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Travel Scope 70 DX Portable Telescope with Smartphone Adapter

£129.99

Style: Travel Scope 50 Portable Telescope National Park Foundation Travel Scope 60 Telescope Travel Scope 70 Portable Telescope Travel Scope 80 Portable Telescope with Smartphone Adapter Travel Scope 70 DX Portable Telescope with Smartphone Adapter Travel Scope 60 DX Portable Telescope with Smartphone Adapter Popular Science by Celestron Travel Scope 70 Portable Telescope with Smartphone Adapter and Bluetooth Remote

• A portable telescope kit with everything you need to get started: 70mm refractor telescope with fully coated glass optics, full height tripod, travel backpack, plus lots more
• Smartphone Photography Accessories - Capture images and video through your Travel Scope with the included smartphone adapter and Bluetooth shutter release
• More Bonus Accessories – You’ll also receive two eyepieces (20mm and 10mm), an erect image star diagonal, a 2x Barlow lens, a Moon filter, and a finderscope
• Day-to-Night Performance – Use your Travel Scope™ for celestial viewing at night or for observation of birds, nature, and wildlife during the day
• The custom backpack fits your telescope and all its accessories comfortably
• Observe in no time with a quick and easy, no-tool setup
• Pan handle Alt-Az control with clutch for smooth and accurate pointing

OVER 60 YEARS OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY

In the 1960s, Celestron’s founder, Tom Johnson, created groundbreaking new telescopes never before seen on the consumer market. Today, our world-class team of optical and electronic engineers continues to push the boundaries of technology. From the SkyProdigy, a telescope so smart it can align itself, to our high-performance EdgeHD optical system, we’ve revolutionized the hobby of astronomy for beginners and advanced amateurs alike. Go behind the scenes with Celestron’s product development team and learn more about our award-winning and patented innovations.

At the forefront of a new era in amateur astronomy, the launch of Celestron Origin stands as a beacon, seamlessly intertwining stargazing and astrophotography into a singular, user-friendly experience. This intelligent, all-in-one observatory and astroimaging system emerges as a catalyst, eliminating the complexities traditionally associated with telescopes and, in turn, metamorphosing your backyard into an inviting gateway to the Universe.

Celestron released the patented Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA) 11” optical tube in 2014. Unlike traditional telescopes, the RASA design ingeniously places the imaging sensor at the front of the telescope tube, creating an ultra-fast f/2.2 system with an extraordinarily wide field of view.

Sky recognition technology that has revolutionized the manual telescope by eliminating the confusion common among beginners and enhancing the user experience for even seasoned telescope users.

U nleash the full pointing accuracy of your Celestron computerized telescope with a specialized telescope control software suite. control and Sky Viewer display makes selecting your target easy. CPWI has an extensive object database, employs PointXP mount modeling, and more.

The new Lithium Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery chemistry has significant advantages over other battery chemistries, great for for those Astronomers on the go.

WiFi technology encircles the globe in a web of connectivity, knowledge, and information. Now, Celestron is using that same technology to allow star gazers to connect to the night sky and enhance their experience of the cosmos in fun and unique ways.

Planetarium software package which provides easy-to-understand explanations and impressive visuals of all kinds. Learn more about extra solar planets imagery, 3D Star rendering, observation planning, telescope control, multiple-panel printing, and much more.

Celestron’s aplanatic EdgeHD optics revolutionized astroimaging. This award-winning optical system reduces visual defects like field curvature and coma, creating an ultra-flat field for pinpoint stars all the way to the edge of today’s largest imaging sensors.

Fastar Technology allows imagers the option of drastically increasing the speed and sensitivity of their Celestron optical tube, allowing bright, detailed images with short exposures.

Our patented SkyAlign alignment technology makes setting up a computerized telescope simple, fast, and accurate. Just point the telescope at any three bright objects—stars, bright planets, or even the Moon—and your telescope can orient itself with the night sky.

Celestron’s patented StarSense® Technology makes it easier than ever to locate objects in the night sky, even if you’ve never used a telescope before. Turn it on and push ‘Align.’ In about three minutes, you’re ready to observe!

Get ready for a night of astroimaging with your mount faster than previously thought possible with All-Star Polar Alignment. This innovative software solves the time-consuming problem of trying to pinpoint the North Celestial Pole.

One of the most important factors in a telescope is its transmission—the percentage of light that reaches the focal plane. Our proprietary StarBright XLT optical coatings dramatically increase transmission, up to 97.4% on our Schmidt corrector lenses.

ED stands for "extra-low dispersion," which refers to the composition and optical properties of the glass used for the lenses. ED glass is specially formulated and contains rare-earth compounds that greatly reduce a visual defect called chromatic aberration.

This telescope control software replaces the hand control and allows the user to remotely control their Celestron computerized telescope from their personal PC or laptop.

EclipSmart solar products feature Solar Safe filter technology providing the ultimate protection from harmful solar radiation, including both IR and UV light, and filters 99.999% of visible light. Celestron Solar Safe filter technology is GUARANTEED SAFE for direct solar observation and has been independently tested by SAI Global Assurance Services.

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Description

Specifications

Support & Downloads

Get a new perspective on nature and the Universe with the ideal day-to-night telescope, Travel Scope 70 DX. This refractor telescope includes a full height tripod and lots of bonus accessories, include a smartphone adapter so you can capture images and video through the eyepiece. It all packs up into a high-quality custom backpack—ready to go wherever your adventures take you.

Whether you take it along on your next camping trip or enjoy an impromptu backyard stargazing session, setting up the telescope is a breeze. Even on your first time out, you can assemble the telescope and its accessories in just a few minutes. The adjustable tripod legs allow you to customize the telescope’s height or place it on raised surfaces like a picnic table. 

By night, Travel Scope 70 DX delivers great views of the planets, the Moon, star clusters and brighter deep sky objects like the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy. During the day, Travel Scope 70 DX doubles as a spotting scope. Enjoy amazing views of birds, wildlife, boats on the water, migrating whales, and so much more.

The entire telescope kit weighs just 3.3 pounds, so you can take it anywhere, hassle-free.

