5357 replies to this topic

[ngc4910]

Hi everyone!

 

I bought an interesting C5. It's the "Telephoto" version with black faux leather finish (it feels more like hard Bakelite but the texture imitates that of leather).

It has a "special coating" sticker, which to my knowledge refers to the anti reflection coating applied to the corrector.

The telescope is in excellent shape; it came with a transport case, identical to the case supplied with the "Honeywell Lumetar 1250" (a Honeywell-branded C5 telephoto lens), but different from the "pirate chest"-like box supplied usually with the C5 telephoto version (or the C90 Astro, for that matter).

 

What surprises me is the solid metal radius block attached to the bottom of the mirror cell. The radius block has a central 1/4 inch thread, and is attached with two screws to the mirror cell. In addition to the screws, it appears glued in place. It's machined to fit precisely to the mirror cell and the (narrower) tube, see zoomed-in picture.

 

I haven't seen this specific radius block on any other pictures online. Any idea when Celestron sold this version of the Telephoto lens? It may of course also be a special order. Unfortunately I can't read the serial number, as it's covered by the radius block.

 

Any insight is appreciated!

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 
• 

Edited by ngc4910, 08 March 2025 - 10:27 AM.

[clamchip]

Today I finally had a chance to try out my new Celestron Premium 80.

A good heavy rain has brought the pollen count down today and I'll take it for time with my scopes.

This lens appears multi-coated, it just looks like it's multi-coated. Odd because none of the other Vixen

Celestron's I've owned were multi-coated. Whatever it is it's very deep and multi-color.

The telescope is very well baffled, and the baffles continue into the focuser tube. And you might not 

notice but the tube is oversize to help the baffles trap that unwanted contrast robbing stray light.

This is a well made telescope and a Joy to use. A true classic, great in it's day and just as great today.

I need to spend some time on the altazimuth mount it came with before I can use it.

It resolved the perforated thingy!

Robert

 

Edited by clamchip, 14 March 2025 - 11:10 PM.

[MisterDan]

Ah, yes - the P.T.** test... very sensitive and revealing.

 

 

Best wishes and thanks for sharing!

Dan

 

(**Perforated Thingy)

[deSitter]

Today I finally had a chance to try out my new Celestron Premium 80.

A good heavy rain has brought the pollen count down today and I'll take it for time with my scopes.

This lens appears multi-coated, it just looks like it's multi-coated. Odd because none of the other Vixen

Celestron's I've owned were multi-coated. Whatever it is it's very deep and multi-color.

The telescope is very well baffled, and the baffles continue into the focuser tube. And you might not 

notice but the tube is oversize to help the baffles trap that unwanted contrast robbing stray light.

This is a well made telescope and a Joy to use. A true classic, great in it's day and just as great today.

I need to spend some time on the altazimuth mount it came with before I can use it.

It resolved the perforated thingy!

Robert

 

IMG_3243.JPG

IMG_3240.JPG

post-50896-0-42534000-1713158841.jpg

post-50896-0-02156100-1614045131_thumb.jpg

My C80 has the 45 degree stalk finder mount that attaches directly to the focuser body with no shoe. How does that date it vs. this one? Otherwise they seem identical.

 

-drl

[clamchip]

My C80 has the 45 degree stalk finder mount that attaches directly to the focuser body with no shoe. How does that date it vs. this one? Otherwise they seem identical.

 

-drl

I don't know much about the C80 but I would say yours dates from the beginning, like the SP-C102 with it's focuser

mounted finder, and the Premium 80 like mine is from the end of the Vixen made telescopes, like the GP-C102.   

 

Robert

[Defenderslideguitar]

I have the manual for the C80  along with the C-102 and C 102FL  if anyone needs it   I scanned it and I can send it along via email.................Just saying

 

I have had  2  C 80s    should have kept the last one   

 

 

as it happens   Bomber Bob listed his C 80 premium just as I signed on and   well    it is on its way from the swamp in Alabama to Southern Connecticut now   I will be able to bring it and the C 102FL to NEAF for display

[Cavs56]

Won an auction last week finally arrived today. I couldn’t see half of what I was buying. Real happy with what was in the group. I have a Towa 339 I needed some good quality .965. The 2 inch is a beast solid brass. Worked out to about $5.00 per eyepiece.

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[deSitter]

Won an auction last week finally arrived today. I couldn’t see half of what I was buying. Real happy with what was in the group. I have a Towa 339 I needed some good quality .965. The 2 inch is a beast solid brass. Worked out to about $5.00 per eyepiece.

Wow that's a score! The R50mm Criterion is great to have!

 

-drl

[Russell Smith]

+1 on the great score. Lots of nice eyepieces. Is the Celestron on it's side the 25mm Ortho with the circle V on the barrel? If so, I have one and mine is a favorite.

[Cavs56]

It’s 18mm

[Cavs56]

I have a 25mm also. It is very nice.

[clamchip]

The brass eyepiece may be an Edmund #60,144.

