You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar

Telescope Specific Forums >> Celestron NexStar Previous   Index   Next   Threaded

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | (show all) wcstarguy member Reged: 12/04/08 Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: Mgauthier]       #5685385 - 02/17/13 02:56 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Noticed that too, Adorama is now out of the new SP70 but B&H Photo is still selling them for $229. I really am looking forward to using the mount, not having a goto mount currently. I plan on trying my 120ST on the mount, along with a couple of other smaller scopes I have (I like small scopes ). I know the sky fairly well from using simple alt-az mounts and sky hopping but this one will be fun, for me and the kids...WC Post Extras:       bda journeyman Reged: 02/17/13 Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: Mgauthier]       #5685935 - 02/17/13 08:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   New here...... found this thread while researching this scope, fyi they are selling it new at B&H for 229 with free shipping.... I'm still a relative novice myself and picked this up for my mother to see if it will help her be more confident in what she is looking at.... I'll keep my fingers crossed that it pans out. Post Extras:       bda journeyman Reged: 02/17/13 Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: wcstarguy]       #5685937 - 02/17/13 08:51 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   ooops, the newbie already screwed up....didn't see that last post! Post Extras:       Midnight Dan Postmaster Reged: 01/23/08 Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl... Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: bda]       #5685968 - 02/17/13 09:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi bda & welcome to the forum! >. ooops, the newbie already screwed up....didn't see that last post! No worries! We all do that from time to time! Let us know how you mother likes it! -Dan Post Extras:       wcstarguy member Reged: 12/04/08 Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: Midnight Dan]       #5685996 - 02/17/13 09:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hello bda, I'm kind of a newbie/oldie myself. Been lurking on here a long while but haven't been able to be too active with astronomy for a few years, getting the equipment back out and watching the skies again is great fun! WC Post Extras:       bda journeyman Reged: 02/17/13 Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: wcstarguy]       #5686061 - 02/17/13 10:02 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   thanks for the welcome...... having the scope shipped to me to try out before passing it along so we'll see how it goes Post Extras:       BigC Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/29/10 Loc: SE Indiana Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: Mgauthier]       #5686806 - 02/18/13 11:15 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   EDIT: Looks like our (by which I mean your) purchases have pushed the Amazon Warehouse price up to about $200. So I see! Must be that supply and demand free-market forces at play! By the way,when I first looked at this the used prices were $19x, but the next day amazon notified me of a price reduction to $171 ,at which time I ordered one.The $171 price held steady for a week then jumped back up. Post Extras:       Mgauthier member Reged: 04/07/12 Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: BigC]       #5689683 - 02/19/13 08:38 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Amazon Warehouse now has a SkyProdigy 6 for sale for $761. That's much better than retail, but only so-so next to a brand new 6SE. Amazon Warehouse SP6 Post Extras:       BigC Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/29/10 Loc: SE Indiana Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: Mgauthier]       #5692096 - 02/21/13 01:38 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'd order the used,Amazon customer return SP6, IF it was $499 !! $719 IS too close to a new 6SE,or a good used 8SE from private (and non -warranted) seller Post Extras:       BigC Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/29/10 Loc: SE Indiana Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: Mgauthier]       #5707748 - 03/01/13 08:27 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Amazon used SkyProdigy 70 now at $293 !! ;glad I grabbed one for $120 less. Post Extras:       wcstarguy member Reged: 12/04/08 Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: BigC]       #5707762 - 03/01/13 08:33 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'm enjoying mine...what with the weather and such I've only had it out one night for a few hours but it worked a charm with my little st80 goscope. WC Post Extras:       BigC Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/29/10 Loc: SE Indiana Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: wcstarguy]       #5708649 - 03/02/13 11:54 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I think there has been only ONE clear night since mine arrived ;there were a few nights of full Moon with heavy haze,cold and very damp,not fit for man nor scope. Post Extras:       wcstarguy member Reged: 12/04/08 Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: BigC]       #5715270 - 03/05/13 08:17 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hey BigC, I'm using my SP70 mount without the 70mm tube shroud so my other OTAs will fit and it seems to work fine. I couldn't tell that the plastic shroud was adding any absolutely needed support to the mount either. I am still looking for the perfect "modified cover" to protect the alt gear a bit, are you using yours this way (no shroud)? Looks like Hayneedle still has them for $299 new but everywhere else they are $360 and up....WC Post Extras:       BigC Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/29/10 Loc: SE Indiana Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: wcstarguy]       #5715746 - 03/06/13 01:55 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   ony had ne good night here and limted time soused my etx80 then. badcold now staying in Post Extras:       BigC Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/29/10 Loc: SE Indiana Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: BigC]       #5800246 - 04/15/13 11:08 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Last night after work took the SkyProdigy 70/6SE out for its first light.(Took the 70mm refractor OTA and substituted a 6SE OTA.Since the 6SE has its dovetail on the opposite side ,the focus knob is above the eyepiece and the red dot finder rather awkward.)The mount handled the 6" sct with no unusual noises.I did see the mount flex when putting on the heavier OTA.Self-align took a look at 4 sky areas and claimed success. But it turn out the object desired was consistently just out of the field of view of a 25mm eyepiece,always to the lower left. Just couldn't seem to get point-like focus on Castor or Pollux;switching back to Saturn it was there but had trouble getting sharp focus.Momentary views showed sharp rings and planet defintely had a little color with faint bands whereas the rings looked brilliant white.Continued to struggle with very tiny focus moves but Saturn stayed blurry.One look at the corrector confirmed my mistake.I forget the dew shield! The plate was covered in dew ;thus ended the session. I did get a few glimpses of Saturn in sharp fous,the best I had yet seen it.Once found with the 25mm, a TMB 6mm was swapped in for most views.Saturn did not exhibit the rainbow of colors as did Castor which was much lower in the sky. Conditions started with half-obscured sky ;very large high cloud coverage that moved or dissipated by 2 am. And this was first real session for my ergonomic work chair ;really glad I bought one with the larger range of seat heights . Post Extras:       core scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 02/23/08 Loc: Mostly in Norman, OK Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: BigC]       #5801710 - 04/15/13 10:53 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: But it turn out the object desired was consistently just out of the field of view of a 25mm eyepiece,always to the lower left. That makes 2 of us! I have a different OTA mounted on my SkyProdigy mount - an older Celestron 100mm f/5 refractor, and in my case, setup for video astronomy. with straight-thru video camera mount, objects consistently end up on the lower right of the display screen (left for you since you have a diagonal. I've had the setup out three times, and each time I've gone into menu setting to alignment the mount with the scope (and it's easier since I have a mark on the center of my screen) - goto's still end up on the lower right. Tripod is leveled, and the only thing I have not calibrated is the mount's back-lash - is your backlash set to zero as well? Will try and tinker with that aspect next time around. Post Extras:       BigC Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/29/10 Loc: SE Indiana Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: core]       #5802364 - 04/16/13 11:21 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Didn't change backlash.I should put the 70 back on and check accuracy.The little shroud might also brace tube/mount alignment?There are other scopes to try on this mount as well,like a lightweight 80mmf5.And a 130mmf5 Newton. Since the error is consistent it can be dealt with. It is just neat to watch the scope search the sky and align itself.I'd like my 8SE to do that but the price for the SkySense add-on is too high for me. Post Extras:       nine44 member Reged: 01/19/13 Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: wcstarguy]       #5802865 - 04/16/13 02:29 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Hey BigC, I'm using my SP70 mount without the 70mm tube shroud so my other OTAs will fit and it seems to work fine. I couldn't tell that the plastic shroud was adding any absolutely needed support to the mount either. I am still looking for the perfect "modified cover" to protect the alt gear a bit, are you using yours this way (no shroud)? Looks like Hayneedle still has them for $299 new but everywhere else they are $360 and up....WC WC--I took a chop saw to my mount shroud and sanded the cut edges--keeps all of guts covered, but allows larger diamter OTAs to be used. I'm using the 6se on it and it works realy well. Post Extras:       wcstarguy member Reged: 12/04/08 Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: nine44]       #5802880 - 04/16/13 02:39 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nine44, I think I'll do the same thing, my mount seems to be working well, without the alignment problems a couple have mentioned. I have only had the sp out about three times due to bad weather and other stuff but I really like it. My biggest scope I have mounted is the 130 flextube newt and it worked fine. I am thinking of ordering one of those high point scientific C6 tubes to use, it weighs about the same as my 130 or my 120st. I did put wooden legs on the mount and they help with stability. wc Post Extras:       BigC Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/29/10 Loc: SE Indiana Re: SkyProdigy 70 on sale for $299 [Re: wcstarguy]       #5803869 - 04/17/13 02:16 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   As my scope was on a grassy spot not sure wooden legs are needed.My biggest problem is bumping the legs with my size 12s! Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | (show all)

