Tasco Luminova 40060578 (578 x 60mm) Telescope

Pros: clear images
Cons: hard to focus, hard to find objects, hard to adjust finder

I have always liked to gaze at the stars at night and wonder what is out there.

I received a Tasco Luminova telescope one year for Christmas. I was so excited to be able to look at the planets and the moon. It wasn't too difficult to...

Pros: Inexpensive, complete beginner kit
Cons: Cheaply built but expected for the price

Of course a scope of this weight and quality is going to bounce around a bit. When you're magnifying something 500+ times, that's 500+ times more sensitive to movement. That said, I had no problem locating objects with it, although it does take a while to adjust the spotting scope to be in line with the main tube. The friction screws that hold the eyepieces on are definitely not top-quality, just make sure everything is inserted snugly before you tighten the screws and it shouldn't be a problem. Minutes after opening the box I was reading the sign on an office building over 2 miles away. For the $80 or so you'll pay online, it's not a bad deal!