33 replies to this topic

[AlienRatDog]

Why is the c5 (spotter) OTA $100 more than a c6? I'm love using the C90 on the manfrotto fluid head as super light weight. Since I've been using that like 95% of the time, I figure I want a little more punch and a C5 looked good to put on the fluid head. Alternatively I could get something like a unistar light and put it on my video tripod and just use the C6, it just seems like the c5 and c90 are close but the c6 is a big step up. I enjoy the grab and go factor, no goto, no power requirements, just observe almost instantly (I keep it low power until it thermalizes, I'm not picky, I'm just happy to get to observe)...any thoughts?

[Starhawk]

Where are you looking?  I see the C5 spotter with bag, diagonal (non-astro), and eyepiece is $470, while a C6 OTA is $600.  Please explain.

 

-Rich

[hardwarezone]

Because of the "lifetime warranty" for the sports optics series.

[Zapp Brannigan]

$600 seems high for just a C6 OTA.  Highpoint has it for $399.  I'm curious about where you saw these too.

Edited by Zapp Brannigan, 27 December 2016 - 02:17 AM.

[SeattleScott]

You live in michigan and you are thinking of getting a C5 or C6 for grab and go? Instant setup, no power cables or goto alignments you say. What about cool down? What is the temperature differential between indoors and outdoors right now? A C90 is one thing. It is tiny and it can't take a lot of mag anyway. C6 is another story. And C5 is probably closer to a C6 than a C90 when it comes to cool down. That is why I don't use my cat as a grab and go, or at least not outside of summer months. Refractor works great. Reflector I have done before and is a good candidate for a grab and go in a colder climate. You can get a bit more aperture but may have to fiddle with collimation. 

[Hesiod]

The unusually high price of the C5 has always puzzled me too ( this is likely the best price for a brand new C5 in EU http://www.teleskop-...opt--Tubus.html ). By comparison a Synta MC127 sells at 360€, and it is not usually a worse telescope, and sometimes may be even better.

 

The most common answer seems the fact that the C5 is sold as a spotting scope and has a life-time warranty, but even this sounds a bit strange.

Usually the warranty covers manufacturing defects, not the damages caused by the user or by the environment, and these seems much more likely with a spotting scope, so do not think that Celestron has to replace defective C5 more often than defective C6 or C8 (or even defective MC127)

[Sarkikos]

C6 is a bargain for $399 shipped at High Point Scientific.  I don't understand why the HPS price is so low, while some other vendors charge $599.  

 

Unless you really want the life-time warranty for a new one, the C5 is better bought used for $300 or less.

 

Mike

Edited by Sarkikos, 27 December 2016 - 09:17 AM.

[AlienRatDog]

I saw the c6 for $399 at opt. I do have bad thermals, I usually just use a 24 mm ES 68 eyepiece until it cools down enough to increase the power (in my C6, the thermals are not so bad in about 30 min, really good after 45min). If I plan on high power viewing, I stick the c6 on my porch before dinner. From what I read, the c5 cools down faster than the c6 and even faster than a c90. I just like the C90 on the photo tripod for a casual look at stuff, just wanted a tad more punch on deep sky objects, this is why I didn't opt for a small refractor (cash is also a huge deciding factor these days). I like the fluid head since I can move around my yard and whatnot, can carry it all with one hand. If I'm doing serious high power work, I take out the NX6 or CPC since they have larger aperture and track anyways. I also use the C90 as a spotter scope as well (btw the stock diagonal is garbage). Just wanted something a little bigger to out on the fluid head. If I stick with a c6, I have longer cool down times and have to get another altaz mount (which is a possibility, I just like something light), as the starguy mount I have puts the finder and focusing knob at a weird angle.

[Sarkikos]

I have a C90, C5 and a C6.  The C90 only needs about a half-hour to acclimate.  The C5 and C6 need an hour or longer.  If you have a porch or other controlled area where you can set out a scope, just put the C5 or C6 out to cool down about an hour before you intend to observe.  In the winter, it can take me that long to prepare myself to go out in the cold.

 

Mike

[AlienRatDog]

How are the views between them?

[Sarkikos]

I have a Voyager ATZ that I have used with the C6.  IME, that mount is overkill for a C6.  

 

Maybe the ideal mount for a C6 if you want light-weight grab-n-go, is a MicroStar on a sturdy photo tripod.  I put the MicroStar on a Vanguard Auctus Plus 324AT that I got for cheap on sale.  I can easily carry the C6 on that mount with one hand.

 

Mike

Edited by Sarkikos, 27 December 2016 - 09:23 AM.

[Sarkikos]

I saw the c6 for $399 at opt. 

But OPT charges $42 for shipping.  For me at least, shipping was free at HPS.

 

Mike

[AlienRatDog]

Have you used the.63 reducer? I was wondering how well it works with the 24 mm 68 deg ES eyepiece (I won't use 2 inch eyepieces unless I am using my Edge 8 or larger)

[AlienRatDog]

Can you get a panhandle for the microstar?

[Sarkikos]

How are the views between them?

