Telescopes and binoculars can reveal a natural world that was previously unknown to us. From the wonders of the universe to the wonders of your local forest, investing in pieces of technology like this can allow you to get closer to mother nature in all of her glory. At Sherwoods Photographic, we have gone all out to bring you the best viewing equipment to ensure that you get to behold the greatest sights on offer. It can literally be a life changing sight that brings home the often unfathomable place in which we live. Bird watching binoculars can reveal the hidden complexities of the world from a bird’s perspective. We have a wide array of instruments from some of the world’s best manufacturers including Vanguard, Celestron, Bushnell, Pentax and Minox. Each are adapted to the job at hand and will give you a high precision, true colour vision on the world in a waterproof design. These pieces of equipment are designed for rugged use and quick deployment. They should ideally perform well in many different light conditions, because you never know what you are going to face when stepping out into the wild.
Observing at night can reveal another world that was previously inaccessible. Night vision cameras have typically been very expensive, but because of the commercial sector adopting these capabilities, you can now use them to observe wildlife. We include products from manufacturers such as Bushnell, Cobra, Pulsar, Minox and Yukon so you have a good range to choose from. By using our site and reading everything we have to say about these products, you will hopefully have all the information you need to make the best decision for you.
At Sherwoods, we also offer astronomical telescopes for those who want to turn their equipment upwards. There are many sights to see above, not least one of the most obvious being the moon. With the right equipment you can make out craters on our closest neighbour. With more powerful equipment you can begin to uncover the secrets of the planets in our solar system including Mars, Venus, Jupiter and everybody’s favourite, Saturn. Being able to make out the rings of Saturn is a breathtaking experience, particularly when you realise that the image is live and that planet really is out there. You may also be able to see the many moons of Jupiter orbiting the huge gas giant, while perhaps also being able to make out the raging red spot.
Further afield there are many observable constellations that may have always been recognisable to you. Understanding that these points of light are all unique stars with their own unique properties is one of the joys of astronomy. Betelgeuse is a famous star in the constellation of Orion and is the eighth brightest star in the night sky. It has a distinctive reddish tint because it is a red supergiant. Betelgeuse is at a late stage of its lifespan and will explode in a type II supernova sometime during the next million years!
Astronomical telescopes are a feat of modern engineering. Even the lower budget models are capable of treating you to the fantastic sights the universe as to offer. Telescopes work by collecting electromagnetic radiation in the form of visible light that has travelled across the universe to reach us. Various techniques have been developed over the hundreds of years these instruments have been around to increase their capabilities and allow us to see further into the universe, and consequently, further back in time. It is important to note that each telescope has particular capabilities largely determined by its size and power. The aperture is one of the most vital aspects of the telescope because it is the diameter of this lens that will impact the eventual image you see. Larger apertures are capable of collecting more light and will therefore allow you to see more distant, fainter objects such as galaxies and clusters so it is always important to consider what you want to see and how much money you have to do it. Typically, the larger and more powerful the aperture, the more you will have to pay for the telescope.
At Sherwoods Photographic, we have a fantastic range from some of the world’s best telescope manufacturers such as Celestron, Meade, Skywatcher and Tal. The refractor is a type of telescope that uses an objective lens and an eyepiece to create its image, but because of the optical equipment required they are often the most expensive to create due to the apertures. They do have their use however since they can form images that have a high degree of contrast which makes them perfect for lunar or planetary observations.
If you are looking to save money when making observations then the reflector telescope is the most cost-effective when talking in terms of apertures. It has the advantage of not introducing any false colourisation to the image that you are trying to view. Since both systems have their own advantages, modern the telescope builds on both methods. The Catadioptric telescope can be identified by its relatively short length physical length while also presenting a long focal length. Exploring what is on offer and understanding what it is you are trying to image will ultimately inform which telescope you ultimately buy.
It is worthwhile remembering that even binoculars can offer a window on the universe. While they may not have the same magnification capabilities as a telescope, they can make up for this with portability. This can allow opportunists sights that other astronomers and observers would never be able to take advantage of without planning ahead first. Travelling through the countryside at night for instance can reveal the majesty of the heavens as the light from cities and lampposts dies away. We have a great range including equipment from Celestron, Helios, Opticron and Ostara. Astronomical equipment like this are very handy and are as affordable as you want. They are also great for beginners who want to observe relatively close objects like the moon.