Jack Tripper
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/10/09
Posts: 502
Loc: Canada
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On a personal level, I am just curious as to what each of you thinks about the looks of the CPC 1100 vs the Nexstar11. Does one look better to you? More rugged? Of higher quality? More sophisticated?
I'm talking about a 1st time impressions...without actually opening them up, or looking at pictures of them being disassembled, etc...
Thanks everyone! 
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Celestron CPC 1100 
Denkmeier S2 Power Filter Switch Diagonal (.66x Reducer, 2x Barlow)
Ethos 17mm, Meade SWA 28mm, Baader Scopos 30mm
Lunt 60mm Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Scope, Lunt Zoom
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brianb11213
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/25/09
Posts: 3304
Loc: 55.215N 6.554W
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Pass. Scopes are for looking through not at.
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Zoomster
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/30/05
Posts: 722
Loc: Tampa FL
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CPCs are dead sexy.
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Celestron CPC 1100 aka "The Marino"
Moonlite Dual Rate Focuser
WO Dielecric Diagonal
Denkmeier "Big Easy" Binos and assorted eyepieces.
Coranado PST
SPC900NC...not modded...yet. (eh-eh)
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
Epicurus
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Jack Tripper
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/10/09
Posts: 502
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
CPCs are dead sexy.
I think the CPC looks sturdier, but the reality of the situation is that the Nexstar is thought to be built stronger.
Quote:
Scopes are for looking through not at.
For me, how a scope looks is important. I wouldn't buy a car simply because it rode well, but looked ugly. Cosmetics play a role in people buying decisions. Same thing goes for eyepieces. My opinion is that if a scope gives you good feelings for any reason (including cosmetics) then it is a good choice for that individual, IMHO.
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Celestron CPC 1100
Denkmeier S2 Power Filter Switch Diagonal (.66x Reducer, 2x Barlow)
Ethos 17mm, Meade SWA 28mm, Baader Scopos 30mm
Lunt 60mm Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Scope, Lunt Zoom
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Doug Culbertson
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/06/05
Posts: 1501
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Well, I own a NS11GPS and think that the CF tube looks very cool. Since I have never seen a CPC up close and personal, all I have to go by would be photos of them. Based on that, other than the CF tube, I think that they kinda look alike.
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Doug
Midway, FL
NS11GPS/Feathertouch/Denk Powerswitch Diagonal
Meade 127ED
Giro II
Some eyepieces and a barlow
1 Thermacell®
Life's too short to drink cheap beer
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rboe
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 47533
Loc: Phx, AZ
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I've seen both up close (and own a NS11 so there is just a wee bit of bias) and prefer the NS series. Don't care for the silver base, and it looks like they backed off on the styling a bit. You can design a better looking scope than the NS11, the CPC was not it. I'd love to see what the Apple design team would come up with if tasked with a redo.
But performance is where it really is at and both kick bumm.
I really need to build a better looking case to store it in since I look at it in the house more than I use it in the field.
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
15X70 Obies
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Jack Tripper
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/10/09
Posts: 502
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
Don't care for the silver base, and it looks like they backed off on the styling a bit.
Thanks Ron! I actually like the look of the silver base...it looks metallic. Of course, closer examination reveals it to be plastic in nature...
Just curious...why do you store you CPC in a case? I keep mine assembled as if it's being used, primarily because it puts a big smile on my face just seeing that monster!
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Celestron CPC 1100
Denkmeier S2 Power Filter Switch Diagonal (.66x Reducer, 2x Barlow)
Ethos 17mm, Meade SWA 28mm, Baader Scopos 30mm
Lunt 60mm Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Scope, Lunt Zoom
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brianb11213
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/25/09
Posts: 3304
Loc: 55.215N 6.554W
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Quote:
I wouldn't buy a car simply because it rode well, but looked ugly.
Your choice ... I'd invert that logic, always preferring performance to visual appeal.
I wish I could buy a new car with a windscreen that doesn't follow the line of the bonnet - I like to be able to see the corners. Sometimes stylists make BAD decisions which interfere with the functionality of the product. Fortunately the only thing they got seriously wrong with the CPC (the wretched power indicator lamp) is easily fixed, with 1/2 inch of electrical tape.
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Jack Tripper
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/10/09
Posts: 502
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
I'd invert that logic, always preferring performance to visual appeal.
I think that both performance AND visual appeal are significant IMHO!
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Celestron CPC 1100
Denkmeier S2 Power Filter Switch Diagonal (.66x Reducer, 2x Barlow)
Ethos 17mm, Meade SWA 28mm, Baader Scopos 30mm
Lunt 60mm Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Scope, Lunt Zoom
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Jeronimo Cruz
sage
Reged: 09/01/08
Posts: 234
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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I have an NS-11 GPS and I love its all black look. I don't like the grey plastic base of the CPC's.
I know this is superficial, but part of a telescope's appeal is the look. If I'm spending a lot of money on a scope, I WANT it to look good. That to me is what makes scopes with excellent optics into legends.