Smartphone adapter and Bluetooth shutter release

Create your own stunning images and video of celestial or terrestrial objects with the smartphone adapter. With its light, rigid frame, this accessory allows you to connect any smartphone to your Travel Scope’s eyepiece. The additional magnification provided by the eyepiece allows your phone to capture great images of the Moon and planets.  This smartphone adapter installs easily by clamping over the top of an eyepiece.  The smartphone is held in position with the help of tightening knobs that securely lock your phone in place. To capture the best image, Celestron has also provided a Bluetooth shutter release that allows you to trigger the camera’s shutter on any Android or iOS smartphone remotely, without disturbing the placement of your phone and telescope.  NOTE: Some large and/or bulky phone cases (including folio style cases) may need to be removed for the phone to fit in the adapter.

Manual Alt-Azimuth telescope

Navigate the sky confidently with Travel Scope 70 DX’s intuitive pan handle. The Alt-Az control with clutch allows for smooth tracking and accurate pointing. Like a photographic tripod, you can move the clutch in an up/down, left/right fashion to follow your object in the eyepiece.

Deluxe Accessories Included

In addition to the smartphone adapter and Bluetooth shutter release, Travel Scope 70 DX includes a full selection of optical accessories, including two eyepieces (20mm and 10mm), an erect image diagonal, a finderscope, a 2x Barlow lens, and a 1.25” Moon filter. The two eyepieces offer different magnifications so you can view your subject at low or high power. The erect image diagonal allows for more comfortable viewing and right-side-up images. The permanently mounted finderscope will help you locate objects and quickly center them in your telescope’s eyepiece. Lastly, the Moon filter reduces glare and increases contrast on the surface of the Moon.

Travel Backpack

Pack up your optical tube, tripod, eyepieces, and accessories safely and securely in the included custom backpack.

Starry Night Software

Download Celestron’s Starry Night Software and learn about the night sky, celestial objects, and how to plan your next observing session. Celestron Starry Night Software is the premier astronomy software package on the market, providing detailed information, plus tips and tricks for viewing our Solar System and beyond. 

Downloadable Robert Reeves’ Lunar Landscapes eBook

Familiarize yourself with the Moon, our neighboring world, with Robert Reeves’ Lunar Landscapes eBook . This fascinating guide will take you on a tour of the Moon’s top geographical features, from the crater Tycho to the Sea of Tranquility where Apollo 11 astronauts landed.

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Popular Science by Celestron Travel Scope 70 Portable Telescope with Smartphone Adapter and Bluetooth Remote

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Celestron Travel Scope 70 70mm backpack refractor and tripod

9 Review(s) | Add Your Review

Availability: More on the way

Whether for backyard or vacation, the Celestron Travel Scope 70 puts multi-use and very affordable 70mm backpack refractor optics on an altazimuth mount that you'll find yourself using a lot more than you expect.

Product Description

Tech details, supplied accessories.

The Celestron 70mm Travel Scope is a very inexpensive little refractor of many uses: a great scope to start the kids on astronomy; your own spur-of-the-moment backyard scope for astronomy, birding, and nature studies; a scope to sit on the porch of the home with a view to while away the lazy summer afternoons and evenings; a toss-in-the-trunk-of-the-car take-along for vacations and day trips; and more. Its tripod can serve double duty as a nifty light-weight photo tripod for your camera.

You get an lot of features and performance for not a lot of money with the compact Celestron 70mm Travel Scope: fully-coated achromatic optics, two 1.25" eyepieces, finderscope, erect image diagonal, adjustable height tripod/altazimuth mount, backpack carrying/storage case, and TheSky X- First Light Edition planetarium/star charting software on CD-ROM. And it weighs only 3.3 pounds, so it's easy to take with you anywhere you go.

The erect image diagonal gives you eyepiece views that are oriented the same as they are to your bare eye. This lets you easily follow moving wildlife and vehicles without the annoying image reversal you find with a conventional diagonal. Plus, printing (the name and home port on a distant boat, for example) is completely readable, instead of being backwards. Close focus is only 19', letting you get up close and personal with the nature in your own back yard. While not a powerhouse of an astronomical scope, the Celestron Travel Scope 70 might surprise you with its capabilities outside our atmosphere.

You will find a lot of uses for the respectable optics of the Celestron 70mm Travel Scope, and a lot of times and places to use them, day or night. For the price, it's hard to beat this nifty little refractor.

This Telescope's Optical System . . .

Achromatic refractor: 70mm aperture, 400mm focal length, f/5.7. All-glass crown and flint doublet refractor with built-in lens shade to improve contrast. Fully antireflection coated on all air-to-glass surfaces for good light transmission and contrast.

Finderscope: 5 x 24mm straight-through refractor.

Focuser: 1.25" rack and pinion.

Star diagonal: 1.25" 45° erect image/right reading prism type.

Two 1.25" eyepieces: The first is a 20mm providing 20x. The eyepiece field of view is 2.5° across, five times the diameter of the full Moon for expansive views of the Moon, the brighter large-scale deep space objects like open star clusters and nebulas, and terrestrial observing. The second is a 10mm providing 40x with a 1.3° field for more close-up views of the Moon, nature, and more. Optional 1.25" eyepiece can expand the magnification range.

This Telescope's Mount . . .

Altazimuth mount: The Travel Scope 70 comes with a preassembled adjustable height photo tripod that serves as an altazimuth mount for astronomical and terrestrial observing. A no-tool mounting foot on the optical tube connects the 17" long scope to the tripod by means of a single hand-tighten 1/4"-20 thread bolt for fast set-up and take-down. The four-section legs and rising center post let you adjust the tripod height from about 16" to 49". A lock knob adjusts the friction and smoothness of travel in azimuth (side to side) while the twist-to-lock pan handle does the same for motion in altitude (up and down). The pan handle lets you manually aim the scope and track moving objects with precision.

Carry case: The scope comes with a soft backpack-type carrying/storage case that holds scope, tripod, and eyepieces, inviting you to toss the Travel Scope 70 in the trunk of your car to take it with you wherever and whenever you go.

Two-year warranty: All Celestron telescopes have a two-year warranty, double that of competitive scopes.