What you would expect for the different apertures.  My C5 and C6 have great star tests.  Virtually no SA.  Both C90's I have owned showed a little SA.  

 

All three can show thermal currents when first taken out.  This is visible as a brighter little blip at the outer edge of the diffraction pattern of a defocused star.  It can make stars look like doubles when they aren't doubles.  On some nights, the little blip gets smaller but doesn't go away completely.  On those nights - usually in the winter - I look at deep sky and don't worry about it.

 

Mike

Edited by Sarkikos, 27 December 2016 - 09:36 AM.

[Sarkikos]

Can you get a panhandle for the microstar?

Yes, I have one, but hardly ever use it.   I just move the scopes by holding the visual back or the finder mount.

 

Mike

Edited by Sarkikos, 27 December 2016 - 09:34 AM.

[AlienRatDog]

Also I am using a manfrotto 502AH fluid head and just read that it can handle 31lbs (has an 8.8 lbs counter balance), I think I'll try putting the C6 on it (gotta figure out if there is a 1/4-20 threading on the dovetail, I never took the C6 off the nexstar mount before so I don't know at the moment)

[AlienRatDog]

Sorry 13 lbs

[Sarkikos]

I'm skeptical about using any head that would mount the C6 on top rather than on the side.   These photo heads are not designed for pointing the load straight up.  

 

Since you already have the 502AH, it wouldn't hurt to try it.   You'll realize if it's a bad setup if you need to lock down the altitude detention every time you point toward zenith.

 

My 501HDV fluid head has an advertised 13.2 lb LC.  It is OK for the C90 and borderline for the C5.  I would not even try it for the C6.  The MicroStar works great for the C5 and C6.

 

Mike

Edited by Sarkikos, 27 December 2016 - 09:52 AM.

[AlienRatDog]

I tried to mount the C6 on the 502AH, I can get it balanced where I do not have to have everything tightened down completely at zenith using a 1.25inch diagnonal and a 24mm 68deg ES eyepiece.  Everything just feels so...taxed, this set up makes me a bit nervous.  IF the C5 is significantly lighter it would probably work.  

 

 

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[AlienRatDog]

Using the Starguy is a bit of a fail, as my neck is not that flexible to reach the finder scope...I am thinking of a microstar to put on a photo tripod (the one seen in the previous post) or get a unistar light with their light aluminum tripod.  Unfortunately this means I need to sell the starguy since I have no other use for at it this time.  I may not go with a C5 since I already have a C6.  I usually use the Nexstar mount but a lot of times I do not want to deal with electronics, just go out observe, then come back inside...(PS: sorry for the mess)

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Edited by AlienRatDog, 27 December 2016 - 03:29 PM.

[Patrick]

Why is the c5 (spotter) OTA $100 more than a c6? I'm love using the C90 on the manfrotto fluid head as super light weight. Since I've been using that like 95% of the time, I figure I want a little more punch and a C5 looked good to put on the fluid head. Alternatively I could get something like a unistar light and put it on my video tripod and just use the C6, it just seems like the c5 and c90 are close but the c6 is a big step up. I enjoy the grab and go factor, no goto, no power requirements, just observe almost instantly (I keep it low power until it thermalizes, I'm not picky, I'm just happy to get to observe)...any thoughts?

As others have noted the C6 is $400 at High Point Scientific, OPT, and others, but if you notice, the C5 is generally not marketed as an astronomy scope.  Neither High Point or OPT even list the C5 spotter that I can find on their website. Celestron also sells a 5" Mak Cass which is directed towards the astro market.

 

If I had to guess, I'd say the price difference is related more to the economies of scale and where it's produced (I don't know, btw). The C6 probably has much higher volumes than the C5.  

 

13" and 6 lbs for the C5;  C6 is 16" and 10 lbs.

 

Patrick

Edited by Patrick, 27 December 2016 - 07:01 PM.

[Starhawk]

I got a C5 a while ago, great for grab n go- if you leave it in the garage or a shed at close to ambient temperature. I was looking at Adorama- $400 is a crazy good deal on a C6. Every C6 I've looked owed though had an identical image and a really good one- and it's about the size of a C5 so it's hard to beat that deal for just a 25mm eyepiece, a foam filled bag, and a warranty for a smaller scope.  

 

-Rich

[Patrick]

I got a C5 a while ago, great for grab n go- if you leave it in the garage or a shed at close to ambient temperature. I was looking at Adorama- $400 is a crazy good deal on a C6. Every C6 I've looked owed though had an identical image and a really good one- and it's about the size of a C5 so it's hard to beat that deal for just a 25mm eyepiece, a foam filled bag, and a warranty for a smaller scope.  

 

-Rich

Lots of aperture for a small scope, and they're very easy to mount as well.  I've had several of them over the years.  Really good image quality.

 

Patrick

[Gofr]

I have also wondered by the C5 is so pricey. I'm in Canada, so in my case, the C5 from most places I've seen is indeed cheaper, but only by like $100 or less. Seems like there's no point picking it up over a C6. Never quite understood the odd pricing. I suspect that's one reason the C6 is more popular. Most people that would probably opt for the C5 see the prices and just go with the C6.