Just over two weeks after the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12 comes an encore. On the night of Aug. 27–28, a very deep partial lunar eclipse will see Earth's shadow cover more than 96% of the full moon. Although it falls just short of becoming a total lunar eclipse — and therefore isn't technically a "blood moon" — much of the lunar surface will turn a coppery red to cameras. It will also be the deepest lunar eclipse anywhere in the world until the next total lunar eclipse on Dec. 31, 2028.

Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to observe with the naked eye and unfolds slowly over several hours, giving observers and photographers plenty of time to enjoy it. Whether you're using binoculars, a telescope, a mirrorless camera or a smart telescope, it will be one of the best lunar photography opportunities for years.

Solar and lunar eclipses often come in pairs because they occur during the same eclipse season — a period of about 34 days when the sun, Earth and moon line up closely enough for eclipses to occur. A solar eclipse happens at new moon, when the moon passes between Earth and the sun. Then, about two weeks later, at full moon, the alignment can produce a lunar eclipse as the moon passes through Earth's shadow.

This eclipse will favor observers in North and South America, where every stage will be visible high in the night sky. Europe gets a different, but equally photogenic experience, with the eclipse occurring before dawn as the moon sinks toward the western horizon.

Whatever equipment you use, the biggest challenge for most people won't be finding the eclipse, but deciding how to see and photograph it. Here's some gear worth considering.

Best binoculars for the Aug. 27-28 lunar eclipse

Best telescopes for the Aug. 27-28 lunar eclipse

Best smart telescopes for the Aug. 27-28 lunar eclipse

Best cameras for the Aug. 27-28 lunar eclipse

Best lenses for the Aug. 27-28 lunar eclipse

Essential accessories for the Aug. 27-28 lunar eclipse

FAQs

Baader AstroSolar Filter Film OD 5.0 is one of those "secret" astronomy products that looks almost too simple to be special. In its most familiar form, it’s a thin, silvery A3 or A4 sheet of metalized film that can be cut and mounted in cardboard, plastic or commercial filter cells. Surely it’s better to have a pre-made filter for your camera? Go to any solar eclipse, and you’ll get your answer: experienced eclipse photographers, solar observers and anyone wanting to safely point a camera or binoculars at the sun very often rely on Baader AstroSolar Filter Film OD 5.0.

Its popularity does not come from its ruggedness nor its out-of-the-box convenience. Whether bought as a loose sheet for making filters or as ready-made Baader solar filters for binoculars, camera lenses and telescopes, it enables super-sharp captures of sunspots on the sun, allowing much faster shutter speeds than some rival solar filter materials.

Although a brighter Baader AstroSolar Filter Film OD 3.8 Photo Film is also available (which is not designed for visual use), this review focuses on the Baader AstroSolar Filter Film OD 5.0, both as a practical DIY filter material and as the core of ready-made solar filters.

Baader AstroSolar Filter Film OD 5.0: Design

• Thin and delicate
• Perfect for crafting homemade solar filters
• Available as A4 and A5 sheets and ready-made filters

The defining feature of Baader AstroSolar Filter Film is how little there is to it. The film is extremely thin — around 0.01 mm — and feels much more fragile than tougher solar polymer materials. That can be disconcerting the first time you handle it. It wrinkles easily, but should never be pulled tight. However, initial fears are misplaced because a good homemade solar filter does not require the film to be flat. In fact, it should be mounted slightly slack, because wrinkles and ripples in the filter material actually improve the image.

The real design advantage is that AstroSolar Film is hugely versatile and can be cut to suit almost anything. A single sheet can be used to make a front filter for a telephoto lens or two, as well as for a couple pairs of binoculars. Any filter must always go over the front of the optics, never behind them. For binoculars, make a filter for one objective lens for safe one-eyed viewing and securely cap the other.

The film is sold as a loose sheet of material for DIY use in four sizes: ECO (140x155 mm/5.5x6 in), A4 (20x29 mm/8x12 in), 100x50mm/40x20 in, and Giant (117x117 mm/46x46 in). Also sold are the ASTF: AstroSolar Telescope Filter OD 5.0 (80-280mm), ASSF: AstroSolar Spotting Scope Filter OD 5.0 (50-150mm) and ASBF: AstroSolar Binocular Filter OD 5.0 (50-100mm). All come in multiple sizes.

They are, of course, neater and more durable than homemade cardboard versions, but the optical principle is exactly the same. Besides, the loose sheet version is more attractive if you have several lenses or binoculars to cover, or if you want to make a filter that precisely fits a specific lens hood.

Baader AstroSolar Filter Film OD 5.0: Performance

• Sharp solar detail
• Neutral white color
• Suits cameras and binoculars

Although its versatility makes it unusual, making DIY solar filters won’t be for everyone. However, the main reason to choose Baader AstroSolar Filter Film is for its image quality. When used correctly, it produces a sharp, high-contrast, white-light view of the sun. Sunspots appear cleanly defined, the solar limb looks crisp and the image has a neutral white tone, rather than the deep orange produced by some polymer filters.

That white rendering will not be to everyone’s taste. Casual eclipse watchers often expect the sun to look orange through solar filters because that is how it often appears through eclipse glasses and some glass or polymer solar filters. Baader’s version is a lot more clinical. For photographers, however, that is an advantage. A neutral white solar disk is easy to warm up later in editing, while a heavily colored orange image gives a little less flexibility. It all depends on your point of view.

The sharpness advantage comes from the fact that it allows shorter exposures, something that becomes more obvious as the focal length increases. In a short-lens or wide-field composition, the sun is small, so differences between filter materials are less obvious.

On a 400mm, 500mm or 600mm lens, where sunspots and the edge of the solar disk matter more, Baader AstroSolar Film OD 5.0 shows why it has such a strong reputation among eclipse photographers. In our tests at 400m set to f/8 and ISO 100, we found that exposures of 1/800s and 1/1,000s achieved the best results.

It also works well with binoculars. In fact, we’ve been traveling to watch solar eclipses using the same DIY solar filter fashioned from Baader AstroSolar Film OD 5.0 for a decade. Over the years, it’s been reinforced with plastic tape to extend its lifespan. It turns a pair of 10x50 binoculars into a safe solar-viewing instrument for the partial phases of an eclipse (just remember to cap the non-filtered lens).

The use of Baader AstroSolar Film is, of course, solely for capturing the partial phases of a solar eclipse, allowing safe imaging of the shrinking solar crescent. If you’re in the path of totality and about to watch a total solar eclipse, you’ll need to gently remove the filter when it gets dark.

That makes a homemade slip-on filter particularly attractive: it can be designed to slide off quickly, avoiding the fiddly delay of unscrewing a hot, threaded plastic or metal filter during the brief moments of totality. It’s wise to have an empty shirt pocket ready to take that filter for the few minutes of totality, which will keep it safe until the post-totality partial phases a few minutes later.

Baader AstroSolar Filter Film OD 5.0: Functionality

• Easy to use for DIY projects
• Works across many optical devices
• Safety checks required

If you buy a solar filter that uses Baader AstroSolar Filter Film OD 5.0, you have an excellent product that requires care when traveling and storing. If you purchase it as a sheet of material, it requires some time and patience as well as cardboard, tape, glue and scissors to custom-build your own Baader AstroSolar Solar Filter for almost any optical device. That’s a huge advantage over many screw-in photographic filters, which only fit specific thread sizes.

As you’d expect, making a new solar filter for any new gear from an existing sheet of Baader AstroSolar Filter Film is much cheaper than investing in an all-new screw-in photographic filter.

The DIY construction is simple: two cardboard rings sandwich the film, then a short cardboard sleeve fits snugly over the lens hood, binocular objective or telescope tube. The result should be secure enough that it cannot fall off accidentally, but easy enough to remove deliberately. It’s a good idea to have some masking tape handy in your camera bag for added security, particularly if it’s windy and/or the sun is low on the horizon.

Whether your solar filter is pre-made or homemade, it’s important to inspect it before use, especially when using Baader AstroSolar Filter Film. Any holes, tears, or scratches are reasons to stop using the filter.

Should you buy Baader AstroSolar Filter Film?

Baader AstroSolar Filter Film OD 5.0 is neither the most robust nor the quickest solution for casual eclipse viewing. Its delicate construction demands careful handling, storage and inspection before every use. For some users, a ready-made polymer or glass filter will be less stressful.

However, for photographers and binocular users, it’s hard to beat. It is light, sharp, adaptable and available in various forms for different solar imaging needs. Its greatest strength is that it allows you to create exactly the filter you need, whether that’s for a 400mm camera lens, one side of a pair of binoculars, a compact travel telescope or any other equipment.

Treat it gently and mount it securely, and Baader AstroSolar Filter Film remains one of the most useful solar filter materials available.

Even though August 12's solar eclipse won't be much to look at for observers in the U.S., it'll be even less impressive if you can't look at it at all. In order to see the partial phases, you MUST wear a pair of certified solar glasses or solar binoculars to view the sun safely.

The American Astronomical Society states, "ISO 12312-2 specifies the properties that a solar viewer should have in order to protect your eyes from injury and provide a comfortable view."

With the eclipse fast approaching, there is still time to pick up some last-minute solar viewing equipment, but some retailers are already selling out and won't be able to deliver before Wednesday, August 12.

Here are the best options you can still get hold of before the solar eclipse.

One of the biggest misconceptions about solar eclipses is that enjoying them requires expensive solar gear. Telescopes, tracking mounts, cameras, telephoto lenses and solar filters are all part of the kitbag for serious eclipse photographers, but the reality is that many travel with surprisingly little equipment.

That will be especially true on Aug. 12, 2026. The total solar eclipse crossing Greenland, Iceland and Spain is the headline attraction that day — closely followed by a partial solar eclipse across Europe and in Canada and the U.S. Northeast — but it won't be the only celestial event worth seeing. Just hours later, the Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak beneath moonless skies. So any eclipse kit built for the Aug. 12 eclipse should therefore be designed with one eye on a night-shoot capturing "shooting stars."

Here's what to buy for your eclipse-meets-Perseids double-header, according to your budget.

Under $50: Keep it simple

If your budget is less than $50, the good news is that you're not excluded from the eclipse experience. In fact, you can assemble everything necessary for a memorable eclipse day without spending very much at all.

The first purchase should always be certified eclipse glasses. Find some safe suppliers that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard for solar viewers, and consider buying more than you need (somebody nearby will almost certainly forget theirs). A handheld solar viewer is a worthwhile alternative, offering a slightly larger and often more comfortable view than eclipse glasses alone.

With the remaining budget, I'd focus less on astronomy equipment and more on practicality. A compact power bank and a reclining lawn chair (handy for the eclipse and the Perseids) could all be within your budget. Eclipse day involves a great deal of waiting, but if you're standing in the path of totality — or primed to see a partial eclipse — eclipse glasses and a clear sky are all you really need to experience something extraordinary.

Under $200: The biggest upgrade you can make

Once your budget reaches around $200, I'd start thinking about binoculars. For many people, the single best upgrade is a pair of dedicated solar binoculars. You can get mini pairs, such as the Celestron EclipSmart 10x25 and Lunt 6x30 Mini Sunoculars, or more substantial pairs like the Celestron Eclipsmart 10x42 and Celestron EclipSmart 20x50. We've tried them all, and can tell you that the Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars are the best (and easiest to find the sun with, which beginners always find is surprisingly small in the sky).

Unlike eclipse glasses, which show the sun as a small orange or white disk, solar binoculars reveal sunspots and make the moon's gradual progress across the solar surface much more engaging. They offer far more detail without introducing the complexity of a telescope. These are the best upgrades you can make if you're not in the path of totality and want to maximize your view of the partial phases of the eclipse.

If you're in the path of totality awaiting a total solar eclipse, forgo the solar binoculars and get yourself a good pair of conventional binoculars. The reason is simple: the partial eclipse will be interesting to watch through your eclipse glasses, but it's the totally eclipsed sun — and the beautiful solar corona that's revealed when it gets dark — which is the star attraction. You can safely see it with the naked eye or through conventional binoculars (but ONLY when the entire disk of the sun is blocked during totality, which will be for a minute or two).

A good choice would be a pair of 10x42 or 10x50, not only because you'll get a great view of the solar corona and prominences — loops of plasma from the sun's surface — but because they'll double as excellent stargazing binoculars for sweeping across the Milky Way's rich star fields, bright clusters and countless stars when it gets dark. Using products like DayStar Filters and Baader AstroSolar Safety Film ND 5.0, you can make any pair of conventional binoculars into temporary solar binoculars (use a solar filter for one lens and cap the other).

Under $500: Enter the smart telescope

At around $500, a completely different category of equipment becomes available. If we were building an eclipse kit from scratch, this is probably the budget level that would tempt us most because it opens the door to smart telescopes. Devices such as the Seestar S30 and Seestar S30 Pro (as well as the upcoming Seestar S30 Pro Eclipse Edition), DwarfLab Dwarf Mini and Vaonis Vespera Pro are portable and can automatically track the sun. All either have solar filters in the box, or their makers sell them separately (or you can make your own — see above).

The appeal of a smart telescope is that it can track the sun and photograph the eclipse while demanding relatively little attention from the user. With a solar filter fitted, a smart telescope can safely image the partial phases. For those in the path of totality, the totally eclipsed sun can also be imaged — just remember to take the solar filter off, and put it back on again when totality ends. You can then switch to capturing deep-sky objects at night, something you can do without much fuss while you watch the Perseid meteor shower peak with your naked eyes (the only way).

Over $1,000: Getting a close-up

Once you move beyond the $1,000 mark, your options are myriad. Personally, we would go straight for some image-stabilized binoculars. Models such as the Canon 10x42L IS WP, Canon 15x50 IS All Weather or Canon 12x36 IS III are among the most impressive astronomical instruments available to eclipse chasers because they combine premium optics with stabilization technology that effectively removes hand shake.

When you're standing in the path of totality looking at the sun's corona in close-up, image stabilization is absolutely what you want. If you chase solar eclipses every few years, they're worth buying for the few minutes of totality you get to experience. For the partial phases, we use a homemade solar filter on one lens and cap the other lens. Alongside those binoculars, we'd be tempted by a smart telescope for getting basic, but impressive images.

If you like a challenge, you could, of course, go straight for manual photography. Get a mirrorless or DSLR camera and a zoom lens, and you can have a go at imaging the solar corona yourself. You could also consider pairing a camera with a telescope and a star (or solar) tracking mount that can automatically track the sun. You'll also need to add a quality tripod and solar filters. If you fancy imaging the Perseid meteor shower later that night — or for any landscape astrophotography and the Milky Way — you'll also need a wide-angle lens.

Research, rehearse, prepare

The danger at this budget level is believing that more equipment automatically produces a better experience. It doesn't. Every eclipse attracts photographers and observers carrying thousands of dollars' worth of gear, but many — typically first-timers — spend totality worrying about camera settings instead of looking at the sky.

Whatever gear you buy, the best investment is always time — time to research, rehearse and prepare, and also to arrive early enough to settle into your observing location. That applies to whatever kind of solar eclipse you're in line for.

Whether your budget is $50 or $5,000, the perfect eclipse kit is the one that allows you to experience a solar eclipse — and if that includes totality, know that it will be a priceless experience.

The total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026, will attract millions of viewers across northern Spain, western Iceland and eastern Greenland, while a deep partial eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, and a smaller partial eclipse will reach parts of northeastern North America.

If you're planning to watch, one question matters more than almost any other: how are you going to observe it safely?

The answer depends on where you are, your budget and what kind of experience you're after. Some people want to simply look up and enjoy the spectacle. Others want to study sunspots, photograph the eclipse or capture loved ones gazing at the eclipsed sun. Many away from the path will stay at home and livestream it. There is no correct way to watch a solar eclipse, but it's important to stay safe. Here are eight ways to safely view the Aug. 12, 2026, solar eclipse.

1. Eclipse glasses for viewing from land

If you're planning to watch any part of the eclipse with your own eyes, eclipse glasses should be your first purchase. Certified eclipse glasses that comply with the ISO 12312-2 standard block more than 99.999% of sunlight, making it safe to look directly at the sun during the partial phases.

Without them, even a brief glance at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun can cause permanent eye damage. Through them, the sun appears as either a bright orange or a whitish disk against a black background. As the moon gradually moves across it, the changing crescent shape becomes immediately obvious. During the final minutes before totality, the solar crescent shrinks to an impossibly thin sliver.

For observers in Britain, Europe and North America outside the path of totality, eclipse glasses are arguably all you need. The entire eclipse remains partial, so the glasses stay on from beginning to end. Even if you're traveling to Iceland, Greenland or Spain for totality, eclipse glasses remain essential throughout the partial phases before and after totality, when the sun is still dangerously bright.

However, you should buy them early. Before every major eclipse, supplies tighten and some retailers sell out entirely. For reputable sellers, check out the American Astronomical Society's list of safe products. Recommended manufacturers include American Paper Optics, Rainbow Symphony and Thousand Oaks in the U.S. and Baader in Europe.

2. Handheld solar viewers for cruise ships

Many eclipse chasers prefer handheld solar viewers to eclipse glasses. These use the same safe solar-filter material and are made by the same manufacturers, but provide a larger viewing window. They typically hang around your neck on a lanyard, which makes them essential if you want to observe an eclipse from a cruise ship — it stops them from blowing into the sea. The actual view is almost identical to what you'll see through eclipse glasses.

3. Totality with the naked eye

If you're fortunate enough to observe from within the path of totality, there is one viewing method that rules all others during totality only — the naked eye. Although you must never look at the sun without eclipse glasses during the partial phases, during totality it's not only perfectly safe, but also the only sane thing to do.

During totality, you MUST take your eclipse glasses off to see the solar corona — one of nature's most extraordinary sights. The naked eye will also help you find bright planets around the eclipsed sun and the horizon glowing with twilight colors in every direction. If this is your first total solar eclipse, make a promise to yourself beforehand: spend at least some of totality doing nothing except looking up.

4. Solar binoculars

If observing the eclipsed sun through eclipse glasses and solar viewers leaves you unimpressed, you can upgrade your experience by opting for dedicated solar binoculars, which have permanently attached solar filters. They offer a significant jump in detail over eclipse glasses without introducing the complexity of a telescope. Sunspots become obvious, and you can more easily see them get covered by the advancing edge of the moon.

All kinds of magnifications are offered, but 10x42 is about the limit. Any more and they not only become hard to hold steady, but the eclipse then gets more difficult to find in the sky.

Since you can't use them during totality, solar binoculars are best seen as a good upgrade for observers outside the path of totality.

5. Regular binoculars

Normal binoculars are arguably a better choice if you plan to be within the path of totality. This is what experienced eclipse watchers do, and with good reason — they simply add solar filters for the partial phases, then remove them during totality for a close-up of the solar corona.

For the partial phases, solar filters must completely cover the front objective lenses. Never place filters over the eyepieces and never rely on improvised materials such as sunglasses, smoked glass or photographic filters — you must use dedicated solar eclipse filters.

However, since objective lenses come in all shapes and sizes, it's often easier to make your own solar filters using Baader AstroSolar Film. Typically, users will make a solar filter for one lens and cap the other, removing both during totality.

Image-stabilized binoculars deserve special mention. Models from Canon and other manufacturers can provide remarkably steady views of the eclipse without requiring a tripod, making them particularly attractive for travel.

6. Telescopes

The same applies to telescopes as applies to binoculars — you can buy a solar telescope with a permanently attached solar filter, or (a more popular method) put a solar filter on any telescope. However, there is another unusual option here — a dedicated hydrogen-alpha solar telescope, which reveals an entirely different side of the sun.

Rather than showing the photosphere, they isolate light emitted by hydrogen atoms in the chromosphere and show prominences arching above the solar limb as well as dark filaments across the disk. The downside is that hydrogen-alpha instruments are among the most specialized and expensive telescopes in amateur astronomy.

7. Smart telescopes

Few areas of amateur astronomy have changed as rapidly as smart telescopes. Devices such as the Unistellar Odyssey Pro, ZWO Seestar S30, DwarfLab Dwarf Mini and Celestron Origin have introduced a new generation of observers to astronomy by automating much of the traditional setup and operation.

For eclipse observing, the appeal is obvious. Once fitted with a solar filter, these systems can automatically track the sun, display images on a smartphone or tablet and save photographs with minimal fuss.

For eclipse travelers heading to Iceland, Greenland or Spain, smart telescopes can also reduce some of the stress associated with eclipse photography. Many users plan to have the telescope automatically capture the eclipse during the partial phases, then simply enjoy totality with their own eyes. Just don't spend the entire eclipse staring at a smartphone!

8. Livestreams

What if you can't travel? Or if it's cloudy? The Aug. 12, 2026, eclipse will be streamed by observatories, astronomy organizations and media outlets around the world. A livestream can never replace standing beneath the moon's shadow, but it guarantees you'll see totality even if clouds intervene.

Confirmed live streams so far include the total solar eclipse by TimeAndDate and the European Space Agency, while partial solar eclipse images will come from the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, U.K. When cell signal allows, some eclipse observers keep a livestream running on a nearby phone while observing the real eclipse overhead, and/or livestream views from their own telescope on social media.

What's the best way to look at the eclipse?

The best viewing method for a solar eclipse depends entirely on what you want to get from it. Just remember that the purpose of the technology is to support the experience, not replace it — no instrument can replace the experience of seeing the solar corona with your own eyes if you're within the path of totality. Choose the viewing method that helps you do that — and spend as much time as possible simply looking up.

Aug. 12, 2026, promises to be a big day for anyone interested in the sky. By day, a solar eclipse will be visible across parts of North America and Europe. For most, it will be partial, but for those within the path of totality in eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, the moon will completely block the sun.

Hours later, the sky show continues with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower on the night of Aug. 12-13. The shower occurs when Earth passes through debris left behind by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, producing bright meteors and occasional fireballs. In 2026, the timing could hardly be better. The same new moon that makes the solar eclipse possible will also create moonless skies for meteor-watching, with observers under dark skies potentially seeing 30 to 50 "shooting stars" per hour.

All of that happens after the eclipse. As a bonus, Venus will blaze low in the west during twilight, the Milky Way will stretch overhead after dark and, in Iceland, there is even a slim possibility of an early-season aurora display. Many visitors will spend 12 hours or more outdoors, arriving long before first contact and remaining under the stars until after midnight. Here’s what to consider buying for this very special day and night beneath the sky.

The total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026, will bring thousands of photographers to a narrow path of totality through eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain. For many, it will be their first opportunity to witness totality, the brief period when the moon completely covers the sun and reveals its delicate corona, a wonder of nature that normally remains hidden by sunlight.

Some first-time eclipse chasers heading to the path of totality pack expensive gear they've never used before, hoping to capture expert-level images without any preparation. Others just take a smartphone. Guess who usually comes back with the best images? Practice and rehearsal — or simplicity — are key.

Remember, you should never look at the sun directly without specialist solar equipment (unless you are in totality), or you risk permanent damage to your sight.

Preparing for totality

Photographing a solar eclipse is unlike photographing anything else. Solar safety matters, exposure changes dramatically, and totality lasts only a few precious minutes. Despite that, memorable eclipse photographs can be taken with almost any camera. The best approach depends on your equipment, your experience and what kind of memory you want to bring home.

However, you don't need to stand in the path of totality to photograph some of the event. Across much of Europe, a deep partial eclipse will occur near sunset, with more than 90% of the sun obscured in many locations. In northeastern North America, observers will see a smaller partial eclipse during the afternoon. While neither experience matches the drama of totality, both offer opportunities for striking photography.

1. Take a souvenir shot through eclipse glasses

To watch any partial solar eclipse, you'll need a pair of eclipse glasses or solar viewers; the former you wear and the latter you look through. Either works well as a solar filter for a smartphone. Simply wrap some eclipse glasses around your phone's camera lens or hold a solar viewer in front, and you can take basic images of a partial eclipse.

The way to get more than just a rough souvenir shot is to put your smartphone on a tripod or purchase a Solar Snap, which not only provides a solar filter that attaches to your phone with Velcro but also includes an app that zooms in on the eclipse.

If you want pinpoint sharpness without having to spend too much or travel with much gear, get yourself a smart telescope like the ZWO SeeStar S30 Pro, DwarfLab Dwarf Mini or Vanois Vespera Pro.

2. Use a smartphone during totality

If you're traveling to Greenland, Iceland or Spain to see the total solar eclipse, take a simple smartphone photograph during totality. A smartphone cannot compete with a camera's zoom lens for close-up detail, but it's perfect for recording a wide view of the landscape you're in.

In Greenland and Iceland, the eclipsed sun will hang about 25 degrees above the western horizon, making it possible to include fjords, volcanic landscapes or distant mountains in the frame. In Spain, where totality occurs late in the day, the low altitude of the sun offers opportunities to photograph the eclipse above villages, church towers, castles and mountain ridges.

Before the eclipse, switch off auto-flash and enable RAW images if your phone offers them. Burst mode works well — as does filming the event in 4K from a tripod and extracting stills later.

3. Take a wide-angle shot during totality

Many photographers using a manual mirrorless or DSLR camera become obsessed with the corona and forget that the eclipse affects the entire environment. The resulting images often feel disconnected from the actual experience. A well-composed landscape photograph can communicate the atmosphere of totality far more effectively.

The image above was shot by expert eclipse photographer Alan Dyer, author of How to Capture the Coming Solar Eclipses, in Teton Valley, Wyoming, during the Aug. 21, 2017, total solar eclipse. It was shot with a Canon 6D and a 14mm SP Rokinon lens at f/25 for 1/10 second at ISO 100. It's one shot from a 700-frame time-lapse and was taken just as totality began, moments after the diamond ring ended, and the dark shadow of the moon is approaching from the west.