• Summary of Your Review *
• 70mm fully coated achromatic refractor optics
• Pre-assembled adjustable height tripod
• 5 x 24mm finderscope
• 1.25" rack and pinion focuser
• 1.25" 45° viewing image-erecting prism-type star diagonal
• 1.25" 20mm eyepiece (20x)
• 1.25" 10mm eyepiece (40x)
• TheSky X CD-ROM star-charting software
• Backpack carrying case
• Dust covers.

Review: Celestron TravelScope 70 Telescope

Author: Luna Gregoria

Updated: Nov 7, 2022

Ad Disclosure Advertiser Disclosure AstronomySource is an independent, advertising-supported astronomy website. We receive compensation for sales made for all telescopes that we recommend, but that doesn't affect our editorial decisions. We have affiliate partnerships with Amazon, HighPointScientific, and Telescope.com

When it comes to the telescopes we review, our editorial board (which is comprised entirely of astronomers) make unbiased judgments. Please keep in mind that our performance rating system on this page is completely unrelated to any kind of monetary gain.

I want to like the Celestron TravelScope 70, I really do. I have had fun with it. But I just can’t recommend it to beginners for astronomy. And though I’m not an expert on daytime spotting scopes, I’d probably advise against getting one for that purpose as well. It is a nice optic ruined by poor mechanical design and accessories, and unless you’re willing to spend more time and money replacing its accessories (or if you have them already lying about, as I do), I can not recommend it.

The advertising on the box describes it as a nature observing telescope which can be used for casual astronomy. This seems to sort of explain (or disclaim) some of the... peculiarities of this instrument.

Total Score

5/10: Downsides outweigh upsides

Score Breakdown (out of 5)

Moon & Planets: 3

Rich Field: 3

Accessories: 3

Ease of use: 2

Portability: 5

Read our scoring methodology here .

• A nice 70mm f/6 achromatic objective.
• Lightweight and portable.
• Sturdy enough.
• Decent eyepieces.
• Stopped down effective aperture.
• Useless optical finderscope.
• Terrible 45-degree erecting prism.
• Useless, extremely wobbly tripod.

The Competition

I picked mine up used for $50, and I think at that price it’s just about right. But at full price? There are better options in most cases.

If you want a telescope that is small, lightweight, and very easy to use, consider the Orion SkyScanner 100 or Zhumell Z100, a 4” tabletop reflector. And at this price point, if you want to scan wide fields of view across the sky searching for bright deep-sky-objects and star fields, consider a pair of binoculars instead. A 10x50mm or 7x50mm pair of binoculars have the same overall light gathering.

Our Verdict

If you’re already a telescope owner, this might be a good portable option for you, for the same reason as the ST80. I find the TravelScope 70 is lightweight enough that it plays much nicer on photo tripods than the ST80 that I own, and despite getting the ST80 specifically as a grab-n-go scope, I found that I would end up taking the TravelScope 70 outside instead, especially if I wanted a peek at something behind the trees, visible from a different part of my yard. It’s a bit like a ShortTube 70 , in overall design and in application, and for an astro-tinkerer you may be able to fix some of its shortcomings.

But for a beginner? There are probably better options. Even Celestron’s TravelScope 80, though it has some similar bad accessories, has the beloved Synta-made ShortTube 80 optics and mechanical design, and it’s only around $20 more expensive. Meade’s AdventureScope 80 is like the TravelScope 80 but with a marginally better diagonal. (And if you’re considering getting a TS80 or AS80, why not go for the fully kitted out ST80-A or ST80-EQ?)  

Just be sure, before you buy, that you’re ok with buying a telescope without a tripod or mount, because that’s effectively what you’ll be getting--the tripod must be replaced to do astronomy with it, and should probably be replaced even if you just want a daytime spotting scope. Treat it as an optical tube and eyepieces only.

Celestron Travelscope 70

Rating: 2.5/5

The Tripod of the Celestron TravelScope 70

I have some bad news and some good news.

I normally discuss the optics first, but I’m going to address the tripod first this time, because it is the most important thing to beware of with this telescope. The tripod belongs in the trash . It might work, barely , for a small point-and-shoot toy camera. But a telescope will magnify any small wobble and cause the image to shift and shake tremendously. Even at low magnification, I found that it was almost unusable, but I could just about find focus. At 40x, I couldn’t even find focus–any tap of the focuser knob sent the image into several seconds of shaking. The mount head is soft and plastic, and it feels like it wants to break instead of move where I want it to. It is hopelessly unbalanced in the altitude axis, which means pointing above about 45 degrees is futile. (Of course, for reasons I’ll get into, it’d be futile anyway). It’s also so short that even when fully extended, I had to take a chair out and sit down to reach the eyepiece. It’s too short even for terrestrial use, pointing around the horizon.

That was the bad news. The good news is that the TravelScope 70 is small enough that it can easily be used on any good tripod. So if you already have a nice and sturdy tripod, tall enough for the mount head to get above your face when observing while sitting down (or ideally, when standing as well), then the TravelScope 70 will probably work fine there.

The TravelScope 70 has an achromatic lens objective with an aperture of 70mm and a focal length of 400mm. Its lens elements are nicely coated without bright reflections. My impression is that, for the money, this is a pretty great objective lens. It won’t hold up to any 70mm Apochromat, but you get what you pay for.

There are a few problems with the mechanical design of the TS70. First of all, the (non-collimatable) lens cell, which is similar in design to the ShortTube 80’s and some other cheap achromats I’ve seen, was tightened extremely tight. I put in a lot of elbow grease to loosen the lens cell. The trouble is that this tightened lens cell actually bends the glass, creating “pinched optics.” You might not think glass can bend, but you’re only allowed to bend by 1/1000th the width of saran wrap, so screwing the lens cell down so tight makes the image noticeably fuzzier at high powers. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the image at first was a mess. After loosening the lens cell just enough that I could hear a slight rattle when shaken (but not too much so that the scope would never be collimated), the image was much cleaner and sharper.

When testing the optics, I did so with and without the 45-degree erecting prism, and I found that without the prism, the image is actually pretty good. It’s got some spherical aberration (in the star test it looks pretty bad, but in actual use, it’s not too noticeable, definitely not at 40x given by the stock 10mm eyepiece) and it is a little rough. It remained out of collimation. It is possible (though tedious) to fix collimation in a lens cell like this, but it wasn’t bad enough to worry about.

