328 replies to this topic

[DeWayne]

I've posted this before, but I guess it still fits on this thread, too...

Under the black paint and brass plating, it's a Vixen/Celestron C100 f/13.  I'm enjoying collecting a few Martian photons with this! 

[Defenderslideguitar]

Oh my goodness    love this thread already

 

most you have seen before but I added two in the last two weeks   pics of those to follow in a day or so....

 

 

My first Vixen  the C-102fl from original owner with manual and his pics

 

 

The C-102   now with Marcyc

 

The two together  The Black Beauties

 

The C-80 first scope

 

The Vixen 80 flourite 

 

 

 

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[Marco1968]

Greetings,

 

admittedly I have posted images of my Vixen 102M setup but sure it likes (and IMHO it deserves) being here

 

Enjoy!

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[LDW47]

I have shown these before but just to add to this great thread for posterities sake ! 

 

 

My early 90’s C-80 and my mid 80’s Tasco 9vr and Celestron CO-62 Cometron ! All Vixen and all great performers in their own right !

Edited by LDW47, 17 October 2020 - 01:16 PM.

[kansas skies]

I thought I should add a picture of my Celestron C100E to this thread. Although the Celestron label affixed to the tube shows the optics as APL (which I understand was absorbed into Vixen at some point), the scope is obviously a 4" f15 Celestron branded Vixen P102L. The Vixen Saturn mount is original to the assembly, but the tripod is not. However, I do still have an original pillar that I still use occasionally.

 

I realize I've posted this picture in the past, but I guess I'm too lazy to take another at this time.

 

Bill

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Edited by kansas skies, 17 October 2020 - 10:44 PM.

[Bomber Bob]

I lurv those Vixen Saturn mounts!  Don't know if I've noticed / mentioned before, but the KES (Kenko Equatorial System) mount that came with my Kenko 125C is a similar design -- just smaller, lighter, and cheaper than the Vixen.

 

I've forgotten who first mentioned that Vixen absorbed APL, but makes sense to me -- an older company that made high-quality optics...

[Kasmos]

I thought I should add a picture of my Celestron C102E to this thread. Although the Celestron label affixed to the tube shows the optics as APL (which I understand was absorbed into Vixen at some point), the scope is obviously a 4" f15 Celestron branded Vixen P102L. The Vixen Saturn mount is original to the assembly, but the tripod is not. However, I do still have an original pillar that I still use occasionally.

 

I realize I've posted this picture in the past, but I guess I'm too lazy to take another at this time.

 

Bill

That's a very special 4". Very rare and white no less. Did it come with that 50-60mm guide scope?  

 

I can't remember, does anybody else on CNs have one?

Edited by Kasmos, 17 October 2020 - 03:19 PM.

[Terra Nova]

I thought I should add a picture of my Celestron C102E to this thread. Although the Celestron label affixed to the tube shows the optics as APL (which I understand was absorbed into Vixen at some point), the scope is obviously a 4" f15 Celestron branded Vixen P102L. The Vixen Saturn mount is original to the assembly, but the tripod is not. However, I do still have an original pillar that I still use occasionally.

 

I realize I've posted this picture in the past, but I guess I'm too lazy to take another at this time.

 

Bill

Bill, I never mind seeing that picture so keep posting it. What an awesome scope! The whole shebang!!

[Bowlerhat]

I have shown these before but just to add to this great thread for posterities sake ! 

 

127004C1-93E1-45A9-B3B2-054B61561616.jpeg

7AAAAD78-32E9-4F71-A323-2CE4AE5C49A6.jpeg

FA08582E-0F4E-4310-BC64-B8FA1F2AC8E0.jpeg

 

My early 90’s C-80 and my mid 80’s Tasco 9vr and Celestron CO-62 Cometron ! All Vixen and all great performers in their own right !

I love those tiny rascals, vixen also sold them as "select" series, with bright yellow / grey tubes.. These small fracs are interesting.

 

[LDW47]

I love those tiny rascals, vixen also sold them as "select" series, with bright yellow / grey tubes.. These small fracs are interesting.

 

I love them, they are very capable with the right ep, lately I have been using them with a zoom. When you only have a short viewing window they are the ones !

[LDW47]

I love those tiny rascals, vixen also sold them as "select" series, with bright yellow / grey tubes.. These small fracs are interesting.

 

If you get a chance to get one grab it !

[kansas skies]

I lurv those Vixen Saturn mounts!  Don't know if I've noticed / mentioned before, but the KES (Kenko Equatorial System) mount that came with my Kenko 125C is a similar design -- just smaller, lighter, and cheaper than the Vixen.

 

I've forgotten who first mentioned that Vixen absorbed APL, but makes sense to me -- an older company that made high-quality optics...