4. Capture crescent suns

When a partial solar eclipse reaches about 50% — something it will only do in extreme northeast Canada and Europe on Aug. 12, 2026 — it's possible to project crescent suns through anything with defined holes. It works really well through a colander or spaghetti spoon.

By projecting crescent suns onto the floor, the walls and people around you, unique portrait images of eclipse chasers can be created. Unlike photographs of the corona, which thousands of people will capture, photographs like this, which document the human experience of an eclipse, can be really special.

• Read: Astrotourism, dark-sky and Northern Lights travel essentials

5. Take a close-up of the solar corona

This is the classic eclipse photography setup and the one most commonly used by experienced eclipse chasers — though it demands some serious equipment, commitment and practice.

A camera fitted with a telephoto lens between 200mm and 600mm provides enough magnification to reveal detail in the corona while remaining portable enough for travel. At 400mm, the eclipsed sun fills a useful portion of the frame. At 600mm, the corona becomes significantly more prominent and fine detail begins to emerge. Lenses like the Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM, Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS and SIGMA 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport would be good options.

Focus carefully on the partially eclipsed sun through a solar filter, and leave the focus untouched thereafter. With a camera set to ISO 100 and f/5-f/8 aperture, exposure bracketing is essential because the corona spans an enormous range of brightness. Automated exposure sequences, or bracketing, allow photographers to capture multiple exposure levels to combine later, if desired.

It's always best to rehearse in advance; the excitement of totality very often leads to basic errors — the classic being leaving the solar filter on during totality.

6. Shoot a close-up sequence of the eclipse

If you want to shoot a sequence throughout the entire solar eclipse that shows all of the various stages, you need to be in position, ready to take images as soon as first contact occurs, and stay there until fourth contact.

Since the size of the sun won't be huge in your finished image, you don't need a huge telephoto lens. Instead, concentrate on imaging the partial eclipse at very specific times before and after totality, so that you can produce a mirror image on either side of an image of the solar corona.

7. Shoot a wide-angle sequence of the eclipse

A wide-angle eclipse sequence is a different kind of image, showing not just the changing shape of the sun, but the landscape. Start with a base exposure taken during totality, when the eclipsed sun sits in a darkened twilight sky, then layer in the partial phases at regular intervals from first contact to fourth contact.

The result can show the sun's path across the sky, the moon appearing to bite across it in the opposite direction, and even bright planets nearby. It's a powerful way to tell the whole story of an eclipse in one frame, especially if you include water, mountains, people or a dramatic horizon.

Dyer's image above is a single exposure taken with a Canon EOS Ra and a Canon RF15-35mm lens at ISO 125, f/2.8 and 1/6s. The partial phases were photographed every five minutes from start to finish of the eclipse.

• Read: Best lenses for astrophotography 2026

When it comes to the "silly money" category of lenses, they are typically those ridiculously long prime lenses that make your arms ache just by looking at them. They provide incredible image quality but lack the versatility of a zoom. Enter the Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM: With a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the entire 100-300mm focal range, this lens is a serious contender for wildlife pros and sports photographers.

Of course, at an eye-watering $10,500, it's not for everyone. It's not even for "many people"; it's for a select few who either have serious money lying around or make serious money from photography, where a lens of this caliber would be a sensible investment. Still, we took it for a test drive to see just how much better the performance is compared to the more reasonably priced wildlife zoom lenses.

Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM: Design

• Weight is surprisingly manageable
• Internal zoom
• Solid and sturdy build quality

Although its weight is comparable to that of the much cheaper SIGMA 60-600mm Sport lens we tested recently, this lens from Canon is actually the lightest f/2.8 300mm lens on the market. And because the zoom is internal, the weight distribution feels much more manageable in the smaller package than it does on a lens that extends. (But that’s not to say our arms weren’t aching the following day).

It's also dust- and weather-resistant, which we’d expect on a lens that's this expensive. It's solid and sturdy with a plethora of lens coatings to eliminate glare and ghosting, and it feels every bit the professional-grade Canon L lens you would want.

It comes with plenty of buttons and switches on the barrel, including the standard AF/MF switch, focus limiter and IS on/off. It has another switch to choose between three stabilization modes (mode 1 for static subjects, mode 2 for panning and mode 3 for tracking erratic moving subjects).

The final switch is a focus preset button, which enables you to pre-focus on a certain spot where you expect the action to be, then switch back and forth as you're shooting. Alternatively, you can set this switch to L-Fn to utilize it as a programmable function button instead.

This lens isn't expensive because it introduces any revolutionary build features. It's expensive because Canon has combined every premium design element — internal zoom, magnesium construction, professional weather sealing, compact packaging and meticulous engineering into a lens that is designed to meet the needs of professional photographers.

Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM: Performance

• Outstanding image quality
• Basically no image defects
• Beautiful bokeh

Image quality is, unsurprisingly, absolutely beautiful. The shots we took are razor-sharp and clean with basically no defects whatsoever. There's a tiny bit of distortion, which is easily corrected in Lightroom (and wouldn't be detectable unless you were directly comparing the before/afters), but the images have no chromatic aberration or vignetting at all.

This lens shows every strand of fur or feather and effortlessly captures the moment perfectly every time. The bokeh is soft and creamy thanks to the constant f/2.8 aperture, which beautifully isolates the subject and blurs out distracting background elements.

We took images at f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8 and f/11 at 100mm, 200mm and 300mm to see how the lens performs across a variety of settings. Looking at the center portion of our test chart shots, the sharpest images are f/5.6 at 100mm, f/2.8 at 200mm and f/2.8 at 300mm. At 100mm, our f/2.8, f/4 and f/5.6 shots were all of similar quality in terms of central sharpness, but f/5.6 has the edge when it comes to contrast.

Those same three apertures were also very similar at 200mm, but in this instance, f/2.8 has the edge. At 300mm, there was a significant drop in contrast between f/2.8 and f/4, but both images were of similar sharpness. Unsurprisingly, the corners were sharpest towards the f/8 range, but wildlife photography rarely ever calls for sharpness across the entire frame, so the softer corners at f/2.8 - f/5.6 aren't a dealbreaker.

Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM: Functionality

• Constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the whole zoom range
• 5.5 stops of image stabilization
• Versatile focal length and teleconverter compatibility

A big selling point with this type of lens is the constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the entire focal range — and this is a common feature with many lenses at this price range. The wide aperture allows for faster shutter speeds, which is ideal for capturing sharp images of fast-moving wildlife or sports photography, and the wide aperture also increases light intake in low-light situations, like photographing animals at dawn or dusk or indoor sports.

Although the 100-300mm focal length wouldn't be the best choice for photographing small birds or distant subjects, it provides a good focal range to cover many other types of wildlife, like equine or safari photography, as well as a variety of indoor sports. While it's not the biggest zoom range on offer, it eliminates the need to switch between lenses while on a shoot.

This, in turn, means faster reactions to changing scenes, less chance of missing shots when the subject moves unexpectedly and better protection from dust and rain due to less swapping. Plus, when paired with the Canon 1.4x teleconverter, this lens becomes a 140-420mm f/4, and a 200-600mm f/5.6 with the 2x extender, opening up the possibilities even further.

With the lens's 5.5 stops of image stabilization (which increases to 6 stops when paired with EOS R cameras with IBIS), this lens has no trouble following fast-moving subjects smoothly and efficiently — which is useful for both image quality and viewfinder steadiness.

Should you buy the Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM?

It feels counterintuitive to give this lens 5 stars but say "no, don't buy it," and it's not that we're saying "don't buy it," but as good as this lens is, it's quite niche, and we are finding it hard to justify the price compared to other setups from Canon.

Currently, this lens is the only way to get 300mm at f/2.8 (unless you get a used EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM and an EF-EOS R adapter), so unless you really need to shoot between 200-300mm at f/2.8 and have the money to do so, there are more sensible options that either save money or give you more value.

For example, you could buy an R1 and a used EF 300mm f/2.8L lens with an adapter for around the same price as this 100-300mm lens. And if you find good deals, you could even add the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM to that lineup with a teleconverter. The only advantage the 100-300mm would then have is that you wouldn't need to change lenses — but is that worth such a steep price?

If this lens isn't for you

The Canon EOS R6 III is Canon's newest full-frame camera. We absolutely loved the R6 II when we reviewed it, and the Mark III's improved 32.5MP resolution, 7K video capability and CFexpress compatibility build on that strong foundation to take this camera from the beginner and enthusiast level straight into the serious intermediate camera category.

We primarily tested it for wildlife photography with Canon's 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM lens, but the R6 III is such an impressive all-rounder, it can easily turn its hand to astrophotography, sports or event photography, too.

Canon EOS R6 III: Design

• Comfortable grip to accommodate larger lenses
• Identical layout to previous model
• One SD card slot, one CFexpress card slot

Existing Canon users will feel right at home with the Canon EOS R6 III, as the build and button layout are nearly identical to the R6 II, and similar to many other R-series bodies. We tested the R6 III with the Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM lens and found it comfortable to get a good grip on, and it feels satisfying in the hand, especially when paired with bigger lenses.

The LCD screen and viewfinder are exactly the same as the Mark II, but there are a couple of small differences elsewhere in the design. The R6 III now has a CFexpress Type B card slot as well as an SD card slot, allowing for faster workflows and data transfer. However, considering this camera sits in the more intermediate level, we have to question whether two SD slots would be more useful for the majority of users, especially because CFexpress cards are more expensive. Plus, we used fast SD cards during our tests and encountered no problems at all with the write speed or buffer.

Canon EOS R6 III: Performance

• An absolute joy for wildlife photography
• 32.5MP sensor is a very welcome improvement over the Mark II
• Autofocus and subject detection are accurate and sticky

The Canon EOS R6 III features more advanced AI-powered autofocus, which enables it to track people, animals and vehicles more easily compared with the Mark II. When we were photographing animals at a zoo, the autofocus was generally very good, although there were a few occasions when the camera got confused. The focus jumped between the giraffe’s eyes, nostrils and ossicones, and the camera couldn’t quite figure out what to focus on, even when the animal was facing towards the camera with the eyes in view. There were also a few unfortunate occasions when the camera would find and track an "eye" on the — how do we put this — wrong end of the animal. Generally, though, it was fast and accurate.

In our review of the previous model, the Canon EOS R6 II, we said, "Considering it's the next step up from the Canon EOS R8, we'd hoped for a bump in resolution. Matching the 32.5MP resolution of the crop-sensor Canon R7 would have given the R6 II an even sweeter spot between the R8 and the 45MP powerhouse Canon EOS R5 II." It seems Canon was listening, as the 32.5MP sensor in the Canon EOS R6 III sits perfectly between the beginner and professional lineups. The images are clean, detailed and not too noisy, making this camera a compelling choice for photographic styles that require excellent resolution without excessive noise.

Canon EOS R6 III: Functionality

• Canon claims battery life allows for around 620 shots (CIPA) — we took around 6,000
• Blackout-free burst shooting up to 40FPS
• Pre-continuous shooting

For wildlife photography, blackout-free shooting enables you to follow the subject a lot easier as it's moving, to ensure you can keep the subject centered and maintain your composition. What's more, with the R6 III, you can shoot up to a massive 40 frames per second (FPS) blackout-free, which is perfect for fast-moving wildlife. (Keep in mind, this means you need to hone your timing to avoid the "spray and pray" method and end up with tons of photos of the exact same moment). This is one feature of a wildlife camera that makes a big difference.

The R6 III also features pre-continuous shooting, where it'll record up to 20 frames (approx 0.5 seconds) before the shutter is fully pressed — another useful feature for wildlife and sports photographers who need to capture fleeting moments.

The Mark III uses the upgraded LP-E6P battery, shared with the R5 II, which offers significantly more shots per charge than the LP-E6NH in the R6 II. That said, it means that if you're upgrading from a different Canon model, your current spare batteries won't work in the R6 III, so you'll need to invest in a few spares. However, we managed to get more than 6,000 photos without having to swap out the battery, so you won't need to worry about the battery running out unless you're shooting all day for multiple days.

Should you buy the Canon EOS R6 III?

We can confidently say: yes, you should buy it. It seems to tick all the boxes for a lot of shooting scenarios, whether it's your main wildlife camera or a backup body for weddings. The 32.5MP sensor produces beautiful images with minimal noise and accurate color reproduction; it's lightning fast with a 40FPS burst speed and can capture up to 7K 60p video. However, if you're looking for a more serious pro-level camera, perhaps opt for the R1 or R3 instead.

If this camera isn't for you

The best beginner telescopes need to strike the perfect balance between being user-friendly and affordable, yet still good enough to avoid being a waste of time, money and effort. There’s no point buying a cheap telescope only to end up using it once and then immediately wanting to upgrade, but with many "mega-cheap" unbranded scopes, that’s what tends to happen.

For new astronomers, keen youngsters and anyone on a budget, Celestron has some really great small telescopes that fit the bill perfectly. In this review, we’ll be looking at the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ — the smallest scope in the StarSense range.

It’s easy to set up, lightweight and portable, and we were impressed with the optics for such a small and affordable telescope. Its main party trick is the StarSense app integration, which is perfect for anyone who doesn’t have any prior knowledge of the night sky. The 70AZ is great for the moon, some planets and brighter targets, but needless to say, you’ll be needing one of the very best telescopes if you want to do any deep-sky viewing. Still, it makes a wonderful telescope for kids or anyone new to the hobby.

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ: Design

• Easy to set up
• Good quality build
• Comes with two eyepieces and a Barlow lens

The Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ is the smallest telescope in the StarSense Explorer range, with a compact, lightweight construction that still feels like you’re peering through something substantial. The optical tube itself, alongside the tripod, accessory tray and accessories, are all excellent quality for an entry-level scope — especially compared to equivalent scopes in the PowerSeeker and AstroMaster ranges that we were testing alongside it. However, that’s not to say you won’t want to upgrade them in time.

The setup process is easy for new users to understand, especially with the printed instructions included in the package, and we were able to get it set up and start observing in no time. The aluminum tripod can extend up to 52 inches (including the mount), which we felt was a good height for most users, but we found it a little annoying that the eyepieces wouldn’t fit in the holes in the accessory tray while still in their protective cases. It’s a small detail, but we’d have liked to keep the eyepieces protected while we were using the scope.

It comes with a red-dot finderscope, an erect image diagonal, two eyepieces (10 mm and 25 mm) and a 2x Barlow lens, alongside the StarSense smartphone dock. To get the best views, we ended up using upgraded eyepieces from the Celestron eyepiece and filter kit, so if you want a simple and affordable way to improve the quality of the views, we’d recommend investing in some better eyepieces.

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ: Performance

• Beautiful lunar views
• We spotted the bands on Jupiter and its moons
• Limited for deep-sky viewing

This isn’t a "see everything" telescope; it’s a "see the highlights clearly" telescope. By far the best thing to look at is the moon, particularly with the 10 mm eyepiece and 2x Barlow lens. We were easily able to observe the craters and shadows on the lunar surface, and we thoroughly enjoyed our sessions gazing at the moon.

We were also able to distinguish the bands on Jupiter — although they were quite faint — and we could easily spot three of the four Galilean moons (the fourth was hiding behind the gas giant). Saturn was too low in the sky for us to see before dark, but this telescope should be perfectly capable of showing its rings.

The Pleiades were stunning, as expected, and we were able to make out the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy — but realistically, at this aperture, you’re unlikely to see much further afield.

It covers a good magnification range for a beginner scope, with the 20 mm eyepiece giving you 28x power, upgradable to 70x with the 10 mm eyepiece — and even more with the Barlow, which takes you closer to the highest useful magnification of 165x power.

The manual tracking means objects drift out of view quickly, especially when using a high-power eyepiece. While the manual alt-azimuth mount is advantageous for its quick set-up and user-friendliness, this is where you see its drawbacks. We did notice some drooping, particularly when we were viewing Jupiter at a very high altitude, and there was some wobbling when focusing, but once it settled, the views were sharp and clear.

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ: Functionality

• StarSense app guides you to specific objects
• No prior knowledge of the night sky needed
• Easy focusing of objects

The biggest selling point of the StarSense Explorer range is the StarSense app functionality. Once connected, you pick an object from "Tonight’s Best Objects," and you’ll see arrows on the screen guiding you to where the object is located.

This is an attractive feature for beginners and kids, as it takes away half the battle of knowing where certain objects are in the sky. We found it to be mostly accurate — it’s not perfect by any means, but it got us in the right area and we were easily able to locate the object from there. Once we located our subject with the 20 mm eyepiece, focusing was smooth and easy for us to then switch to the 10 mm for a closer look.

The app requires the latest version of iOS in order to download, so make sure you download it before you head out to use it (we found this out the hard way). It's also compatible with Android users. The app tells you which objects are best to view depending on your location, and it shows whether they are city-viewable, and the rising and setting times for each object. Further down, it shows "challenge" objects that you might see under dark sky conditions, which is a nice touch if you live close to a dark sky reserve (though it doesn’t say what Bortle class you’d need to be in).

There’s also a search function, where objects are separated into different categories depending on what type of object you want to view (planets, brightest stars, Messier objects and more). And the good thing is that you don’t have to use the app if you don’t want to — unlike more expensive smart telescopes.

The app tells you which objects are best to view depending on your location, and it shows whether they are city-viewable, and the rising and setting times for each object. Further down, it shows "challenge" objects that you might see under dark sky conditions, which is a nice touch if you live close to a dark sky reserve (though it doesn’t say what Bortle class you’d need to be in).

There’s also a search function, where objects are separated into different categories depending on what type of object you want to view (planets, brightest stars, Messier objects and more). And the good thing is that you don’t have to use the app if you don’t want to — unlike more expensive smart telescopes.

Should you buy the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ?

Overall, it’s a very user-friendly scope for beginners to sink their teeth into, and it doesn’t feel like the kind of telescope you’d only use a few times and then get bored with. We found it easy to locate objects and obtain a good focus, the views were impressive, and the whole experience felt very intuitive — which is exactly what you want from a beginner telescope.

It’s compact and lightweight, although you could still go a step further with this class of telescope. It’s at the top end of Celestron’s beginner range, being by far the best entry-level model of the three we tried. But if you are looking for a step-up from your existing telescope, we’d recommend going for one of the larger aperture models in the range for brighter views and to potentially see more deep-sky objects. Its limited deep-sky viewing isn’t a flaw, just a limitation of a telescope of this aperture. But for the price, you absolutely cannot go wrong with the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ.

If the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ isn't right for you

The Celestron NexStar 8SE has long been considered to be one of the best telescopes on the market. In our Celestron NexStar 8SE review, our trusted tester Jase Parnell-Brookes awarded it an impressive 4.5 out of 5-star score.

The Celestron NexStar 8SE missed out on the flawless review mostly for its price, which at full MSRP made it a significant investment. However, Jase still highlighted its value for money versus performance, which now that Amazon has knocked $200 off the retail price is even better, taking it down to just $1,499.99.

While there's still a lot of numbers on that price tag, even at this price Jase reckons it's still an ideal option for a beginner telescope. Intermediate or advanced astronomers can also benefit from upgrading to the NexStar 8SE, with its motorized function and scalability being attractive features, making it ideal as a deep space telescope or for viewing planets.

Amazon Prime Day lands later this month, but as this is the lowest price for the NexStar 8SE we've seen this year, you're unlikely to see a better telescope deal than this. You'll have to be quick though — the listing says it's marked as limited stock, and at this price it could sell out fast.

However, Walmart is price-matching the Amazon deal along with Adorama, should you wish to purchase away from Amazon.

The Celestron NexStar 8SE is a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope design, which is renowned for impressive optical quality, and the NexStar 8SE certainly delivers here. Jase was blown away by the stunning clarity thanks to its 8-inch aperture up front, which simply drinks in light and makes it incredibly easy to see detail in the night sky.

Jase also highlighted the smoothness of the motor, and with the help of the Celestron SkyAlign app, you can align the scope using three bright stars and enjoy automated viewing almost instantly in your stargazing journey.

Although for a beginner the Celestron is a considerable outlay, Jase also noted the build quality and performance make it a telescope that will last for decades, and potentially the only telescope you'll ever need.

There are cheaper and smaller aperture versions available in the Celestron range, including the Celestron NexStar 4SE. That's our top choice as the best small telescope, and is currently discounted on Amazon by 13% to $649.99. Of course, the smaller you go, the less light captured, thus making your views less awe-inspiring with a drop in aperture.

Key features: 8-inch (203.2mm) aperture, 80-inch (2032mm) focal length, f/10 focal ratio, 180x highest useful magnification, 32 lbs (14.48 kg) weight, two-year warranty.

Launched: June 2005

Price history: The best price we've seen on the Celestron NexStar 8 SE telescope was $1,299 during the Black Friday sales of 2024. The MSRP is $1,699, which makes the current on-sale price of $1,499 a significant saving on what is a seldom-discounted model.

Price comparison: Amazon: $1,499 | Adorama: $1,499 | Walmart: $1,499

Reviews consensus: There is no doubt that the Celestron NexStar 8 SE is a fantastic telescope: It pairs Celestron’s legendary orange tube with a fully computerized GoTo system — ideal for those ready to step up from manual scopes and explore more of the night sky with precision and ease.

Live Science: ★★★★½ | Space: ★★★★½

Featured in guides: Best telescopes

✅ Buy it if: You want to view deep space objects and planets, whether you're a beginner or advanced sky watcher. The automated motorized function means this telescope can be used by anyone with any level of experience and knowledge.

❌ Don't buy it if: You are seeking a more budget-friendly option. One of our recommended best budget telescopes might be more suitable, or even one of the best telescopes for beginners.

Check out our guides to the best telescopes, telescopes for kids, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, and much more.

For Sony and Leica users wanting an affordable lens option for wildlife photography, SIGMA offers some attractive options. We spent some time with the SIGMA 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport lens for Sony E mount — their closest competitor to the native Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS in terms of focal length. You get 50mm more focal length on the wide end, and a slightly wider maximum aperture as a result, plus it’s cheaper than the native Sony lens — although you’ll still be paying over $1,500. That said, for a wildlife lens with such a big reach, that’s not bad at all.

It’s a compelling option for wildlife photography beginners looking to invest in their first big lens, so we put it through its paces to test its sharpness, handling and overall performance out in the field, to see whether it earns a spot among the best lenses for wildlife photography.

SIGMA 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport review

SIGMA 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport: Design

• Slightly lighter than the Sony equivalent
• Two custom buttons
• External zoom adds 100 mm to physical length

Getting the obvious out of the way — this is a big lens. It’s long and it’s heavy, but that’s par for the course with this type of super-telephoto lens. What is noteworthy, however, is that it’s actually a few grams lighter than the closest native Sony equivalent.

The SIGMA lens weighs 2,100 grams (approx 74.07 ounces) compared to the 2,115 g (74.60-ounce) Sony. Realistically, 15 g makes basically no difference at all in practice, but third-party lenses are typically substantially heavier (one of the trade-offs of being cheaper), so the similar weight is a point in the SIGMA’s favor.

It features many of the same buttons and design elements as the native Sony — an AF/MF switch, focus limiter, image stabilization switch with two modes and a custom stabilization switch, also with two modes. There are two custom buttons — one on the top and one on the side of the lens barrel (just one shy of Sony’s three) — and a zoom lock switch with options to lock the zoom completely, or set it to a Smooth (S) or Tight (T) level of friction.

One fairly big difference compared to the Sony lens is that the zoom on the SIGMA lens isn’t internal. Even though the SIGMA is fully weather-sealed, it still leaves room for dust or moisture to get inside the lens, not to mention the zoom adds another 100 mm onto the length of an already long lens.

SIGMA 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport: Performance

• Sharpest wide open (f/5) at 150mm, f/8 at 300mm and f/8 at 600mm
• Struggles with small subjects at 600mm
• Some colour fringing around tree branches

As we directly compared this lens with the Sony, we could easily see the performance drawbacks associated with the cheaper Sigma model. The overall image quality is great, although we found the images weren’t as sharp when we had to crop in on a small bird, even with a 61 MP camera that allowed for a harsh crop. We still got some great images with beautiful sharpness and detail, but our keep rate was a lot lower than when we were testing the Sony. When the subject fills the frame at 600mm, however, the image is a lot sharper.

There was some chromatic aberration around tree branches, and subjects that were photographed against a bright sky, which isn’t wholly surprising with a lens at this price point — but it’s worth noting that we didn’t see any of this with the native Sony lens. Still, the colors are vibrant and true to life, with only minor vignetting and distortion that can easily be corrected by enabling the lens profile corrections in Lightroom.

Looking at the test chart images, the sweet spot is around f/8 at 300mm and 600mm, whereas at 150mm, the sharpness and contrast look best when shooting wide open at f/5.6. Interestingly, the lens seems to perform best overall at f/8 at 300mm, and the sharpness and contrast drop significantly compared to the 600mm f/8 shot. In the test chart shots for the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens, we found it to be sharpest at 600mm. We still took some lovely images with this SIGMA lens at 600mm, but it’s worth knowing if you plan on spending most of your time at full zoom.

SIGMA 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport: Functionality

• Compatible with Sony E mount and Leica L mount
• Lock switch stops lens creep
• Not a low-light lens

As far as compatibility goes, this lens is somewhat limited. It’s only compatible with Sony E and Leica L mounts, which could be frustrating for Canon or Nikon shooters who might want to save money with a third-party lens. Still, we thought it fit well on our Sony camera, and although a lens of this size is naturally going to feel big, the weight distribution was well-balanced. It suffers from strong "lens creep" if you’re holding the lens vertically, but there’s a lock button to prevent it when you aren’t using the lens.