A spectacular eyepiece, Edmund sold it separately and as the ep for the Edmund Deluxe finder I pictured.

Robert  

 

[CHASLX200]

I HAD ONE OF THEM FINDERS AND had a super wide FOV.

[Cavs56]

There are three holes in the side of the eyepiece.

[deSitter]

The brass eyepiece may be an Edmund #60,144.

A spectacular eyepiece, Edmund sold it separately and as the ep for the Edmund Deluxe finder I pictured.

Robert  

 

post-50896-0-57307000-1634567496_thumb.jpg

post-50896-0-18640000-1506722695.jpg

post-39321-0-50835500-1634570938_thumb.jpg

That is hip! Probably a military surplus item. I always thought that finder seemed makeshift, but likely it was way better than the Japanese finders with Ramsden eyepieces. Never saw one in person. It was standard on the 8" reflector right? Had the base with the Y-stalks.

 

-drl

[clamchip]

The Edmund Deluxe Finder is very special, an absolute 8th wonder of the world.

Yes standard equipment on the Edmund 8" f/8.

 

Robert

[CHASLX200]

That is hip! Probably a military surplus item. I always thought that finder seemed makeshift, but likely it was way better than the Japanese finders with Ramsden eyepieces. Never saw one in person. It was standard on the 8" reflector right? Had the base with the Y-stalks.

 

-drl

It came on my 8" F/8 but my finder looked diff and was much older.

[Garyth64]

That is hip! Probably a military surplus item. I always thought that finder seemed makeshift, but likely it was way better than the Japanese finders with Ramsden eyepieces. Never saw one in person. It was standard on the 8" reflector right? Had the base with the Y-stalks.

 

-drl

I don't remember where I bought this Edmund finder bracket, but when I saw it, I had to have it.

 

It found a home on my 12-1/2":

 

Edited by Garyth64, 20 March 2025 - 06:44 PM.

[PawPaw]

Robert is correct.......they are special.   

 

The early Edmund 8" reflectors used the same 50mm finder that was used for the moonwatch program.  It is a bit shorter and uses a erfle eyepiece with a helical focuser Pt # 30-171 in the Edmund catalog.  Circa late 60's or early 70's Edmund changed the 50mm deluxe finder by using a kellner eyepiece Pt # 60-144 as Robert shows, and they increased the length of the OTA a bit  (finder pt# 70-175).   Both eyepieces were war surplus military eyepieces.  The Kellner is a bit heavier than the original erfle for the moonwatch scope but both are excellent eyepieces.  I spent my youth using the 70-175 on my Edmund 6" f/8 to find all the messier objects in one year.  Edmund also used the same objective and eyepiece for their Deluxe collimator Pt # 70-674.  It was esentially the same finder except with a inner slide tube that allowed focus from 20" to infinity.  Here they are:

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

Edited by PawPaw, 20 March 2025 - 07:09 PM.

[John Rogers]

I can confirm PawPaw's excellent summary.  The Deluxe Finder was produced in several configurations.  Here is another one to throw into the mix.  I don't own it, but captured the photo from an advertisement.

 

[apfever]

I checked my 50mm Edmund Deluxe Finder. It has the same eyepiece as shown by Cavs56 in entry #5232 above, including the same number stamped on the edge.

 

 

I HAD ONE OF THEM FINDERS AND had a super wide FOV.

It is a crazy wide AFOV.  

 

I didn't photo the finder or brackets but I already had this one of the scopes they go on.  I've been working on them the last couple of days. 

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

Edited by apfever, 20 March 2025 - 09:36 PM.

[ericb760]

The brass eyepiece may be an Edmund #60,144.

A spectacular eyepiece, Edmund sold it separately and as the ep for the Edmund Deluxe finder I pictured.

Robert  

 

post-50896-0-57307000-1634567496_thumb.jpg

post-50896-0-18640000-1506722695.jpg

post-39321-0-50835500-1634570938_thumb.jpg

Those prices! Oh, how I wish inflation would take a holiday.

[Kasmos]

Won an auction last week finally arrived today. I couldn’t see half of what I was buying. Real happy with what was in the group. I have a Towa 339 I needed some good quality .965. The 2 inch is a beast solid brass. Worked out to about $5.00 per eyepiece.

Quite the score but we need a bigger photo to make out whats what.

[PawPaw]

The Edmund Deluxe Finder is very special, an absolute 8th wonder of the world.

Yes standard equipment on the Edmund 8" f/8.

 

Robert

My 1975 Edmund Space Challenger VI also came standard with the Edmund 50mm finder.  

Attached Thumbnails

• 

Edited by PawPaw, 21 March 2025 - 08:37 AM.

[Garyth64]

My 1975 Edmund Space Challenger IV also came standard with the Edmund 50mm finder.  

I wonder, where there two designs of this finder bracket?  Was there one for 50mm finders? and one for 60mm finders?

 

The bracket on my 12-1/2" is holding a 60mm finder.

 

Maybe those 50mm finders had an oversized tube.

Edited by Garyth64, 21 March 2025 - 08:31 AM.