It's been my understanding that APL designed the first Vixen scopes, but I don't remember exactly where I picked up that piece of information. I sort of remember something along the lines that Koyu absorbed APL, and Koyu then became Vixen, but it's probably best not to quote me on that without further investigation.

 

Bill

[kansas skies]

That's a very special 4". Very rare and white no less. Did it come with that 50-60mm guide scope?  

 

I can't remember, does anybody else on CNs have one?

The 60mm guidescope was purchased as an accessory along with the main scope. It has the word "Vixen" cast in raised letters on the front of the objective cell. Since I don't spend much time photographing, I tend to use the guidescope as an intermediate finderscope most of the time. Then again, the guidescope has fantastic optics, so it's a great addition to the package.

 

Bill

[Bomber Bob]

My "new" Celestron (Vixen) C-80 Premium was delivered today... at 1830L... after being on the truck & out for delivery for 10+ hours... gotta love UPS...

 

Glass looks very good.  Cosmetics are rougher than Clammy (C-102).  No dents, dings, or cracks, but the tube paint is rubbed down almost to the metal -- probably because of those !@#$$%%$$!! tube-crusher rings!  It came in too late for me to work on it, of course.  I'll drill & thread 1/4-20 holes in the bases of the rings so they can be attached to a standard Vixen dovetail.  If my work day isn't too busy, it'll go on my DPAC rig ASAP.  At a minimum, it'll get a good cleaning.  

 

First Impressions:  Hardware looks simpler & cheaper than the SP-C102 OTA.  It does not have the fancier moving reticle 30mm finder -- a standard 6x30 straight through & single trio of thumbscrews in the bracket.  The focuser is short, conical, and has the bracket base that's part of its casting.

 

Edited by Bomber Bob, 21 October 2020 - 09:25 AM.

[Kasmos]

 

First Impressions:  Hardware looks simpler & cheaper than the SP-C102 OTA.  It does not have the fancier moving reticle 30mm finder -- a standard 6x30 straight through & single trio of thumbscrews in the bracket.  The focuser is short, conical, and has the bracket base that's part of its casting.

Focuser shape and finder differences are due to their model year. I believe that both the early and later model C80s and C102s had a conventional finder with the swivel base moving recticle ones being short lived between them. I also believe the last models of both had the tapered focuser that Synta copied. 

 

My circa 1991 SP-C80 has the straight focuser with the swivel base moving recticle finder.

Most earlier models appear to have the standard finder as do the later cone/tapered focuser models.

Edited by Kasmos, 21 October 2020 - 01:46 AM.

[doolsduck]

This is my pristine R100L and Super Polaris with RA drive.  And all accessories in the fluoro green box.  I mounted my Vixen 60L on it to become the guidescope.  The 60L was on the pictured Custom alt/az mount for which I had to make a new tray/stay.  I have made an Arduino system to guide.  When I played with setting circles I think I discovered these were for the northern hemisphere. I wonder if ever they made them for the Southern Hemisphere? 

(Edit, well I finally worked out how to make iPhone photos appear the right way up here!)

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Edited by doolsduck, 21 October 2020 - 02:28 AM.

[Bomber Bob]

I think even Carly Simon would say they make such a pretty pair...

 

[Bomber Bob]

Though the C-80P's tube is roughed up, the lens is pristine:

 

 

Before & After Cleaning.  The spacer cement left a halo on the eye-side of the crown (R2) that I removed.  Coatings are 100% unblemished / sleeked.  A single / slash alignment mark on the edges that I traced in red with a Sky this way! arrow head.  I also added a GOTO-style ^ mark, and labeled the flint with the date cleaned.  

 

DPAC pattern wasn't as tight as that Vixen FL80S that I once owned, but I saw no errors.  I expect a perfect star test (hopefully tonight!) -- same as the C-102.

 

I counted 3 baffles in the tube.  If I decide to keep this frac, it'll get my "standard" flocking & blackening treatment.  For first light, I put in a vintage Celestron (V) 1.25" prism diagonal.

 

Tight Lens Cell!!  It has a metal band between the flint R4 & retaining ring to prevent element rotation, but I wanted to tape the elements together...  Nope!  Not enough wiggle room.

[Kasmos]

Though the C-80P's tube is roughed up, the lens is pristine:

 

Celestron C-80P Restore S01 - Lens (Exploded Cell BC).jpgCelestron C-80P Restore S03 - Lens (Exploded Cell PC).jpg

 

Before & After Cleaning.  The spacer cement left a halo on the eye-side of the crown (R2) that I removed.  Coatings are 100% unblemished / sleeked.  A single / slash alignment mark on the edges that I traced in red with a Sky this way! arrow head.  I also added a GOTO-style ^ mark, and labeled the flint with the date cleaned.  

 

DPAC pattern wasn't as tight as that Vixen FL80S that I once owned, but I saw no errors.  I expect a perfect star test (hopefully tonight!) -- same as the C-102.