The f/5-6.3 aperture is actually not bad at all for a lens of this focal length at this price point, but it’s not going to be particularly strong at shooting at dawn or dusk, especially as you’ll likely be spending most of your time at the long end with an f/6.3 aperture. Plus, it’s unrealistic to expect a telephoto lens of this price to have a particularly fast aperture.

Should you buy the SIGMA 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport?

This lens is certainly good enough as a "first" dedicated super-telephoto lens for wildlife photography. The image quality is sharp, full of contrast and saturated colors, and it’s a great way to save a few hundred dollars if you don’t mind not having a native lens and don’t need to shoot at super-fast speeds.

If, however, you’re at the stage where you want to go pro, you’re going to need a lens with a faster aperture and better image quality than this lens affords. This is where you’re going to need to invest some serious money into a super-telephoto prime lens to take your wildlife images to the next level.

If this product isn't for you

The Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport is one of those lenses that instantly grabs your attention simply because of how ambitious it is. Covering everything from 60mm all the way up to 600mm with its powerful 10x zoom, it’s designed to handle wildlife, sports, aviation and even some landscape photography without needing to swap lenses.

On paper, that kind of flexibility makes it sound like a serious contender among the very best zoom lenses for wildlife photography, particularly for photographers who don’t want to carry multiple lenses out on shoots. But it has one major caveat: it’s insanely heavy.

We took it to a nature reserve to put it through its paces and test its performance in real-world conditions, and see for ourselves how that hefty weight feels in practice.

SIGMA 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport review

SIGMA 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport: Design

• Uncomfortably heavy
• Solid build quality
• Feels very sturdy

The Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport lens feels exactly like what you’d expect from Sigma’s sport series — big, solid and built like it could survive a few knocks. It’s definitely not a small or lightweight lens, though, and we found ourselves struggling to hold it for long during wildlife sessions, to the point where the 5.5-pound (2.4-kilogram) weight tipped it into "too heavy" territory and it became somewhat of a chore to shoot for long. The weight is especially cumbersome when tracking birds in flight, but the silver lining of the extra heft is that it feels incredibly sturdy as a result.

The zoom ring is smooth. We did notice a tiny bit of lens creep every now and then, but this was nowhere near as severe as it was when we tested the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS lens. There’s no shortage of physical controls, either. There’s an AF switch, stabilization controls and customizable buttons all around the barrel. The removable tripod foot is solid, too, and balances the lens nicely on a tripod.

SIGMA 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport: Performance

• Lovely image quality
• Good autofocus in reliable light
• Image stabilization helps when shooting handheld

Performance is impressively strong considering the massive zoom range this lens covers. The sharpness is excellent through most of the range, especially through the shorter and mid-range focal lengths, with plenty of detail and contrast straight out of the camera.

The autofocus performance was also better than we expected for such a large telephoto zoom. Paired with Sony’s autofocus and subject detection, the lens tracked birds and wildlife reliably in good light, and the focus was fast and sticky. The image stabilization is a huge help when shooting handheld, and we were able to get sharp shots even at 600mm.

We photographed some test charts to analyze the image quality, and shooting wide at 60mm gave the best result at the wider apertures. Going all the way up to f/11, the image becomes very soft in the center. Zooming in to 200mm improves things, where the image is sharpest with the best contrast at f/5.6. At 400mm, f/5.6 and f/8 are very similar, with f/5.6 having the edge slightly, whereas at full zoom at 600mm, f/8 produced the sharpest images — although the 600mm images were the softest overall.

However, it’s worth noting that although we made these assessments while pixel-peeping at the test chart images, the real-world images we took at a nature reserve were mostly all taken at 600mm, and the image quality is still beautiful, even after cropping.

SIGMA 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport: Functionality

• Very versatile focal length
• Good close focusing distance
• Overkill if you won’t use the wider focal lengths

In use, this lens’ biggest strength is its versatility. Having everything from 60mm all the way up to 600mm in a single lens makes it much easier to react quickly when subjects move. For wildlife photography especially, we found it useful when birds flew towards us, since we could zoom out instantly rather than miss the shot entirely.

That said, the huge zoom range can feel a little excessive, but this will depend on what style of photography you do. We found ourselves staying closer to the longer focal lengths for wildlife work, which is fine if you’re a dedicated wildlife shooter, but it does beg the question of whether a smaller, lighter telephoto zoom lens would be a more practical option for some photographers, particularly for those who stay at the wider end.

We also liked how close the lens can focus, particularly on the wide end. It’s not a macro lens, but being able to shoot closer to the subject without changing lenses adds even more flexibility when shooting outdoors.

Should you buy the SIGMA 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport?

The big questions you need to ask yourself here are: "Are you fine with a heavier lens?", "Are you bothered about having a shorter close focusing distance?" and "Do you shoot wide?". If you answered yes, then it makes sense to get this lens.

If, however, you want a slightly lighter lens and you don’t need the wider focal lengths, we’d suggest going for the native Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens instead. For us, the weight of the Sigma felt significantly heavier than the Sony, to the point where it would make us think twice about investing in it, particularly as the Sigma is the more expensive option.

If this product isn't for you

Originating in the late 1990s as Celestron's response to Meade's LX series, the NexStar SE line was designed as an affordable, user-friendly GoTo telescope. The 6SE features quality Schmidt-Cassegrain optics, a 6-inch aperture and a robust mount, earning a strong following among astronomers.

The Celestron NexStar 6SE is the middle child of the NexStar SE Schmidt-Cassegrain series, positioned between the 5- and 8-inch models, with a 4-inch Maksutov-Cassegrain also in the family. Its 6-inch aperture is big enough to provide meaningful, sharp views of both deep-sky and solar system objects while not being too large or expensive. Its portability and small size make it a fantastic beginner telescope if you have a healthy budget, but the larger 8SE still tops our list of the very best telescopes.

Celestron NexStar 6SE: Design

• 6-inch f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain optics, can be used at f/2 for imaging with Hyperstar or for visual/imaging with f/6.3 reducer (sold separately)
• GoTo mount with NexStar+ controller — cannot be aimed manually
• One eyepiece included (25mm yielding approximately 60x magnification)

The NexStar 6SE has been around since 2008, and it hasn’t changed much in that time apart from some minor software upgrades. The Celestron C6 XLT optical tube is sold by Celestron in other configurations such as the NexStar Evolution, and is a 6-inch f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain design. It can also be used at f/2 with a Starizona HyperStar reducer for imaging, or Celestron’s f/6.3 reducer, either of which is necessary for quality deep-sky imaging with the C6. The C6 is primarily designed for planetary viewing/imaging on account of its long focal length, but can be used for deep-sky work as well.

The 6SE has collimation adjustments at the front. Users probably do not need to adjust these, ever. The author has owned hundreds of Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, and they usually arrive collimated from the manufacturer and stay that way. Swapping the collimation screws for thumb screws just leads to frequent misalignment that would otherwise not occur.

The 6SE’s mount is a simple alt-azimuth GoTo mount. It uses the position of two or three alignment stars to calculate where it is in the sky, and once aligned it can automatically point at over 40,000 objects in its internal database. Unfortunately, the technology in it is rather outdated. It cannot be aimed by hand at all, and attempting to do so will ruin the motorized pointing and tracking accuracy. You can replace the hand controller with Celestron’s SkyPortal WiFi adapter, however, and run it off an app like SkySafari, which is a little easier to learn to use. Regardless of which method you use to control it, it only takes around 5-10 minutes to set up and assemble the 6SE.

A 1.25-inch visual back and star diagonal are included with the NexStar 6SE. These are all you’ll need, as a 2-inch diagonal and eyepieces will vignette substantially and cause stability/balance issues with the mount. Celestron supplies a single 25mm E-Lux Plossl eyepiece yielding approximately 61x magnification and a true field of view of 0.9 degrees with this telescope. While it’s annoying to get only a single eyepiece with this telescope, there are endless third-party options to choose from to get the magnifications you want.

For a wider field of view, a 32mm Plossl or 0.63x reducer would come in handy. For higher power, we’d recommend a 9mm SVBONY "redline" (170x) or even a 6mm (254x) if you have fairly steady sky conditions.

Overall, the 6SE is quite sturdy and the whole telescope can easily be carried around in one trip. It breaks down small enough to fit in the author’s Mazda MX-5 Miata, and the tube is small enough to take on a plane as carry-on luggage.

Celestron NexStar 6SE: Performance

• Sharp planetary details
• Solid deep-sky views
• Good double-star splitting

The Celestron NexStar 6SE is typically optically superb, with quality units such as the review sample reaching ⅙ to ⅛ wave peak-to-valley accuracy at the wavefront (a typical standard commercial scope might be ¼ wave). This is critical when viewing the moon, planets and double stars up close. With only a 6-inch primary mirror, the common issues of image shift and mirror flop are of little concern with this telescope.

The NexStar 6SE delivers impressive performance for its size, excelling for both solar system and deep-sky observations. Within the solar system, it reveals Mercury and Venus phases, intricate lunar craters down to mile-sized features, Mars' ice caps and some dark markings when it’s close to Earth, Jupiter's cloud bands with the Great Red Spot and moon transits, Saturn's rings including the Cassini Division plus half a dozen moons, Uranus as a turquoise dot, and Neptune as a blue point with Triton perhaps faintly visible under dark skies.

Beyond the solar system, the 6SE handles open clusters like M35 and M11 well, though larger ones like the Pleiades are too big to fit in the field. Bright globulars such as M13 show partial resolution under decent skies, while emission nebulae like M42 and M8 are spectacular, especially under dark skies and/or with a filter. The brightest planetary nebulae display hints of color, and structures in bright galaxies (such as M82's dust lanes) begin to emerge under dark conditions — but for the best results, a larger telescope than the 6SE is necessary to reveal up-close details in these faint fuzzies.

The 6SE is also excellent for splitting double stars. The author was able to split Tau Coronae Borealis (2.2 arc seconds) easily with the 6SE and a 6mm eyepiece (254x).

Celestron NexStar 6SE: Functionality

• Quite a simple setup
• Two-Star Alignment mode is best
• Smooth focusing and quick acclimatisation

The NexStar 6SE is pretty simple to set up — just assemble the mount/tripod, take the caps off and power it on (either using AA batteries or a DC 12v extension cord). The controller then prompts the user to enter the time, date and location, and choose an alignment method. The recommended three-star alignment is unfortunately prone to errors, so it’s recommended you use the Auto Two-Star alignment mode instead.

Once aligned, the 6SE will automatically point at any object you choose in its catalog. Sometimes, accuracy can wane over the course of a night, but simply going to the main menu and selecting “sync” to add new alignment points usually fixes this. Focusing the 6SE is buttery smooth even at high magnifications, and the scope takes only a few minutes to cool down to chilly nighttime temperatures on account of its small size and the low-expansion glass used for the optics.

The author used the 6SE for imaging as well as visual observation by simply installing a camera at the back end where the diagonal inserts into the visual back. For planetary imaging, the author added a 2x Barlow lens.

Should you buy the Celestron NexStar 6SE?

This telescope offers a great entry into computerized astronomy with solid optics, portability and performance for visual observing of planets, the moon and brighter deep-sky objects. It's well-suited for those around a $1,000 budget who value automation over manual tracking, ranking highly among similar scopes. However, its mount's limitations for heavy accessories and lack of manual fallback make it less ideal for intensive use or imaging. Buy it if you prioritize ease and balance; skip if you are looking to do serious astrophotography or hunt down faint galaxies.

This is one of the best C6/SE units we’ve seen optically, with extremely sharp optics and very little image shift. Mechanically, the mount had an abnormal amount of backlash compared to previously tested units. This is seemingly a one-off issue, as other 6/8SE units tested previously by the author do not experience this issue.

Normally, one can take exposures as long as 10 seconds for deep-sky imaging with the 6SE, but this particular unit had a lot of backlash in the mount’s gears, so performance was somewhat restricted. The 6SE is best for planetary imaging, not deep-sky, unless you obtain a focal reducer and preferably a more sophisticated equatorial mount with better tracking.

If the Celestron NexStar 6SE isn't for you

How we tested the Celestron NexStar 6SE

The author has owned, as of the time of writing, five Celestron NexStar 6SE units, along with eight NexStar 8SEs, which utilize the same mount/tripod. A new 6SE was sent by Celestron to the author in February 2026 and tested under a variety of sky conditions between Bortle 6 and Bortle 2, at elevations between 2,000 and 7,000 feet. The author is located in Tucson, Arizona. The sky around Tucson is very conducive to amateur astronomy, thanks to widespread adoption of dark sky ordinances, high altitude, and extremely steady/transparent desert skies.

Babies and small children do not handle dry air as well as adults. Their skin and airways are still developing, which makes them more susceptible to nasal congestion, poor sleep and skin irritation. This is why many parents resort to using humidifiers — appliances that help increase relative humidity by releasing moisture into the air. When used correctly, humidifiers can transform the arid indoor air and help little ones breathe more easily. However, not every appliance is safe to use in nurseries or toddlers’ rooms.

By their very nature, humidifiers can cause dampness and contribute to mold growth if they are not cleaned and maintained correctly. They can also spread impurities if the water in the tank is not distilled or purified before being released back into the air. Moreover, many appliances generate warm mist or steam that can burn a child if they get too close. Not to mention, most humidifiers simply do not have the looks that would suit a child's room.

These are the issues the Levoit Sprout is trying to solve. Firstly, as an evaporative humidifier, it is less likely than ultrasonic and steam appliances to cause excessive condensation, and only releases mist-free moisture. Secondly, it features wick filters that help remove impurities from the humidified air. Plus, it boasts a curved, child-friendly design as well as a built-in night light and connected app.

We were keen to test the Levoit Sprout and see if it has the potential to land a spot in our guide to the best humidifiers.

Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier review

Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier: Design

• Easy to clean and refill
• Curved, child-friendly design
• Keeps the wick filter dry to prevent mold growth

The Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier looks eerily similar to the Levoit Sprout air purifier we tested last year. Both appliances are about the same size, weight and color, have a curve-shaped design and no sharp, protruding elements, and remind us of Olaf, the talking snowman from Disney's "Frozen" franchise. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they complement each other really well.

That said, these two appliances are vastly different when it comes to the assembly process. It took us less than a minute to put the air purifier together, as the process was smooth, intuitive and well-explained in the provided manual. The humidifier, on the other hand, left us scratching our heads.

It was relatively easy to disassemble the appliance and remove the plastic packaging from the filter, but then we struggled with putting the parts back together — they just would not fit. To make matters worse, the instructions were too vague to help us figure it out. We managed to put the Levoit Sprout together eventually, but this whole debacle did slightly put us off this appliance. Assembling a humidifier should not be this tricky, especially when it is designed primarily for sleep-deprived parents.

Assembly woes aside, the Levoit Sprout humidifier is easy to use and does not require a lot of maintenance. The water tank holds a gallon of water (3.8 liters), but it is small enough to fit under the faucet and easy to hold with both hands. Thanks to its top-fill design, it does not even have to be detached from the main unit to be refilled — you can just take the lid off and top it up straight from a bottle. We also liked that the tank was dishwasher-safe and translucent enough to allow us to monitor the water levels at a glance.

The Levoit Sprout humidifier can be controlled either with the buttons at the front of the unit or remotely via the VeSync app. You can also integrate it with Google Home and Apple HomeKit apps, and adjust its settings using voice commands. Given that most humidifiers lack such smart features, this is a considerable advantage.

Overall, the Levoit Sprout seems well-built and appropriately child-friendly. However, we are not convinced that its price is entirely justified. At $189.99, it is two to three times more expensive than most other humidifiers of similar size and capacity. That's not the full cost, either — the wick filters need to be regularly replaced and each replacement from Levoit costs $29.99. You can buy some dupe filters on Amazon and other major retailers, but they are roughly the same price anyway.

Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier: Features

• Standalone temperature and humidity sensor
• Auto-Dry mode keeps the filter dry to prevent mold growth
• Adjustable warm- or cool-toned night light

The Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier features two manual fan speeds and an Auto mode that adjusts the fan speed to maintain a preset humidity level, based on real-time temperature and humidity data from a provided standalone sensor (pictured below). This is a unique and convenient feature. Most appliances have built-in humidity meters, which means that their readings apply only to a very small area around the unit and may not reflect the overall humidity in the room. The Levoit Sprout, on the other hand, can monitor the air quality where it genuinely matters.

The Auto-Dry mode is another feature that scored highly in our books. The Levoit Sprout activates this mode once the humidification is switched off to keep the wick filter dry and therefore prevent mold growth. We did not have to worry about filter maintenance, as the appliance took care of it itself.

Another thing that adds to the Levoit Sprout's functionality is the built-in night light. We really liked this feature — the lamps underneath the water tank gave it a soft, warm-toned glow that genuinely lifted our mood. Night lights help children ease bedtime anxiety and fall asleep faster, but we can attest that adults may find them beneficial, too.

We also liked the VeSync app. Not only does it allow you to control the humidifier remotely and set schedules for when you are away, but it also provides a good amount of information on the humidity, remaining filter life and estimated drying time. We found the app useful, "clean" and easy to navigate.

Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier: Performance

• Quiet, with pleasant white noise
• No white dust or visible mist
• Gentle humidification without damp or condensation

The Levoit Sprout performed quite well in our at-home tests. While we are not parents and so can't say how this appliance might affect babies or toddlers, we can at least confirm that it does what it promises. This humidifier is quiet, reliable and relatively effective at increasing relative humidity without causing damp, condensation or even visible mist — as long as it is used in relatively small rooms, that is.

According to the manufacturer, the Levoit Sprout is suitable for spaces of up to 219 square feet (20 square meters). This is non-negotiable, though, and we would recommend using it in smaller rooms for best results. The reason lies in its humidification technology. Evaporative humidifiers work by blowing moist air through a wick filter, which creates friction that inevitably slows it down on the way out. Unlike in ultrasonic or steam appliances that can release jets of water vapor without facing similar obstacles, the range and power of their humidification capabilities are quite limited.

We measured the performance of the Levoit Sprout using the provided standalone humidity meter and an industry-grade Perfect Prime air particle counter. We placed the humidifier in a closed room measuring approximately 200 square feet, and then ran it for two hours in its highest output mode. After an hour, the relative humidity increased from 55% to 59%, and after two hours it rose by another 4%. These results may not sound like a huge difference, especially when we compare the Levoit Sprout to, for example, the PureGuardian H950AR (pictured below, this ultrasonic humidifier is of a similar size and range as the Levoit Sprout, but it raised the humidity twice as fast in a test conducted in the same room.) For a less powerful evaporative humidifier, however, we would still consider them acceptable.

This gentle humidification did make a tangible difference. The air felt considerably more pleasant and easier to breathe, and no condensation or wet patches formed around the unit. All in all, no complaints.

The Levoit Sprout also did a pretty good job of removing water impurities. We did not see any "white dust" or visible mist that can happen when humidifiers use undistilled water, and our Perfect Prime air particle monitor only recorded a very small increase in the levels of air particulates. Wick filters are not as effective as the HEPA filters commonly used in air purifiers, but they are still able to capture a good amount of impurities.

Lastly, the noise levels. The Levoit Sprout is whisper-quiet and if anything, it generates a soothing, unobtrusive hum that does not tend to disturb sleep or rest. When we measured its sound levels using a Sound Meter decibel-counting app, we did not register more than 42 dB on its highest setting — that’s equivalent to refrigerator sounds, and within the specifications provided by the manufacturer.

Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier: User reviews

At the time of writing this review, the Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier was rated 3.8 out of 5 stars at both Amazon and Levoit. Positive reviews tended to praise its ease of use, smart features and compact, aesthetically pleasing design. Negative remarks, on the other hand, often focused on its relatively low humidification power, high price and filter replacement costs. Some customers also complained about its relatively noisy fans and app connectivity issues.

One user said: "I took a risk and purchased this product before any reviews came out. I'm glad I did because it does everything it says. In my bedroom, I have noticed a significant difference in sleeping quality, and the air just feels nicer on the skin. The night light is incredibly relaxing and looks pleasing. The sensor is an awesome feature, and I've been able to control my Sprout from work, allowing me to dry the filter to easily prevent mold buildup. I will say, even though I live in an NYC apartment, the Sprout can only fill my smallest rooms. It's almost impossible to raise the humidity in a medium-sized room. This is a bummer because I wanted to combat radiator dryness."

Should you buy the Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier?

There is plenty to like about the Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier. It is quiet, smart-enabled and easy to use, and more importantly, it does a great job of moisturizing the air without creating damp or endangering the child's safety. However, this appliance is not big or powerful enough to suit large nurseries or deliver the best results in extremely arid climates.

✅ Buy it if: You are looking for a quiet, low-maintenance humidifier for small nurseries and toddlers’ rooms.

❌ Do not buy it if: You want something more powerful, versatile or budget-friendly.

Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier: How we tested

We tested the Levoit Sprout Evaporative Humidifier for over a week, looking at its design, features, day-to-day performance, and ease of use and maintenance. We also tested its humidifying and water-purifying capabilities using the provided standalone humidity meter and an industry-grade Perfect Prime air particle counter.

We placed the Levoit Sprout in a closed room and ran it on the highest output setting for two hours, making note of changes to relative humidity and air quality. We also measured how loud this humidifier was with a Sound Meter decibel-counting app, as well as considering the cost and availability of its replacement filters.

We recently conducted a group test of beginner telescopes from Celestron, including the AstroMaster 70AZ and the StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ. Optically, these telescopes are very similar, but the AstroMaster 70AZ has the edge when it comes to viewing planets clearly, thanks to its longer focal length.

While the StarSense Explorer uses your smartphone to identify stars and point you towards objects, the AstroMaster adopts more of a "learn it yourself" approach. The AstroMaster keeps the set-up quick and simple and offers the more traditional astronomy experience of locating objects manually. Although it has a steeper learning curve, its simplicity makes it a fantastic telescope for beginners, and its compact and portable nature makes it suitable for kids and anyone looking for a small telescope.

Celestron AstroMaster LT 70AZ review

Celestron AstroMaster LT 70AZ Design

• Small and portable
• Easy to set up
• Build quality is acceptable for a beginner scope

The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ is clearly designed with beginners in mind, and that shows pretty much straight away. It’s lightweight, simple to set up and not intimidating if you’ve never used a telescope before. The alt-azimuth mount moves up, down, left and right using a single handle, which feels somewhat like you’re using a camera tripod rather than anything super technical. That alone makes a big difference if you’re just starting out, or buying for a child.

Set-up is quick and easy and doesn’t require any tools, so you can get it outside and start using it without much effort. The adjustable tripod helps, too, especially if it’s being shared between multiple people. It’s not the most solid thing in the world, though — there can be a bit of wobble when you’re focusing or moving the scope, which is fairly typical at this price. Overall, it’s a straightforward, no-frills design that keeps things simple rather than trying to do too much.

Celestron AstroMaster LT 70AZ: Performance

• The moon is the standout view
• Solid performance for viewing planets
• Not the most suitable for deep-sky objects

In terms of its performance, it’s very much what you’d expect from a 70mm refractor. It’s good at the basics, but you do start to notice its limits fairly quickly. The moon is easily the highlight — it snaps into focus nicely and you can spend a good amount of time exploring the surface without feeling limited.

Jupiter and Saturn are visible too: we saw Jupiter’s moons and the bands on the gas giant itself, although the image itself stays fairly small and you don’t get too much in the way of finer details.It’s only when you start to move beyond that, that the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ starts to feel a bit restricted. Brighter targets like Orion or the Pleiades show up nicely, but they’re faint and underwhelming if you’re expecting those big, colorful views you see online.

The optics themselves are decent for the price — and reasonably sharp in the center — but pushing the magnification too far exposes the limits. The bigger issue is that the mount can wobble when focusing, which makes it harder to keep things steady at a higher zoom. We also noticed a bit of drooping when we pointed the telescope at Jupiter at high altitude. Overall, it does what a beginner would need it to — just without much headroom.

Celestron AstroMaster LT 70AZ: Functionality

• No-frills telescope
• Everything is manual
• Mount can be fiddly

The AstroMaster 70AZ keeps things pretty simple, which is both a good and bad thing depending on what you expect. Everything is manual — there’s no tracking or electronics, and nothing guiding you to objects, so you’re fully in control of where the telescope is pointing. The upside of this is that it’s straightforward to understand. The downside is that finding things can take a bit of patience, especially if you’re new to the hobby.

The red dot finder helps, but it’s quite basic and you’ll need to spend a bit of time lining it up properly before it becomes useful. Once that’s sorted, it’s fine for aiming at the moon or bright objects, but less helpful when you’re trying to track down anything fainter.

The mount itself is easy to use, with a single handle for movement — but it’s not the smoothest. Small adjustments can sometimes feel a bit fiddly, particularly at higher magnifications where everything becomes more sensitive. There’s no slow motion control either, so keeping objects centered takes a bit of practice.

Should you buy the Celestron AstroMaster LT 70AZ?

The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ is one of those telescopes that makes sense in certain situations, but it isn’t an obvious recommendation for everyone. It’s cheap, simple and genuinely capable of showing you the moon and planets without much fuss. For a beginner or teenager who just wants to try astronomy without spending too much, it does the job and doesn’t feel overly complicated. It’s all very no-frills — but that’s kind of the point. It gives you the basics without overcomplicating things, even if that means more effort on your part.

That said, it’s also easy to outgrow. The biggest issue isn’t the optics, but how manual everything is — finding objects can be frustrating, and the mount doesn’t always help. If you stick with it, you’ll learn a lot, but some users might find they lose patience.

