· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar General Astronomy >> Beginners Forum Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all) psaman member Reged: 12/02/12 Loc: Corpus Christi, TX Best Intermediate GoTo       #5550502 - 12/02/12 03:05 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Greetings All, While I do not consider myself a true beginner, I have been out of amateur astronomy long enough to realize I am not at all up to speed. I have an old orange tube Celestron C8 and a Celestron C5+. Both are old school and that is fine, but I am interested in jumping into the 21st century and want to buy an intermediate GoTo model , that I can set up relatively quickly and use with the grand kids on camping trips. I am wondering who makes the best, in the opinion of the users here. I realize that's like asking who makes the best car, Ford or Chevy; but I need all the info I can get from experienced users. I have gone to Meade, Orion and Celestron websites, but you expect them to say they are the best, so I need practical help in deciding. My limits are max tube diameter 8" and in the $1500 to $2000 range. I use to do web cam photography with my old tubes and would like to be able to continue that. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Post Extras:       rdandrea Carpal Tunnel Reged: 06/13/10 Loc: Colorado, USA DM59ra Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: psaman]       #5550510 - 12/02/12 03:11 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nexstar 8 SE. On sale now, leaving you $400-$900 for eyepieces. Alternatively, you can buy a CG-5 ASGT and mount your old orange tube on it for a lot less money. Post Extras:       csrlice12 Postmaster Reged: 05/22/12 Loc: Denver, CO Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: rdandrea]       #5550517 - 12/02/12 03:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Agree with using your current scopes and getting a new mount... Post Extras:       psaman member Reged: 12/02/12 Loc: Corpus Christi, TX Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: csrlice12]       #5550536 - 12/02/12 03:26 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks rdandrea and csrlice12; a new mount was not something I considered; I like being able to use my old tubes. The coatings on the old C8 are probably long gone, but the images are still pretty decent. Post Extras:       rdandrea Carpal Tunnel Reged: 06/13/10 Loc: Colorado, USA DM59ra Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: psaman]       #5550542 - 12/02/12 03:29 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Used CG-5 mounts show up often. Check the CN Classifieds or S&S Mounts. You want the GoTo version, of course. Post Extras:       Mike4242 professor emeritus Reged: 11/02/11 Loc: Memphis, TN Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: rdandrea]       #5550558 - 12/02/12 03:34 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'm going to agree with the others here. Get a new CG-5 ASGT and use one of the scopes you already have on it. Post Extras:       psaman member Reged: 12/02/12 Loc: Corpus Christi, TX Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: Mike4242]       #5550618 - 12/02/12 04:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   On the Celestron site it shows a CG-5 only, is this the same as CG-5 ASGT? Post Extras:       Mike4242 professor emeritus Reged: 11/02/11 Loc: Memphis, TN Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: psaman]       #5550634 - 12/02/12 04:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yep, that would be it. Post Extras:       MikeBOKC Post Laureate Reged: 05/10/10 Loc: Oklahoma City, OK Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: psaman]       #5550637 - 12/02/12 04:27 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The CG5 mount is a versatile and proven one. I am guessing your old C8 is in a fork mount on a wedge. All you would need to do is get a dovetail to attach to it and remove it from the forks and mount it on the CG5. You might also look at the ioptron IEQ30, which is comparable in price and capability. Even with a new mount you could set up your C8 for about $900. Post Extras:       psaman member Reged: 12/02/12 Loc: Corpus Christi, TX Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: MikeBOKC]       #5550656 - 12/02/12 04:46 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Mike4242. MikeBOKC, you are correct in your assessment of my C8. I actually installed JMI encoders on it about 12 years ago and also got a Sky Vector II to go with it. I downloaded the CG-5's owners manual from the website and was just looking at that. I was considering getting dovetails for both tubes, just because. I will look at the IEQ30 also, for comparison. Post Extras:       Doc Bob professor emeritus Reged: 02/27/09 Loc: Maryland, USA Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: psaman]       #5550909 - 12/02/12 07:40 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I agree - you have a couple of nice scopes . . . so get a nice mount that you can use for both. The CG-5 should hold you . . . unless you get a case of unrelenting aperture fever - then you might have to move up to a beefier mount!! Good viewing, Bob Post Extras:       psaman member Reged: 12/02/12 Loc: Corpus Christi, TX Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: Doc Bob]       #5550943 - 12/02/12 08:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Doc Bob. Yes, my dream has always been for a 12 or 14 inch OTA that I would set up permanently inside my own dome. Maybe in the future... Post Extras:       Skyshooter professor emeritus Reged: 04/07/08 Loc: S. Utah, U.S.A. Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: psaman]       #5550967 - 12/02/12 08:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I really like my Losmandy GM8. You might check out the Losmandy website and search the "mounts" section on the forum for other info. OPT now has a double rewards sale. They are pricier than a CG5 for sure but do hold their resale value well. It's a bump up in quality. Cheers, Ed Post Extras:       psaman member Reged: 12/02/12 Loc: Corpus Christi, TX Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: MikeBOKC]       #5556157 - 12/05/12 06:35 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Ordered my CG-5 from High Point Scientific today, can't wait for it to get here!! Post Extras:       lamplight Pooh-Bah Reged: 09/18/12 Loc: west central MA, U.S. Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: psaman]       #5556248 - 12/05/12 07:23 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Exellent. I have a new one too for my refractor and it's nice. Post Extras:       psaman member Reged: 12/02/12 Loc: Corpus Christi, TX Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: lamplight]       #5556339 - 12/05/12 08:11 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Received email telling me it is packed and on it's way! Impressed with High Point so far. Post Extras:       rdandrea Carpal Tunnel Reged: 06/13/10 Loc: Colorado, USA DM59ra Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: psaman]       #5556403 - 12/05/12 08:53 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   High Point is a wonderful vendor to deal with. I bought my Lunt 35 from them. I could have ordered it directly from Lunt and saved a week (AZ is closer to CO than NJ is) but I like to support brick-and-mortar stores. Post Extras:       S.Boerner super member Reged: 04/29/10 Loc: Eastern Missouri Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: rdandrea]       #5556488 - 12/05/12 09:46 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Stirring up the pot a bit. If you really like your C8 consider turning it into a push to with Dave Ek's digital setting circles. You can find the directions on his page at: http://eksfiles.net/digital-setting-circles/ It ran me $120 and they work well for me. I use a combination of Dave's DSCs, my laptop, ASCOM (free), Stellarium (free), and Stellarium Scope (free) to find and push my old C8 to any object that Stellarium can find. Post Extras:       RTLR 12 Post Laureate Reged: 12/04/08 Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: psaman]       #5556533 - 12/05/12 10:08 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Congratulations on the new mount. The CG-5 is a great mount. I really like my CG-5s. Quick to set up, easy to use, and very accurate. Let us know when you get it and show us some pics. Stan Post Extras:       Kevdog sage Reged: 07/11/12 Loc: Desert Hills, AZ Re: Best Intermediate GoTo [Re: psaman]       #5557705 - 12/06/12 03:07 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I picked up a used C11 NexStar GPS for $1800 and I got the wedge for $150 used as well. Might satisfy both needs going that route... goto and larger aperture. It looks much much better on Jupiter than my 8" tube. I saw one of the moons hovering over Jupiter last night and could clear see the shadow in the C11, while I struggled in my Meade LT8. Edit: Whoops, guess I'm too late! Edited by Kevdog (12/06/12 03:08 PM) Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all) Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 9 registered and 30 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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