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langejcarl
member
Reged: 01/05/05
Posts: 38
Loc: Michigan USA
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If I had a C8 on a CG5 mount, could I leave it assembled and carry it outside from the house? Same question for a C9.25.
Thanks
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-10 inch f4.9 Dobstuff dob w/ Swayze mirror
-William Optics Megrez 80 Super APO
-Coronado PST
-22mm T4 Nagler
-TV Smoothside plossls 32mm,26mm,21mm,17mm,13mm, 10.5mm and 7.4mm
-Pentax XW's 10mm, 7mm and 5mm
-Leupold 6x32 Katmai
-Celestron Noble PC 8x42
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rocco13
Got Milk?
Reged: 07/29/06
Posts: 2643
Loc: Phoenix, Arizona
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I always removed the OTA when I owned the C8/CG5. The mount is heavy, and it didn't take but another minute to carry the tube out separately and attach it. Technically, you could carry it out as a whole, but it wasn't worth the risk to me.
And remember that the C9.25 is another 8 lbs heavier than the C8, so in addition to that you'll need a few more lbs of counterweight for the mount as well.
However, my current C8 on a fork mount, I carry out in one piece. It's my grab-n-go. Just getting the open tripod through my narrow door is the hard part. Altogether I'd guess it weighs 50-55 lbs with the tube & fork, wedge, and tripod.
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Rocco
Zhumell Z12
Super C8 (1984 vintage)
Celestron 102 f/5
and a cheap pair of binoculars
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langejcarl
member
Reged: 01/05/05
Posts: 38
Loc: Michigan USA
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What are the pros and cons of the fork mount with the C8 or 9.25?
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-10 inch f4.9 Dobstuff dob w/ Swayze mirror
-William Optics Megrez 80 Super APO
-Coronado PST
-22mm T4 Nagler
-TV Smoothside plossls 32mm,26mm,21mm,17mm,13mm, 10.5mm and 7.4mm
-Pentax XW's 10mm, 7mm and 5mm
-Leupold 6x32 Katmai
-Celestron Noble PC 8x42
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Lane
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/19/07
Posts: 1495
Loc: Frisco, Texas
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PROS
====
Better eyepiece positioning
No counterweights to lug around
CONS
====
Can't change OTAs
Can't break it up into lighter pieces, like you can with a gem.
The C9.25 doesn't fit very well in a smaller car.
More difficult to do AP
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CGEM, ORION SIRIUS, AT Voyager
OTAs: C6, C8, C9.25, C11, Pronto, ED80
Orion 9x63, Fujinon 10x50 & 16x70
Ethos 13, 17 Nagler 9t1,12t4,16t2,22t4 Panoptic 27,35
Antares 1.6x, TV Powermates 2x & 4x, TV Barlow 3x, TV Plossl 8,11,13
Baader Hyperion 21, 8-24 Zoom, UO HD Ortho 6,7,9,12,18
TMB Planetaries 3.2,4,5,6,7,8, Pentax XW 10,14,40
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letimotif
No Complaints
Reged: 05/20/07
Posts: 2004
Loc: Far Flung Isles of Langerhans
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I had a C925 mounted on a CG5 and it's a little too much to be carting out in one piece. 70 lbs +/-. You can do it, of course, but if one of the tripod legs hits something you're likely to make a bit of a mess. It's not really the weight, it's the fact that the whole set up is simply unwieldy without a good center of balance for someone to lift and carry.
It's not really a problem to mount the OTA on the mount as a second trip, and you're going to be bringing out a few other things, like as not, anyway.
Honestly, having hefted a C8 on an EQ5 Pro mount, I don't think it would be any easier. Once again, the weight distribution doesn't lend itself easily to walking around.
As far as fork vs. EQ mount it's really a matter of your intentions. A GEM will let you, relatively easily, handling imaging whereas a fork needs an equatorial wedge (added weight) to track the sky properly. On the other hand, for visual purposes only, a fork mount makes observing much much easier. GEMs will put the eyepiece in some awkward positions, whereas a fork mount will always leave your eyepiece at a comfortable spot.
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Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a Heaven for?
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Eddgie
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 2700
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I have had a C8 on an LXD55 mount, and it was ALMOST but not quite possible to carry it out in one trip.
The CG% ASGT has much heavier legs. The legs alone weight 18 Lbs.
I have a pair of Vixen HAL 110 legs for this mount, so with these legs (which weigh 9 lbs), the CG5 is similar in weight to the old LXD55, but much stiffer. I think I COULD carry it in one trip, but it would be at the very limit.
The problem I don't think would be the weight so much as it is the awkward packaging.
I am 6',, 180 lbs. Average strength.
So, I would say no on a CG5 with steel legs, MAYBE on a CG5 with lightweigt legs like the HAL 110.