If this product isn't for you

Most smart scales measure your weight, BMI (Body Mass Index) and basic body composition metrics, such as muscle mass and body fat percentage. More premium models can also assess more complex stats — for example, they calculate your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate, the minimum number of calories your body needs to perform life-sustaining functions, such as breathing and circulation) and biological age (how old your body appears to be rather than the number of years you have been alive). The best smart scales on the market can even perform segmental body analysis, meaning they use sensors in both a stand-on platform and a retractable handle to measure differences in tissue composition between different “segments” of the body. However, no single model can do what the Withings Body Scan can: provide you with insights into your cardiovascular health and nerve activity.

This foot-to-hand smart scale can measure your heart rate, ECG (the electrical signals in charge of your heartbeat), arterial stiffness (by measuring the speed at which the pressure wave from your heartbeat travels through your arteries), and Nerve Health Score (which is an assessment of peripheral nerve function, based on how well the skin in your feet conducts electricity). Put simply, the Withings Body Scan is more of an all-in-one health hub rather than merely a tool for tracking changes in your weight and body composition.

What is the catch, you may ask? Unsurprisingly, the premium price. At $499.95, the Withings Body Scan costs twice as much as most premium foot-to-hand models and nearly 15 times as much as basic platform-only devices. Is it actually worth it, though?

Withings Body Scan review

Withings Body Scan: How it works

The Withings Body Scan uses four technologies to take its measurements: bioelectrical impedance analysis (or bioimpedance, used for assessing body composition in almost all smart scales), impedance plethysmography and ballistocardiography (non-invasive methods that measure pulse wave velocity, which is an indicator of arterial stiffness) and electrochemical skin conductance (a non-invasive method for detecting activity in the small nerves in the skin).

All four are suitable for casual tracking at home, but none of them should be treated as diagnostic tools. They are simply not accurate or reliable enough to substitute for clinical tests done by a healthcare professional. The Withings Body Scan may be unusually expensive for a smart scale, true, but that does not mean we can expect results far superior to those obtained by cheaper devices — it is simply unfair. With that in mind, let's dive into the nitty-gritty of what and how this smart scale measures.

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), or bioimpedance: This non-invasive method measures body composition by sending low-voltage electricity through your body and detecting how much resistance your body puts up against it. The current will flow freely through tissues with high water content, such as your muscles, and slow down or stop completely in tissues with low water content (your bones or body fat, for example.) The smart scale then uses complex algorithms to convert these electrical data points into body composition metrics.

Bioimpedance is less accurate than Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) and other clinically validated methods of measuring body composition. It is also more prone to imprecise readings, and that is because they are affected by multiple factors, including your hydration level and skin temperature. Therefore, BIA smart scales are best used for identifying long-term trends rather than ad-hoc check-ins.

Pulse velocity measurement: Impedance plethysmography uses a low-voltage electrical current to measure blood volume changes in your arteries, while ballistocardiography measures the tiny mechanical vibrations of the body that are caused by the movements of blood within it. In simpler terms, the scale records when blood is ejected from your heart and when it reaches your feet. The longer this movement takes, the more flexible your arteries appear to be, and therefore the lower your risk of developing cardiovascular disease and hypertension, according to a 2024 review published in the journal Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine.

In clinical settings, pulse wave velocity is measured using applanation tonometry. Smart scales can produce measurements that closely match this gold standard, but they can't replicate it. Applanation tonometry is typically done when you are lying down and have two pressure sensors attached to two arterial sites, typically on your neck and groin. Smart scales, on the other hand, require you to stand up during the measurement and take the pulse wave velocity measurements from a different body site, according to a 2017 study published in the American Journal of Hypertension.

Nerve Health Score: This is a number from 0 to 100 that indicates the state of the tiny nerves in your feet's sweat glands by measuring how well they conduct a low-voltage electrical current. This technology is referred to as Electrochemical Skin Conductance (ESC). The nerves in your feet are highly sensitive to damage caused by multiple different factors, such as chemotherapy or chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. A Nerve Health Score above 50 indicates normal nerve activity, while values below 50 signal potential neuropathy (nerve damage), according to a 2024 review published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroanatomy.

The current gold standard for assessing nerve health is through a biopsy, meaning it involves the invasive surgical removal of your nerve tissue. Smart scales that use ESC have proven reliable and are considered a promising non-invasive tool for detecting nerve damage in patients with metabolic conditions. They can also help those patients track the effects of specific treatment or lifestyle change on small nerve regeneration. However, ESC levels may vary by ethnicity, and they may not directly correspond to the state of nerves in different areas of the body, the review authors noted.

Withings Body Scan: Design

• Height- and weight-inclusive
• Durable and does not smudge easily
• Large surface area with a relatively small display

The Withings Body Scan is a solid, thoughtfully designed piece of kit. This smart scale is exceptionally height- and weight-inclusive: it has a relatively large platform and a long retractable handle, and its maximum user weight is 440 lbs (220 kg). To put that into perspective, most smart scales are limited to 396 lbs (180 kg). This is a big advantage: the Withings Body Scan can potentially better accommodate people with obesity and balance issues — two common comorbidities of metabolic conditions and diabetic neuropathy.

It also impressed us with its durability. We tested this smart scale for nearly two months — the Withings Body Scan sustained no scratches or any other damage, even though we accidentally dropped it on the hard tiles in our bathroom on at least two occasions. This smart scale has a clear premium feel to it, and this is not something we can say about most other bioimpedance devices we tested before.

The Withings Body Scan is not just tough, but it looks good, too. We liked its unusually tasteful, minimalistic design and the discreet 2.8-inch (70 mm) display at the top of the unit. Speaking of the display, it may be relatively small, but it is also colorful, easy to read and not over-cluttered with stats and numbers. More importantly, it presents the measurements in an easy-to-understand manner, using language that's body-positive, non-judgmental and considerate of people who may struggle with body dysmorphia and eating disorders.

We also appreciated that the glass platform did not smudge much. Of course, like most smart scales, the Withings Body Scan will inevitably collect some dust and stains — that's just the nature of devices you stand barefoot on. However, we found this smart scale slightly more resilient to sweat patches and easier to clean than most other models we tested before. One quick wipe was enough to make the glass platform look pristine again.

Withings Body Scan: Features

• Detailed body composition analysis
• Multiple weighing modes
• Confusing app layout

The Withings Body Scan is smart in the full sense of the word, especially when it comes to features. To start with, this device can automatically detect up to eight different users, meaning there is no need to log into the app first to connect your user profile before each weigh-in. Once you step onto the Withings Body Scan, it will automatically recognize you by your weight. This may be a small thing, but it makes this smart scale very user-friendly.

Moreover, all of the measured metrics can be tracked in the Withings app, and shared with several other fitness-related apps, such as Apple Health, Google Fit, MyFitnessPal and Samsung Health. This smart scale can also sync with the data obtained from other Withings devices (the Withings ScanWatch 2 hybrid smartwatch, for example) for a more holistic view of your health.

The weigh-ins are relatively quick and easy, and we have never had to redo our measurements due to inconclusive results (which happened quite a lot with some of the other smart scales we tested). The Withings Body Scan tracks most key body composition metrics, including weight, fat-free body mass, BMI, body fat percentage, bone mass, muscle mass, body water percentage and BMR.

It also provides segmental body analysis. Essentially, this smart scale can differentiate between muscle and fat mass in your trunk, arms and legs. This feature is particularly useful to those who want to track muscle development in different areas of their body — unlike most hand-to-foot models available on the market, the Withings Body Scan shows clear long-term trends in segmental body analysis, not just a snapshot of your body composition based entirely on the last reading taken with the device.

However, we would not consider this smart scale a particularly good fit for athletes and other advanced users. For example, the Withings Body Scan lacks some of the more advanced body composition stats, such as the difference between subcutaneous and visceral fat (fat under the skin and the fat that accumulates around internal organs). Also, its segmental body analysis does not differentiate between the right and left leg, or the right and left arm — this little omission could be a considerable disadvantage for bodybuilders and those recovering from one-sided injuries, for example.

Last, but not least, the weighing modes. The Withings Body Scan comes with Baby, Athlete, Pregnancy and Eyes-closed modes. We particularly like the last one — in the Eyes-closed mode, the scale will not show your body composition metrics on-screen during a weigh-in. Instead, it will display motivational messages or a smile emoji instead. Some users may appreciate that the Withings Body Scan allows them to track their weight without constantly seeing their daily numbers.

If there is anything we would complain about, it is the app layout. It is confusing and tricky to navigate, and it took us quite some time to learn where to find different stats. If you like clean, "clinical" apps overfilled with raw numbers, the Withings app may not be the best fit for you. If you are more focused on the overall trends and personalized lifestyle tips, however, we would still recommend it.

Withings Body Scan: Performance

• Relatively accurate body composition measurements
• Exceptionally long battery life
• Seamless app connectivity

The Withings Body Scan offers the longest battery life of all the smart scales we tested — according to the manufacturer, it lasts up to a year on a single charge. Understandably, we did not test our unit long enough to confirm whether that is indeed true. However, long-time online users of this smart scale generally praise it for its lasting performance, even with frequent weigh-ins.

In our tests, the Withings Body Scan displayed good tracking accuracy. We compared the body composition measurements taken with this smart scale to the data we obtained with a much bigger, more precise standalone FitQuest machine in our local gym. Both scales displayed the same body weight and we noted only small discrepancies in body composition analysis. The Withings Body Scan overestimated our body fat by about 2% and lean muscle by about 3%, while body water mass was 3% lower. Therefore, this smart scale proved to be slightly more accurate than the two other hand-to-feet models we tested before: the RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro and Renpho Morphoscan Nova. Both of these models overestimated our body fat percentage by approximately 5% and muscle mass percentage by 3%, and underestimated our body water reading by around 4%.

We also compared the cardiovascular measurements taken by this smart scale with the heart rate and ECG measurements obtained using our Withings ScanWatch 2. Both devices provided very similar readings — for example, there was only 2 bpm (beats per minute) difference in our resting heart rate. Unfortunately, we could not assess the Nerve Health Score as we did not have a reliable reference tool to compare the measurements with. Our score seemed largely accurate to us — but we do not have a diabetic food syndrome and live a relatively healthy lifestyle, so we may not be in the best position to give verdicts here.

Finally, the app connectivity. It scored high in our books: the Withings Body Scan instantly connected to our device and seamlessly transferred data between devices at all times. We have battled enough smart scales to know that good connectivity is not a given, so we truly appreciated the fact that our stats were always up to date.

Withings Body Scan: User reviews

At the time of writing this review, the Withings Body Scan was rated 4.1 out of 5 stars on Withings, 4.5 at Walmart, 3.8 at Best Buy, and 2.9 at Amazon. This smart scale was generally praised for its user-friendly design, long battery life and versatile tracking features.

As one user said: "The range of capabilities/metrics and the superb ease of use and integration with Apple Health make this a perfect support partner to keep on track with your health goals. I love how all Withings devices consolidate into the app for the holistic view of what’s going right now or what needs to be focused on health-wise."

The tracking accuracy and app connectivity, on the other hand, received mixed feedback. One buyer said: "Weight, fat, muscle, and visceral fat readings were inconsistent. Every time I stepped on the scale (and I did it a LOT last night when the scale arrived), I had a different reading. Weight fluctuated 8 lbs over 10 readings, in a span of less than 30 minutes. The scale has decided I am gaining fat and losing muscle (that’s completely wrong), and the app is now showing my BMI as stable, despite having lost 40 lbs in 3 months."

Negative reviews focused predominantly on individual faulty units and poor customer service from the company.

Should you buy the Withings Body Scan smart scale?

The Withings Body Scan is well built, easy to use and relatively accurate, but what truly makes this smart scale stand out among its competitors is its intense focus on long-term trends and a holistic analysis of your metrics. It is a great choice for those who want to improve their body composition while simultaneously monitoring their heart health and nerve activity in the feet — for example, people with type 2 diabetes, hypertension or metabolic syndrome.

For athlete-level fitness enthusiasts, however, the Withings Body Scan may lack the functionality to justify its high price.

✅ Buy it if: You want an all-in-one health station to monitor long-term changes in your body composition, cardiovascular function and nerve health.

❌ Do not buy it if: You are on a budget or looking for something more fitness-focused.

Withings Body Scan: How we tested

We spent nearly two months trying and testing the Withings Body Scan smart scale, looking into its design, features, ease of use, app connectivity and day-to-day performance. We also compared the heart rate and body composition measurements taken with this smart scale to the data we obtained with our Withings ScanWatch 2 and FitQuest machine (a bigger, more precise BIA scale used in our local gym). Finally, we gave our verdict on the general reliability and tracking performance of the Withings Body Scan.

The Celestron Outland X 10x25 roof prism binoculars are a tiny pair that you can fit in one hand or carry in a small pocket. They are rugged enough to throw in your hiking bag at the last minute, and would also be good to give to a nature-loving or skywatching child. They feel like they could handle a few accidental knocks and bumps.

We've reviewed several of the best compact binoculars, and we're reviewing the Outland X as they sit at a slightly higher price point than the child-friendly Occer 10x25, but well below the likes of the Olympus 8x25 WP II, which are currently our top pick in the compact binocular realm.

While compact models won't typically replace full-sized optics for serious wildlife observation or skywatching, they are always a great portable option to take hiking, camping or boating, especially if they are waterproof like this pair.

Used to reviewing all sorts of binoculars at different price points, we needed to remind ourselves throughout our review that this ultra-affordable pair retails for around $50.

Let's dive in…

Celestron Outland X 10x25 review

Celestron Outland X 10x25: Design

• Great build quality
• Simple design
• Waterproof and fog-proof

If taking a large pair of binoculars on a nature walk seems like overkill, but you don't want to miss an exciting opportunity for a more close-up view should the opportunity arise, the Celestron Outland X 10x25 could be a handy "just in case" companion.

They are small enough to fit in a coat pocket or thigh pocket, and at 10.9 ounces (310 g), they're probably lighter than your smartphone — you'll likely forget you're carrying them.

The protective rubber armor is pretty smooth and doesn't offer much in the way of texture (unlike, for example, the Hawke Endurance 8x25), but given that these binoculars are small enough to grip one-handed, there is no real reason to provide extra texture. A neck strap is supplied, as well as a case with a belt strap that you can utilize between sessions.

The focus wheel turns smoothly, but with enough resistance that it won't slip once you have focused your view. People with larger hands will probably find they can rest the binoculars on their thumbs and turn the wheel with their fingertips, rather than gripping them in their palms.

Celestron Outland X 10x25: Performance

• Best for daylight use to get closer to the action
• No need to wait when moving between temperatures
• Color accuracy is lacking

After spending a couple of weeks taking these binoculars on various excursions, we would deem their performance OK, or good for what they are — a relatively cheap pair of binoculars.

The view is clear enough to get closer to the action for daytime wildlife observation or sports and events, but the color is a bit lackluster. There is noticeable, distracting color fringing when viewing wildlife or objects against a bright backdrop (a bird sitting on a branch in front of blue sky, for example), which is surprising given the multi-coated lens coating that should help minimize this. Aside from this, we often felt the colors looked undersaturated. We needed to remind ourselves that these are a budget pair of binoculars and lower our expectations.

That said, there were occasions where we would have missed out on identifying swooping birds, spotting deer through trees in the woods or closely following the action at our local sports track had we not had the Outland X with us.

On clear nights, we were able to get a good look at a bright moon, including its craters, but they aren't really useful for skywatching beyond that and getting a slightly closer look at some of the brightest objects in the night sky. This isn't really a fault of these binoculars; it's just not what they are made for.

Celestron Outland X 10x25: Functionality

• Close focus could be shorter
• Very limited 9.1 mm eye relief
• Great for grab-and-go use

Surprisingly for a budget pair of binoculars, the Celestron Outland X 10x25 are waterproof and nitrogen-filled, so they can handle wet weather and changing temperatures. We took these binoculars out of our warm house and on walks on cold, frosty mornings without experiencing any adverse effects.

The twist-up eyecups only offer a tiny amount of eye relief adjustment, so we wouldn't recommend these binoculars for spectacle wearers: the eye relief is a mere 9.1 mm. For comfortable viewing, spectacle wearers should generally look for eye relief of 17 mm or more.

There were a couple of occasions when we wanted to do some backyard wildlife and birdwatching. Sadly, with only a small garden, we found the minimum focus of 19.7 feet (6 meters) to be too far away. Something like the Celestron Nature DX ED 8x42 with a 6.5 foot (2 meter) minimum focusing distance would be better for this.

Should you buy the Celestron Outland X 10x25?

Overall, the Celestron Outland X 10x25mm are fuss-free, functional binoculars for users who want something small and lightweight to take out and about, but still value a robust pair with decent glass and weatherproofing.

We can think of models we'd choose over this pair, but if you're not looking for the best and you can pick them up at a reasonable price, they might be just what you're looking for. Something you can sling in your rucksack on long hikes or camping weekends without having to worry about them getting wet or being left out in the cold — and that won't break the bank if you do have an accident with them.

If this product isn't for you:

Tired of bulky, rugged fitness trackers that weigh down your wrist and clash with your everyday outfits? Consider a hybrid smartwatch instead. These wearables combine smart technology with the timeless charm of a traditional, analog wristwatch, giving you the best of both worlds. They often feature physical hands and a non-digital face, as well as advanced sensors and tiny displays that help you track your health and fitness metrics discreetly.

The perfect example of a hybrid smartwatch is the Withings ScanWatch 2. This wearable does not have the top-class mapping features or workout-tracking tools typical of Garmin watches, nor will it help you prepare for a sporting event in the way that even some of the most budget-friendly fitness trackers can — but that is not what it is meant to do.

Instead, the Withings ScanWatch 2 focuses predominantly on your heart health, sleep and general well-being.

Most importantly, it features ECG (it can detect irregular heart rhythm and alert you to potential signs of arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation) and is one of the handful of wearables that offer full heart health reviews conducted by board-certified cardiologists. The Withings ScanWatch 2 also comes with advanced body temperature sensors and can sync with other Withings health trackers, such as smart scales and BeamO (a device that combines a thermometer, ECG, stethoscope and oximeter).

The cherry on top? This hybrid smartwatch lasts up to 35 days on a single charge and comes in a wide range of elegant designs. No wonder we did not think twice about taking up the offer to test it out.

Withings ScanWatch 2 review

Withings ScanWatch 2: Design

• Exceptionally elegant and discreet
• Featherlight and comfortable to wear
• Customizable design with detachable straps

Right off the bat, the Withings ScanWatch 2 scores a big point for its customizability. This hybrid smartwatch comes in two sizes, 1.5-inch (38 millimeters) and 1.65-inch (42 mm), with both models available in black, blue and pearl white, and the 1.5-inch version also available in sand. On top of that, we also have a wide range of detachable straps to choose from. Whether you are looking for a tasteful leather strap, a durable metal bracelet or a sporty silicone band, you can easily find something that suits your style.

Our testing unit was the 1.5-inch version, in the sand color with a white leather wristband — and we absolutely adored it. The Withings ScanWatch 2 is by far the most feminine and elegant smartwatch we have ever tested (and we have tested a lot). It is so discreet that it could easily pass for an analog watch, and so beautifully crafted that we had no qualms about wearing it to a family wedding and other formal occasions. We also liked how featherlight and comfortable it was to wear. Looks- and feel-wise, it scores 10 out of 10.

The Withings ScanWatch 2 may look rather delicate, but it is surprisingly well-built. This hybrid smartwatch is encased in durable stainless steel and covered with sapphire glass for added protection against bumps and scratches. In fact, it is almost as durable as some of the best outdoor-oriented watches from Garmin, Suunto and other leading brands.

This was a smart choice for Withings to make. The ScanWatch 2 is so small and compact that you barely even feel its presence on the wrist, and if you keep forgetting you are wearing it, you are more likely to expose it to various accidents. Take it from us — we must have bumped our testing unit against steel gym equipment at least a dozen times. The good news is that it did not sustain any visible damage.

Withings ScanWatch 2: Display

• 0.63-inch, two-tone OLED display
• Controlled via the rotating crown
• Can be difficult to read in direct sunlight

The 0.63-inch (16 mm) OLED display is both the best and the worst feature of the Withings ScanWatch 2. Starting with the positives, it makes this smartwatch look exceptionally discreet. When it is off, the display seamlessly blends in with the analog part of the watch face. It is also very quick and straightforward to control — simply press the crown to wake the screen, rotate it to scroll through the menu, and press again to select features.

Interestingly, the physical hands will never obscure this tiny display if it is in use (which could happen at around midday, for example). Once you press the crown, they will temporarily move to the sides, and after you finish setting the features, they instantly move back to where they were before. It is a clever design: refreshingly simple and very satisfying to use.

On the other hand, the display is also what can make the Withings ScanWatch 2 difficult to read. The menu captions are horrendously tiny and not particularly visible in direct sunlight. Even those with perfect eyesight may struggle to decipher them, never mind people with visual impairments.

The crown control can be a disadvantage, too. For example, it makes it easy to unintentionally mess with the watch settings. One time, we almost triggered a full factory reset simply because we did not notice that our gym glove was pressing and rotating the crown during a workout. This is made worse by the fact that it is not possible to temporarily disable the crown, to prevent things like that from happening in the first place.

Withings ScanWatch 2: Features

• Comprehensive, detailed health insights
• Basic workout tracking features
• Confusing app layout

Health-related features are where the Withings ScanWatch 2 shines the brightest. Not because there are so many of them (though that matters, too), but rather due to how they are displayed and interpreted in the Withings app.

Most fitness trackers focus on raw numbers, crunching stats and specific short-term outcomes, such as the training load from a particular workout or the effects of your sleep on the energy levels the following day. The ScanWatch 2, on the other hand, is more about holistic analysis and identifying long-term trends. The longer we used this smartwatch, the more it seemed to learn about us, and the better it got at connecting the dots between different metrics.

That said, most of these personalized health insights and in-depth analytic features are hidden behind a paywall. The Withings+ subscription is complimentary for the first month, then it switches to $9.95 per month or $99.95 per year. It is quite pricey, true, but we are inclined to say it is worth the expense. Not only does it help you make more sense of your stats, but it also provides you with access to a rich, well-written content library, guided programs and a lifetime warranty on active Withings devices.

Most importantly, a Withings+ subscription allows you to request personalized heart health assessments conducted by board-certified cardiologists. Every subscriber can do that up to four times a year at no extra cost. We fully approve of this feature and wish more brands would follow suit. Smartwatch ECGs are relatively accurate, but still not as precise as ECGs done in clinical settings. They also tend to be more finicky to take and therefore more prone to providing inconclusive results. Having a medical professional who can interpret this ECG data can offer some peace of mind to those who pay close attention to their cardiovascular health.

The Withings+ subscription is not necessary to benefit from the app's features, though. The Withings app is colorful and engaging, and it does a great job of explaining health metrics in an easy-to-understand way. We liked that it feels less “clinical” and data-heavy than Garmin Connect or Whoop, for example — this makes it very accessible to casual exercisers or those new to health tracking.

We have only one major issue with the Withings app — its layout feels quite confusing and tricky to navigate, and its features are arranged differently from most other smartwatch apps we have used. That’s partly because, as we mentioned before, the app emphasizes long-term trends and a holistic approach rather than raw stats and numbers. If you are used to regular fitness trackers, this approach may feel a bit alien and counterintuitive.

We were also slightly disappointed with the watch’s workout tracking capabilities. The Withings ScanWatch 2 can automatically detect and record your exercise sessions, but it does not collect nearly as many metrics as most other wearables. Moreover, there is no way to check your metrics in the app halfway through your workout (except for the real-time heart rate readings) — you can only access them after the session is finished. If you are focused on assessing and improving your exercise performance, the Withings ScanWatch 2 will surely fall short of your expectations.

Withings ScanWatch 2: Performance

• Up to 35 days of battery life
• Relatively accurate measurements of heart rate and temperature
• Seamless app connectivity

According to the manufacturer, the Withings ScanWatch 2 lasts up to 35 days on a single charge. This sounds about right — we wore our testing unit day and night for nearly two months, and we only had to charge it twice during that time. To put that into perspective, most ECG smartwatches offer around two weeks of battery life at best.

We were also satisfied with the tracking performance. The Withings ScanWatch 2 did a particularly good job of measuring body temperature and assessing the duration and quality of our sleep, which in turn led to reliable menstrual cycle predictions and on-point assessments of our energy levels. Breathing rate, ECG and blood oxygen assessments also looked relatively accurate.

Heart rate measurements, however, were a bit more volatile — but that appears to have more to do with the limitations of PPG optical sensors, rather than the quality of the Withings ScanWatch 2 itself. When we compared the readings taken by this smartwatch with the data we obtained using a more accurate Polar H9 chest-strap heart rate monitor, we noticed that the heart rate measurements tended to be more accurate during periods of rest and light exercise than during high-intensity activities. This is the same pattern we observed in pretty much every other PPG tracker we have ever tested.

We have no qualms about the app connectivity, either. We quickly connected the Withings ScanWatch 2 to our phone and did not experience any issues with data transfer. The software updates were prompt and did not interfere with our activities.

So, is the Withings ScanWatch 2 worth the money? We think so. While $369.95 may not be particularly budget-friendly, it is not unreasonable either, given the overall value of this smartwatch.

Withings ScanWatch 2: User reviews

At the time of writing this review, the Withings ScanWatch 2 was rated 4.4 out of 5 stars at Withings, 4.3 stars at Best Buy and 4 stars at Amazon. Positive reviews tended to praise this hybrid smartwatch for its stylish design, long battery life, good tracking accuracy and useful health insights. Sleep and step tracking, on the other hand, received mixed feedback.