The biggest optical problem in the telescope tube is actually part of the mechanical design of the telescope. The focuser used seems to be identical to the one used on a long-focus 70mm achromat, so it’s too long, and it actually protrudes into the light path. For some positions of the focuser, the entire 70mm objective is visible, for others it’s restricted to perhaps only 60mm! Overall, the aperture is probably around 65mm when used with a mirror star diagonal . It’s 60mm or less when the stock prism diagonal is used, since it takes up more focuser travel and vignettes the light path. It may be possible to saw off part of the focuser drawtube to fix this oversight. I haven’t done this for the review. This is a frankly embarrassing error to make since, as far as I can tell, the quality of the objective is easily good enough to justify making full use of all 70mm of it.

The Accessories

The two eyepieces are a 20mm and a 10mm Modified Achromat (a variant of a Kellner eyepiece that has three elements). They have fairly wide fields of view, sharp centers, and passable edges. They’re nothing special, but they’re far better than what many beginner telescopes come with, and they definitely work for this purpose.

The TravelScope 70 comes with a black nylon bag that can hold the tripod and telescope. It’s a nice extra, and it might have come in handy if the tripod that’s meant to go with it was any good. If you get a nice, but small, tripod, you might make use of it.

The two real letdowns among the accessories are the finderscope and the prism diagonal. The finderscope is ridiculous. Galileo’s telescope was probably better. These things barely belong in a McDonald’s happy meal toy, let alone a telescope. It is barely sufficient for sighting through it to find targets, but it isn’t usable on its own as a wide-field finderscope.

The biggest problem with the accessories, other than the tripod, is the 45-degree erecting prism, which goes between the focuser drawtube and the eyepiece. The body is made of plastic, and it feels cheap. It is both an ergonomic and an optical disaster.

Diagonals typically come in 45-degree angles (with erecting prisms) or 90-degree angles (either with a mirror or an erecting prism). This is because, if you imagine pointing a telescope with no diagonal at all high in the sky, you’d have to crane your neck uncomfortably to get your eye to the eyepiece. A 90 degree diagonal is preferred for astronomy since it allows a comfortable viewing angle even when pointed all the way to the zenith (top of the sky). A 45 degree prism can’t go above 45 degrees before you have to start looking up into it. However, 45 degree prisms can be preferred for nature observing if the tripod is tall enough. And for a terrestrial spotting scope, you do want an upright image. Mirror diagonals will show a mirror image, but don’t degrade the image as much. Because the tripod is so short, a 90 degree erecting prism would have been preferred.

The problems don’t stop with ergonomics. Unfortunately, it also degrades the optics of the telescope. The view of the Moon was plenty sharp with a mirror diagonal installed, but going back to the prism, the view became blurry and there was a lot of chromatic aberration (false color fringing). It’s adequate for viewing at low powers, but it causes very noticeable fringing before you even get to 40x. The prism itself is miscollimated–looking into the prism, the view of the objective lens is off-center, and that means you’re getting even less light.

Upgrading the Accessories

Upgrading the eyepieces is a low priority, as they should serve you for a while.

The finderscope should be replaced with a red dot finder. Red dot finders have no magnification at all, they just project a red dot through a small lens/window onto the sky and use some optical trickery to make it look like it’s “at infinity.” (There’s no parallax). When upgrading, be sure to find one with a compatible mounting foot. The mount is done with two screw-stalks that stick up out of the optical tube, the finder mount slips over them, then two thumb-nuts are screwed onto the stalks. This is the same finder mounting system used by other telescopes like the FirstScope/FunScope, Orion SkyScanner, and more.

Finding objects can be done at low power with the telescope itself—it is its own finderscope.

Upgrading the tripod is the most urgently needed fix, but decent tripods are pretty expensive. Don’t buy the scope unless you already have a decent tripod. If you already have the scope and want an upgraded tripod, don’t spend more than $100 on one. For around $100-150, there are better telescope options altogether.

The prism diagonal is the next most urgently needed replacement. Keep it around for comparison or for when you want to do terrestrial observing, but it’s just no good for serious astronomy.

For astronomy, you want an economical mirror star diagonal. Don’t go too expensive, you just need a cheap $30 or so 1.25” diagonal to get the job done. The views of the Moon, planets, and double stars will be sharper and more color free, and you’ll be able to use longer-focus eyepieces with wider fields of view, and you’ll be able to use more of the telescope’s aperture. And to top it all off, it’ll just be more comfortable to use.

General Use

After my first half hour using the telescope, I was exhausted trying to work around its awful mount. However, in that time, I was able to observe the Double Cluster in Perseus, the Orion Nebula, and the Andromeda Galaxy, and I was pleased enough by them to not immediately write off the telescope as a failure.

After a rest indoors, I set the telescope up again with my good tripod, the mirror diagonal off my Orion ST80, and a red dot finder, and I went out and had a lot of fun with it. It isn’t a powerful telescope, but I personally enjoy small telescope observing quite a lot. The wide-field views you can get with small short telescopes make up for the small aperture, so you can fit a lot of stars in the eyepiece.

The Orion Nebula showed its bright core easily, though somewhat softly, and hinted at the tenuous outer layers of gas and dust. Three stars in the trapezium were easily resolved, and the fourth wasn’t too difficult at 40x. At low power, the entire Orion’s Sword stellar association is visible and very pretty, with the nebula showing up as a fuzzy blob in the middle.

I was not able to see any details in the Andromeda Galaxy M31–the satellite galaxy M32 was only suspected, and there was no hint of the fainter M110. All I could see was a ghostly pale core of the galaxy, and this was the one object that was especially disappointing in comparison with what other small scopes of mine had shown.

Some of my favorite small scope targets are the open clusters M35, M37, M36, and M38, which follow a line up from Castor-Twin’s Foot in Gemini up to the middle of Auriga the Chariot. M37 and M36 can be seen together in the same field of view with a wide field 32mm Plossl eyepiece (though not together with the stock 20mm), as well as M36 and M38. The appearance of these clusters is a fuzzy blob that can be resolved into a glittery mess, with varying degrees of sparkle and fuzziness. Each of these are groups of young stars just spreading out into the Milky Way, and they are observed best in winter and spring.

