Starscope Monocular is a monocular telescope that claims to bring professional image quality to any smartphone camera.
Launched in April 2020, Starscope Monocular is priced at around $50 per unit. It’s exclusively available online through StarscopeMonocular.com.
Starscope Monocular makes big claims about its ability to improve your smartphone camera. The manufacturer claims the unit can “zoom in from miles away”, for example, giving you “the power of a $4,000 DSLR in your pocket”. It also claims to provide “military-grade magnification” allowing you to see “50 miles or more”.
Is Starscope Monocular the real deal? Or is this yet another overpriced, over-hyped product that will not work in the real world? Let’s take a closer look at how Starscope Monocular works.
What is Starscope Monocular?
Starscope Monocular is a portable lens that allows you to zoom in on objects. For those out of the loop, a “monocular” is one half of a binocular. It looks similar to a rifle scope.
Starscope Monocular is specifically designed for use with smartphones. You place your smartphone camera against the lens, then capture objects from up to 50 miles away.
The device is designed to be lightweight and portable, giving you the best view and amazing photos. The manufacturer recommends the scope for use while camping, hiking, or adventuring.
You can also use the monocular without a smartphone: just place the lens to your eye. Whether taking a photo or scanning the surroundings, you can use the monocular to zoom up to 10x.
The manufacturer describes the product as a “10 x 50 monocular telescope”, which means the product provides 10x magnification via a 50mm diameter lens.
Get The Starscope Monocular With 10x Zoom
How Does Starscope Monocular Work?
Starscope Monocular works like any monocular lens: the unit features lenses that focus on distant objects. Just like binoculars or other monocular lenses, Starscope Monocular lets you view distant objects up-close.
Starscope Monocular lets you zoom up to 10x. You can place the lens against your eye. Or, you can place the lens against your smartphone camera to take a better photo.
There’s also a hands-free tripod socket, letting you place the Starscope Monocular on a tripod for easier photos.
Other key features of Starscope Monocular include a “fully multi-coated (FMC)” lens and “HD glass”.
The unit also claims to use a BaK4 prism type, which is the “same as $1,000 binoculars”. BaK stands for BaritleichKron, which is German for barium crown.
Starscope Monocular Features & Benefits
Starscope Monocular advertises all of the following features and benefits:
- CNC/Cad construction with aspherical elements for sharper objects
- See 50 miles or more
- Lightweight, portable design
- Superior to $5,000 DSLRs and $1,000 binoculars
- Get clear, sharp photos
- Waterproof and fog-proof
- Built-in compass
- Anti-skid, frosted sure-grip coating
Starscope Monocular Technical Specifications
Key tech specs for the Starscope Monocular include:
- Objective Diameter: 50mm
- Exit Pupil Diameter: 3mm
- Magnification: 10x
- Lens: Fully Multi-Coated (FMC) lens with HD glass
- Field of View: 114/1100m
- Prism: BaK4
- Weight: 320g (0.7 pounds)
Does Starscope Monocular Really Work?
Starscope Monocular will provide basic 10x zoom, letting you get a slightly larger view of distant objects.
For comparison, an ordinary smartphone camera zooms 5x to 10x. An average pair of binoculars has a zoom of 10x to 40x, depending on quality.
Most basic monoculars sold online today have magnifications of 5x to 10x, which makes Starscope Monocular average compared to other low-end monoculars.
Binoculars and monoculars are designated by their magnification range, like 10-30×60 or 12-36×70. The hyphen indicates that the magnification is variable from the first number to the second (you can adjust from 10x zoom to 30x zoom, for example, using the dials on the binoculars).
Some binoculars and monoculars also have fixed power zoom, in which case they’re labeled as 10×50 or 20×80. Zoom is fixed at this range, and you cannot adjust the level of zoom.
Starscope Monocular is a fixed power zoom lens, which means that you cannot adjust the zoom. This is typical among cheaper lenses, and it limits the usefulness of the product. You can’t adjust to lens for near or far objects, for example. It provides 10x zoom everywhere you look.
Because Starscope Monocular is a fixed power zoom lens, it may create blurry photos. Your smartphone camera may have trouble adjusting to the lens, and it’s unlikely you’ll get the same high-resolution photography pictured in the company’s marketing.
Even when using Starscope Monocular with your eye, you might get blurry images of distant objects. If you’ve ever used a pair of binoculars, then you know you need to adjust the focus to clarify the object. This doesn’t appear to be an option on Starscope Monocular.
Overall, there’s no evidence proving that Starscope Monocular is comparable to a $5,000 DSLR or $1,000 pair of binoculars as claimed on the official website. It’s a cheap, basic monocular lens sold at an inflated price online.
Starscope Monocular Pricing
Starscope Monocular is significantly more expensive than similar monocular lenses sold online.
- 1 x Lens: $47.99 + $8.95 Shipping
- 2 x Lenses: $79.99 + Free Shipping
- 3 x Lenses: $107.99 + Free Shipping
You can pay online via any major credit card or PayPal.
Discount Alert: If you remain on the Starscope Monocular sales page for a few minutes without proceeding, you’ll get a special “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” offer for $79.99.
Get The Starscope Monocular With 10x Zoom
Starscope Monocular Refund Policy
Starscope Monocular has a 30 day refund policy. However, you can only return items that are unused, unworn, and in the original packaging. You will also not receive a refund on shipping costs ($9 per order).
To initiate the refund process, contact Starscope Monocular customer service at [email protected]
Who’s Behind Starscope Monocular?
Starscope Monocular is marketed online by a Hong Kong-based company named Think Tech Sales Limited. There’s limited information about that company available online. However, it appears the company sources cheap lens from China, then sells those lens online to western markets over the internet.
A quick search on Alibaba, for example, reveals dozens of long-range 10×50 monocular lenses priced between $5 and $15 per unit. The manufacturer appears to have white-labelled one such product to create the Starscope Monocular.
You can contact Think Tech Sales Limited via the following:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone (USA): 609-414-7087
- Phone (Canada): 778-300-0854
- Phone (United Kingdom & Ireland): 08708 200084
- Phone (Australia & New Zealand): (02) 8607 8316
- Mailing Address: Rm 709B, 7/F, Opulent Building, 402-406 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Starscope Monocular Final Word
Starscope Monocular is a monocular lens that makes huge, unrealistic promises about its benefits. The company claims you can use the lens to see 50 miles away, for example. The lens also claims to be comparable to $4,000 DSLR cameras and $1,000 binoculars.
In reality, Starscope Monocular seems to be a cheap, white-labelled monocular lens sourced from a factory in China for $5 to $15, then sold online at an inflated price.
Overall, the Starscope Monocular will provide basic, 10x zoom, and you may be able to take a smartphone photo through the lens. However, there’s no evidence proving that Starscope Monocular is comparable to high-end DSLRs or binoculars: it’s a cheap monocular lens with basic fixed zooming capability.