One user said: "First of all, I love this watch for the simple and easy-to-navigate screen. One button is all you need. I’m also a sucker for analog faces. You can’t tell it’s a smartwatch at a glance. The auto sensor is nice when I can’t be bothered to input each workout mode and the readings are usually not too far off. [...] The battery life is great, too. I can go on vacation without needing to pack a charger. [...] I’m planning to train for a 70.3 Ironman next year and will probably be switching to a Garmin to suit my needs. If you enjoy running or cycling, this is still a great watch! Sturdy, aesthetically pleasing, low fuss and not too many bells and whistles to navigate and learn. It’s enough to track your activity and basic health stats."

Negative reviews tended to focus on individual faulty units and connectivity issues. A handful of users also reported poor customer service from the company.

One user said: "When I first got the watch and installed the Withings app on the phone, I could get the data from the watch to the phone, no problem. But for some reason, I could not get the data from the Withings app to sync with Health Connect. The Withings app could read my historical data and also upload it into the app which I really liked but I could only get partial data updated from the Withings app to Health Connect. It would get mileage, and activities loaded, but step count was left out completely."

Should you buy the Withings ScanWatch 2?

The Withings ScanWatch 2 is a beautifully crafted hybrid smartwatch that outperforms its competitors with advanced health insights and long battery life. While it is not well-suited for workout tracking and its app can be tricky to navigate, it is still an excellent alternative to flashy, rugged smartwatches.

✅ Buy it if: You want an ultra-stylish hybrid smartwatch that offers detailed insights into your sleep, stress and heart health.

❌ Do not buy it if: You are looking for an advanced workout tracker or need something with a bigger, more colorful screen.

Withings ScanWatch 2: Related products

It is tricky to find a wearable that closely matches the looks and functionality of the Withings ScanWatch 2. Something has to give, even when it comes to other hybrid smartwatches. For example, most models from TAG, Montblanc, Tissot and other leading brands are as stylish and durable, but they tend to lack advanced health-tracking features or a similarly versatile app ecosystem. Not to mention, they are often three to four times as expensive.

If timeless style and health metrics are your top priorities, consider one of the best smart rings instead. The Oura Ring Gen 4, for example, offers excellent sleep and stress tracking features, extensive customization and long battery life. Plus, it costs roughly the same as the Withings ScanWatch 2.

If you are more interested in fitness tracking, you may be better off investing in a relatively discreet screenless wearable, such as the Whoop MG, or one of the less bulky and “masculine” Garmin watches — the Garmin Vivomove Sport or Garmin Vivoactive 6, for example.

Withings ScanWatch 2: How we tested

We spent nearly two months testing the Withings ScanWatch 2, looking into its design, features, day-to-day performance and ease of use. We wore this smartwatch during the day, while sleeping and when doing a range of activities, from hiking outdoors to gym-based circuit classes.

Then, we compared the sleep, steps and heart rate measurements taken by the Withings ScanWatch 2 with the data we obtained using a Polar H9 chest-strap heart rate monitor, a Whoop MG screenless fitness tracker and an Oura Ring Gen 4 smart ring. Lastly, we gave our verdict on its overall functionality and value for money.

Keeping the house fur-free is a constant battle for many cat and dog owners. Air purifiers help remove some of that pesky hair, but even the most pet-friendly models will inevitably clog up and have you spend hours washing and vacuuming the filters. However, the era of such never-ending maintenance may finally be over. Meet the Dreame FP10 — the first-ever air purifier that uses a 360-degree self-cleaning roller to keep its filters free of fur, dust and other debris lingering in the indoor air.

The Dreame FP10 seems to tick all the boxes for owners of furry pets. Not only is it low-maintenance, but it also features bite-resistant cords and a little tabletop that your mischievous cats can climb without you having to worry about their safety. Most importantly, it promises to solve the most common air quality woes plaguing pet households. According to the manufacturer, the Dreame FP10 can remove up to 99.97% of airborne particles and 99.9% of stubborn pet odors, without making much noise or causing disruptive airflow.

To top it off, this air purifier comes with a dedicated app, voice control and real-time air quality monitoring — and it looks great, too. Needless to say, we were eager to put the Dreame FP10 through its paces and see whether it could earn a spot in our guide to the best air purifiers for pet owners.

Dreame FP10 Air Purifier review

Dreame FP10: Design

• Elegant, durable and pet-friendly
• Doubles as a small table
• Small control buttons and no on-body display

Air purifiers designed for use around pets tend to prioritize functionality over looks, but that is not the case with the Dreame FP10. With its elegant tower design, tastefully toned-down color palette and soft lighting illuminations, it is one of the nicest-looking air purifiers we have tested, more akin to a piece of furniture than a household appliance. It is discreet and unobtrusive, and should not look out of place even in the most stylish households. That's not to say the Dreame FP10's design lacks functionality, though — quite the opposite.

One of its defining features is a small detachable tabletop. We like the concept of an air purifier that doubles as a bedside table, because it gives us more space to store our books, magazines and other small trinkets. This design tweak is not just practical, but also exceptionally cat-friendly. As these four-legged creatures have a penchant for climbing on household appliances, it gives them somewhere to sit and explore their surroundings without getting in the way of air vents or accidentally stepping on the control buttons.

Interestingly, this detachable table can be swapped for an optional pet-weighing tray. This clever accessory (soon to be available on Dreame's website) records the weight and daily sleep routine of your furry friend every time they step on it, and can even automatically adjust the appliance's fan speed to shield them from excessive noise and sudden airflow changes. This data can then be viewed in the Dreamehome app, giving you a handy overview of your pet's well-being and daily habits.

The Dreame FP10 not only has a convenient space for your cat to sit on, but it is also built well enough to withstand their weight and sudden movements. This air purifier features an exceptionally sturdy base that keeps the whole unit from tipping over, and it feels sufficiently durable to, for example, survive a head-on collision with a racing dog. At the same time, we did not find the Dreame FP10 particularly difficult to move around the house. Yes, it is a relatively big and heavy appliance, but its tabletop is so securely attached that it can serve as a handle if needed.

All in all, the Dreame FP10 seems to be more thoughtfully designed than many of the pet-friendly air purifiers we have tested previously. If there is anything we would complain about here, it is the control panel. The buttons are tiny and not particularly visible in low light, and there is no on-body display showing current air quality readings or which settings are switched on. Given that most air purifiers these days come with a digital touchscreen, this feels like quite an oversight. This clunky control panel can also be a considerable disadvantage for people with poor eyesight, or those who simply do not fancy always having to use an app to control their appliances.

The price is another drawback. The Dreame FP10 costs $499.99, making it one of the most expensive pet-friendly air purifiers we have tested.

Dreame FP10: Features

• 10 manually adjusted fan speeds
• Auto mode
• Self-cleaning roller and a detachable hair collection chamber
• PM2.5, TVOC, temperature and humidity sensors

The Dreame FP10 features a four-stage purification system: a pre-filter for capturing hair, dust and other larger particles; a HEPA filter designed to remove tiny airborne allergens, such as pet dander, pollen and mold spores; an activated carbon filter which helps absorb odor-bearing particles; and a metal functional layer that breaks those odor-bearing particles down (and therefore helps remove them from circulation.) According to the brand, this system allows the Dreame FP10 to remove up to 99.9% of stubborn odors and 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. While these figures sound impressive, we could not find any independent studies that would verify these claims.

What we can confirm, however, is the Dreame FP10's impressive range of purification settings. This air purifier comes with 10 manually adjusted fan speeds — most commercially available models are limited to three or four. It also has an auto mode in which the fan speed changes automatically based on real-time air quality data, and a sleep mode in which the fan speed is reduced to a minimum to limit any nighttime disturbances. Moreover, the Dreame FP10 features a dedicated pet mode that works with the optional pet-weighing tray.

The star of the show, however, is the self-cleaning feature. The Dreame FP10 comes with a 360-degree roller that can brush around the pre-filter to remove any fur that has stuck to it. This cleaning process can be activated in the app, lasts approximately 30 seconds, and once it’s completed, the collected debris gets deposited in the detachable chamber.

When this chamber gets full, you can easily remove it from the unit and empty its contents into a bin. You do not have to worry about cross-contamination or bad odors here — the chamber is tightly sealed and the cleaning process does not seem to release any of the collected pollutants back into the air. In our opinion, this feature offers an excellent way to save time and prolong the filter life, and we would love to see it implemented in more pet-friendly air purifiers in the future.

The air quality measurements, on the other hand, were not as impressive. The Dreame FP10 measures only two types of airborne pollutants: PM2.5 (particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in diameter, such as pollen and pet dander) and much smaller TVOCs (volatile organic compounds, such as potentially harmful gases from paints and varnishes). While these two metrics may be sufficient for general air quality monitoring, they may not accurately represent air quality in pet households, because some of the most common pet-related pollutants are much larger than 2.5 microns. For example, fur strands and some pet dander flakes can measure more than 10 microns.

Dreame FP10: Performance

• Quiet and unobtrusive
• Excellent air-cleaning performance
• Efficiently removes dust, hair and bad odors

The Dreame FP10 may have some shortcomings in design and features, but its day-to-day performance is truly top-class. This air purifier did exactly what it promised — it made a tangible difference to the air quality in our home, quickly and efficiently removing odors, hair and various other airborne pollutants, and its built-in roller kept the pre-filter pristinely clean without us having to lift a finger. True, we are not pet owners and can't vouch for its performance around cats or dogs, but we have tested enough air purifiers to recognize the Dreame FP10's superior air-cleaning capabilities and are confident this air purifier has what it takes to deliver great results in challenging environments.

As long as it is used correctly, that is. According to the brand, the Dreame FP10 covers up to 1,346 square feet (125 square meters) and works best in rooms measuring up to 624 square feet (58 square meters). This claim is roughly in line with its CADR rating. This independent metric, measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM), indicates how quickly an appliance can clean the air in a given space. The Dreame FP10 is rated 206 CFM, which means it can clean the air once every 30 minutes in a space measuring the stated 624 square feet — and that is enough to make a significant difference to its overall air quality. Based on this CADR rating, however, the very best results (one air change per 15 minutes) are to be expected in rooms measuring up to 300 square feet (27.8 square meters). Incidentally, that’s around the size of the room where we conducted our air quality tests.

The first test we did assessed the Dreame FP10's air-cleaning capabilities in ambient conditions. We placed this air purifier in the room, locked the doors and windows, then used our trusted Perfect Prime air particle monitor (an industry-grade device that can detect airborne pollutants as small as 0.3 microns) before and after running this air purifier on its auto setting for 30 minutes. The Dreame FP10 removed 71% of particles measuring 0.3 microns and 75% of pollutants measuring 2.5 microns (no 10-micron particles were detected). This is a considerable drop, given that both the air purifier and air particle monitor indicated good air quality at the time of testing.

Then, we conducted the smoke tests. We started by burning a handful of matches, then running the Dreame FP10 for 30 minutes on its auto setting. The air purifier removed 98.5% of 0.3-micron particles, 99.7% of particles measuring 2.5 microns, and all the pollutants larger than 10 microns. When we repeated the match test on the highest fan speed setting, all of the smoke particles were hoovered up after 30 minutes, and when we repeated the procedure with a handful of incense sticks, we obtained similarly good results. All in all, the Dreame FP10 has demonstrated it can stand up to the task of keeping our indoor air free of pollutants.

The cherry on top? The Dreame FP10 is exceptionally quiet. Most of the time, we could barely hear it working. This air purifier is understandably much louder at the highest fan speed — when we measured it with the Sound Meter decibel-counting app, we noted around 60 dB, equivalent to the sounds of regular conversation or office environment — but even then, it is not particularly disturbing or unpleasant on the ears. The Dreame FP10 should not keep you up at night or cause excessive stress to your four-legged friends.

Dreame FP10: User reviews

At the time of writing this review, the Dreame FP10 was rated 4.8 out of 5 stars at both Amazon and Dreame. This air purifier was often praised for its quiet fans, ease of use, great air-cleaning performance and high build quality, and several users credited it with significant improvements to their allergy symptoms.

One happy customer said: "This has got to be one of the best air purifiers I have bought! I have four dogs, one of them is a husky, and I have gone through a lot of purifiers over the years. Even the ones that said they were for pets don't beat this one! [...] My allergies have been way better and the house just smells fresher."

Negative remarks, though few and far between, tended to focus on the Dreame FP10's control panel and air quality measurements. As one user said: "It has no visible air quality indicators, except for a little red light that comes on when air quality is low and is hard to see, as are all the controls on the main unit. Supposedly, the external lighting is supposed to get a warmer, yellowish hue when air quality is poor, however I have not seen it do this. If it is doing so, it is so subtle as to be useless. [...] The indoor temp readings have consistently been 4 to 5 degrees F too high. There is no way to calibrate or to enter an offset to correct for this. Hopefully, this and the air quality hue feature can be addressed with a firmware update and are not caused by something faulty."

Should you buy the Dreame FP10 air purifier?

The Dreame FP10 Air Purifier ticks all the main boxes for people with furry pet, from near-silent operation and cat-friendly design to effortless filter maintenance and excellent air-cleaning performance. It is well-built and looks great, too. However, as good as this air purifier is, it also comes with two major downsides: a high price point and a clunky control interface.

✅ Buy it if: You are a pet owner looking for a quiet, stylish air purifier that excels at removing fur and bad odors.

❌ Do not buy it if: You are on a budget, want something smaller or prefer air purifiers with an easy-to-read digital display.

If the Dreame FP10 air purifier is not for you

Looking for something more budget-friendly than the Dreame FP10? Consider the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier. It is exceptionally compact, ultra-quiet and easy to maintain, and more importantly, very efficient at removing pet hair and lingering odors — all for less than $90. That said, the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier lacks smart features and is not suitable for rooms bigger than 294 square feet (27.3 square meters).

Want something bigger and more powerful than the Oneisall Pet Air Purifier? Then you can't go wrong with the Levoit Vital 200S. It is our all-time favorite air purifier for pet owners and it costs less than half the price of the Dreame FP10. However, it is not particularly stylish or low-maintenance.

Need a multi-purpose appliance? The Switchbot Air Purifier Table is an excellent choice here — it is light, compact and smart-enabled, plus it comes with a built-in wireless phone charger, scent diffuser and ambient light. The best part? It is often on sale for less than $199 and can be easily integrated with other Switchbot appliances.

Dreame FP10: How we tested

We spent over a month trying and testing the Dreame FP10 air purifier. We carefully assessed its design, features, durability, day-to-day performance and ease of use. We also checked how loud it was using the Sound Meter decibel-counting app, and measured its air-cleaning capabilities using a Perfect Prime air particle monitor — an industry-grade device capable of detecting airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns.

We started with an ambient air quality test. We placed the Dreame FP10 in an enclosed room measuring approximately 200 square feet (18.5 square meters), then calculated the difference in airborne particles before and after running it for 15 and 30 minutes on different fan speed settings. Then, we followed up with more challenging smoke tests. We burned a handful of matches and incense sticks, then repeated the procedure on an auto mode and the highest fan speed.

After this testing protocol had been completed, we gave our final verdict on the Dreame FP10's overall functionality and value for money.

The Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS is a super-telephoto zoom built for wildlife and action photography, where reach, responsiveness and reliable autofocus are just as important as flexibility in the field. Covering 200-600mm, it’s designed for those moments when you can’t move closer, and the subject definitely isn’t coming to you.

It’s a popular choice with wildlife photographers, often paired with some of the best wildlife cameras for a long-range setup, and it sits comfortably among the best wildlife lenses for this kind of shooting. Despite its position in the super-telephoto category, it still represents strong value for photographers who need long reach without committing to the cost and limitations of prime lenses.

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS review

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS: Design

• Lens weighs a hefty 4.66 pounds (2.1 kg)
• Large 95mm filter thread
• Internal zoom keeps the size constant and protects it from the elements

This chunky lens weighs in at a whopping 4.66 pounds (2.1 kg) and has a fixed physical length of around 12.5 inches (318mm) — it’s a beast. Thankfully, the internal zoom means it doesn’t extend out any further unless you attach the lens hood, which adds another 4 inches (10 centimeters). But on the whole, we found the weight to be manageable enough, although we needed regular breaks to avoid arm and wrist strain.

On the lens barrel itself, you’ll find all the usual suspects that you’d expect on a super-telephoto lens. It has an AF/MF focus switch, a focus limiter, an OSS [Optical SteadyShot] on/off switch and a shake compensation switch (labelled as ‘Mode’) with three options. There are also three custom buttons, alongside a wide focus ring and even wider zoom ring. Though somewhat annoyingly, there’s no zoom lock, which meant we sometimes accidentally changed the zoom while shooting. If you want to use filters, the filter thread is a generous 95mm.

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS: Performance

• Fast and accurate autofocus
• Sharp and detailed images — sharpest at 600mm f/8
• Barely any optical defects

We used this lens to do a lot of bird photography, so the autofocus was really put through its paces with the fast, unpredictable movement of small birds. Considering the birds were small, far away and perched among distractions such as branches and leaves, we thought the lens coped pretty well overall. On less tricky subjects, the autofocus never let us down and easily kept up with moving animals.

We used a test chart to shoot at 200mm, 400mm and 600mm at the widest aperture (in this case, f/5.6 or f/6.3), f/8 and f/11, to test sharpness and contrast and look for any optical defects. At 200mm, central sharpness is best wide open at f/5.6, and while the sharpness is still good at f/8, the most notable difference is the loss of contrast. At 400mm, however, f/8 was noticeably sharper than its widest aperture of f/6.3. F/11 is softer again, but when it comes to contrast, there’s less of a difference between the three aperture settings.

Zooming all the way to 600mm, f/8 is still the sharpest and has around the same contrast as f/6.3. When comparing the two, we found the sharpness and contrast to be slightly better at 600mm f/8 as opposed to 400mm f/8, which is great news for users who want to photograph birds and distant wildlife.

At the corners, there isn’t much difference in sharpness between the three apertures at 200mm. What actually makes the most difference is the increased contrast at f/5.6. At 400mm and 600mm, f/8 performs best in the corners in terms of sharpness.

We noticed some vignetting when shooting wide open, which was improved when we stopped down to f/8, but what surprised us most was that there’s barely any chromatic aberration on any of the test shots we took, thanks to the five ED glass elements. We didn’t see any flare or ghosting during our field test shots, and there was only a tiny bit of distortion — and that was easily corrected in Lightroom. For a non-G-Master lens, this is impressive.

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS: Functionality

• 200-600mm focal length is excellent for sports and wildlife
• f/5.6-6.3 aperture relies on favorable light or good ISO handling
• Three OSS modes for shake correction

When it comes to Sony’s super-telephoto zoom lenses, the two main players will be the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS that we’re reviewing here, and the bigger (but slower) Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS. Although the extra reach up to 800mm might be tempting, particularly if you specialize in bird photography, the 200-600mm lens has a faster maximum aperture of f/5.6 compared to the longer lens’s f/6.3 — and keep in mind, that’s at the shorter end of the focal range. It may not seem like much, but at fast shutter speeds, you need as much light hitting the sensor as possible to keep your ISO down. We spent a lot of time shooting at 600mm — and therefore at a maximum aperture of f/6.3 — which meant we had to rely on good natural light or bump the ISO up.

But when it comes to the focal length on its own, we had no problems photographing general wildlife with 200-600mm. We also got some beautiful images of small birds outside our house, but in most cases, we did need to rely on cropping the final image — this is where having a good camera comes in.

The image stabilization is generally very good, and the OSS Mode switch on the lens barrel offers three different options to suit various photographic styles. Mode 1 suits general shooting of stationary subjects, mode 2 works best for panning and mode 3 “provides a more stable viewfinder image that makes tracking and framing easier,” according to Sony. We spent most of our time using mode 3 for tracking and shooting unpredictable birds in flight.

Should you buy the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS?

If your most important criteria are price and flexibility for wildlife and action photography, we think this is the best option to go for — particularly if this is your first dedicated wildlife lens. You get a lot of lens for the money, and although it’s never going to compare to the super-sharp prime lenses that the pros use, we were still impressed by its image quality. The versatile focal length allows for near and distant wildlife and sports action, and you could even do a bit of landscape photography at the wide 200mm end.

If this product isn't for you

The ZWO Seestar S30 Pro is the latest of a new generation of smart telescopes designed to remove much of the complexity traditionally associated with astrophotography. Instead of a separate telescope, camera, tracking mount and laptop, everything is contained in one compact unit and controlled entirely through a smartphone app.

For beginners, that automation makes astronomy much less daunting. After just a few minutes, the telescope automatically identifies the stars overhead, slews to a chosen target and begins capturing exposures. The resulting frames are stacked together in real time, gradually revealing galaxies, nebulae and star clusters regardless of urban light pollution.

However, it's what this smart telescope — an update to the ZWO Seestar S30 — does beyond that basic concept that makes it so impressive. By adding a new sensor that allows 8.3MP images and the ability to go into equatorial mode — a feature typically reserved for advanced astrophotography that puts a 'scope in sync with Earth's rotation — the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro becomes a product that can be explored in a lot more depth than the price tag suggests. The ability to deal in RAW image files will also appeal to advanced users.

One of the simplest but also one of the most impressive smart telescopes around, here’s everything you need to know about the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro.

ZWO Seestar S30 Pro review

ZWO Seestar S30 Pro: Design

• Compact and highly portable
• Simple minimalist controls
• Dual-camera system

At first glance, the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro hardly looks like a telescope at all. The entire device measures 8.25 x 5.5 x 3.15 inches (210 x 140 x 80 mm) and weighs just 3.6 lb (1.65 kg), making it small enough to fit inside most camera backpacks. It also comes with a good quality padded bag, complete with a shoulder strap. Unlike most astrophotography rigs, the Seestar can be carried in one hand.

The body is constructed from durable plastic with a simple, minimalist design. Aside from a power button and USB-C port, there are no physical controls on the telescope itself. All adjustments — including slewing, focusing and imaging — are performed through the Seestar smartphone app.

The telescope mounts onto a tabletop tripod (also in the box) using a standard 3/8-inch thread. However, in practice, we found it works best on a full-size photographic tripod: this will improve stability and provide a better view above nearby obstacles in the average backyard.

A key design feature of the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro is its dual-camera system. The main telephoto camera uses a Sony IMX585 sensor (a high-sensitivity sensor typically found in security/night-vision cameras) paired with the apochromatic refractor telescope at the core of this product for deep-sky imaging. Above it sits a wide-angle camera, with a massive 63-degree field of view, that is used for sky alignment, wide-field imaging and Milky Way photography. It's packing a Sony IMX586 sensor that's designed for low-light performance.

There’s also a built-in three-filter system to reduce light pollution and capture specific wavelengths of light to better reveal emission nebulae, but there's sadly no solar filter in the box.

ZWO Seestar S30 Pro: Performance

• Aligns and tracks automatically
• Live stacking reveals faint objects quickly
• EQ mode is easy to use

We tested the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro across multiple nights in February and March, with temperatures ranging between 36 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit (2 and 7 degrees Celsius), under Bortle 6 suburban skies, where light pollution typically makes using an optical telescope challenging.

Set-up was straightforward: mount the telescope on a tripod, power it on and connect to its Wi-Fi network through the Seestar app. There’s an NFC “tap” feature to make it even easier. Within roughly four minutes, we had chosen a target on the app's planetarium-style sky map, and the telescope had automatically plate-solved the stars overhead to determine its position in the sky as it locked onto the target.

Once a target is in the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro's crosshairs, it begins capturing 10-second exposures. These images are stacked together in real time, gradually increasing the signal-to-noise ratio and revealing faint detail. It's a process that's surprisingly satisfying to watch — though you can just as easily set it to stack and come back an hour or two later to check on its progress.

The first target we captured was the Orion Nebula (M42), one of the brightest deep-sky objects visible during March. Using the Seestar S30 Pro in standard alt-azimuth mode, we allowed the telescope to run for 20 minutes, with the resulting image showing strong color in the nebula’s hydrogen clouds. Next, we had the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro spend rather more time on Bode’s Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy (M81 and M82), during which it revealed the faint spiral structure of M81.

We then returned to the galaxy pair a few nights later, putting the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro into EQ mode and letting it take up to 60-second exposures — instead of the regular 10-second ones — to see what kinds of improvements are possible. However, it’s important to note that using EQ mode requires an equatorial wedge, which Seestar sells as its TH10 Fluid Tripod Head.

It’s possible to export the stacked FITS file into stacking and post-processing software like Siril, PixInsight or Photoshop, but we relied solely on the Seestar app’s built-in editing.

ZWO Seestar S30 Pro: Functionality

• Intuitive smartphone app
• Automatic stacking
• Deep Sky Stack editing software

Much of the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro's appeal lies in its automation, with its excellent companion app adding impressive, enjoyable and easy-to-use advanced features. A great example is its sky atlas software, which shows the current night sky. It’s quick to use, easy to search and has plenty of recommended targets highlighted. Selecting one automatically slews the telescope into position — and it barely ever misses its target. After it’s auto-focused, captured exposures and stacked images, it applies some rudimentary processing. Sure, the only settings that can be adjusted are exposure time and gain, but that’s the point.

For those who like to experiment but are more interested in exploring after data collection, one option for advanced users is to export individual FITS frames for manual processing. However, most will use the app’s Deep Sky Stack editing software, which has several advantages. The most basic is the ability to stack images, being careful not to select those with satellite or airplane trails or other obstructions (such as overhead cables — it happens!). There’s also a built-in AI Denoise feature that cleans up images in about 20 seconds, and, together with a contrast tweak, produces clean-looking, deep-black images of deep-sky objects.

Should you buy the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro?

