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Our optics writer signing off for the night now (it’s 8PM here in the UK) — see you tomorrow for more Black Friday deals on cameras, lenses, telescopes and binoculars.
Happy shopping!
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Bigger isn’t always better, as proven by the OM System OM-1 Mark II. Now $1,824.95 at Walmart, this micro four-thirds camera is not to be underestimated.
It has an astonishing number of really useful features, particularly for astrophotography. Live Composite makes shooting star trails a doddle (see the second image above), as it shows what your image looks like in real-time so you know when you’ve reached your desired effect, and Starry Sky autofocus is bang on, we couldn’t believe it. A game changer for beginners who struggle with nailing the focus — if you can afford it.
It can also shoot up to a, frankly, ridiculous 120FPS, (but if you’re normal, anywhere between 10-40FPS is fine) — but this blisteringly fast burst rate makes it a fantastic camera for wildlife or fast-action photography, and the autofocus did a great job of keeping up.
AND it even answered the age-old question: ‘Is it a bird? Is it a plane?’ — It’s a bird, apparently, according to the OM-1 Mark II. We tried to lock on to a plane in airplane mode and it wasn’t having any of it, but when we switched to bird mode it worked perfectly. So there you go.
Now for something quite cute — this little Astronaut Star Projector is just $12.99 at Amazon for Black Friday (when you add the coupon at the checkout).
It went viral on TikTok earlier in the year, and we think it’s a great gift for kids or space lovers this holiday season. It has 8 different nebula colors to choose from, and it also displays green stars (but you can turn them off).
It comes with a remote for easy control, and you can adjust the helmet to project onto any surface thanks to its 360-degree rotation (although, might look slightly weird if his head is on backwards). Still, it’ll make for a perfect nightlight for your kid’s bedroom.
Finally, the product description says it would apparently make an excellent anniversary present….but you know, flowers and jewelry are also fine!
If you love the thought of a telescope with a database that effortlessly locates and automatically tracks your chosen objects but you don’t want to pay out the nose for a fancy smart telescope, the Celestron NexStar 130SLT is a great option, and it’s not too expensive.
Save 24% on the Celestron NexStar 130SLT, now $484.49 at Amazon.
You can view Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s moons and cloud bands and the Moon in brilliant detail, although you’ll need something more powerful to view deep-space objects. That said, its database of over 4,000 celestial subjects will still give you plenty to choose from, and it’ll take you straight there at the press of a button.
Lens deals are a bit thin on the ground this Black Friday, but here’s what we’ve found so far:
Astro-shooters will love the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens, now $2,099 at Amazon. While it’s not as dedicated to astro as a prime lens would be, it’s a great option if you shoot general wide-angle images and don’t want to be limited to one specific focal length.
For wildlife photographers, both the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS and the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM are both discounted, priced at $1,798 and $2,499 respectively. Both of these are the lowest ever price (aside from around one day earlier this month when the Sony was $100 cheaper), and they’re ideal for zooming in on wildlife, but also great for pairing with a star tracker for some impressive deep-space astrophotography.
We’ll keep hunting for more worthy lens deals!
Back with our optics writer for the next couple of hours now — with her takeaway on the way, and sat with her heated throw (seriously, you should get one), she’s back again to bring you some more tempting deals.
Want the best camera for astrophotography? Let us introduce you to the Sony A7 IV, now just $1,860 at Walmart. Our optics writer and managing editor went on a trip to Glastonbury Tor to do some astrophotography, and they were both very impressed at how well the A7 IV handles noise, especially compared to most other Sony models they’ve reviewed between them. The 33MP resolution is great for all applications, and the autofocus is reliable and follows subjects accurately.
The Sony A7 IV earned 4.5/5 stars in our full review, and there’s a ‘secret’ feature called Bright Monitoring, which, when activated, brightens the screen so you can see your composition better in the dark. We could even see where the Milky Way was in the shot. It is grainy, and there’s a bit of lag, but it was very useful for composing without having to guess where celestial subjects were.