To be honest, just the CG5 ASGT on steel legs with the counterweigt is a lot to move. As much as most people were peased with the CG5 when they went to the steel legs, I personally hate the steel legs. They are VERY heavy and not really much stiffer thant he Vixen HAL 110 tripod. I wish Celestron had come out with a similar light weight, super stiff tripod as an option. You may want to consder adding a pair to your CG5. It lobs off 9 lbs and is much easier to fold.
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Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Televue 101 (No name, but I call it my Widescreen HD Space TV)
The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.
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t.r.
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/14/08
Posts: 577
Loc: Upstate NY
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I had a C-8 on the older Vixen Super-Polaris mount w/dual drives and wooden legs that I could carry out in one trip easily. I also did this when the TV genesis was mounted. As long as goto isnot a priority, may be an option.
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Present Stable:
Kmart 40mm(first scope @ age 8)
Jason 60mm
C80SS
Tak Sky90II
PST
C6XLT
AP130 "Gran Turismo"
C-11XLT
EQ-2,CG-4,ASGT-5,DenkII's,TV(zoom,plossls,Ethos),Pentax XW's,UO volcano set, ZAOII 4mm,BaaderZoom and other un-notables
"For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."
Carl Sagan
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Wes James
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 3451
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Is a C8 too much for a Vixen GPDX/CG5 clone?? What has peoples experience been with the Vixen/CG5 clone class of mounts??
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Wes
Atlantic Beach, FL
Some bino’s from Miyauchi 5x32 Binon's up through Garrett 20x110 Signature's,
Some telescopes from a Stellarvue 80mm NHNG up through a couple of 8” reflectors…
And a wonderful 4.25" Delmarva Shiefspiegler!
Some good friends, made here on C/N.
Oh- several cats and a wonderful wife!
Anyone want a cat???? :-O
"When your work speaks for itself- Don't Interrupt" -Gamble Rogers
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jason_milani
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/03/04
Posts: 1734
Loc: Northeast Ohio
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Quote:
Is a C8 too much for a Vixen GPDX/CG5 clone?? What has peoples experience been with the Vixen/CG5 clone class of mounts??
No. Those mounts will handle a C-8 very nicely.
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Celestron C-14
Celestron C-8
Celestron C-5
Orion/Vixen ED114SS APO
William Optics Megrez 72mm ED
Celestron CGE mount
Discmount DM-4
Mallincam Hyper Color Plus
Baader UV/IR Modded Canon 40D
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dscarpa
sage
Reged: 03/15/08
Posts: 245
Loc: San Diego Ca.
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I can carry my c 9.25 CG5GT out in one piece but it's a beast, I've got a SCT focuser, 2" and red dot finders on it so it adds to the weight. I don't like to take the OTA off the mount if I can avoid it. A advantage of a GEM is you can put the OTA on a different mount, my C 9.25 is now on a Giro. This combo is even harder to carry out than the CGT5 since the weight is really out there. A advantage of a fork mount is that you don't have to do a polar alignment, the CG5's mechanisms for doing so are crude. The GOTO set up is not difficult. The new midrange Celestron GEM looks to be much easier to polar align but I doubt that I could carry my C 9.25 out on it and I lift weights. David
Edited by dscarpa (11/06/09 10:51 AM)
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hfjacinto
Almost got me
Reged: 01/12/09
Posts: 2075
Loc: Union,NJ
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I have the 9.25 and while it is possible to carry out in 1 piece it is an accident waiting to happen. I carry it our follows:
1) Eyepiece case, dew heater case and battery.
2) Tripod and head (with weights on)
3) Put tripod together and ensure everything is TIGHT (I do it 2x, don't want anything falling.
4) Put anti Vibration pads under legs.
5) Double check everything is stable
6) Get OTA and bring to the deck, mount it and double check everything is tight including the diaganol and ota.
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C9.25 ASGT 9*50 MM Finder,FT Focuser & 2" Diagonal
Meade LXD 75 6 Inch SNT w 9*50 MM Finder
5,6,9,14.5 MM Zhummel Planetary EPs
13,17,21,24,31,36 MM Baader Hyperion
6.7,8.8 MM Meade UWA & 11 MM Nagler T6
Planetary, OIII and Narrowband Filters
Thousand Oaks Dew Control w Kendrick Heaters
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coutleef
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/21/08
Posts: 1708
Loc: Montréal and Saint-Donat, Québ...
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Quote:
I have the 9.25 and while it is possible to carry out in 1 piece it is an accident waiting to happen. I carry it our follows:
1) Eyepiece case, dew heater case and battery.
2) Tripod and head (with weights on)
3) Put tripod together and ensure everything is TIGHT (I do it 2x, don't want anything falling.
4) Put anti Vibration pads under legs.
5) Double check everything is stable
6) Get OTA and bring to the deck, mount it and double check everything is tight including the diaganol and ota.