The ZWO Seestar S30 Pro is that rarest of products — one that is perfect for beginners, yet also offers enough core quality and advanced features to let users journey from easy to more advanced astrophotography. Within minutes of set-up, it can capture images of nebulae and galaxies that would normally require far more complex equipment, but there’s nevertheless enough here — chiefly 8.3MP resolution, EQ mode and the ability to export FITS files — for both instant gratification and sustained long-term interest. However, at its core, the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro’s ability to suppress light pollution does one thing above all — it makes deep-sky astronomy possible for urban skywatchers.

If this product isn't for you

The DwarfLab Dwarf Mini is a compact, beginner-friendly smart telescope that takes direct aim at competitors like the ZWO Seestar S30. It’s essentially a very small 1.2-inch/30 mm refractor telescope controlled by a smartphone, but instead of the user looking through an eyepiece, it takes images of the night sky.

It does that with an image sensor, using its onboard computer and software to first automatically align itself with the night sky to identify objects, and then capture short-exposure images which it stacks into a single, ever-improving image. Impressively, this enables it to capture star clusters, galaxies and even faint nebulae from the middle of a city — something no optical telescope will get you a view of in such a light-polluted environment.

The Dwarf Mini is smaller, lighter and more affordable than its competitors, so not surprisingly, it comes with one significant drawback: it produces only 2 MP images. But these are still plenty good enough for viewing on a smartphone and sharing online, and despite its basic resolution, it adds equatorial (EQ) tracking — an advanced mode, typically found in larger or pricier instruments, that allows the Dwarf Mini to follow Earth’s rotation during longer exposures, reducing star trails and enhancing images.

It may be mostly about the compact design and affordable price, but the Dwarf Mini is adaptable and future-proof enough to appeal to a wide range of amateur astronomers who are in search of a simple-to-use imaging tool.

DwarfLab Dwarf Mini review

DwarfLab Dwarf Mini: Design

• Pocket-sized form factor
• Optional EQ alignment for longer exposures
• Motorized internal filter wheel

Straight out of the box, the Dwarf Mini surprises with its scale. It's just 8 inches (204 mm) long and weighs a mere 1.8 lbs, (840 g), yet it feels just solid enough when in hand. The lens arm pivots smoothly through 225 degrees, while the base rotates a full 360 degrees, providing flexible sky coverage even when used on a tabletop. This wide range of movement is key to its functionality; the Dwarf Mini has no manual knobs or adjustments. Aiming and tracking are controlled through the DwarfLab app.

The internal optics include a 5.91-inch (150 mm) focal length (f/5 focal ratio) refractor lens and a Sony IMX662 CMOS sensor, the latter known for its strong low-light performance but low resolution. It's also got a motorized filter wheel offering dark-frame, astro (anti-light pollution) and dual-band (nebulae) filters that you can switch between depending on your target.

It’s also got two modes — a wide-angle mode, largely for orienting, and a zoom mode for taking images of deep-sky objects, the sun and the moon. However, the wide-angle imager can also capture constellations, and to some extent, the Milky Way (when it’s in season, which it wasn't during this test) as well as take a basic star trail image.

One standout design element for advanced users is the EQ mode. While not physically resembling an equatorial mount, the Dwarf Mini can simulate equatorial tracking once aligned with Polaris, the North Star (in the Northern Hemisphere), using a step-by-step guide in the app. It's a clever solution that makes it technically possible to capture superior images, particularly of faint objects, by enabling long exposures — though for that an equatorial wedge is required (DwarfLab sells its Mini Hydraulic Tripod Head for this purpose, but we didn’t have a chance to review it).

The included solar filter attaches magnetically, covering the lens securely for daytime imaging of sunspots (and the occasional partial or annular solar eclipse). A USB-C charging cable and a basic cleaning cloth are also included — but there is no tripod in the box.

DwarfLab Dwarf Mini: Performance

• Surprisingly capable deep-sky performance
• Real-time stacking works well in light-polluted cities
• Captures sunspots using included solar filter

The Dwarf Mini is ridiculously easy to use. Power on the scope, launch the app, connect your smartphone to its Wi-Fi and select a target from its built-in sky atlas. It then plate-solves the sky to align with the stars, self-correcting itself as it goes.

Used in standard alt-az mode, the Dwarf Mini performs well. When slewed to a faint deep-sky object — a galaxy, a nebula or a cluster of stars — it captures and stacks short exposures (typically 10-15 seconds) to gradually build up an image. If it’s bright, like the Orion Nebula (M42), you can get a decent image in a few minutes. However, the longer you wait, the better the image will be. With a fainter nebula, it’s necessary to wait a long time — an hour or so — before you get anything impressive. Usually, patience is rewarded (the exception being the sun and moon, which can be found and imaged in seconds).

That a device this small can capture the light from a faint nebula in light-polluted urban skies is highly impressive. Stacked images are saved in JPG, TIFF or FITS formats and look great on a phone screen. You can export the files for post-processing in tools like PixInsight or Photoshop, but the built-in Stellar Studio app will be good enough for most users. Its Star Correction tool, in particular, is highly effective, restacking the individual images to align perfectly to create a significantly sharper image.

The moon can be imaged easily, either by selecting it in the app or by using an onscreen virtual joystick. Ditto the sun, which requires the magnetic solar filter to be attached. Once pointing at the sun, the Dawf Mini takes 20 short exposures and stacks them into an image that shows sunspots on the solar surface. The Dwarf Mini also captures 1080p video and time-lapse footage, offering extra value for wildlife and landscape photographers.

DwarfLab Dwarf Mini: Functionality

• Fast and intuitive app-based control
• Real-time stacking with live preview
• Star Correction tool sharpens images

The DwarfLab app controls everything: target selection, exposure settings, alignment, stacking, file saving and more. Just tap your target and the scope centers, tracks and begins imaging.

The star atlas is a wonderful addition, but it does require a little foresight. It’s not uncommon for it to need a significant data download, so it’s recommended to check the app before attaching to the Dwarf Mini — and certainly before leaving for a remote dark area with no mobile data signal — to make sure it’s up to date.

Stellar Studio, while impressive and definitely worth getting to know well, is rather fiddly. You need to be connected to the Dwarf Mini — and to create an account — to use this simple image processing software, and tweaking images can take some time. It also involves a workflow that’s a little repetitive and attention-hungry. However it works well, with Star Correction mode in particular worth using.

Mega Stack is another useful option to have in the app. It allows the bundling of frames from multiple sessions to create an ever-evolving image. For example, you could shoot a faint nebula from your light-polluted backyard over several nights or short sessions, and combine the new and old frames at any time. For some really faint objects, you could arguably have the Dwarf Mini observe for hundreds of hours over a long period of time, or take it to a Dark Sky park to get the best data.

If that sounds tedious, note that the app comes with a scheduler, so you can pre-program what you want it to observe and, in theory, go to bed. However, note that its four-hour battery life means you should consider attaching it to a portable battery if you have grand ambitions during long, clear nights.

Should you buy the DwarfLab Dwarf Mini?

If you're looking for a compact scope that gets around the problem of light pollution and you want to try casual deep-sky astrophotography, the Dwarf Mini is a standout choice. Despite the small sensor size (2 MP), images appear sharp and vibrant on mobile devices.

Serious astrophotographers may hit the ceiling of what this tiny scope can deliver in terms of resolution and dynamic range, but that’s not the audience the Dwarf Mini primarily serves. Although it’s an ideal secondary imaging rig for those who want a compact, travel-friendly package for dark-sky locations, it’s primarily for anyone who wants consistent, enjoyable imaging from anywhere — including light-polluted backyards.

Whether you're an urban astronomer, an educator or simply someone looking for a convenient way to see and share the wonders of the night sky, the DwarfLab Dwarf Mini is a compelling choice — and a valuable addition to any astrophotography setup.

If this product isn't for you

When you think of a top running watch, certain brands like Garmin and Coros probably come to mind — but we can bet a top dollar that Amazfit is not one of them. This may be about to change, though. The Chinese brand has just launched its best running watch yet. The Amazfit Active 3 Premium is refreshingly sleek, surprisingly well-built and jam-packed with tracking features — all for $169.99.

This is a budget fitness tracker and is not advanced enough to satisfy the needs of professional runners, but then it is not meant to. The Amazfit Active 3 Premium was designed primarily for fitness beginners and casual exercisers "working towards their first clear goal," according to the brand. In other words, it is an entry-level device for those who prefer simple, actionable insights to the complex, data-heavy analysis favored by Garmin and other high-end brands.

That is not to say the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is not also suitable for more experienced runners. It is one of the toughest and best-looking smartwatches in its price range, and it comes with offline maps and up to 12 days of battery life, making it a worthy competitor to wearables that are two or three times the price. Needless to say, we were excited to put the Amazfit Active 3 Premium through its paces.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium review

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Design

• Compact, elegant and comfortable to wear
• Durable stainless-steel bezel and scratch-resistant sapphire glass
• Vibrant 1.32-inch AMOLED display

At a glance, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium seems almost identical to the Amazfit Active Max we tested a couple of months ago. Both watches are pleasantly compact and unobtrusive, look great on the wrist, and come with detachable silicon straps and engraved-style tick markers on a round bezel. However, look closer, and you will spot some key differences.

To start with, the Active 3 Premium has a slightly smaller AMOLED display than the Active Max (1.32-inch vs 1.5-inch). This alone makes it look sleeker and more like a regular everyday smartwatch than a serious fitness tracker. Secondly, the Active 3 Premium features more buttons (four versus the Active Max's two) — a design tweak that makes it easier to control with sweaty hands or gloves halfway through a run.

The Amazfit Active 3 Premium is also significantly more durable than the Active Max. That is because its bezel is made of stainless steel, which is more resistant to shocks, corrosion and high temperatures than aluminium alloy. It also comes with scratch-resistant Sapphire glass on the screen, whereas the Active Max has no display protection at all. They share the same 5 ATM waterproof rating, though. Both can be safely used for surface-level swimming and shallow-water activities, but they are not waterproof enough to withstand deep dives and high-pressure water jets.

We really enjoyed our time with the Amazfit Active 3 Premium. This smartwatch is a joy to wear. We liked its elegant looks and how light and comfortable it was (so much so that we frequently forgot we were even wearing it), and that it looked just as good with our activewear as it did with more casual clothing. We would recommend the Amazfit Active 3 Premium to anyone tired of bulky, rugged wearables. That said, some people may find this smartwatch a bit too small to suit their style.

We had no issues with using or navigating the display. It is bright, vibrant and easily readable in direct sunlight, and it did not lag or freeze during power-intensive tasks. The only slight complaint is with excessive smudging — the Amazfit Active 3 Premium seems to collect more fingerprints than other running watches we have tested. However, it is not a deal-breaker, given that this smartwatch can be controlled entirely with the side buttons.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Features

• Robust workout tracking tools
• GPS, offline maps and turn-by-turn navigation
• Basic smartwatch capabilities

The Amazfit Active 3 Premium is a fitness tracker through and through. While it does come with an app ecosystem and a decent selection of smartwatch features, such as Bluetooth calls, music control, NFC payments via Zepp Pay and calendar notifications, for example, it is more focused on measuring and analyzing exercise performance than keeping up with day-to-day activities. Thanks to that, this smartwatch does not feel overloaded with pointless widgets and niche features.

The Amazfit Active 3 Premium tracks more than 170 different activities, but it is geared predominantly to runners and race walkers. It offers an impressive range of running metrics, many of which you are more likely to see in premium wearables for athletes rather than budget wearables. These include posture monitoring (detection of overstriding, hunching or improper head position during running), lactate threshold assessment (the exercise intensity at which lactate begins accumulating in the bloodstream faster than it can be removed), ground contact balance tracking (tracking the symmetry between left and right foot ground contact time) and running rhythm analysis (assessing whether your breathing, foot strikes and body movements are synchronized).

Despite offering all these stats, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is still very beginner-friendly, featuring a multitude of running workouts and adaptive running plans (a key selling point for those new to this form of exercise). It does a relatively good job of explaining stats without relying on complex terminology or over-emphasising the need for constant progress — something that Garmin wearables get a lot of slack for.

Put simply, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is like a pocket-sized running coach — ready to fine-tune your workouts, help shield you from potential injuries and share your achievements with others.

The Amazfit Active 3 Premium also comes with GPS and offline maps, as well as turn-by-turn navigation, automatic rerouting and point-to-point route planning. These features are not as detailed and advanced as those we have seen in Garmin and Suunto wearables, but they are good enough for basic navigation and phone-free outdoor workouts.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Performance

• Up to 12 days of battery life
• Single-band GPS not as accurate as dual-band GPS
• Relatively accurate heart rate measurements

According to the manufacturer, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium has up to 12 days of battery life with "typical use" or up to 7 days with "heavy use", which then drops to 24 hours in the continuous GPS mode. Based on our experience, that seems about right. Our usage was somewhere between "typical" and "heavy" — we wore the Amazfit Active 3 Premium during the day and at night, tracked at least four workouts per week, and occasionally used GPS when training outdoors. On average, our testing unit lasted around 10 days on a single charge.

Moving on to tracking performance, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium did a relatively good job outdoors. We tested its mapping capabilities during two day-long hikes in the dense Welsh woodlands and when running around the local park. The smartwatch estimated our location with enough accuracy to prove a reliable workout companion.

However, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium's tracking is not always very precise. It uses single-band GPS instead of dual-band GPS, so its signal may not be as strong in more dense, challenging environments. As such, professional trail runners and wilderness explorers may prefer a smartwatch with more advanced geolocation features.

We compared the smartwatch's heart rate measurements with the data we obtained using the Whoop MG screenless tracker, Oura Ring Gen 4 smart ring and Polar H9 chest strap heart rate monitor, and found that the heart rate readings accurately reflected the intensity and training load of our workouts. The tracking precision decreased during high-intensity activities (above 150 bpm), but that tends to be the case with most budget-friendly fitness trackers. Sleep and stress measurements were quite accurate, too.

On the other hand, some aspects of workout tracking could use some improvement. The Amazfit Active 3 Premium tended to underestimate our steps and upper-body movements (a stroke rate in indoor rowing, for example), and it did not seem to pick up certain strength exercises, either. However, this did not have a significant impact on our overall user experience, and it is not something that we would fret about in a wearable at this price range.

Should you buy the Amazfit Active 3 Premium?

The Amazfit Active 3 Premium is a great budget-friendly smartwatch for novice runners and casual exercisers. It is durable, relatively accurate and comfortable to wear, and offers comprehensive workout-tracking features and plenty of beginner-friendly training insights. It looks great, too. The Amazfit Active 3 Premium may not have the most advanced GPS or mapping features, and its screen smudges too easily, but that is not something we would expect at such an affordable price.

✅ Buy it if: You are a beginner or casual runner looking for a sleek, reliable smartwatch on a budget.

❌ Do not buy it if: You are a seasoned running pro looking for a premium wearable with advanced GPS and mapping capabilities.

If the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is not for you

The Amazfit Active Max is an excellent alternative to the Amazfit Active 3 Premium. Both watches cost around $169 and come with similar features, but the former has a larger display and longer battery life. However, it is also slightly less durable.

If you are not a fan of Amazfit, consider the Coros Pace 4 instead. This sleek and lightweight smartwatch boasts good tracking accuracy, advanced workout-tracking features and up to 19 days of battery life. However, it lacks offline maps and costs around $80 more than the Amazfit Active 3 Premium.

Looking for something more premium? Then you can't go wrong with the Garmin Forerunner 965. This smartwatch costs four times more than the Amazfit Active 3 Premium, but that step up in price is reflected in its specs. This flagship Garmin running watch comes with more advanced navigation tools, a richer app ecosystem and almost twice as long battery life.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: How we tested

We spent nearly a month testing the Amazfit Active 3 Premium, looking into its design, durability, features, day-to-day performance and ease of use. We wore this smartwatch during the day and at night, when doing gym-based workouts and while hiking and running outdoors. We also compared the sleep, steps and heart rate measurements taken by our Amazfit Active 3 Premium with the data we obtained using the Whoop MG screenless tracker, Oura Ring Gen 4 smart ring and Polar H9 chest strap heart rate monitor.

Although May hasn't quite got as much going on as the excitement of April, there's still a lot to look at in the night sky — if you have the right gear.

We're looking at the stargazing events for the month ahead to give you specific product recommendations for binoculars, telescopes and cameras to help you get the best possible views of each celestial spectacle. With two full moons, a meteor shower and a pretty cool solar alignment at the end of the month, there's plenty of action to observe and photograph throughout May 2026.

May 01: Full flower moon

Now that the whole world is utterly obsessed with the moon after Artemis II, we'll all be gazing skyward at the full Flower Moon on May 1. Although the craters and shadows look more detailed during the waxing and waning phases, the full moon will never cease to amaze stargazers new and old. You can certainly view it with just your eyes, but a pair of binoculars or a telescope will allow a closer look, and an astrophotography camera with a long lens will capture beautiful images.

Best seen with:

Binoculars: You can see the moon with pretty much any pair of binoculars, so there are a lot of options here. The view from a pair of 8x25s is surprisingly good (we loved the Hawke Endurance ED 8x25), and they're compact enough to carry around in your pocket for convenience. For a more detailed view, get a pair with at least 12x magnification and 50mm objective lenses and mount them onto a tripod for longer moonjoy sessions.

Telescope: Again, pretty much any telescope will give you some type of moon view, but that doesn't mean all of them give you a good view. You don't necessarily need a massive telescope — we got some pretty great views when we tested the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ, which is a great telescope for kids and beginners. What matters more is the power and quality of the eyepieces.

Camera and telephoto lens: The trick to getting a dramatic and impactful photo of the full moon is to zoom in as far as you can — think a super telephoto lens of around 600mm and thereabouts. You want to plan and capture your shot at moonrise, and it makes for an especially great shot if you can line it up with some type of building, bridge or natural object for scale. We tested the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS recently and were impressed by how sharp it was at the 600mm end.

May 5-6: Eta Aquariids Meteor shower peak

This meteor shower runs from April 19 until May 28, with the peak — and best night for photographing it — occurring on the night of May 5-6, with up to 50 meteors per hour. However, the 75.5% full moon might throw a spanner in the works, depending on your location and the moonset time where you are.

It's best seen with the naked eye, but meteor showers are a great target for photographers. You'll want a camera with good ISO handling and a wide-angle prime lens, like the SIGMA 14mm f/1.4 DG DN ART lens, to get as much of the sky in the frame as possible.

May 13 to 15: Crescent moon close to Saturn and Mars

One for early risers here. In the dawn hours, just before sunrise on May 13, you'll see a slim crescent moon to the right of Saturn. The next morning, the moon sits between Saturn and Mars, before moving to the left of Mars on the morning of the 15th. You don't typically get much detail on Mars, but you might be able to get a decent look at Saturn through a telescope. But keep in mind, the low altitude and nearly rising sun will make for more challenging views. For quick views, a pair of 10x50s will give a nice view of the crescent moon.

May 16: New moon

The new moon takes place on May 16, so this week is the perfect time for Milky Way astrophotography and deep-sky stargazing without any moonlight. A pair of 10x50 binoculars will give you a beautiful glimpse at stars you can't see with the naked eye, and a large telescope is ideal for deep-sky stargazing. Plus, now that we're at the start of peak Milky Way season, it's the ideal time to invest in a wide-angle prime lens.

May 18-21: Crescent moon close to Venus, Jupiter and Beehive Cluster

Across four nights, from the 18th to the 21st, you'll be able to see the slim crescent moon close to Venus, Jupiter and the Beehive Cluster in the early evening just after sunset. If you want a closer look at the Beehive Cluster or you want to pick out Jupiter's moons, a big pair of astronomy binoculars like the Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 is an affordable favorite of ours, but if you want to see the bands on Jupiter itself, you'll need a telescope. Even a small telescope will do the job — we got great views of Jupiter with the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ, which is perfect for beginners. To resolve even more detail, investing in something like the Celestron NexStar 8SE (known as the world's most beloved telescope) will last you for years to come.

May 30: Manhattanhenge

Not technically a night sky event, but it's still a pretty cool thing to photograph. Manhattanhenge occurs when the setting sun lines up with the grid of the streets of Manhattan, New York, on May 30. (You can also see it the day before, on the 29th, but the 30th is when it'll be perfectly aligned).

The best viewpoints are "14th Street, 34th Street (where the Empire State Building is located), 42nd Street (where the Chrysler Building and Tudor City Bridge are located), 57th Street and 79th Street", according to PhotoPills.

Like moonrise images, you'll need a long telephoto or super telephoto lens to zoom in for a more dramatic perspective and sense of scale. Plus, it'll give you some practice ahead of the total solar eclipse in Europe in August — provided you can get your hands on some of the best solar viewing equipment.

May 31: Full blue moon

The second of May's full moons, and a nice bookend to the initial Flower Moon on the first day of the month, the full blue moon takes place on May 31. If you're looking to invest in the very best equipment for moon-gazing, we can recommend the Swarovski NL Pure 8x32 for just about everything, a smart telescope like the Vaonis Vespera II for effortless stacked images of the moon, and a super telephoto prime lens for the sharpest and most detailed images with your astro camera.

The Laifen Wave Pro toothbrush is brand new to the market. Having recently reviewed the Soocas Neos II, we thought that would be pretty hard to beat in terms of convenience, and it quickly became our daily toothbrush/flosser of choice. On seeing the Laifen Wave Pro, though, its looks alone drew us in. It definitely has shelf appeal and the stylish stainless steel finish piqued our interest. It looks like a premium product, but compared with other electric toothbrushes, we were surprised by the relatively low price point, given all the functionality. We couldn't wait to try it out.

We've been using it for a little over two weeks now, at home and on weekends away. We're still on the first charge — the battery life is one of the first impressive points about it. Read on for the rest.

Laifen Wave Pro electric toothbrush review

Laifen Wave Pro: Design

• IPX8 waterproof rating — use it in the shower
• Minimalist and stylish
• Weighs just 6 ounces (171 grams)

Before receiving this toothbrush, we read about how some people thought if Apple made toothbrushes, they would be just like this. On receiving the package, we knew exactly what they meant. The white minimalist box resembles a toothbrush-sized Apple Mac box, and so do the small touches like the protective cover on the toothbrush and charging base.

The minimalist functionality extends to the one-button-operation brush handle. There are five indicator lights: white dots show you're in daily brushing mode, and orange dots show you're in deep cleaning mode. One, two or three of these dots light up, depending on the intensity setting you're using.

The other indicator light, in the shape of an aeroplane, tells you that the toothbrush is locked, so it won't accidentally start vibrating in your hand luggage. The final indicator light shows the battery level. It also turns blue if you are connected to your phone's Bluetooth when using the app.

Our sample Laifen Wave Pro was in the polished stainless steel configuration. We must say, it is a thing of beauty, and when standing next to other toothbrushes on a sink, it looks like the most premium one by far. We'll come on to the other visible features that make it stand out versus regular electric toothbrushes later.

All in all, design-wise, Laifen has got this spot-on. The size is ideal, it's minimalist so it will look the part in any bathroom, and it has a good weight to it. We were a little nervous, though, that if it fell into a ceramic or porcelain sink it would do some damage — so we made sure to place it either well away from the edge, or in a regular toothbrush pot where it couldn't fall.

One of this toothbrush's unique design features is that it is the "World's First Oscillation & Vibration Electric Toothbrush". It combines 60-degree oscillation with up to 66,000 vibrations per minute to cover more surface area with fewer hand movements.

The sleek Laifen Wave Pro has an IPX8 waterproofing rating, so you can use it in the shower to multi-task your way through your morning/evening routine if you want to.

Laifen Wave Pro: Features

• Travel/lock mode
• Two modes with three pressure modes each
• App functionality and customization
• Smart pressure sensor

Though this is a beautiful-looking toothbrush, there's way more to it beyond shelf appeal.

As regular travelers, we were impressed with the travel lock. Much like you would a flashlight or headlamp, you long-press the button until you hear a short melody and the plane logo illuminates. Do the same to turn it off. The toothbrush doesn't ship with a travel case, but thanks to the lock, it isn't necessary. The toothbrush heads come in their own little box, so you can transport the toothbrush head in this separately if you wish.

There is an accompanying app for the toothbrush, which, although optional, reveals more customization options than even the marketing blurb suggests.

Within each mode, you can alter the vibration strength, oscillation range and oscillation speed. We turned up the vibration strength slightly at lower intensity levels, as the factory settings were a little too mellow for us.

We were surprised to see the following hidden inside the Practical Features menu:

• There is a 30-second reminder vibration to prompt you to switch regions of your mouth, and a vibration indicator if you're pressing too hard.

• There's a 3-second power ramp-up function, giving you time to get the toothbrush into your mouth before it potentially shakes toothpaste onto your clothes or face. We found the 3-second ramp-up worked well and left this setting activated.

• Another function, the automatic oscillation when the brush touches your teeth function, we struggled to activate. This was potentially due to user error or some conflicting settings, as everything else works exactly how it should.

• There is a Quick Spin-Dry mode that automatically shakes the brush head when you point the toothbrush down at more than a 70-degree angle. This removes excess water to prevent drips and prevent bacterial growth.

• A quirky feature is Bristle Protection. After use, if you lay the tooth on a horizontal surface, it automatically turns the bristles skyward to avoid it touching surfaces. Similarly, if you stand it on a vertical surface, it will rotate the bristles to face the wall, for example, to avoid water splatters from people washing their hands in the sink.

• Finally, there is a Lift To Wake function, which does what it says on the tin. Pick the toothbrush up, the bristles return to position, and the lights show you which mode you're in, at what intensity and the battery level.

Laifen Wave Pro: Performance

• "Dental hygienist clean" feel
• Customizable to personal preference/sensitivity levels
• Outstanding battery life

We were at first a little put off by the proprietary charging base — it's just one more thing to remember to pack when you're traveling. That said, we understand the reasons for it (to maintain waterproofing) — and with more than 70 days of life on a single charge, you're not exactly having to charge it often.

