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Clip this telescope to your phone to snap 'exceptional' close-up pix — it's 60% off

Yahoo Life Shopping Editors

Updated 12 May 2023 at 2:20 am·2-min read

Taking quality pictures used to be the domain of serious shutterbugs, but now many smartphones have cameras that are on par with the DSLR cameras used by the pros. The main difference is a lack of swappable lenses. Well, good news: There's a great little gadget that lets you attach a telescope (!) to your phone to take photos of things from much, much farther away without losing any detail. Even better news: it's currently $130 off. Say "cheese" and read on....

Pankoo

Pankoo Monocular Telescope with Smartphone Adapter

$70$200

Save $130 with coupon

This telescope comes with 12x magnification and a 60mm lens, perfect for capturing things from a distance.

Save $130 with coupon

$70 at Amazon

If you (or someone you know) is fond of bird- (or people-) watching, the Pankoo Monocular Telescope is a fantastic accessory. You can capture great pictures of all kinds of creatures without frightening them or tipping them off, not to mention without distorting the image with your phone's zoom function. It will zoom in up to 12 times while maintaining a 6.5-inch field of view. Translation? You can snap pictures of animals and objects as far as 1,200 yards away.

The telescope comes with a high-quality phone holder and a tripod with adjustable angles and three length options. It's easy to attach and detach your phone, and the tripod provides extra stability to ensure there is no blurring. How's this for a fun hack? Pair it with a smartwatch to tap the picture button remotely for even better photos.

With Mother's Day this weekend, this can make a great gift — but you'll have to act fast if you want it to arrive on time!

This pint-sized telescope takes your phone photography to the next level. (Photo: Amazon) — If James Stewart had one of these (and, yeah, a smartphone) in 'Rear Window" he might have been able to prevent Raymond Burr from murdering his poor wife. Just sayin'.... (Photo: Amazon)

"As an option to my binoculars and telescope, my Pankoo monocular telescope is convenient for its compact size and portability for travel, walks or other excursions when I want to view nature nature, sports, the skies, and other objects or events. It's extremely handy and provides exceptional magnification that is crystal clear!" said one five-star reviewer.

"I bought this monocular telescope as a gift for my husband. He really likes it. It works great! It's easy to adjust for the best focus and it gives you a good view. It appears to be well made and work as described," said another. "I would recommend this telescope to bird watchers or anyone who just wants to see far away items."

Pankoo

Pankoo Monocular Telescope with Smartphone Adapter

$70$200

Save $130 with coupon

Keep your lens clear with the included cleaning cloth, and let the tripod stabilize your shots.

Save $130 with coupon

$70 at Amazon

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)