If you have been with us for a while, you know we are big fans of Garmin watches here at Live Science. These fitness trackers are perfect companions for the great outdoors, whether you are on a safari photoshoot or hitting a PB during an ultra-marathon. But, and there is always a but, Garmin watches lack one important thing — they do not tend to look good. Now, we can argue on that matter for sure, but we have to admit it is hard to imagine those chunky rugged watches as something that would suit formal attire. So what is left?
The Polar Ignite 3 Titanium. This boosted version of the Polar’s flagship fitness tracker is now $140 cheaper at Walmart, bringing its price down to $259.97. That is a 35% discount right there. The Ignite 3 Titanium is a real piece of eye candy (as you can see in the picture above), and Polar’s heart rate tracking prowess is widely known in the fitness industry. With this deal, you can get this sleek wearable at a historically low price.
That was the last from our health writer today, see you again tomorrow!
Looking for a Christmas gift for your nature-loving teenage daughter? Unsure what to buy your science-lowing nephew? Finding good gifts for youngsters may be tricky, especially if they have a penchant for exploring the natural world. If you want to dazzle your teen family members this Christmas, forget about books (we are sure you have given them enough of those already) and give them some cool binoculars instead.
Now, we are all more strapped for cash before Christmas, but science gifts do not have to cost the earth. For example, Nikon Prostaff binoculars are now 35% cheaper at Amazon. This Black Friday deal sends the price of this gadget to just under $97. We gave 4 out of 5 stars to the Nikon Prostaff 8×42 variant (it is identical except for the slight difference in magnification), and named it the best option for teens in our guide to the best binoculars for kids. A fantastic beginner pair and an excellent Christmas gift.
Aaand we are back to health tech deals, as our health writer Anna Gora takes the wheel. Here is your respite from cameras, telescopes and other big pieces of machinery — small and discreet smart rings. These tiny fitness trackers get widely discounted during Black Friday, so if you have ever considered ditching your monstrous smartwatch in favor of something less obnoxious, now is the time to take the plunge.
For starters, our favorite Oura Ring Generation 3 — which we named the best smart ring in our guide to the best fitness trackers on the market — is now $50 cheaper at Amazon. Another favorite of ours, the Ultrahuman Ring AIR (our loyal travel companion, as you can see in the picture above) has been discounted by $50 at Amazon. Lastly, the RingConn Gen 1 is now 35% off at Amazon. Plenty to save, plenty to gain.
Are you a telescope newbie? Do you have zero knowledge of the night sky? Do you want something quick and easy to set up and can use alongside your phone? Are you on a budget?
If the answer to those questions was ‘yes’, then the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ will be for you, now just $179.99 at Amazon. The StarSense technology connects to the corresponding app on your phone, which analyzes the sky and shows you the exact objects visible based on your current time and location, making it a breeze for new users who don’t know their Andromeda from Uranus.
We’ve not tested it out yet, but you’ll be able to get a decent view of the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and some deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula (but you’ll likely need to be in a dark sky location to see deep-sky objects well). It was cheaper in August, and it may not have made our best telescopes guide, but this is still a really good price.
Want great views of the moon (like so)? Kimberley bought the Celestron SkyMaster 15×70 binoculars back during Prime Day, and they’re on offer again for just $89.99 at Amazon. Admittedly, it’s not the biggest saving in the world, BUT they’re great for close-up views of the moon, and the images are bright and detailed. She set it up in her garden for some family members to look through, and it certainly gave them the ‘wow’ factor, but serious astronomers may not have the same reaction.
There is chromatic aberration around the edges of the lunar wonder, (more so than this smartphone photo depicts), which is expected for the low price, however, and these are her exact words: “The color fringing actually makes it look very pretty. It looks like the Moon has uploaded an Instagram story”.
If optical defects bother you, then you’ll want to pay more and get the Pro versions, but they’re not on offer at the moment.