We've taken it on long weekends away and haven't given a second thought to battery life. Our battery indicator is still green, meaning there is no need to charge it any time soon.

It took a bit of time getting used to using the button. It looks like it should be touch-sensitive, but it is actually a pressable button. Two presses change the intensity, three presses change the mode. A long press activates/deactivates the lock.

In the app, we set the brushing timer to 2.5 minutes, but could have chosen anything from 1 minute to 5 minutes. We tended to stay on the higher-intensity settings, but we appreciate that people with sensitive gums might find the stronger vibrations too intense. That is why it is handy to have so many customization options.

We were pleased with the quality of the cleaning, and found we could achieve that "dental hygienist clean" feeling. The brushing experience is nice, the weight in your hand makes the toothbrush feel premium, and the extra functionality makes brushing your teeth that little bit more enjoyable.

Laifen Wave Pro: User reviews

This is a fairly new product, so there aren't that many ratings on Amazon. In fact, there were only 10 at the time of writing this review. 9 out of 10 were 5-star reviews, with just one user rating the toothbrush 1-star because they could not turn it on. We can't know for sure, but perhaps it was in lock mode.

The positive reviews, like us, not only loved the look of the toothbrush, but the remarkable battery life and the satisfying deep clean.

Should you buy the Laifen Wave Pro toothbrush?

✅ Buy it if: You want a powerful, customizable, nice-looking toothbrush that has a heap of built-in and app functionality.

✅ Buy it if: You travel often and don't want to carry a charging cable. The battery life is immense.

❌ Don't buy it if: You aren't a fan of the bells and whistles. You would probably find this toothbrush over-engineered.

If the Laifen Wave Pro is not for you

If you need help to improve your dental hygiene, consider using the Oclean X Ultra S. This is the world's first talking toothbrush; it is also customizable to a wide range of brushing needs and has an impressive battery life. Randomly, it tells you the weather, too!

Another smart, nice-looking toothbrush we'd recommend is the Oclean X Pro Digital Sonic, which provides detailed feedback on brushing coverage. A great option for people with sensitive teeth.

We also love the Soocas NEOS II. This is unique in that it is both a toothbrush and a dental flosser in one. One device, two jobs, and it does both of them well. There is no app functionality, but there are two modes, Deep Clean and Quick Floss.

Laifen Wave Pro: How we tested

We spent over two weeks testing the Laiden Wave Pro toothbrush once to three times daily. We considered the design, brushing performance, battery life, functionality and value for money. We also tested its IPX8 waterproof rating by submerging the toothbrush under water for a full brushing cycle, as well as using it in the shower.

A good pair of running shoes are always a sound investment, but no pair lasts forever. If you are looking to replace a pair whose miles are all run, or you are thinking of taking up a new fitness and running routine, then now is a great time to get a bargain. The spring sales are on, and we've found lots of deals, from everyday running heroes to the super speedy shoes you will definitely want to save for those personal best attempts.

At Live Science, we know that shopping around can be a chore, so we have saved you the work and found some of the best shoes on sale right now. We've spotted shoes that are perfect for trail walk/run adventures, as well as those designed for personal best attempts. There's even a pair that elites have worn to set world records.

What's more, we've really sweated out the miles in them ourselves to confirm just how well-built, comfortable and truly worth your hard-earned money they are.

And of course, it's not just shoes available in the sale — if you are looking for musical inspiration, you can use our round-up of the best sports earbuds currently on sale, as well as the best fitness trackers and bone conduction headphones on offer.

Explore the world from the comfort of your own sofa by checking out the amazing "Aerial Adventures" available on Paramount+. Oh, and did we mention you can do it for cheap, thanks to the amazing deal that's going on right now?

You can pick up Paramount+ for just $2.99 per month for two months; that's a saving of $6 per month for the Essential plan (the ad-supported tier) and $11 per month for Premium (no ads and 4K streaming). Be quick, though, the deal ends on the 31st of March... yes, that's today.

While the streaming service is best known as the home of "Star Trek", it's actually got a wealth of documentaries in its library thanks to the inclusion of the Smithsonian Channel, and the Aerial series is one of our favorites. It takes the viewer on stunning aerial tours of the world, showcasing natural wonders and visiting beautiful locations from across the globe.

"Aerial America" was the first show in the franchise, focusing on, you guessed it, America. The show ran for a staggering 10 years and 71 episodes, visiting some of the most beautiful parts of the country.

From Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats to the stunning wilderness of Alaska, and the Great Lakes to the Grand Canyon, all seen from on high and with expert narration giving you the history and science behind these incredible places.

Following the success of "Aerial America", there have also been a bunch of spin-off shows that tour other countries and regions, including Africa, Argentina, Greece, and Italy. You can even see my own native Britain in all its glory.

Of course, if you want to whet your appetite for pictures of Earth from space, we have you covered — check out this incredible image of a bright plume of swirling marine mud, whipped up off the coast of Florida following a blast of cold air from the Arctic.

It's worth noting that both the Essential and Premium tiers cost $2.99 during the deal period. This means that even if you only want Paramount Essential in the long term, you might as well snag the Premium version for the first two months. You can enjoy all the benefits of being a Premium subscriber, and then downgrade to Essential once the two months are up.

What benefits, you ask? You can find the Paramount+ Essential and Premium plan details below, so you can see what you're getting with both:

And if you're keen on your streaming, then it's worth taking a look at this deal from NordVPN. Like all good VPNs, it enables you to bypass georestrictions, so you can access your usual streaming services from anywhere on the globe.

For a limited time, you can save up to 77%, claim a free Amazon voucher, and get four extra months free. An absolute bargain if you're looking to boost your online security and watch your streaming shows from anywhere in the world.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors and much more.

Early spring is a perfect time to refresh our wellness toolkit. The days get longer, the weather gets warmer and our fitness motivation, often dormant during the winter months, starts to flicker back to life. Plus, it's also when lifestyle purchases can be made on a relatively tight budget.

The Amazon Big Spring Sale and other similar March shopping events are awash with discounted health and fitness products, making it easy to snap up huge deals on everything from running shoes and beginner-friendly exercise equipment to air purifiers and smart scales.

As with everything in life, though, not all that glitters is gold. While many spring deals can indeed help you save some serious money, certain products may be better left on the virtual shelf until even bigger discounts come along later in the year. We test fitness tech for a living and have covered all major shopping events over the last four years, so trust us when we say we know a thing or two about navigating spring sales.

In our experience, the key here is to know what to shop for. With that in mind, we have rounded up five health and fitness products that may be worth adding to your cart, and the two that can be given a miss. We hope this list will help you shop with confidence and get the most value out of your spring wellness upgrades.

What to buy during spring sales

BUY: Old-but-gold fitness trackers

If your New Year’s resolutions have fallen by the wayside, a new fitness tracker might be the accountability partner you need. Spring is an excellent time to buy wearable tech. With new models often announced in the fall, March sales offer significant markdowns on the previous generations of devices.

Our tip: Look for deals on older smartwatches from renowned brands such as Apple, Garmin and Fitbit. While these old-but-gold fitness trackers may not have the allure of a brand-new release, they tend to be just as reliable for casual fitness tracking as their newer counterparts. What's more, it's unlikely they will see significantly bigger discounts later in the year.

If you are not a fan of bulky wrist-worn wearables, consider smart rings instead. These tiny fitness trackers are stylish, unobtrusive and comfortable to wear all day, making them a perfect alternative. More importantly, smart rings tend to get significant discounts around late March and early April, and since they don't go on sale nearly as often as smartwatches do, it's a good idea to take advantage of spring deals while they last.

Our tip: Look for models from high-end brands, such as Oura and Ultrahuman. They may not be the most affordable smart rings out there, but they last longer and perform better than their cheaper counterparts.

• Related: Amazon Big Spring Sale: The best deals on fitness trackers
• Related: The best anti-Amazon fitness tracker deals

BUY: Activewear (especially running shoes)

Spring sales are a perfect opportunity to refresh your sports wardrobe, especially if you are looking for a new pair of running shoes or gym shoes.

In late March, many shoe brands discount last season's collections heavily to make space for the new inventory. Again, older models may not be as trendy and snazzy as the brand-new ones, but do not let fashion dictate your choices here. The technology in a shoe from six months ago is likely just as good as the one released yesterday — and when it comes to footwear, performance and comfort should always take priority over looks.

Our tip: If you want to save as much as possible, head to Amazon and other major online retailers — they usually have a huge stock of last-season running shoes that they want to shift ahead of the summer. However, these online giants offer mostly basic, highly popular models that tend to sell well even at full price. If you are looking for more unique designs or sizes, you may find better (albeit more expensive) deals directly on brand websites.

• Related: Amazon Big Spring Sale: Top running shoe deals
• Related: The best anti-Amazon deals on running shoes

BUY: Travel-friendly exercise equipment

Early spring is the best time to find discounts on portable exercise equipment, such as resistance bands, all-in-one gyms and yoga mats. That is because the summer holiday season is still months away, and demand for travel-friendly kit remains relatively low. If you intend to maintain your exercise routine throughout the warmer months, now is the time to lock in the prices before they inevitably go up.

Our tip: Resistance band sets are undefeated in this category. They are lightweight, take up zero space in a suitcase and can be used for everything from glute activation to upper-body mobility training.

Other great picks include sliders (flat discs used for core work on carpet or hard floors), jump ropes and Pilates bars.

• Related: Top spring sale deals on workout equipment and fitness essentials

BUY: Air purifiers

Air purifiers are a sought-after buy all year round, but they are in a particularly high demand in late spring when the sudden rise of pollen wreaks havoc on hay fever sufferers. If you have been thinking of investing in one of these appliances, now is the time to take the step. Spring sales are perhaps the last opportunity to find good deals on air purifiers, with prices tending to go up sharply in April and then remain relatively high until at least the Prime Day sale in July.

Our tip: When choosing an air purifier, do not be guided by price alone. Check if it has the right specs to suit your needs and preferences, and whether it has been independently certified to validate its air-cleaning performance. The best air purifiers for allergies tend to feature True HEPA filters and come with the Asthma & Allergy Friendly certification mark.

• Related: Amazon Big Spring Sale: The best air purifier deals

BUY: Electric toothbrushes

Spring sales are a good opportunity to invest in your dental health — you can save a good deal on electric toothbrushes, water flossers or dental care products like toothpaste or teeth-whitening strips. The deals may not be as spectacular and plentiful as those seen during Prime Day or Black Friday, but they can still bring a lot of relief to a tight budget.

Our tip: The best electric toothbrush deals tend to be found on Amazon, Target and Best Buy.

• Related: Amazon Big Spring Sale: Huge savings on dental care products

What NOT to buy during spring sales

SKIP: Premium cardio machines

It might be tempting to look at a 20% discount on a high-end treadmill, exercise bike or rowing machine and think you are getting a good deal. However, unless you absolutely need it right now, March is not the best time to buy large fitness equipment.

Major appliances like these see their steepest discounts during Amazon Prime Day in July and the Black Friday shopping events in November — often as much as 40-50%.

SKIP: Smart scales

The deals available on smart scales may look massive, but do not judge a book by its cover. Some of the most popular models — such as the budget-friendly Renpho Elis 1 or the premium Runstar 8E SmartScan Pro, for example — tend to be discounted all year round. In fact, they tend to be slightly more expensive during sale events, while still under the guise of a "deal."

Hold off buying a smart scale for now, unless you don't mind missing out on any significant savings.

As the winter constellations sit lower and lower in the night sky, April sees the arrival of some pretty exciting night sky events. The full moon at the start of the month provides an excellent target for beginners, and not only is there the breathtaking Lyrid meteor shower to enjoy (in new moon week, no less), but there are also two comets to see in April — although one of them will fly too close to the sun to be enjoyed with the naked eye.

Read on to discover our recommendations for the best cameras, best binoculars and best telescopes for each event throughout April.

Apr 01: Full Pink Moon

April kicks off with a full Pink Moon on the night of April 1 into April 2. The full moon is always a crowd pleaser, regardless of whether you're a beginner or a seasoned astronomer. The moon can easily be viewed with the naked eye, as we all know, but if you want to get a closer, more detailed view, pick up a pair of binoculars or a small telescope to observe the craters and lunar surface in more detail. The evening moonrise is also an excellent time to photograph the moon, especially if you can capture it rising over a bridge, monument or tower to add drama and scale.

Best seen with:

Camera: Provided your camera works well in low light, your lens choice is actually more important for photographing the moon. You’ll need a long focal length to zoom as far in as you can, so the moon appears bigger in the frame (a tripod or monopod will also help steady your shot). Alternatively, smart telescopes can track and stack images of the moon, which is a great alternative if you don’t have an astrophotography camera.

Binoculars: You can see the moon in pretty much any pair of binoculars, but it depends on how much detail you want to see, and whether you want to go handheld or use a tripod. We’ve had lovely views of the moon even with compact binoculars, but if you want the best views, we’d recommend sizing up to a pair of big astronomy binoculars — 12x50 and above is a good place to start.

Telescope: You can certainly get decent views of the moon in a small telescope, but, as you’d expect, the bigger tubes are going to have better light-gathering ability. In fact, the eyepiece will probably make the most difference for lunar viewing.

A 20mm eyepiece will give lovely full moon vistas, but a high-power 6-10mm eyepiece is great for picking out surface details. That said, the moon is an excellent first target for your kids to observe with a child-friendly telescope.

Apr 03: Mercury at greatest western elongation

Most casual observers will be better off viewing Mercury with the naked eye, thanks to its magnitude. But if you have a beginner telescope handy and don't mind getting up before dawn, you can actually see Mercury in its phases — although don’t expect to see any surface detail. Plus, you'll need to manage the bright pre-dawn light and Mercury’s low altitude, so we wouldn’t recommend spending too much time on it.

Apr 4: Sungrazer Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS)

Although not technically a night sky object, there's the potential to see a "sungrazer" comet at the start of the month. Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) makes its closest approach to our star on April 4, and if it survives the close encounter, it could shine up to several times brighter than the full moon. Unfortunately, due to its close proximity to the sun, the safest way to view it is on your computer, via the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO).

Solar viewing can be dangerous, and although it would be tempting to use specialist solar viewing equipment, these are designed to block out over 99% of the sun's harmful light, so a pair of solar binoculars would block out the comet entirely.

Apr 13: Mars/Neptune conjunction

In the pre-dawn hours of April 13, Mars will conjunct with the distant planet Neptune, and if the conditions are right, you might be able to see it with your telescope. However, there are some caveats here.

First, you'll need a large-aperture telescope to be able to see Neptune due to its distance from Earth — you'll want at least a 6- to 8-inch telescope. Second, the conjunction will take place when the planets are very close to the horizon, so the seeing conditions won't be ideal at that low altitude. Third, as it'll happen just before sunrise, you won't have long before it becomes too faint.

It's a cool occurrence to try for, but we'd recommend waiting until the new moon week to get any meaningful observations of the ice giant.

Apr 17: New moon

This week is the optimum time for dark skies. With a new moon on the 17th, the few days surrounding this will be perfect for stargazing without any moonlight spoiling the view. Spring is also prime galaxy season, giving you the opportunity to see and image some faint fuzzies you don't normally get to see.

Best seen with:

Camera: If you want to photograph galaxies, there are two ways you can go about it. The first (and by far, the easiest) is to use a smart telescope, which will locate, track and stack the images for you. The second way is to use a camera (even a beginner astro camera will work), a long telephoto lens and a star tracker. This method requires more know-how — and more patience — but will be more rewarding when you get it right. If you want a bonus third method, you can mount your camera to your telescope, if you have both.

Binoculars: Binoculars are great if you want a portable way to observe more stars than you can see with the naked eye, without having to fuss around with a telescope — although you won't be able to see many galaxies. All you need is a pair of 10x50s to sweep across the sky to observe star clusters and constellations, or you can size up to larger magnification to see the Andromeda Galaxy and Jupiter's moons.

Telescope: New moon week is the ideal time to head out with a telescope, and perhaps one of your last chances to see some of the winter constellations before they disappear. As there's no moonlight, you can use anything from a small beginner scope up to a large Dobsonian and still get good views.

Apr 17: C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS)

During the dark new moon week, you might be able to get a glimpse of the second of April's comets, Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) — the "great comet of 2026" — just before sunrise. We don't yet know how bright it will be, but some researchers have predicted it could reach a magnitude of anywhere from 8 (and therefore only visible with a telescope or large astronomy binoculars) to 2.5, where it would be visible to the naked eye.

You can spot the comet right now with a telescope, and it'll only get brighter as the month progresses until its closest approach (perihelion) on April 17. Then, on April 27, it'll make its closest approach to Earth, giving you another favorable opportunity to see it.

Best seen with:

Camera: To photograph this comet, you'll need a decent astrophotography setup with a telephoto lens to capture the nucleus and tail of the comet. A smart telescope is an alternative option, especially if you live in a light-polluted city, and will give you a closer view than a camera would.

Binoculars: It's very likely you'll be able to spot the comet with binoculars, but its magnitude will determine what specs you need. To be safe, you'll want the largest objective lens diameter you can afford to let in the most amount of light.

Telescope: You should only need a small telescope to see the comet, although, as expected, larger aperture instruments will yield brighter results.

Apr 21/22: Lyrid meteor shower peak

While the Lyrid meteor shower will be active from April 15-29, it is expected to peak on the night of April 21/22, with the best viewing being after midnight until the predawn hours. The moon phase will also be working in its favor, with only around 27% illumination, and as it's due to set just after midnight, the majority of the night won't see any moonlight at all. Meteors will be visible all over the sky, originating from the constellation Lyra, near the bright star Vega.

Best seen with:

Camera: Meteor showers are a very rewarding event to photograph for astrophotographers. You'll need a camera that can handle high ISO levels (this, too, is helped out by the lack of moonlight) and a fast, wide-angle prime lens to fit as much of the sky and foreground in your shot as possible.

The OM System OM-1 Mark II would be fantastic for meteor showers, as you can see exactly what's being recorded on the screen with Live Composite mode — proof that even APS-C and Micro Four Thirds cameras can work well for astrophotography.

Binoculars: Although the naked eye is typically best for meteor showers, binoculars can help you pick out faint meteors and dimmer tails that you can't usually see. Plus, while you're waiting, you can check out other favorite nighttime targets like star clusters, planets and the Milky Way with a pair of 10x42s. As it's one of the more prominent showers, however, binoculars — which often struggle to keep up — aren't a necessity.

The spring is almost here, and this means one thing — it won't be long before the sudden rise in pollen count starts wreaking havoc on hay fever sufferers. If that's you, do not worry. Investing in a good air purifier can help you reduce your exposure to these pesky airborne allergens and bring much-needed relief to your allergy symptoms. The best part? With the Amazon Big Spring Sale in full swing, many of the top-rated appliances are now heavily discounted.

Take the Levoit Core 600S-P, for example. This excellent air purifier is now 20% off at Amazon, bringing it to its lowest price since Black Friday. The same deal is also available at Walmart.

To say that we love this appliance would be a massive understatement. The Levoit Core 600S-P has topped our guides to the best air purifiers and air purifiers for allergies for two years straight, and that's unlikely to change any time soon. It's quiet, easy to use, and its pollen-busting capabilities are second to none. Trust us, you won't be disappointed.

The Levoit Core 600S-P is a force to be reckoned with. This air purifier may not be the most stylish or space-savvy appliance out there, but its air-cleaning performance and functionality are truly top-notch. Suitable for spaces up to a whopping 2,933 square feet, the Levoit Core 600S can remove 99.97% airborne pollutants as small as 0.1 microns. Rest assured, this air purifier will have no problems capturing pollen and many other airborne pollutants, including some of the tiniest smoke particles and dust mite allergens.

At the same time, it is exceptionally quiet and easy to use. The Levoit Core 600S will not disturb you with flashing lights or incessant noise, making it a perfect choice for large bedrooms, studies and home offices. Right now, you can get this excellent air purifier at just $239.99. Hurry, though, as this deal will not last long.

Key features: True HEPA filter, effective range of up to 2,933 square feet, PM2.5 air particle monitor, auto mode, 2-year limited warranty, Energy Star certified, app and voice control

Product launched: April 2022

Price history: Before today's deal, the lowest price on the Levoit Core 600S-P was $259.96, and for the better part of this year, its price fluctuated between $289.99 and $299.99. Today's offers from Walmart and Amazon bring this air purifier down to just $239.99 — the lowest price since Black Friday.

Price comparison: Amazon: $239.99 | Walmart: $239.99 | Levoit: $259.99

Reviews consensus: The Levoit Core 600S-P won the reviewers across the board with its powerful air-cleaning performance, ultra-quiet fans and user-friendly design. Many testers also praised its handy smart features and ability to keep their hay fever symptoms at bay when the pollen count was high. On the other hand, the Levoit Core 600S was also frequently criticised for its bulky design and pricey filter replacements.

TechRadar: ★★★★½ | Live Science: ★★★★½ | Ideal Home: ★★★★½

Featured in guides: Best air purifiers, Best air purifiers for allergies, Best air purifiers for pet owners

✅ Buy it if: You want an ultra-quiet and high-performing air purifier for large spaces.

❌ Don't buy it if: You are looking for something smaller and more affordable (such as the Levoit Core 200S-P, now 23% off at Amazon.)

Check out our other guides to the best air purifiers for pet owners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, fitness trackers, Garmin watches and much more.

If you enjoy natural history documentaries, there's a ton of binge-worthy content out there across the many streaming services available. However, you can often find them blocked if you travel a lot and are accessing unknown Wi-Fi in hotels or airports. Those are also potential hotspots for opening up your devices and personal details to hacking and data theft. So how do you protect yourself and your data, while also catching up on all your viewing? Well that's where a VPN comes in.

NordVPN is an award-winning VPN service, and right now, we have an exclusive deal across the various plans available, which means you can save up to $500 when you sign up for a two-year plan. To sweeten the deal further, our exclusive deal gives you four months free and an Amazon Gift Card worth up to $50, perfect for the Amazon Spring Sales.

Save big on a NordVPN two-year plan — plus receive four months free and an Amazon gift card.

With lots of exciting nature series available, and new series coming, including Apple TV's "The Secret Lives of Animals" and "Born to be Wild", now is the time to grab one of the best NordVPN deals we've seen.

• Our experts have reviewed and rated the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, fitness trackers, running shoes, rowing machines and more.

Whether you're watching streaming services, surfing the internet or working in a public location, using a secure, reliable VPN when you're not at home is the safest way to access all your usual digital content.

Assuming it complies with your broadcaster’s T&Cs, you can use a VPN to unblock the streaming services you're subscribed to and allows for uninterrupted viewing of your favorite shows.

Reviews from our colleagues at Tom's Guide, TechRadar and T3 have shown that NordVPN is the market leader for good reason. With a comprehensive range of built-in protections, it's as safe as it gets, download speeds are very high and it works extremely well if you want to access your streaming services away from home. In testing, NordVPN was able to get around geo-blocking restrictions to access Apple TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer.

Key features: Minimum discount of 74%, four months free, and an Amazon gift card when signing up for two years. The Prime package gives you high-speed VPN, ad and tracker blocker, anti-malware protection, up to $1 million in identity theft insurance and $100,000 in cyber extortion insurance, password manager and data-breach scanner, 1TB encrypted cloud storage, monitoring alerts and services.

Price history: NordVPN regularly has deals with discounts and free additional months. This deal with an Amazon gift card and a discounted monthly rate doesn't come around often. We rate it as one of the best value deals NordVPN offers.

Tom's Guide: ★★★★½ | TechRadar: ★★★★½ | T3: ★★★★½

✅ Buy it if: You want a VPN service that's mostly rated as the number one provider, which is now at a heavily discounted price and comes with an Amazon gift card.

❌ Don't buy it if: You're already signed up to a reliable VPN service or don't feel the need for one.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors and much more.

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Paramount+ is best known as the home of "Star Trek," but it's also home to plenty of voyages into strange new worlds right here on Earth, thanks to an impressive library of nature documentaries included in the Smithsonian Channel. And in even better news, there's a huge sale on right now, so you can binge all these amazing nature documentaries at a bargain price.

Until the end of March, you can grab Paramount+ for just $2.99 per month for two months. You'll save $6 per month for the Essential plan (the ad-supported tier) and $11 per month for Premium (no ads and 4K streaming). Paramount's spring deal is live now and runs until March 31.

The Smithsonian Channel is a brand under the Paramount umbrella, which means it's included in Paramount+ at no extra cost. That gives you access to stunning documentary series like "America's Wild Seasons," a four-part series that follows America's wildlife as it adapts to changing seasons in a full year, taking a peek into the lives of creatures great and small.

If you're more interested in the small side of that equation, then we'd also highly recommend checking out "Baby Animals". This six-part series is about… well, it's in the name, baby animals.

Each episode focuses on a different facet of parenthood in the animal kingdom, bringing some of the cutest baby critters to your screen. We're talking red pandas, otters, monkeys, and even baby elephants. The episodes are only under half an hour long, too, so you can enjoy these bite-sized educational treats on any schedule.

If you want something you can really sink your teeth into, though, my final recommendation won't disappoint. "Brazil Untamed" is a 2016 documentary that explores this South American country through 10 episodes, each around 50 minutes long. While you might hear Brazil and think of the Amazon Rainforest, the show actually focuses on a region called the Pantanal — the world's largest tropical wetland. There's nothing quite like discovering a whole new part of the world and falling in love with the beautiful creatures that live there.