I was able to see the Clown Face Nebula, though it required a higher magnification of 67x to resolve it as a planet-shaped nebula instead of a star, I only suspected it was a nebula at 40x.

I was even able to observe M81 and M82, a pair of galaxies in Ursa Major.

I went out one night to compare my Orion ShortTube 80 (optically identical to the Celestron TravelScope 80’ s objective lens) with the TravelScope 70. By my calculation, the difference between the two shouldn’t have been especially noticeable, but it definitely was. The view of Caldwell 64, the Tau Canis Majoris Cluster, was so much dimmer than the view through the ST80 that it required averted vision to suspect there was more than one star, whereas the ST80 showed it with a sparkly halo easily. The ST80 could just barely do the two bright components in the Leo Triplet, while I couldn’t see them at all in the TravelScope 70. The overall character of the images was the same (to be expected when observing at the same magnification), but the TS70 was dimmer than it should have been, which confirms that the effective aperture was stopped down.

If you go in with the correct expectations (objects will be dim and gray) and look for the right objects (look for objects in guides for small telescopes and binoculars, rather than the famously named nebula you’ve seen in pictures), the telescope can work just fine for deep sky viewing from a suburban or darker sky. In a rural sky, it’d be powerful enough to see every one of the Messier objects. I find that it’s much easier to find and appreciate deep sky objects in a small scope after you’ve gotten familiar with deep sky observing in a larger telescope. But there’s no reason you can’t start small if you set your expectations right.

As I write this, there are no planets worth looking at (Mars is a dot in even the largest telescopes), so the only high-resolution tests I could put the telescope through were of double stars and the Moon.

At high power, the focuser is loose enough to reveal a bit of image shift as you rack the focuser in and out. Without shimming the focuser, this means maintaining good collimation will be difficult. Other than that, the focuser isn’t wobbly or loose, and even at high power, I can find best focus pretty easily.  

With the 45-degree prism, the Moon was aesthetically pretty at low powers but a bit of a rainbow mess at 40x and higher. With the mirror diagonal, the moon became much sharper and you could really begin to appreciate its features. I found the 40mm sub-aperture-mask dustcap it comes with wasn’t really needed; it’s plenty sharp enough even at 67x, and there’s no chromatic aberration noticeable until you overpower the scope to about 167x. (Maximum useful power would be around 100-130x) It held its own against a cheap 70mm long-focus achromat and the ShortTube 80.

At one point, while observing, I dropped the telescope about 5 feet onto the floor. There seems to have been no damage. The story might’ve been different on concrete, but I like the scope enough that I don’t want to intentionally drop-test it.

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Travel Scope 70 DX Portable Telescope with Smartphone Adapter

Purchase options and add-ons, about this item.

• A portable telescope kit with everything you need to get started: 70mm refractor telescope with fully coated glass optics, full height tripod, travel backpack, plus lots more
• Smartphone Photography Accessories - Capture images and video through your Travel Scope with the included smartphone adapter and Bluetooth shutter release
• More Bonus Accessories – You’ll also receive two eyepieces (20mm and 10mm), an erect image star diagonal, a 2x Barlow lens, a Moon filter, and a finderscope. Pan handle Alt-Az control with clutch for smooth and accurate pointing
• Day-to-Night Performance – Use your Travel Scope for celestial viewing at night or for observation of birds, nature, and wildlife during the day
• The custom backpack fits your telescope and all its accessories comfortably

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Product details

• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 23.11 x 23.11 x 23.11 cm; 1.5 kg
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ Aug. 24 2019
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Celestron
• Place of Business ‏ : ‎ CELINA, TX, 75009 US
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07VY3CDG7
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ 22035
• Country of origin ‏ : ‎ China
• #27 in Telescope Refractors

Top Brand: Celestron

From the manufacturer.

Travel Scope 70DX Portable Telescope

Grab the Celestron Travel Scope 70DX and go anywhere—from your backyard to another continent. Ample optical performance is packed and ready in this ultra-portable backpack kit.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

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Get a new perspective on nature and the Universe with the ideal day-to-night telescope, Travel Scope 70 DX. This refractor telescope includes a full height tripod and lots of bonus accessories, include a smartphone adapter so you can capture images and video through the eyepiece. It all packs up into a high-quality custom backpack—ready to go wherever your adventures take you. Whether you take it along on your next camping trip or enjoy an impromptu backyard stargazing session, setting up the telescope is a breeze. Even on your first time out, you can assemble the telescope and its accessories in just a few minutes. The adjustable tripod legs allow you to customize the telescope’s height or place it on raised surfaces like a picnic table. By night, Travel Scope 70 DX delivers great views of the planets, the Moon, star clusters and brighter deep sky objects like the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy. During the day, Travel Scope 70 DX doubles as a spotting scope. Enjoy amazing views of birds, wildlife, boats on the water, migrating whales, and so much more. The entire telescope kit weighs just 3.3 pounds, so you can take it anywhere, hassle-free. Smartphone adapter and Bluetooth shutter release Create your own stunning images and video of celestial or terrestrial objects with the smartphone adapter. With its light, rigid frame, this accessory allows you to connect any smartphone to your Travel Scope’s eyepiece. The additional magnification provided by the eyepiece allows your phone to capture great images of the Moon and planets. This smartphone adapter installs easily by clamping over the top of an eyepiece. The smartphone is held in position with the help of tightening knobs that securely lock your phone in place. To capture the best image, Celestron has also provided a Bluetooth shutter release that allows you to trigger the camera’s shutter on any Android or iOS smartphone remotely, without disturbing the placement of your phone and telescope. NOTE: Some large and/or bulky phone cases (including folio style cases) may need to be removed for the phone to fit in the adapter. Manual Alt-Azimuth telescope Navigate the sky confidently with Travel Scope 70 DX’s intuitive pan handle. The Alt-Az control with clutch allows for smooth tracking and accurate pointing. Like a photographic tripod, you can move the clutch in an up/down, left/right fashion to follow your object in the eyepiece. Deluxe Accessories Included In addition to the smartphone adapter and Bluetooth shutter release, Travel Scope 70 DX includes a full selection of optical accessories, including two eyepieces (20mm and 10mm), an erect image diagonal, a finderscope, a 2x Barlow lens, and a 1.25” Moon filter. The two eyepieces offer different magnifications so you can view your subject at low or high power. The erect image diagonal allows for more comfortable viewing and right-side-up images. The permanently mounted finderscope will help you locate objects and quickly center them in your telescope’s eyepiece. Lastly, the Moon filter reduces glare and increases contrast on the surface of the Moon. Travel Backpack Pack up your optical tube, tripod, eyepieces, and accessories safely and securely in the included custom backpack. Starry Night Software Download Celestron’s Starry Night Software and learn about the night sky, celestial objects, and how to plan your next observing session. Celestron Starry Night Software is the premier astronomy software package on the market, providing detailed information, plus tips and tricks for viewing our Solar System and beyond.