Previous   Index   Next   Threaded

Extra information 3 registered and 3 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  KWB, WaterMaster  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 2528 Jump to *Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Celestial Events*General Astronomy* -----   Beginners Forum   General Observing and Astronomy   Outreach   Light Pollution*Equipment Discussions* -----   ATM, Optics and DIY Forum   Binoculars   Binoviewers   Cats & Casses   Classic Telescopes   Equipment   Eyepieces   Mounts   Observatories   Reflectors   Refractors    Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy*Astrophotography and Sketching* -----   Beginning and Intermediate Imaging   Film Astrophotography   DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing   CCD Imaging & Processing   Solar System Imaging & Processing   Sketching   Astro Imaging/Sketching Contest *Observing* -----   NEO   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy*Telescope Specific Forums* -----   Celestron NexStar    NexStar GPS / CPC Telescopes   Questar Forum   Meade ACF/RCX / LX / GPS    Meade ETX*Speciality Forums* -----   Arizona Science and Astronomy Expo   NEAF (Northeast Astronomy Forum) and NEAIC (Northeast Astro Imaging Conference)   AstroArt   Astronomy Clubs and Star Parties   Astronomy Software & Computers   AstroWebsites   Science! Astronomy & Space Exploration, and Others   Space Rocks   Stellar Media*Swap and Shop* -----   Shop and Swap Audio Components*CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements* -----   Vendor and Group Announcements*International Year of Astronomy 2009 - Forums are now closed.* -----   IYA Archive Info

CN Forums Home