Both the Essential and Premium tiers are the same price during the deal period, and there is no minimum subscription length. So even if you only want Essential in the long term, you could grab the Premium version for the first two months, enjoy all the benefits of being a Premium subscriber, and then downgrade to Essential once the two months are up.

Speaking of benefits, you can find the Paramount+ Essential and Premium plan details below, so you can see what you're getting with both:

And if you're keen on your streaming, then it's worth taking a look at this deal from NordVPN. Like all good VPNs, it enables you to access your usual streaming services wherever you are in the world. You can save up to 77%, claim a free Amazon voucher and get four extra months free, so well worth taking advantage of if you're VPN-curious.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors and much more.

While full-frame cameras dominate the conversation for astrophotography, many APS-C and Micro Four Thirds (MFT) systems punch far above their weight, and the smaller sensor sizes mean they’re lighter to carry when out and about. Despite their small size, some models can certainly compete with the best cameras for astrophotography.

Choosing the right APS-C or Micro Four Thirds camera for astrophotography is less about headline specs and more about understanding how you shoot at night and what you want to get out of your images. Sensor size plays a role: APS-C generally offers cleaner high-ISO performance than Micro Four Thirds, but stability, usability and lens choice matter just as much. Plus, they're often more affordable than full-frame models, making them a good choice as a beginner astrophotography camera.

Here are some standout APS-C and MFT bodies for astrophotography, each with its strengths depending on your priorities.

The quick list

The best APS-C and Micro Four Thirds cameras for astrophotography we recommend in 2026

Best overall

Sony’s A6700 brings the benefits of a modern APS-C back-illuminated sensor and refined handling into a body that’s versatile and happy to take on a range of different types of photography. The 26-megapixel BSI sensor delivers low noise at high ISO, which is critical for night sky work, especially if you’re shooting wide panoramas where dynamic range and clean shadows matter. Built-in 5-axis IBIS (stabilization) is a boon for those “between” shots that can be accomplished handheld, such as twilight landscapes or moments when you’re switching between tripod and handheld work.

From an ergonomics perspective, the user interface and menus are comfortable to navigate in the dark, and the electronic viewfinder makes focusing on bright stars a breeze with focus magnification. It’s also nice to see a vari-angled touchscreen, which is a great addition if you’re pointing your camera at the night sky but still want a good handle on your settings. While there’s no dedicated astrophotography mode or built-in tracking, the overall imaging performance and flexibility make this camera a high-value choice if you want great star photos plus everyday photography in one body.

• Read the full Sony A6700 review on our sister site Space.com

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Best for deep-sky

Canon’s EOS R7 sets itself apart primarily through its 32.5-megapixel sensor, which gives you lots of headroom when cropping into star fields or capturing large panoramas without losing fine detail. The high pixel count means you can isolate constellations or nebula regions while retaining enough resolution for prints or tight crops. If you’re adamant about printing large reproductions of your photos, this is the setup we’d investigate. The stabilization here is also noteworthy: when paired with compatible RF-S or RF lenses, Canon quotes up to eight stops of correction.

Autofocus performance, especially Canon’s Dual Pixel system, isn’t usually top of the list for astrophotography, but as a strong everyday shooter, it works well. High pixel density demands precise focus, as tiny errors in focus show up quickly in star images. Also, a quick word on ergonomics — Canon’s dial and joystick system isn’t for everyone, and we also don’t love the fact that it does away with a top dial, which means navigating different modes can be tricky. Perhaps not a dealbreaker for night sky photographers, but some may find it annoying in day-to-day life.

While we awarded it an impressive 5 stars in our full Canon EOS R7 review, it's worth noting that Canon's wide-angle lens lineup is extremely limited, making it a tricky purchase if you're solely focused on wide-angle astrophotography. If, however, you're a deep-sky enthusiast and want to take advantage of the extra reach from the 1.6x crop factor on a full-frame long telephoto lens, the R7 is well worth it.

• Read our full Canon EOS R7 review

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Best battery life

The Fujifilm X-S20 quietly ticks all the boxes for astrophotography and more. Its APS-C X-Trans sensor captures clean, detailed night skies, and its excellent battery life, with an estimated 800 shots per charge, means you can comfortably plan lengthy night sessions without constantly swapping power packs. A real plus when you’re out in the wild, away from mains chargers.

Fujifilm’s renowned color processing also means more pleasing base files to work with, which is great if you like to share astrophotography without heavy post-processing. Its aesthetic might not be for everyone, and Fujifilm’s color science has a distinctive look that won’t suit every astrophotographer straight out of the camera.

Fuji’s lens lineup, especially the fast, wide primes that are ideal for astrophotography, can be more expensive than those of its rivals, so budget carefully for glass. If you’ve already partially invested in a different lens ecosystem, we’d perhaps recommend looking elsewhere, as you might find yourself reaching a dead end quite quickly in terms of availability and finance.

Generally, though, there’s a lot to recommend this option, and we especially like the crisp, limited noise images and how the camera deals with low-light scenarios across the board.

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Best for enthusiasts

The Nikon Z fc won plenty of attention for its retro styling, but beneath the classic dials lies a modern APS-C mirrorless camera that can handle most of what an astrophotographer can throw at it. It’s a small camera and its 20.9-megapixel sensor won’t match some of its rivals for sheer dynamic range or noise control at very high ISOs, but it’s plenty capable for a range of different nightscapes.

There is a trade-off to be had in the lack of in-body stabilization. Most modern astrophotographers work primarily with a sturdy tripod for long exposures anyway, so the absence of IBIS isn’t a dealbreaker, but it does remove the flexibility for handheld low-light frames that other cameras in this guide offer. Adding to that, there’s nothing in the way of a grip or any other ergonomics that make it easy to use in the dark. It’s a small device and it can sometimes be a bit clumsy to operate. It’s also worth doing your research on lenses, too — Z-mount lenses can be found, but there are fewer on the market than with other systems.

Where the Z fc shines is in its handling experience. If you love physical dials and control layouts, and a design that invites you out shooting, this camera is rewarding and fun to use. Just be prepared to pair it with fast glass if you take astrophotography seriously, and be aware of its relative lack of weatherproofing compared to other options.

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Best entry-level APS-C

With a 20.9-megapixel APS-C sensor and classic Nikon color science, the Nikon Z50 is an excellent starting point for budding dark sky photographers, and it sits at an appealing price point, too. It produces images with good detail and noise performance when used on a stable tripod for long exposures, and for Milky Way and landscape astrophotography, it does the job well, especially when paired with a fast, wide prime. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t ship with any form of stabilization, which could be a factor if you plan on doing handheld low-light work.

One of its biggest advantages is value for money, and this lets you invest more in lenses or support accessories like tripods and star trackers. For beginners or those building their first astrophotography kit, we think that this balance between performance and affordability makes it a very good entry point.

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Best astro features

The OM-5 Mark II is one of the most practical cameras for astrophotographers who like to step into the backcountry. Its weather-sealed body and impressive stabilization (quoted up to 7.5 stops) mean you can confidently shoot in all conditions.

Micro Four Thirds sensors don’t compete directly with APS-C for high-ISO noise performance, but the OM-5 makes up for it with portability and handling. Compact wide-angle lenses are among the smallest and lightest available, letting you carry a complete astro kit without weighing you down too much. We’d have liked to see a double SD card slot and slightly better battery life (it’s rated for about 310 shots per charge), but the size and lack of weight of the camera mean its strong suit is portability

For astrophotographers who value flexibility and enjoy travel photography too, this is a great option — the OM-5 Mark II strikes a superb balance between performance and real-world practicality. Plus, it has Live Composite, Starry Sky Autofocus and a Night Vision mode, all of which are fantastic for astrophotographers.

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Best for handheld low-light work

The Panasonic Lumix G9 II is the brand’s flagship Micro Four Thirds body on the market now. With a 25.2MP sensor and excellent IBIS (up to eight stops), it handles night sky shooting and everyday photography with equal confidence.

Combine excellent resolution and color rendition with advanced autofocus and excellent usability, and you get a camera that feels more modern across the board than many rivals.

The body is larger than some compact options we’ve listed here, but that can be a plus at night as more substantial cameras often balance better on tripods and feel more secure under gloves and in poor weather.

If you want one MFT camera that handles astrophotography, landscapes, wildlife, timelapse and video without compromise, the G9 II should be right at the top of your list.

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Best for video

The Panasonic GH6 is a powerhouse for astrophotographers who think in both stills and motion. It has a high-resolution sensor and plenty of rich video options, including 5.7K and 4K 10-bit shooting, making it ideal for night timelapses, astro documentaries and immersive night footage. If you’re a content creator or like to combine stills and video, we’d look no further than this.

While its body is larger and more complex than many stills-focused MFT models, this is precisely why creators who shoot motion love it: you don’t have to compromise on either side of your workflow. For astrophotography stills, the sensor delivers enough detail, and for video, it provides superb dynamic range and color depth, as well as internal recording in Apple ProRes 422 HQ and 422, pre-installed V-Log/V-Gamut and 13+ stops of dynamic range via Dynamic Range Boost.

If part of your astro process includes long night timelapses, behind-the-scenes night videos or content creation alongside still images, the GH6 is one of the most compelling cameras on offer today.

• Read our full review of its successor, the Panasonic Lumix GH7

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Best budget used model

Although it uses slightly older tech now, this remains a strong astrophotography option thanks to its excellent stabilization and handling. Its 20.1MP sensor isn’t the latest available from OM System (formerly Olympus), but the combination of a good choice of sharp lenses and in-body correction makes it comfortable to use both on tripods for long exposures and handheld for dawn/dusk scenarios.

We also like the body’s ergonomic design, and its excellent weather sealing gives you confidence if you often shoot in the wild — a frequent reality at dark sky locations. The reliability and build quality are why many outdoor photographers still choose this model long after its release, and we’d be happy to forgo the latest tech in favor of great performance when on location.

Plus, with OM System's 'Starry Sky Autofocus' up its sleeve, you don't have to worry about ending up with blurry, out-of-focus stars. We tested this feature out when we reviewed the OM-1 Mark II, and we found it to be surprisingly effective. Plus, Live Composite shooting enables you to effortlessly create star trail images.

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Best APS-C and MFT cameras for astrophotography: comparison

Best APS-C and MFT cameras for astrophotography: Frequently Asked Questions

Latest updates

How we test

We test astrophotography cameras by focusing on the factors that matter most in low-light shooting. That includes high ISO noise performance, dynamic range in dark scenes and how well the sensor retains color and details in shadows.

We also assess long-exposure reliability, heat management during extended shooting sessions and in-camera features that either help or hinder astrophotography.

Handling is equally important. We consider the ergonomics in cold conditions, menu clarity in the dark, battery life and lens compatibility, which is particularly important with APS-C and MFT cameras.

Spring is a prime time for starting a new workout routine, and no wonder. The combination of longer daylight hours, warmer weather and blossoming nature can be a powerful push to start afresh. Not only that, but springtime is also a great time to do it on a budget. March sales are filled with deals on running shoes, exercise equipment, fitness trackers, workout clothing, sports earbuds, and many other fitness essentials.

One of the biggest shopping events of the season is undoubtedly Amazon's spring sale, and while it is a great place for fitness enthusiasts to hunt for savings, it may not always be the best place to do so. Whether it is a premium Garmin watch or one of the best rowing machines, sometimes better deals are found elsewhere — at Best Buy or brand websites, for example.

To help you cut through the noise and save the most money, we have scoured the sales to find the cheapest picks. Below, you will find 5 fitness deals that blow Amazon out of the water.

• ✅Best Buy: Save up to 50% on smartwatches, headphones and more
• ✅Walmart: Health and fitness essentials for less
• ✅Target: Discounts on fitness kits and sportswear
• ✅HOKA: Save up to 30% off on premium footwear
• ✅Adidas: Extra 30% running shoes
• ✅Nike: Over 3,000 products on sale
• ✅Dick's Sporting Goods: Huge savings on exercise equipment
• ✅Garmin: Save up to 50% on watches and bike computers

Best fitness tracker deals

The best early anti-Amazon deals on Garmin watches, budget fitness trackers, fitness trackers, smart rings, and other wearable fitness tech.

Best running shoes deals

Top early anti-Amazon discounts on some of the best running shoes on the market: our favorite picks from Hoka, New Balance, Adidas, and more.

Best headphones and earbuds deals

The best early anti-Amazon deals on bone conduction headphones, sleep headphones, sports earbuds, running headphones, and other personal audio tech.

Best workout equipment deals

The best early anti-Amazon deals on yoga mats, resistance bands, water bottles, fitness accessories and other workout essentials.

Best cardio machine deals

Top early anti-Amazon discounts on rowing machines, exercise bikes, walking treadmills, and other cardio machines.

As a landscape and wildlife photographer, when I'm not hiking mountains or chasing herds of deer in the wilds of Scotland, I love taking inspiration from nature documentaries.

I also travel a lot, and when abroad I find myself blocked out of my various streaming services, which can be frustrating. In addition to massive savings, ExpressVPN is the best way to view all your favorite streaming services from anywhere, and right now its at its best-ever price.

Sign up for an ExpressVPN two-year plan and save up to 82% — you'll also get four months free. Deals end March 19.

With lots of exciting nature series available, and new series coming, including Apple TV's "The Secret Lives of Animals" and "Born to be Wild", for fans of nature and wildlife-related content, now is the time to grab one of the best VPN deals I've ever seen.

ExpressVPN ranks as the top choice when it comes to the top-rated VPN services. Recommended by our tech expert colleagues over at T3 and TechRadar. T3 scored ExpressVPN with a perfect 5 out of 5 star score, and its value for money (even at full price), streaming unblocking capabilities, and speeds were all key review highlights.

• Our experts have reviewed and rated the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, fitness trackers, running shoes, rowing machines and more.

Assuming it complies with your broadcaster’s T&Cs, you can use a VPN to unblock the streaming services you're subscribed to and allow for uninterrupted viewing of your favorite shows.

ExpressVPN not only unlocks streaming geo-restrictions but also comes with added security benefits, which are particularly useful when overseas and connecting to unknown Wi-Fi connections. It offers ad blockers, anti-malware protection, a password manager and breach scanner, and fast connections. It means you can view and download content, work and generally be online anywhere in the world with confidence.

These VPN deals are the best we've ever seen from ExpressVPN, and a win-win for online streaming, gaming and cybersecurity. However, they end on March 19, so l'd advise snapping this VPN deal up fast.

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Price history: ExpressVPN regularly has deals with discounts and free additional months. However, this deal across the various packages is the lowest it has ever been. We rate it as one of the best value VPN offers seen this year.

T3: ★★★★★ | TechRadar: ★★★★½

✅ Buy it if: You want a VPN service that's mostly rated as the number one provider, which is now at a heavily discounted price and comes with four months free.

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The bright stars and constellations that dominate the night sky around the turn of the year are much-loved, from Orion and its spectacular M42 nebula, super-bright Sirius and the Pleiades open cluster. However, all of these jewels exist in the Orion Spur of the Milky Way — the same spiral arm that our own solar system calls home. But as the sky turns and the stars of March rise in the east, they bring with them a clear view away from the Milky Way — and into the realm of the galaxies.

While there are galaxies visible across the night sky, there’s a dense concentration within (though, ultimately, behind) the constellations of Leo, Virgo and Coma Berenices. Add Canes Venatici and Ursa Major nearby in the northern sky, and the scene is set for galaxy season — when all you need is one of the best telescopes or best beginner telescopes, observing when your target is 30 degrees or more above the horizon. Or you can invest in one of the best smart telescopes to see these faint yet spectacular targets in real-time images sent straight to your smartphone.

From a string of galaxies and distant spirals to edge-on views and more, here’s everything you need to know about galaxy season — the best targets, the best time to see them and what kind of optics you’ll need.

1. Whirlpool Galaxy (M51 and NGC 5195)

31 million light-years from the Milky Way, M51 in Canes Venatici is a great example of a faint galaxy (magnitude 8.4) that’s accessible in modest apertures, but truly shines in larger scopes. It looks spectacular in the best smart telescopes. For example, train the ZWO Seestar S50 smart telescope on it, and you’ll get a clear view of this grand-design spiral galaxy popping up on your smartphone after just a few seconds. You’ll immediately see its face-on spiral structure — it was the first to be classified as a spiral galaxy — but if you have the patience for some more image integration, you’ll also see the tiny galaxy NGC 5195, which sits at the end of one of M51’s spiral arms.

2. Bode’s Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy (M81 and M82)

These two neighboring galaxies in Ursa Major are icons of the northern night sky. Best observed in spring, Bode's Galaxy (M81, a spiral galaxy at magnitude 6.94) and the Cigar Galaxy (M82, a starburst galaxy at magnitude 8.41) are typically observed and photographed together. As a bonus, they’re a great target for beginners, with a 660 mm focal length refractor — such as the Celestron Inspire 100AZ — enough to give you a glimpse under dark skies.

3. Pinwheel Galaxy (M101)

Large but low in surface brightness, M101’s sprawling arms demand dark skies. The Vaonis Vespera II smart telescope excels at automatically stacking faint deep-sky targets, even in light-polluted areas. If you want to get a little more serious, the Celestron Advanced VX 8 Edge HD is well-suited to teasing out faint structure when paired with a DSLR or dedicated astro-camera for stacked exposures.

4. Leo Triplet (M65, M66 and NGC 3628)

For any observer dusting off a telescope or astrophotography rig to glimpse seasonal deep-sky objects, the Leo Triplet is always near the top of the list. Visible below the belly of Leo, the Lion, it’s a unique opportunity to get three galaxies in one frame. The Celestron Origin Intelligent Home Observatory produces sharp, colorful deep-sky images with minimal set-up, making it ideal for capturing the full trio in a single composition.

5. The Whale and the Hockey Stick (NGC 4631 and NGC 4656)

Here’s an elongated, edge-on spiral in the constellation Canes Venatici that resembles a breaching whale (NGC 4631), with a flatter-looking galaxy (NGC 4656) close by to add interest. The Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25 provides the aperture needed to show its stretched profile, while the Unistellar eVscope 2 will stack images to reveal structure even from suburban skies — though you will need to let it do its thing for at least an hour.

6. Markarian’s Chain and the Virgo Cluster

Found on the border between the constellations Virgo and Coma Berenices, this cluster of a dozen or so galaxies seemingly on a string spans about 1.5 degrees of the night sky — a little more than the width of your little finger at arm’s length. The brightest are M84 and M86, while the Eyes Galaxies (NGC 4435 and NGC 4438) are seemingly linked, interacting galaxies. The Skywatcher Evostar 80ED is a good choice for both observing and astrophotography, the latter when paired with a dedicated astro-camera.

7. Sombrero Galaxy (M104)

About 28 million light-years from the Milky Way in the Virgo constellation, we see this iconic galaxy almost edge-on, with noticeable starlight from its core. It’s best seen in May, with a small telescope like the Celestron NexStar 127SLT, which delivers crisp, high-contrast views of its luminous central bulge.

The ‘Messier Marathon’

Galaxy season is also when to try the annual Messier Marathon — an intense, dusk-to-dawn observing challenge. The aim is to locate as many of the 110 deep-sky objects in 18th-century French astronomer Charles Messier’s catalog as possible in a single night. Many of the galaxies listed above — from M51 to M104 — are essential stops along the way.

Something of a rite of passage for amateur astronomers, the sweet spot typically falls between mid-March and early April, with the best weekends in 2026 being March 14-15 and March 21-22. Observers begin in the west with views of M74, M77, M33 and M31 (the Andromeda Galaxy) before they set, and work east towards the Virgo Cluster, finishing in the east before dawn. A GoTo or smart telescope will make the task much easier and quicker, but for purists, it’s a great opportunity to get to know your telescope and the night sky.

We love working out to the music blasting through our earbuds, and we are far from alone. Walk into any gym, and you can bet half of the people there will be lost in their own little audio world. Look around outside, and you will see that most runners and cyclists rack up the miles while listening to their favorite tunes, too. Sports earbuds and workout-friendly headphones have become an absolute must-have for fitness enthusiasts.

The best part? Science suggests that this can actually be a good thing. When we interviewed several prominent experts in psychotherapy, clinical psychology and fitness coaching, they all agreed: music can help make your workouts feel easier and more enjoyable, and in some cases, can even help you improve your exercise performance.

As Helen Wells, a Thailand-based psychotherapist, succinctly put it: "Music acts as a healthy distraction." Want to know more? You can find more insights in the FAQs section below.

That said, there is no single best sports earbuds model that we would recommend to everyone. Runners have different needs than swimmers, swimmers want different things than triathletes, and neither of those may need what a gym-goer would. Hikers may not even want the traditional earbuds and prefer one of the best bone conduction headphones instead. With that in mind, we have curated our list of the best models based on intended activities and sought-after features.

You can trust our judgement here — as experienced fitness professionals, we have gone through countless sports earbuds and can tell whether something is worth the money or not, plus we made sure we tested every model to the same standard for maximum objectivity. We hope that these sports earbuds will help you truly unleash the power of music.

Best sports earbuds: Quick links

Best sports earbuds and workout-friendly headphones 2026: Tried and tested by a personal trainer

Best budget sports earbuds

We have gone through dozens of sports earbuds in our lifetime, and admittedly, many were rather budget-friendly. We have a knack for losing them while traveling or damaging them during workouts, so we have learned the hard way to keep them affordable. In our experience, earbuds under $50 tend to fall into two categories: they are utterly mediocre or so surprisingly good that you keep and cherish them forever. The CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 are definitely in the latter camp. These earbuds cost $69 and are frequently on sale for less than $50, but they can easily compete with models two to three times the price.

Sound quality is the biggest factor here. The CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 sound surprisingly rich and bass-heavy for the price. These earbuds have a real kick to them and can motivate you to push that little bit harder, whether you are lifting weights or racking up the miles on a home treadmill. If you would rather tone down the bass, though, you can always adjust the sound settings in the Nothing X app (that said, some may still find these earbuds a bit too bass-heavy even with the tweaks.)

Next, we have the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and transparency modes. While the CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 are not nearly as good at modifying background noise as some of the more premium models, they still perform surprisingly well. These earbuds did just as good a job of keeping us safe on a running track as they did blocking the incessant noise of a crowded gym. That's no mean feat, given how affordable they are.

Lastly, the looks and durability. The CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 are rated IP55, meaning they are both dust- and sweat-proof, and they feel quite sturdy too. We must have dropped them at least a dozen times and they still work fine. We are also big fans of their vibrant color palette — most budget-friendly earbuds are only available in black, so it is refreshing to see something this funky.

On the other hand, the CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 may not be a good fit for everyone. These earbuds are admittedly pretty chunky and those with small ears may find them either uncomfortable to wear or not secure enough to withstand those more intense workouts. They do not come with any helpful ear hooks or stabilizers, either.

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Best value sports earbuds

The JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 earbuds may not have the military-grade durability of the Raycon Impact or the waterproof credentials of the H20 Audio Tri 2 Pro, but they are well-built, sound well and come with a good selection of app-based sound settings. They fit exceptionally well, too. These earbuds stay securely in place, whether you run outdoors, dance your heart out in a Zumba class or hit your weightlifting PBs in the gym. The cherry on top? The JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 cost less than $100, making them one of the best-value picks on the market.

They also perform well when it comes to noise-reduction settings and battery life. The JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 are effective at reducing background noise without cutting you off from the outside world, and they last up to 12 hours on a single charge (52 hours with a case.) Now, that is not something we see often in such reasonably priced earbuds.

The only downside? The chunky design. The JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 are much bigger and heavier than the Beats Powerbeats Fit, for example, and some people may find these earbuds slightly uncomfortable to wear for prolonged periods. The charging case is also unusually big — so much so that you may struggle to fit it in your pocket.

The JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 are not particularly customizable, either. These earbuds are only available in black, and the earhooks that keep them in place are relatively rigid. If you prefer something more colorful and pliable, you may need to consider a different model. However, this is a relatively minor infraction and not something we would fret about at this price point.

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Best sports earbuds for secure fit

Can't seem to keep your earbuds in when working out? We have been there. There is nothing more frustrating than having to pick your buds up off the gym mat after a particularly complex yoga pose, or being forced to dive underneath the treadmill to retrieve them every time you finish a lung-busting sprint. The good news is that it does not have to be this way — we may have finally found something that can survive our back-breaking exercises.

The Beats Powerbeats Fit do indeed, as the name suggests, fit well. These earbuds are quite small and feature four ear tip sizes, so they sit securely in the ear no matter its size. More importantly, they come with pliable in-ear wingtips instead of the traditional ear hooks. These wingtips do not rest on the top of your ear, but rather twist into it, snuggly locking the earbud in place.

This unusually snuggly design works like a charm. Whether we lifted weights, went on an indoor bike or did an intense bout of HIIT, we could easily forget we were even wearing the earbuds. The Beats Powerbeats Fit have never fallen out of our ears or forced us to constantly adjust them back into place, therefore allowing us to focus on the music and movement in place.

These earbuds not only fit well, they also sound great — with a good balance of bass and treble, and enough detail and richness to satisfy the needs of audiophiles. The Beats Powerbeats Fit are also exceptionally portable. The charging case was so small that it could easily fit in a pocket of our gym leggings.

If there is anything we would complain about, it would be their ANC mode. It is just not as good as we expected it to be. The Beats Powerbeats Fit cost around $199.99, and as one of the more expensive options in this guide, it is fair to expect them to have better background noise reduction. We also noticed considerable sound leakage on these earbuds. In fact, it was more noticeable than in the far more affordable CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2.

We also need to mention some app connectivity woes. We are not sure whether these issues had something to do with our Android phone or the earbuds themselves, or both, but our testing unit seemed to disconnect constantly from the Beats app. We also had a hard time trying to reconnect them.

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