We’ve mentioned a couple of traditional style telescopes, now it’s time to please the tech nerds. For Black Friday you can get 20% off ALL Unistellar Products when you buy directly through their website (though, many of the popular merchants are price-matching them).
We thought the Unistellar eVscope 2 was the best smart telescope on the market, and we gave it 4.5/5 stars in our Unistellar eVscope 2 review — get it now at Unistellar for $3,919 (that’s $980 off!).
If you don’t have the budget for that, we also really loved the Unistellar eQuinox 2 when we reviewed it, also awarding it 4.5/5 stars. You can save $500 and get it for just $1,999, which is very affordable for a smart telescope.
Finally, their newest model, the Odyssey and Odyssey Pro, are both discounted as well. We’re yet to review them, but the Odyssey is now $1,839 and the Pro is $3,199. Plus, you can also get 20% off all their backpacks and filters, too.
Kimberley Lane logging back on now to run over some more deals on cameras, lenses, binoculars and telescopes.
In other news, during the hour she was gone she impulse bought a camera and a lens — the Sony A7R V (which is $2,799 at Walmart and is her favorite camera), and the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 II GM OSS to go on it, which is also cheapest at Walmart — now $2,315.
We’ll be checking out some more amazing optics deals and bringing them straight to you here, so sit tight!
For those of us who like to travel and have little knowledge of digital photography (we often just rely on our smartphones for convenience, don’t we), it is not easy to pick a camera. There are plenty of excellent Black Friday deals swirling around online, but not many of these offers cater to the entry-level folk (or, perhaps, we just simply do not understand the specs). There are some exceptions, of course, and one of them is Canon EOS R6 Mark II.
This lovely entry-level camera is now $310 off at Walmart. It can shoot up to 40 FPS and it has accurate animal autofocus, making it fantastic for wildlife photography. Now, that sounds like something we would do. Prepping for your next overseas trip? The Canon EOS R6 Mark II sounds like a great shot to save money this Black Friday.
If Garmin Instinct 2 does not rustle your feathers, the Garmin Forerunner 955 may be more up your street. This sleek sports watch has now been discounted by a round $100 at Best Buy, bringing its price down to just $399.99. Moreover, you can get the same discount on this model at Amazon, and this is where you get even more color options to better match your style. But, why Forerunner 955 specifically, you may ask?
This is a type of a Garmin watch you buy if you are serious about your health and fitness. It is like having a pocket-sized personal trainer, but with all the digital frills you can think of. Our health writers are big fans of the Forerunner range, and would recommend these gadgets to anyone who wants to level up their exercise performance and improve their wellbeing. And this discount is simply too good to ignore.
Now, time for something completely different. Whether you take jaw-dropping pictures of nature or spend your nights stargazing, you want a watch that is reliable, durable and useful. Garmin is your best pick here: these smartwatches are made to last in the great outdoors, and their fitness-tracking capabilities are among some of the best on the market. And Black Friday, incidentally, is one of the best times to invest in one of these high-tech gadgets.
But which Garmin watch should you choose? That is a tricky question to answer. Our health writers can think of many excellent Black Friday deals. This gem is perhaps best for newcomers to advanced fitness tracking: Garmin Instinct 2 is now 33% off at Best Buy, with more color options available at Walmart and Amazon. It is now just $199.99. We liked Garmin Instinct 2 for its affordable allure, and right now, you can get it even cheaper.
If you want to get into telescopes and enjoy a challenge, the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ is a great project to sink your teeth into and give you a crash course on telescopes.
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ: was $349.95 now $246.49
Our staff writer bought one back in the Prime Day sales, and although the instructions leave a fair amount to be desired, anyone who likes to tinker and throw themselves into a project will get on well with this telescope. It gives beautiful views of the Moon, and you can make out Jupiter and its four Galilean moons, plus Jupiter’s rings are also visible, but it lacks the power to see anything further afield.