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Celestron Travel Scope™ 70 Portable Telescope

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• 70mm refractor telescope with fully coated glass optics and a lightweight frame.
• Custom backpack included to store your telescope and accessories comfortably.
• Observe in no time with a quick and easy, no-tool setup.
• Accessories include: two eyepieces (20mm and 10mm), 45° erect image diagonal, and 5x24 finderscope.
• Pan handle Alt-Az control with clutch for smooth and accurate pointing.
• Adjustable height tripod.

The Travel Scope ™ 70 is a refractor telescope perfect for terrestrial and celestial viewing on the go. The Travel Scope can view the planets, moon, star clusters and brighter deep sky objects like the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy at night and with the erect image star diagonal makes the optical tube ideal for using as a spotting scope during the day.

Setting up the telescope is a breeze and will have you observing in no time. Even on your first time out, you can assemble the telescope and its accessories in just a few minutes. The adjustable tripod legs allow you to customize the telescope’s height or place it on raised surfaces like a picnic table. The total telescope kit weighs in at just 3.3 pounds—perfect for impromptu observing sessions or transporting wherever life’s adventures take you.

Manual Alt-Azimuth telescope

Navigate the sky with a pan handle Alt-Az control with clutch for smooth and accurate pointing. Move the clutch in an up/down, left/right fashion to track your object in the eyepiece.

Accessories Included

The Travel Scope ™ 70 comes with two eyepieces (20 mm and 10 mm), 45° erect image diagonal, finderscope, and a travel backpack. The two eyepieces offer different magnifications to view your intended object. The erect image diagonal allows for right-side-up viewing ideal for terrestrial subjects but can also be used for celestial objects. The 5x24 finderscope will help you quickly center an object in your eyepiece for easier observing.

Travel Backpack – A custom backpack comes with your telescope for you to store your optical tube, tripod, eyepieces and accessories comfortably. With the telescopes’ backpack, traveling with your telescope is a breeze; all the components fit inside of the backpack snuggly.

Starry Night Software

Download Celestron’s Starry Night Software and learn about the night sky, celestial objects, and how to plan your next observing session. Celestron Starry Night Software is the premier astronomy software package on the market, providing resources and knowledge to view our solar system and beyond.

Specifications

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• Binoculars & Scopes

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Celestron 70mm Travel Scope + Smartphone Adapter + Moon Filter

70 mm Travel Scope

70 mm Travel Scope + Adapter + Moon Filter

Purchase options and add-ons

About this item.

• The Celestron 70mm Travel Scope features fully-coated glass optics with a 70mm objective lens, plus quality 20mm and 10mm eyepieces for low- and high-power viewing.
• Smartphone adapter allows capturing images and video through the Travel Scope eyepiece with a wide range of smartphones including latest Samsung, Google and Apple devices (model number: 94119-A).
• Moon filter with 1.25 inch diameter threads onto most eyepieces to reduce glare and increase contrast when viewing the Moon or extra bright planets (model number: 94119-A).
• The telescope, tripod and accessories pack into the included travel backpack for portability, plus free download of astronomy software.

• SUPERIOR OPTICS: The Celestron 70mm Travel Scope features high-quality, fully-coated glass optics, a potent 70mm objective lens, a lightweight frame, and a custom backpack to carry it all. Its quality is unmatched in its class and against competitors.
• POWERFUL EYEPIECES FOR UP-CLOSE VIEWING: Our telescope for astronomy beginners is equipped with two high-quality eyepieces (20mm and 10mm) that provide low- and high-power views of celestial objects at night and terrestrial objects during the day.
• LARGE 70MM OBJECTIVE LENS: Our refractor telescope is equipped with a large 70mm aperture objective lens that provides enhanced, brighter views compared to the 50mm model while adding very little additional weight. Setting up and using the Travel Scope is quick and easy.
• BONUS BAG, TRIPOD, AND SOFTWARE: This Celestron telescope and full-height tripod can be taken anywhere in the included travel backpack. Accessories also include a FREE download of one of the top consumer rated astronomy software programs.
• UNBEATABLE WARRANTY AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT: Buy with confidence from the world’s #1 telescope brand, based in California since 1960. You’ll also receive a two-year warranty and unlimited access to technical support from our team of US-based experts.

• CAPTURE IMAGES AND VIDEO THROUGH YOUR SCOPE: The Celestron Smartphone Adapter connects your phone to your telescope, spotting scope, binocular, monocular & microscope You can capture amazing images & video through the eyepiece to share with friends.
• UNVERSAL SMARTPHONE ADAPTER: Works with a wide range of smartphones, including all the latest devices from Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and Apple iPhone.
• COMPATIBLE EYEPIECES: This adapter fits almost any eyepiece from 29 millimeters to 45 millimeters in diameter, including most 1.25-inch telescope eyepieces. It does not work with riflescopes.
• EASY TO USE: Simply place your phone in the adapter, center your phone’s camera over the eyepiece, and use the knobs to secure the adapter in place.
• SOLID CONSTRUCTION: The adapter's durable, metal body stands up to rigorous use in the field and harsh weather conditions.
• UNBEATABLE WARRANTY & SUPPORT: Buy with confidence from Celestron, a leading telescope brand in California since 1960. Purchasing from an Authorized Dealer on Amazon gives you a 2-Year US Warranty and unlimited support from our team of US-based experts.

