108 replies to this topic

[Kasmos]

That's a first scope 80 AZ made by Vixen for Celestron WAY before China got involved!

He said Firstscope EQ.

[Mike W]

He said Firstscope EQ.

You quoted me as I was fixing my post, if you go back I said first scope
80 on a Polaris mount.

[Kasmos]

You quoted me as I was fixing my post, if you go back I said first scope
80 on a Polaris mount.

I understand we all post in haste and then correct.

Still, I could be wrong and as Nippon mentioned, I don't think they designated a EQ mounted 80 as a Firstscope until the China models.

[Mike W]

I understand we all post in haste and then correct.
Still, I could be wrong and as Nippon mentioned, I don't think they designated a EQ mounted 80 as a Firstscope until the China models.

True, when I lived in CT. I worked at Milford Camera and we sold Meade
and Celestron. I only remember the first scope 80 AZ as one of the
scopes I recommended to beginners along with the 6-8" Starhoppers.
Mike

[Counselor]

My Firstscope 80 sat in a realtor’s office being used as decoration. He said it had never been used. 
 

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

[salt2001]

Picked up a FirstScope 80 this summer for $100 Canadian.  Solid mount, good slow motion controls, Vixen Ortho 18mm,  and a nice finder.  Was missing the tray and had a 45deg diagonal.  Definitely recommend.  This is a keeper.

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[Brent Campbell]

I had one for my first serious scope. Wonderful memories.  Yes the scope in question is Vixen.  The first scopes were all Alt Atz.  My impressions were, OTA, focuser and optics - First Rate.  Tripod - first rate.  Mount not so much.   I hated the Alt ATZ mount.  

 

I later upgraded it by replacing the head (using the same legs) with a vixen polaris mount.   That mount will work as an Alt AZ or a equatorial.  That is a fine combination!  The Vixen Polaris is much better than the mount that came with it, and the same vintage.

[Grava T]

The Celestron/Vixen C80 is an awesome scope/mount setup. I wish I still had one. I've owned a few though out the years including the Meade version.

 

 

 

 

 

[Moonburn]

The Celestron/Vixen C80 is an awesome scope/mount setup. I wish I still had one. I've owned a few though out the years including the Meade version.

I just bought a Celestron CB-80 and it arrived today - very excited for tonight

[tony_spina]

Moonburn, on 08 Dec 2022 - 3:37 PM, said:

 

I just bought a Celestron CB-80 and it arrived today - very excited for tonight

 

 

 

Pictures, or it didn't happen ​ 

[Ohmless]

Just be aware that somewhere in the mix (maybe late 90s/early 2000s), they went from Vixen made in Japan, to made in China. I have a Firstscope 80az with a black wood tripod. It looks very similar to the ones above, but it is Made in China. Still a solid 3" scope and would do well for a nice beginner scope, just probably not as collectable.

I got one of the early chinese made setups.  A C102HD on a CG4 mount.  TBH the scope was underwhelming on many respects.  Some mechanical and I didn't tolerate the chromatic aberration of their chosen focal ratio.  The mount has held up and I still use it on occasion about 26 or so years later.  It is low tech and works at temperatures much lower than my computerized mount.  They likely got better with experience so YMMV.

 

Definitely get a vixen one if you can.  The one that was incredible back in the day to me was the fluorite one.  Likely not as well performing as a modern triplet but I have always wanted one.

[Terra Nova]

I had the white Vixen A80mf briefly a few years ago. Tho it had the same optical dimensions, it didn’t hold a candle to my black C80 made by Vixen in Japan. The Japanese version was sooo much better optically. (I no longer have either one.)

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[Terra Nova]

Accept No Substitutes!

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

[CHASLX200]

Accept No Substitutes!

I had a C80 with the Polaris mount with drive and polar scope years back. They are all sharp.

[Moonburn]

Moonburn, on 08 Dec 2022 - 3:37 PM, said:

 

I just bought a Celestron CB-80 and it arrived today - very excited for tonight

 

 

 

Pictures, or it didn't happen ​ 

Haha here you go:

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[JoeInMN]

31B0745F-C8A6-49D8-B8BA-E9E94F54F57C.jpeg

Looks really nice... There should be an informational label on the other side of the tube (opposite the "Sun Warning" visible in the picture). The ones we like the most have a little V-in-a-circle symbol on that label somewhere.