I also prefer OTA's that are NOT plastered with logos everywhere you look.
If Celestron makes the new Edge optics fork mounted telescopes with carbon fiber tubes and ALL BLACK forks and tripods with a dim orange glow from a ring of light at the base of the mount I'll be forced to buy two - one to use and one to park in the living room to stare at!
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Jeronimo
TeleVue 101 + Gibralter
Celestron NS11 GPS/wedge + Hyperstar
Photon Instruments 127mm + SV F50W2
Lunt Solar Systems LS60DS Ha + Celestron CG-5
Naglers, Panoptics, Pentax, Nikon binoviewer
Fujinon 10x70 FMT-SX, 7x42 CD; Canon 15x50IS;
Pentax 7x50 PCF WP, 10x50 PCF WPII, 10x50 DCF SP
Work
20" R/C RCOS on Paramount + Tak FSQ
16" R/C RCOS on Paramount + TEC 140
16" Meade LX200 SCT + TV 76
Ethos, Naglers, Panoptics
Coronado Solarmax 90mm Ha
Coronado Solarmax 70mm Ca
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rboe
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 47533
Loc: Phx, AZ
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Quote:
Quote:
Don't care for the silver base, and it looks like they backed off on the styling a bit.
Thanks Ron! I actually like the look of the silver base...it looks metallic. Of course, closer examination reveals it to be plastic in nature...
Just curious...why do you store you CPC in a case? I keep mine assembled as if it's being used, primarily because it puts a big smile on my face just seeing that monster!
I own the NS11GPS. I keep it under a home made Reflectix hood (bubble ware with alumium foil - works great for letting it sit outside during the day too) to keep the dust off of it. Looks like yuck in doors though so a wooden cabinet would be nicer.
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
15X70 Obies
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Bob Griffiths
Getting Grouchy
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 7279
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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I never even gave it a thought....But I'm not exactly thrilled with the big silver base on my CPC1100... a matte black would be more to my personal taste... But at night who rally cares
its all about what my eyeball can see thru the eyepiece...
But like Brian I look for performance in my vehicles...I have no problem special ordering the suspension, transmission and rear gear ratio I want even if I have to wait for the car to be built and shipped ...
Bob G.
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
Gerbring Heated Motorcycle clothing in the winter
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
The sky over my head....
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davidpitre
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/10/05
Posts: 1991
Loc: Central Texas
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Though I prefer the looks of the Nexstar over the CPC, neither is exactly hot. I think they both suffer from the same Asian cheap electronics gadget look.
I would suggest that Celestron designers take a trip to Italy and Germany for some inspiration. A more inspired visual impact ends up costing little in the end, and often goes a long way in sales.
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David
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Bob Griffiths
Getting Grouchy
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 7279
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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They have been telling that story to the makers of the Telrad for years.....LOL
Bob G.
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
Gerbring Heated Motorcycle clothing in the winter
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
The sky over my head....
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rboe
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 47533
Loc: Phx, AZ
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Oh man you said it. If some little Italian designer got a go at the Telerad (or Apple or Porche or even the Danes) I bet you could sell a boat load of them. Some folks would get one having no idea what it even was!
I'd get one just to see if I could figure out where the switch was! 
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
15X70 Obies
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Greg K.
Reged: 12/11/03
Posts: 12018
Loc: Clifton Park, NY
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My NexStar spends most of its time in the JMI case so I'm not sure it matters what it looks like. 
Actually I think both scope lines are great looking.
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Astro-Tech AT111EDT f/7 - Celestron CGEM
NexStar 11 GPS
Orion SkyView Pro 8EQ (w/ Autostar mod)
15x70 Celestron SkyMasters
Orion 90mm Mak
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rboe
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 47533
Loc: Phx, AZ
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Waffler.
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
15X70 Obies
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Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 17898
Loc: Brooker, FL
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There's a difference between the CPC and NS? I'll be darned! They look the same in the dark...
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N11GPS Fastar
TOA-130S
MK66 Std
Vintage C5
Megrez II 80mm ED Triplet APO
SolarMax 40
NJP Temma II
Sirius EQ-G
ST8XE/CFW-8(LRGBHa)/AO-7/DF-2/STV Dlx/ST237a/350D (Unmodded)/Mallincam Color Hyper Plus/DSI III Color/DSI II Pro
Two not-spoiled Golden Retrievers - Maggie and Casey
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering. - Arthur C. Clarke
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rboe
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 47533
Loc: Phx, AZ
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Then they must be blocking the red light.
CPC is louder slewing too.
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
15X70 Obies
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b1gred
Enginerd
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 16287
Loc: Castle Rock, CO 6677' MSL
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I agree, they all look pretty much alike in pitch black, but you can definitely HEAR the difference - from about 10' away.
The NS is QUIET by comparison, but the CPC is still quieter than a M....
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"Dark Skies & Great Viewing"
RandyR / W0RDR
GPS 9.25 XLT/Sky Align /FeatherTouch
TV85 w/FeatherTouch
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