• Reduce glare and increase contrast of the Moon with the Celestron 1.25” Moon Filter
• Also useful for extra bright planets as well as terrestrial viewing over sand or snow
• Threads onto most 1.25” eyepieces in seconds
• Model Number : 94119-A

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Product information, warranty & support, product description.

Designed with American innovation for beginner stargazers, the Celestron Travel Scope 70 is a professionally engineered refractor telescope that is perfect for celestial or terrestrial viewing on the go. It’s the perfect telescope for adults and kids to use together with its fully-coated, high-quality glass optics, including a refractor-style 70mm objective lens. The aperture allows high-resolution viewing, without adding a lot of extra weight. Added coating on the 70mm lens allows light to enter, providing sharper, crisper viewing of celestial and terrestrial objects during the day or at night.The Celestron telescope for beginners is designed with several operating features that make it exceptionally user-friendly. Our precision manufacturing standards and high-quality materials are unmatched in the industry. We’ve included two quality eyepieces (20mm and 10mm) and a star diagonal for crisp low- and high-power viewing during the day or at night, allowing you to enjoy close-ups of wildlife in nature or stargaze with family and friends. The Celestron Travel Scope 70 weighs just 3.3 pounds and assembles in seconds with no tools required. It’s easy to use to navigate the sky. When your observing session is over, everything packs up into the handy included traveling backpack. Your purchase also entitles you to a FREE download of Celestron’s BONUS Starry Night Astronomy Software with information on thousands of celestial objects, printable sky maps, and more. It’s the best way to learn about the night sky and plan your next observing session.

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the portability, appearance and ease of assembly of the telescope. For example, they mention it's very lightweight, provides great images of the moon and is ideal for seeing the landscape and doing bird watching. That said, some disagree on performance, moon viewing, and quality.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers appreciate the value of the telescope. They say it's a well-made telescope, and a great investment for beginners. Some customers also mention that the tripod is a bonus.

"...It’s small, lightweight, and priced right ...." Read more

"...It does what it was designed to do. Great for kids and amateurs at a modest price to see nature, take it to a long distance shooting range, see..." Read more

"...Also, the SkyX Software included with this scope is a terrific value in and of itself, and is a tremendous tool for the beginning/amateur astronomer...." Read more

"... Great value for a great price ." Read more

Customers find the telescope easy to set up and use. They say it's simple and portable.

"...It was very easy to assemble and figure out ...." Read more

"...This telescope does just that. The assembly was a snap , and after playing with the scope in the daytime and familiarizing myself (and discovering)..." Read more

"...light (1.5kg) but seems quite well put together, and assembling it for use is easy and quick ...." Read more

"...Light, easy to set up, no collimation or calibration , and off you go...." Read more

Customers find the telescope very portable, easy to transport to different locations, and good for traveling with. They also say that it's compact enough to fit into a camping backpack. The tripod is stable yet light enough to not be cumbersome. Overall, most are satisfied with the portability of the telescope.

"...It’s small, lightweight, and priced right. It’s light enough that a five-year old could carry it for an entire trip without effort, giving them..." Read more

"...pieces were accounted for, and it came with a backpack so it can be taken on trips so you don't need to buy a separate case to hold it when you're..." Read more

"...and you have a very well made, fairly light weight travel scope ...." Read more

"...It was very easy to assemble and figure out. It fits in the backpack that comes with it perfectly which made it so easy for us to take camping with..." Read more

Customers find the telescope easy to use. They mention it's a great tool for beginners and a fantastic first telescope for kids. Some say it'll be a good set-up for travelers and beginners.

"...scope is a terrific value in and of itself, and is a tremendous tool for the beginning /amateur astronomer...." Read more

"This telescope is perfect for a beginner which is what I am. I was very impressed with this telescope for the price...." Read more

" good beginner scope , great portablility." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the telescope. For example, they mention that the moon and its features are crisp, it's crystal clear, and better looking than any telescope they had as a kid. It's ideal to see the landscape and to do bird watching, and provides some great images of the moon. They say the view is good when you focus in on an object, and the images are clear.

"...It does exactly what you would expect of it and provides clear images , mostly of large things (moon)." Read more

"...The moon and its features are crisp (and I am near a big city), albeit the stars and planets I'm just now getting to, so can't say anything..." Read more

"...Jupiter's moons and Saturn's rings are beautifully distinct ...." Read more

"...You can split some great binary stars, get a decent look at Mars , and you can see the phases of Venus (which can look like a dramatic crescent)...." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the quality of the telescope. Some say it's a good telescope, while others say that the tripod is flimsy and the finder scope is not of optimal quality.

"...So if the tripod is poor - why did you give it 5 stars instead of 4? For the size, price, and weight of the tripod, it’s what you would expect...." Read more

"...It is a nice scope for its intended purpose , however (in my opinion) it does need a couple of upgrades (as suggested). Further, if you need..." Read more

"...It is way too flimsy . I got the Celestron Heavy-Duty Altazimuth Tripod based on a friend's recommendation and it is super sturdy...." Read more

"...The scope is a great , basic, portable device for solar system viewing. The two eyepieces are great for beginners...." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the performance of the telescope. Some say that it works great and admirably in that role, while others say that the telescope is totally unusable and the tripod is very bad.

"...objective (large lens in front of the scope) is good quality and is functional ...." Read more

"...There have been some comments saying that it isn't very good for star gazing ...." Read more

"...am pleased with the optical performance of this little scope... it works as intended ...." Read more

"First off, this telescope is practically unusable until you upgrade the tripod...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the moon viewing with some saying it's a good starter scope and you can see the moon and stars perfect if you adjust the zoom just. They also say it'll give a great look at stars and planets, but it limits out when trying to watch the moon. However, others say it was difficult to see much of anything, it'd be useless to see the planets or stars, and the 10 or 20 mm aperture is not enough to provide clear views of the night sky.