[photiost]

Cant go wrong with the Celestron Vixen C80 or SPC80  

[Moonburn]

Hi!  I have a Vixen made Celestron 

 

Haha here you go:

Anyone have an idea where to get an end cap for my CB-80?  The end measures about 99mm or 3 15/16"

 

Thanks

[telesonic]

Hi!  I have a Vixen made Celestron 

 

Anyone have an idea where to get an end cap for my CB-80?  The end measures about 99mm or 3 15/16"

 

Thanks

 

If you are looking for an original, that is a good question.

 

For a temporary (or even alternative replacement) dust cap, hit the dollar store and check some of the "tins" that have the plastic covers - like coffee, cashews, peanuts... things like that. You might wind up with one that is the right size.

 

If nothing else, you can always do this for dust and critter protection: (also Dollar Store) Get a bag of hair covers for showering - no idea why these are a thing.... and a bag of rubber bands. If you can't find the hair covers or whatever they are called, a ziplock bag and rubber band will also work for cheap.

 

 

As far as I know, the original C-80 cover has a smaller removable center cover - also known as an aperture stop, which changes / increases the f / ratio of the scope from say, f/9 to f/?... not exactly sure of the numbers, but that is the concept. In the past, there were also small solar film caps that one could use on this, for solar viewing.

 

My C-80 has an original cap.... now held together with tape, it works... but it needs replacement, it's seen better days.

 

I'd imagine that 3-D printing one of those would be pretty inexpensive if enough people need 'em, although a custom job and not original. Could it be possible to maybe incorporate a focus mask (Hartmann or Bahtinov or Scheiner) into it...?

 

hrmm. Got me thinking.

 

T

[Moonburn]

If you are looking for an original, that is a good question.

 

For a temporary (or even alternative replacement) dust cap, hit the dollar store and check some of the "tins" that have the plastic covers - like coffee, cashews, peanuts... things like that. You might wind up with one that is the right size.

 

If nothing else, you can always do this for dust and critter protection: (also Dollar Store) Get a bag of hair covers for showering - no idea why these are a thing.... and a bag of rubber bands. If you can't find the hair covers or whatever they are called, a ziplock bag and rubber band will also work for cheap.

 

 

As far as I know, the original C-80 cover has a smaller removable center cover - also known as an aperture stop, which changes / increases the f / ratio of the scope from say, f/9 to f/?... not exactly sure of the numbers, but that is the concept. In the past, there were also small solar film caps that one could use on this, for solar viewing.

 

My C-80 has an original cap.... now held together with tape, it works... but it needs replacement, it's seen better days.

 

I'd imagine that 3-D printing one of those would be pretty inexpensive if enough people need 'em, although a custom job and not original. Could it be possible to maybe incorporate a focus mask (Hartmann or Bahtinov or Scheiner) into it...?

 

hrmm. Got me thinking.

 

T

All good ideas.  Not expecting to find an original, but was maybe hoping to find a modern replacement.  Maybe a company that makes eyepiece bolt cases etc?  For my 6" Newtonian someone suggested buying a dock pylon cap which ended up working great.  I'll check the dollar store for something, if not the the shower cap idea will work for now.

 

If anyone knows where to find a modern replacement let me know

 

Thank you!

Edited by Moonburn, 11 January 2023 - 01:40 AM.

[salt2001]

I think that is one I picked up last summer.  Great deal.

I see one listed locally (in Nova Scotia Canada) for $100.

[GeneDiG]

My Synta (Chinese) made Celestron Firstscope 80EQ seems pretty nice to me. I'd love to upgrade to the Vixen made model.

[Princess Leah]

There is a lot of great threads on this scope. I read one that stated the original price, but now can't find it :/

Can anyone help?

Thanks Leah 

[sneeds]

Hi all - I guess I'm late to the game...

 

So is the Firstscope with aluminum legs not worth it?  (The one I'm looking at has a red dot finder too so definitely a later incarnation).  Seems like there was a slow transition from the Vixen C80 to what is now the PowerSeeker 80eq (which is probably still ok optically?).

 

Somewhere along the line Celestron also had the 80/900 in the Nexstar GT variety.  I had one and it was pretty good.  I'm thinking once production left Japan that Celestron's 80's were all basically equivalent...

 

(I've got a chance to buy a local, new-in-box Firstscope 80eq for $100...)

[sneeds]

Here’s a pic of the one I mean:

 

 

Attached Thumbnails

•