If, however, you weren’t born with patience and want to get up and running at the drop of a hat, a smart telescope might be more for you, where you can view almost any object in the sky with just a tap of a button. But obviously, you’ll need to pay a lot more for that luxury. Still, for anyone on a budget who wants to learn about telescopes and the sky, it’s a worthwhile purchase.
Back on cameras now, and Canon shooters will be thrilled to see that the Canon EOS R5 is now $2,479 at Walmart.
We’re not surprised that the R5 has been included in both the Black Friday offers and the Prime Day deals last month, with the release of the R5 Mark II in the summer, it’s the perfect time to get your hands on the original model (which is still pretty great, in our opinion).
In our Canon EOS R5 review, we said it was “effectively a cheat code for capturing photos of animals”, making it one of the best cameras for wildlife photography. That said, it’ll excel in pretty much any style of photography, including astro, and it’s still considered one of the best even 4 years after its release in 2020.
The only real downside is its infamous video overheating issues, but if you don’t shoot much video, then happy days! If you do, then stick around as we’ve found some other deals on cameras that don’t throw a tantrum about shooting longer videos.
Choose your fighter: A scientifically accurate star projector that serves as a wonderful educational tool to learn about the universe, or a Pretty Light for your bedroom. Those are the two main camps when it comes to the best star projectors, and the Pococo Galaxy Projector sits…somewhere in the middle.
It comes with two sets of discs, as we mentioned in our Pococo Galaxy Star Projector review, and there are loads of others you can buy separately for bright, detailed and real-looking projections of the constellations, planets, nebulas, moon phases and more. It was one of the quieter projectors we’ve tested (great for falling asleep), so much so that our reviewer had to physically hold her ear against it in order to actually hear the motor. It’s pretty much identical to the Orzorz Galaxy Lite, in everything other than looks — and it’s the same price.
Telescopes can be very heavy, especially if, like our optics writer, you have the upper body strength of a kitten. This is where a great pair of binoculars have an advantage in being a lot more portable and easier to transport to dark skies to get a decent look at the night sky. Although, you’ll obviously not get as good a view as you would with one of the best telescopes, so it’s a balancing act.
We rated the Celestron SkyMaster Pro 20×80 the best pair of binoculars for stargazing, and in our review, again, by our managing editor, we said “For the money, it’s hard to beat their reach and clarity”. One of our staff writers has the non-pro version, and their lack of fogproofness has proven to be incredibly annoying, so we’d recommend paying a bit more for the better model.
Celestron SkyMaster Pro 20×80: was $320 now $211
Calling all stargazers, you can save $300 on the ‘world’s most beloved’ telescope, the Celestron NexStar 8SE at Amazon. Our managing editor said “It’s not cheap, but what you get for the price is a fantastic night sky observing instrument that won’t let you down.” when they reviewed the Celestron NexStar 8SE, and it’s proven time and time again to be one of the best telescopes you can buy.
Although it’s not cheap whichever way you slice it, the advantage of the 8SE is that you can observe closer objects like the moon and planets and deep-sky objects like nebulas and galaxies — in most cheaper telescopes you only tend to get one or the other.
Plus, it could be worth investing now so you don’t need to upgrade later down the line. Our staff writer, Kimberley Lane, bought a cheaper telescope in the Prime Day sale and is now immediately ready to upgrade after only using it a handful of times.
Celestron NexStar 8SE: was $1,599 now $1,299
Live Science team is officially logging on! Black Friday has officially begun and we’re already seeing some huge discounts on cameras, optics and fitness gear. We will be highlighting some of the very best discounts you can find on items like telescopes, binoculars, cameras, fitness trackers and streaming so you can spend more time enjoying the science that you love, for less.
We thought we’d crack things off with this huge saving on the Sony A7R V mirrorless camera we spotted over at Walmart.
It’s $600 cheaper, the lowest price we’ve seen, and our staff writer (and photographer in her own right) Kimberley Lane reviewed the A7R V for our sister site Space.com saying it has the best autofocus we’ve tested in a full-frame mirrorless, ideal for pin-sharp wildlife photography.