have gotten your grandchild (just kidding).

Anyway, thanks for all your responses. It is now going back into the optical curiosity (read junk) drawer.

Cheers,
JT
I missed the OP due to being "on the road". Thanks for the chuckles.
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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Re: Bushnell Monocular Lie!

#16

Post by John Baars »


It seems that the numbers are a distance-scale from 1...?..... to infinity. But no pointer. Probably no turning of the middle part too?
Or a zoom-factor? In that case I would like to see how an infinity zoom looks like.
More likely the instrument has someone else's coat on.
But the numbers look interesting and do well in a picture..
Refractors in frequency of use : *SW Evostar 120ED F/7.5 (all round ), * Vixen 102ED F/9 (vintage), both on Vixen GPDX.
GrabnGo on Alt/AZ : *SW Startravel 102 F/5 refractor( widefield, Sun, push-to), *OMC140 Maksutov F/14.3 ( planets).
Most used Eyepieces: *Panoptic 24, *Morpheus 14, *Leica ASPH zoom, *Zeiss barlow, *Pentax XO5.
Commonly used bino's : *Jena 10X50 , * Canon 10X30 IS, *Swarovski Habicht 7X42, * Celestron 15X70, *Kasai 2.3X40
Rijswijk Public Observatory: * Astro-Physics Starfire 130 f/8, * 6 inch Newton, * C9.25, * Meade 14 inch LX600 ACF, *Lunt.
Amateur astronomer since 1970.
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