Used Celestron Hummingbird 56 9-27x

Condition & contents

At a glance: Celestron Hummingbird 9-27x56 ED - compact travel spotting scope, 570g, waterproof.

About this lens

The Celestron Hummingbird 9-27x56mm ED is a compact travel spotting scope - 56mm ED (extra-low-dispersion) objective, 9-27x zoom eyepiece, very lightweight. Designed as a carry-anywhere spotting scope for hikers, travellers and casual birders who want more reach than binoculars without a full-size scope's weight.

Build & handling

Works with

• Standard 1/4"-20 tripod thread
• Integrated eyepiece (not interchangeable)
• Usable handheld at lower magnifications; tripod recommended

Best for

A compact travel spotting scope - 56mm is smaller than a full-size 80mm scope but meaningfully larger than binoculars, giving a step up in detail and reach. Integrated 9-27x zoom means no eyepiece changes. ED glass controls chromatic aberration. Ideal for hikers who want more magnification than binoculars without carrying a 1.5kg+ scope and separate eyepieces.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a replacement for a full-size scope?

Partly. For hiking and travel it's ideal - 9-27x gives useful reach, and 56mm ED glass gives acceptable image quality. For serious detailed work (shorebird identification at distance, digiscoping, competitive birding) a full-size 80mm scope (like the Kowa TSN-773 or Swarovski ATX 95) is significantly better.