I agree with this. I have a C8 and set up in several trips even if the weight of the 8SE would allow on trip.
If ever you fall with your scope in the dark, the OTA will more likely take the hit. Not worth saving 5 minutes.
Francois
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François
Scopes: Nexstar 8 SE with Ron's rail and Denk S1 Powerswitch. EPs list is on my Bio.
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stevew
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/03/06
Posts: 1142
Loc: Vancouver
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Quote:
I had a C-8 on the older Vixen Super-Polaris mount w/dual drives and wooden legs that I could carry out in one trip easily.
That's a great set up. Much lighter, than a fork mount.
For me, a good C8 on a mid weight GEM is hard to beat for portability per inch of aperture.
Steve
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TV Genesis SDF
Meade 127ED
Antares 152
Celestron C5
Celestron C8
Celestron C11
Coulter Odyssey 8
16 Dobsonian
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Arizona-Ken
sage
Reged: 08/31/08
Posts: 304
Loc: Scottsdale, Arizona
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I move my CG5 GOTO mount out, weight and all, without the scope and then come out with the scope to put it on. Really easy.
Arizona Ken
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"Considered as a collector of rare and precious things, the amateur astronomer has a great advantage over amateurs in other fields ... the amateur astronomer has access at all times to the original objects of his study; the masterworks of the heavens belong to him as much as to the great observatories of the world. And there is no privilege like that of being allowed to stand in the presence of the original."
--Robert Burnham Jr, Burnham's Celestial Handbook
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4561
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Quote:
If I had a C8 on a CG5 mount, could I leave it assembled and carry it outside from the house? Same question for a C9.25.
Thanks
No...not unless you are built like AHNULD Schwarzengovernor. 
The NS8SE is marginally transportable in an assembled state, but that is it.
The CG5 model? For starters, you have the counterweights adding to the load. Sure you could remove them while transporting the scope, but one day you'll forget they are off and scope will slam into mount with potentially disastrous results. The C8/CG5 is a great combo, but you need to remove the OTA before transport.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4561
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Quote:
PROS
CONS
====
Can't change OTAs
Can't break it up into lighter pieces, like you can with a gem.
The C9.25 doesn't fit very well in a smaller car.
More difficult to do AP
One more con: go-to accuracy. I've never seen a Nexstar 8/i/SE as good as the CG5 when it comes to go-to (the NexStar GPS and CPC are another story).
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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teskridg
sage
Reged: 01/15/08
Posts: 277
Loc: PA
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What are the particulars of your storage site/observing site? If you are able to store the scope in a garage or other outbuilding, cooldown time will be faster and you may be able to use a scopebuggy, thus leaving the whole thing assembled all the time.
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Tim Eskridge
CPC 800
Scopebuggy
Burgess Binoviewer Model 24
8mm Radian
11mm Nagler
15mm GTO
20mm Burgess binolite and Stellar
26mm Meade SP Series 4000
30mm Vixen NPL
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GaryML
sage
Reged: 02/16/09
Posts: 322
Loc: San Diego, California
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Quote:
If I had a C8 on a CG5 mount, could I leave it assembled and carry it outside from the house?
I have an 8" Cassegrain on the CG-5 ASGT. The complete assembly with finders, diagonal & eyepiece is probably around 58+ lbs. While I can pick it up and move it a few feet fully assembled, it is top heavy and unwieldy. I would not consider carrying it through a doorway or up and down stairs assembled. As others have suggested, carrying the mount by itself fully assembled (even with counterweights) is not a problem. Carry the telescope separately. You can pop the telescope on the mount in just a few seconds with the dovetail mounting.
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Sky conditions in San Diego, California:
Vixen VMC200L 8" corrected Cassegrain telescope on a Celestron CG-5 Advanced Series GT mount
Pentax eyepieces and Televue eyepieces & diagonal
Fujinon 16x70 Binoculars on a Manfrotto 028B/501HDV tripod
Celestron SkyScout
______________________________________________________
Avatar: Gemini North on Mauna Kea, November, 2008.
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w orchid
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/23/07
Posts: 832
Loc: Tampa, Fl
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By far the simplest design is the CPC series. It breaks down into a tripod and the fork/ota with assembly in seconds. Yes, you "can" carry it all in one trip, but why? My NS1100 is by far the easiest set-up scope that I have in addition you do not need to have a view of Polaris to get going.
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Celestron C8 orange tube circa 1982
Stellarvue SV102ED
Celestron NS1100GPS
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dscarpa
sage
Reged: 03/15/08
Posts: 245
Loc: San Diego Ca.
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You don't have to set up the GOTO in order to get a GEM to track. On the other hand if you can use a fork mount as alt az with electric slow motions if you don't feel like setting up the GOTO. My Giro is much harder to mount the C9.25 OTA on than my GEM because the scope goes on the side not the top. This isn't a problem with my smaller scopes. David
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