Used Bausch & Lomb Professional 560: What to Check Before You Buy
By Cloud Break Optics | Published: 2026-11-02
Category: Tips & Care
A practical used optics inspection checklist for the Bausch & Lomb Professional 560, with decision rules on condition, size, shipping, and value.
Quick answer
Buy the used Bausch & Lomb Professional 560 only after you confirm the optics are clean and collimated, the focuser moves smoothly, and you accept its moderate size. If you need a compact grab-and-go scope or cannot inspect it in person, pass.
Why this vintage refractor rewards a hands-on check
The Professional 560 is a Japanese-made 114mm f/7.9 refractor with a 900mm focal length. That combination gives it a long tube and a relatively narrow field, so it is better suited to lunar, planetary, and double-star viewing than to wide-field scanning. Vintage Japanese optics can be excellent, but age-related issues such as coating wear, focuser stiffness, and internal dust are common enough that you should never buy one sight-unseen unless the seller offers returns.
The included stock moon filter, 20mm eyepiece, 4mm eyepiece, and 2.5x barlow add value, but only if their glass is clean and the threads are undamaged. A missing or cloudy eyepiece is easy to replace; a scratched objective lens is not.
Size and shipping are part of the condition decision
This scope is moderately large, so in-person pickup is recommended. If you choose shipping, additional fees may apply that are not calculated at checkout. That matters because a long refractor is more vulnerable to rough handling than a short tube, and shipping cost can erase the savings of buying used.
Ask the seller to confirm the tube is free of dents and that the focuser drawtube is not bent before you pay for shipping. If you cannot get that confirmation, treat the scope as a pickup-only purchase.
Decision rules for the used Professional 560
- Inspect the objective and coatings: Shine a flashlight obliquely across the front lens. Reject the scope if you see deep scratches, fungus filaments, or coating patches that do not wipe away with a dry lens cloth. Bring a small flashlight and lens cloth to any in-person inspection.
- Test the focuser through its full travel: Rack the focuser in and out slowly. It should move without grinding or excessive play. A stiff focuser can often be relubricated; a bent drawtube cannot. If the focuser binds, factor in a repair or walk away.
- Check the included eyepieces and barlow: Look through each eyepiece against a bright wall. Reject any that show haze, mold, or a loose element. Confirm the 2.5x barlow threads smoothly onto the eyepieces. A clean set of accessories is worth more than a cosmetically perfect tube with cloudy glass.
- Decide on pickup versus shipping: Choose in-person pickup unless the seller can confirm the tube is straight and will pack it in a rigid box with padding. Shipping fees are not calculated at checkout and may be added later. Get a shipping quote in writing before you commit.
- Set a walk-away price: Compare the total cost, including any shipping and a possible focuser service, against the catalog price of USD 32.50. If the total exceeds what a clean sample is worth to you, pass. A low sticker price does not offset a scratched objective or a bent focuser.
Product facts
- USED - Bausch & Lomb Professional 560: Assembled once for the photoshoot and yet to have its first light. This suggests the optics have not been used in the field, but you should still inspect for shipping or storage marks.
USED - Bausch & Lomb Professional 560 - USED - Bausch & Lomb Professional 560: Comes with stock moon filter, 20mm eyepiece, 4mm eyepiece, and 2.5x barlow. The included accessories let you start observing immediately, but check each lens for haze, scratches, and cross-threading.
- USED - Bausch & Lomb Professional 560: Aperture 114mm, focal length 900mm, f/7.9, made in Japan. The long focal ratio favors high-magnification lunar and planetary views over wide-field deep-sky observing.
Who should buy this scope
Best for
- Observers who want a long-focus Japanese refractor for lunar and planetary viewing
- Buyers who can inspect in person or accept pickup-only terms
- Shoppers comfortable cleaning and adjusting vintage optics
Not for
- Buyers who need a compact, airline-friendly spotting scope
- Beginners who want a warranty and modern accessories
- Anyone who cannot verify condition before paying for shipping
