Celestron Hummingbird 9-27x56 ED Micro Spotting Scope

Travel scope offers plenty of poke despite diminutive proportions, thanks to zoom capability and large-ish objective lens

Celestron Hummingbird 9-27x56mm ED Micro Spotting Scope
(Image: © Gavin Stoker)

Digital Camera World Verdict

Compact, travel-friendly yet powerful spotting scope for wildlife watchers that can either be used handheld at its minimum magnification (9x) setting or attached to an optional tripod for a judder-free view at maximum magnification (27x). Either way, we’re blessed with a large and bright 56mm objective lens to allow ongoing observation whether at dawn or dusk, plus a waterproof and fog-proof body so that challenging climates won’t stop play.

Pros

  • +

    Variable magnification capability

  • +

    Sturdy construction

  • +

    Just about portable enough

Cons

  • -

    Requires an additional tripod purchase – or at least a level surface

  • -

    Softening towards the edges of the frame

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A spotting scope is something that is in between the best monoculars and best telescopes, with a smaller and more compact size than a telescope, but much more powerful optics than a monocular. The best spotting scopes are used mostly for bird and wildlife watching, as well as hunting, and observing the night sky.

We recently reviewed the Celestron Outland X 10-30x50mm monocular and described it as being closer to your typical spotting scope than a regular monocular. Not only did it resemble a spotting scope that had been miniaturized, but that product also offered the ability to vary magnification from 10-30x and all points in between. The step-up product is this physically larger but still relatively compact Celestron Hummingbird 9-27x56mm ED micro spotting scope, which offers an even bigger, brighter lens for a theoretically clearer view in lower light levels. 

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Gavin Stoker

Gavin has over 30 years’ experience of writing about photography and television. He is currently the editor of British Photographic Industry News, and previously served as editor of Which Digital Camera and deputy editor of Total Digital Photography

He has also written for a wide range of publications including T3, BBC Focus, Empire, NME, Radio Times, MacWorld, Computer Active, What Digital Camera and the Rough Guide books.

With his wealth of knowledge, Gavin is well placed to recognize great camera deals and recommend the best products in Digital Camera World’s buying guides. He also writes on a number of specialist subjects including binoculars and monoculars, spotting scopes, microscopes, trail cameras, action cameras, body cameras, filters and cameras straps.