"...Aimed at any patch of the sky, stars will become visible when before you saw nothing but darkness...." Read more

"...Saturn is actually even more cool, but again still no moons . All in all I'm having a good time with this toy, and you probably will, too. Have fun!" Read more

"...love bird-watching, and the upright image diagonal gives great views of the local avians with a pretty decent near-focus (5.8m) for that..." Read more

"...I'm pleased to let you know that you will be able to get good observation ...." Read more

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How To Set Up The Celestron Travel Scope 70 [Step By Step]

Have you just received your new Celestron Travel Scope 70 telescope but feeling a bit overwhelmed about how set it up?

Maybe you can’t find the instruction manual that came with it!

Not to worry.

Setting up this portable telescope for the first time can seem daunting, but there’s no need to fret – this guide has got you covered.

In this easy-to-follow walkthrough, I’ll take you step-by-step through the entire assembly process.

I’ll share helpful set-up tips and tricks I’ve learned from my own experience putting this scope together straight out of the box.

Follow along as I take you through extending the tripod, attaching the optical tube, installing the diagonal, adding the eyepieces, and mounting the finder scope.

I’ll provide clear instructions that align with Celestron’s recommended setup routine.

Before you know it, you’ll have your Travel Scope 70 fully put together and ready to start exploring the cosmos and beholding celestial wonders.

Just a few straightforward steps stand between you and the stars.

Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

How To Set Up The Celestron Travel Scope 70

The Celestron Travel Scope 70 is a portable and versatile beginner telescope. Setting it up properly ensures you get the most out of your stargazing sessions.

Follow these steps to assemble and use your Travel Scope 70.

Unpack and Protect the Equipment

When you first unpack your Celestron Travel Scope 70, it is essential to keep all of the protective packaging materials.

These can be used to store the optics when they are not in use.

Having this extra layer of protection can help extend the life of your telescope.

Set Up the Tripod

The tripod that comes with the Travel Scope 70 is pre-assembled, making setup very straightforward.

First, undo the clips on each of the tripod legs. Extend the legs to your preferred height, with a minimum height of around 16 inches.

Make sure to lock each clip securely to ensure stability.

When fully extended, the tripod has a maximum height of approximately 49 inches.

Attach the Optical Tube

Now it’s time to attach the optical tube to the tripod mount. Locate the part of the tripod that has a large lever and turn it anti-clockwise to release the mount.

Then, tighten it back into place to secure the mount.

At the top of the mount, you’ll find a small screw.

On the bottom of the optical tube, there are two threaded holes – you can use either one.

Align the optical tube with your chosen hole and screw it into the mount, making sure it is tightly secured.

Use the Alt-Azimuth Mount

The Celestron Travel Scope 70 comes with an alt-azimuth mount, allowing for easy point-and-shoot sky observation.

To move the telescope up and down, unscrew the lever on the mount anti-clockwise.

Once you have positioned the telescope where you want it, screw the lever back in to lock it in place.

To swivel the telescope left and right, use the small knob on the mount. When you have found your target, lock both levers to keep the telescope steady.

Install the Diagonal

The diagonal is a crucial accessory for comfortable viewing, as it directs the light at a 90 degree right angle to ensure you see objects the right way up.

Start by removing the protective caps from both the diagonal and the telescope itself. Unscrew the lever on the diagonal.

Insert the diagonal into the telescope’s focus tube, then screw the lever clockwise to securely attach it.

Add Eyepieces

To start observing, you’ll need to insert eyepieces into the diagonal.

Unscrew the eyepiece holder on the diagonal.

Take one of the eyepieces out of its protective case and insert it into the holder, screwing it in clockwise to secure it. Experiment with different eyepieces to achieve varying levels of magnification.

Install the Finder Scope

The finder scope is helpful for easily locating celestial objects.

Start by removing the protective caps from both the finder scope and the telescope. Unscrew the nuts on the optical tube of the telescope.

Place the finder scope on top of the optical tube, with the larger end facing outward. Screw the nuts clockwise to firmly secure the finder scope.

Align the Finder Scope

Properly aligning the finder scope is essential for accurate targeting of objects. Close one eye and look through the finder scope eyepiece.

Find a terrestrial object such as a bird or tree and center it in the crosshairs.

Use the adjustment screws on the finder scope to align the crosshairs directly with the object.

Make sure the object stays in focus when adjusting the focus knob.

Observe and Enjoy the Night Sky

With your Celestron Travel Scope 70 fully assembled and aligned, you’re ready to start exploring the night sky!

Take your time to practice how to navigate, focus, and locate interesting celestial objects.

Astronomy is a very rewarding hobby that becomes even more enjoyable the more you practice your skills.

Disassembly

When you are finished with your stargazing session, disassembling the telescope is straightforward.

Simply remove the accessories such as the finder scope, eyepieces, and diagonal in the reverse order from how you put them on.

Secure the optical tube to the mount and collapse the tripod legs, locking them in place. Carefully store all components in their protective packaging.

Following these steps will have you set up and stargazing in no time with your Celestron Travel Scope 70.

Refer back to this guide whenever you need a refresher. Happy observing!

Is the Celestron Travel Scope 70 easy to set up?

Yes, the Celestron Travel Scope 70 is very easy to set up. It comes pre-assembled, and the process involves extending the tripod legs, attaching the optical tube, adding accessories like eyepieces and diagonal, and aligning the finder scope.

How Long Does The Celestron Travel Scope 70 Take To Set Up?

Setting up the Celestron Travel Scope 70 typically takes around 5-10 minutes. This includes extending the tripod legs, attaching the optical tube, installing accessories, and aligning the finder scope.

Do I need any tools to set up the Celestron Travel Scope 70 ?

No, you do not need any additional tools to set up the Celestron Travel Scope 70. It comes with all the necessary components, and assembly can be done by hand without any tools.

Related Guides:

• Celestron Travel Scope 70 Review [Should You Buy It?]

Hey, my name is Jeremy. I’m a passionate and seasoned astronomer who loves nothing more than observing the night sky. I also love researching, learning, and writing all things Space and the Universe. I created Astronomy Scope to share my knowledge, experience, suggestions, and recommendations of what I have learned along the way while helping anyone to get into and maximize their enjoyment of the hobby.

Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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