levenhuk.com Reviews

Mike C - 05/21/2014

Planetary observation can be started immediately with 6.3 mm standard eyepiece (206x). I managed to see the rings of Saturn under urban illumination conditions and with atmospheric turbulence on the 60th parallel (the ecliptic is low). Brightness is not too high and I didn't see the bands, the rings appeared as one, but it's still great! This blue giant is very good! I think filters are not needed here.

Curtis C - 04/10/2014

According to the laws of physics it is considered that it's impossible to get quality image through the atmosphere with magnification of more than 300x. Practically, it's possible! Install 2x Barlow lens in front of erecting mirror or prism and you will get additional 3x magnification with every eyepiece from the kit! It will require significant refocusing, but resulting image is totally worth it! You will see Jupiter as if you looked at the Moon with the naked eye. Wonderful telescope!

Curtis C - 04/09/2014

Hello to all astronomers! Today Mars reaches opposition! Take your "Levenhuk Strike 1000 PRO", cool it down for 20 minutes and, if the sky is clear, enjoy observing Martian mountains! Saturn also should come out in the early morning! Good luck!

Curtis C - 04/04/2014

This model together with the eyepieces and BL from the kit gives magnification up to 625x (!). Maybe it's not necessary and not entirely clear, but still... I'm really satisfied! But it's a pity that there's no motor drives in your store!

Curtis C - 04/04/2014

With a more expensive telescope you will possibly see a little more small nameless stars in nebulae and galaxies, planets wil appear 2 - 2.5 times bigger (but still pretty small). But extraterrestrial creatures on Mars won't be seen anyways!:) Pragmatically speaking, despite all the differencies in specifications I can say for sure that for me Levenhuk Strike 1000 PRO beats any other (even more expensive!) telescope! I can observe almost everything and the image is always great. Anyway, I just wanted to say that high price is not always justified and you can buy a very goood telescope for affordable price!

Derrick B - 03/21/2014

I'd like to apologize for possible subvertising. But you see there is no improvement without useful criticism. So I hope that you will read this and take something into consideration. This telescope is great, but in my opinion it's too much for beginners, although the kit is obviously for children and the aperture is not the largest. But this telescope model is an ideal combination of image quality and portability. Stars with a magnitude of more than 12 most likely won't be interesting for you. Mars and Venus are a bit small but the picture is high-quality. The telescope is also perfect for observations under urban conditions without any additional filters. We observed with kids - they really really liked it. So I'm gonna say it one more rime: highly recommended!

Derrick B - 03/21/2014

I'd like to start my own company producing "proper" mounts, but it seems easier for me to rant about the companies that already exist:) But I highly recommend Levenhuk Strike 1000 PRO to everyone! Indeed, the optics is great in all Levenhuk instruments!

Derrick B - 03/18/2014

In continuation of the kit topic: 3 posters, M20 planisphere and compass. Are these really necessary? I mean I have nothing against it, I donated posters to nearby school... M20 is an interesting toy for kids, but nothing more. Compass is useless in the city since everything prevent it from providing the right coordinates (my car, keys, telescope itself!). So these are not indispensable accessories at all, why include them in the kit?

Derrick B - 03/17/2014

About the kit that comes with Strike 1000 PRO: filters from Solar System Levenhuk F4 Filter Set are included in this kit, but they are not perfect for this telescope, the density is too high, they are more suitable for telescopes with an aperture longer than 150-200 mm. You should've included 'lighter' filters. Now let's talk about eyepieces: I'm really surprised seeing 6.3 eyepiece in the kit. For Strike 1000 PRO you should've chosen 6.5 mm eyepiece instead (1300/6.5=200x), for Strike 950 PRO 7 mm eyepiece is more suitable (1250/7=179x). You could just include Super 25 AND 2.5x Barlow lens. But, well, that's just my opinion. But if we talk about optics when that's where I have no complaints at all, the scope is great for its aperture. But I didn't quite like the mount though.

Derrick B - 03/13/2014

To NEIL LOIS: the truly amazing Levenhuk T310 NG camera will "tie" you to the computer, which is not always convenient, but very "right" in terms of astrophoto. Other cameras will perform ok as well. The only question is how much money you are willing to pay.

Derrick B - 03/13/2014

To NEIL LOIS: astrophotography is a very expensive hobby. This telescope is great in all aspects, but photos like the ones Hubble makes you won't be able to capture. Theoretically and practically everything is possible but the best results you will get with Newtonian telescopes with aperture of 250 - 500 mm. You will need drive motors and a lot of adjustment skills. Good luck fellow astronomer!

NEIL L - 03/13/2014

I've purchased this telescope, and so far I'm really happy with it. I'd like to take pictures of the Moon and planets. I'm planning on buying inexpensive SLR camera for this purpose. Will I need t-rings and how can I adjust magnification? What will produce more quality pictures - SLR entry-level camera or a special camera like Levenhuk T310 NG?

Sam - 03/12/2014

Recently bought this telescope. Previously I had simple refractor with short focal length and aperture and alt-azimuth mount. So I can compare... and you know what? I'm really happy with this purchase! I've dropped out of life, my wife freaks out and tells me that I love this scope more than her:) Tonight I saw the Moon, Jupiter's satellites and its stripes, even took a look at the Orion nebulae! Amazing! Thanks to Levenhuk Strike 1000 PRO and its "smart" equatorial mount!!!

Derrick B - 03/12/2014

Awesome trick for the lucky owners of telescopes: 2x Barlow lens that comes in the kit can become 3-fold, if it is installed in front of an erecting mirror or prism, and not as it should be in front of an eyepiece. I've read it in some manual and checked it in practice! Super 25 eyepiece provides 156x! Image quality is superb! With more powerful eyepieces from the kit it doesn't work though (the maximum useful magnification is exceeded - objects are very close, but the image is blurred).

Nathan K - 02/01/2014

Good day! Thanks for the telescope! At 1st night I saw nothing interesting but jupiter's satellites and shadow from one of them, but the next day the Sun showed me all its glory! the spots were perfectly visible. So I'm really enjoying this telescope and the kit. The compass shows different "north" in different rooms, there are too many interfering signals in the house)