 

I counted 3 baffles in the tube.  If I decide to keep this frac, it'll get my "standard" flocking & blackening treatment.  For first light, I put in a vintage Celestron (V) 1.25" prism diagonal.

 

Tight Lens Cell!!  It has a metal band between the flint R4 & retaining ring to prevent element rotation, but I wanted to tape the elements together...  Nope!  Not enough wiggle room.

What's a C80P.... Polaris? If so it's a earlier version 

[Terra Nova]

“DPAC pattern wasn't as tight as that Vixen FL80S that I once owned, but I saw no errors.  I expect a perfect star test (hopefully tonight!)”- BB

 

I woulda kept that Vixen 80mm Fluorite and it woulda been game over! Thats what it was with me. I had the most optically perfect AND cosmetically perfect C80 you can imagine. It was an absolutely gorgeous scope but when I got the Takahashi FC-76 F8 I was ruined for ever after for any other 3” refractor. I think you went the wrong direction JW, but we all have different goals.

[Bomber Bob]

My AT102ED is about the same size & weight as the FL80S, yet out-performs it on both planetary & deep-sky.  It made the Vixen redundant.  My Dakin 4" F10 did that to my Edmund 4" F15.  And, what I'm seeing now is that the even lighter Vixen C-102 + the Dakin + the 5" F5 RFT kinda make the AT102ED redundant.  The ED has zero visual CA 99% of the time, but that's about it's only advantage.  I think that using achros exclusively for 40+ years made me less averse to a bit of false color -- I'm more focused on resolution for planetary, and wide sharp fields for deep sky; and, so far, I have satisfactory alternatives to a new ED.  But!   I haven't had the AT102ED long enough to really see what it can do.  I held on to the APM 152ED almost 3 years, after all...

 

On Topic:  I've enjoyed using all 4 of the Classic Vixens that have come through The Swamp -- C4.5N, FL80S, & C-102.  I seriously doubt that this C-80 will out-perform my Sears (AO) Classic, but hopefully I'll find out -- soon!

 

What's a C80P.... Polaris?

 

Premium -- I've been told only the Premiums are FMC (Fully Multi-Coated).  IDK about that, but this one's lens sure does look purdee...

[LDW47]

My AT102ED is about the same size & weight as the FL80S, yet out-performs it on both planetary & deep-sky.  It made the Vixen redundant.  My Dakin 4" F10 did that to my Edmund 4" F15.  And, what I'm seeing now is that the even lighter Vixen C-102 + the Dakin + the 5" F5 RFT kinda make the AT102ED redundant.  The ED has zero visual CA 99% of the time, but that's about it's only advantage.  I think that using achros exclusively for 40+ years made me less averse to a bit of false color -- I'm more focused on resolution for planetary, and wide sharp fields for deep sky; and, so far, I have satisfactory alternatives to a new ED.  But!   I haven't had the AT102ED long enough to really see what it can do.  I held on to the APM 152ED almost 3 years, after all...

 

On Topic:  I've enjoyed using all 4 of the Classic Vixens that have come through The Swamp -- C4.5N, FL80S, & C-102.  I seriously doubt that this C-80 will out-perform my Sears (AO) Classic, but hopefully I'll find out -- soon!

 

What's a C80P.... Polaris?

 

Premium -- I've been told only the Premiums are FMC (Fully Multi-Coated).  IDK about that, but this one's lens sure does look purdee...

I’ll take the 102, lol !

[mattyfatz]

I thought I should add a picture of my Celestron C100E to this thread. Although the Celestron label affixed to the tube shows the optics as APL (which I understand was absorbed into Vixen at some point), the scope is obviously a 4" f15 Celestron branded Vixen P102L. The Vixen Saturn mount is original to the assembly, but the tripod is not. However, I do still have an original pillar that I still use occasionally.

 

I realize I've posted this picture in the past, but I guess I'm too lazy to take another at this time.

 

Bill

That’s the scope I always wanted. I love the “Space Age” font Celestron used to use. It reminds me of old Atari & Battlestar Galactica.
What the little guide scope? Is that also a Celestron product?

[grif 678]

Here’s a couple of my oldies and now gone Vixen goodies:

Terra

The C-80 may be gone from you, but it is still living and very much loved, and will stay in the great condition as it was when you had it.

[Bowlerhat]

The 60mm guidescope was purchased as an accessory along with the main scope. It has the word "Vixen" cast in raised letters on the front of the objective cell. Since I don't spend much time photographing, I tend to use the guidescope as an intermediate finderscope most of the time. Then again, the guidescope has fantastic optics, so it's a great addition to the package.

 

Bill

I noticed the scope has a label on side, what does it say?

Vixen has all these odds little guidescopes without labels, it's blurry. Interesting that it's got black cast dewshield.