71 replies to this topic

[Cavs56]

What is the cable used for? I’ve seen those offered with a few telescopes.

[apfever]

https://zenmarket.jp...ode=e1132510352

 

What is the cable used for? I’ve seen those offered with a few telescopes.

That is a camera cable for shutter release. It helps reduce jitters from having to directly push the button on the camera. 

Edited by apfever, 15 April 2024 - 05:28 AM.

[Cavs56]

Thank you!

[upwinddan]

Unfortunately, it doesn't. I don't have, and cannot access, any other pictures of the scope. Nor can I ask any questions about it. Thanks, though.

If it doesn’t have the Circle with the V, it’s probably early Chinese and questionable quality. It’s interesting to note that current China optics are excellent. 

[upwinddan]

BTW… my C80 Vixen is sharp enough for skin a bear. 

[Bomber Bob]

 

 

As I posted before, I'm glad my C80P didn't sell.  I decided to part with it during a "down" phase -- I hadn't responded to any sciatica interventions, and figured Public Viewing was never gonna happen.  After Round 2 / 4 sacral injections, I'm slowly making progress...

 

Vixen has had a lot of Hits.  The C80 (A80M) has to be at the top of that list:  High-Quality Optics, Solid Build, yet light weight / grab & go, and a very useful aperture -- so much it can show you, even in town.

Edited by Bomber Bob, 15 April 2024 - 04:23 PM.

[Dave Novoselsky]

Good to hear that you are feeling better.

[CHASLX200]

If it doesn’t have the Circle with the V, it’s probably early Chinese and questionable quality. It’s interesting to note that current China optics are excellent. 

Much better than the first run Celestron threw at us in 1997 with the worst mounts ever made in the CG4 and 5 with tar for grease and the small tripods. Unreal they slapped a CR6 fract on that hunk of junk mount with the tiny legs. Had to lay on your belley to view thru the top heavy thing.  But the CG5 and 4 got better over time and by 2000 had the bigger tripods and better builds.  China stuff is right there with Tak as my AT80ED and 125 EDL is right there with the FS78 and 128 i owned FOR MANY TIMES LESS.

Edited by CHASLX200, 15 April 2024 - 06:09 PM.

[DouglasPaul]

 

 

As I posted before, I'm glad my C80P didn't sell.  I decided to part with it during a "down" phase -- I hadn't responded to any sciatica interventions, and figured Public Viewing was never gonna happen.  After Round 2 / 4 sacral injections, I'm slowly making progress...

 

Vixen has had a lot of Hits.  The C80 (A80M) has to be at the top of that list:  High-Quality Optics, Solid Build, yet light weight / grab & go, and a very useful aperture -- so much it can show you, even in town.

This book did wonders for me when nothing else would. Your circumstances may be different of course.

 

https://www.amazon.c...c/dp/0553379887

[Bomber Bob]

Thanks Y'all!  Hopefully on the right recovery path.

 

I'd like to know which shop(s) made these fine objectives for Vixen -- ditto for Mizar.  Maybe... they used the same sources?

 

(Would be ironic if it turned out to be D-K after I've been kinda negative about that company!)

Edited by Bomber Bob, 15 April 2024 - 09:04 PM.

[upwinddan]

Much better than the first run Celestron threw at us in 1997 with the worst mounts ever made in the CG4 and 5 with tar for grease and the small tripods. Unreal they slapped a CR6 fract on that hunk of junk mount with the tiny legs. Had to lay on your belley to view thru the top heavy thing.  But the CG5 and 4 got better over time and by 2000 had the bigger tripods and better builds.  China stuff is right there with Tak as my AT80ED and 125 EDL is right there with the FS78 and 128 i owned FOR MANY TIMES LESS.

I enjoy reading about your firsthand observations of telescope history. 

[CHASLX200]

I enjoy reading about your firsthand observations of telescope history. 

I am like a book but age starts to wear away as i get older and gets harder to remember all this stuff as the years go by. But never will forget how let down i was when Celestron dropped Vixen.

[upwinddan]

 

 

As I posted before, I'm glad my C80P didn't sell.  I decided to part with it during a "down" phase -- I hadn't responded to any sciatica interventions, and figured Public Viewing was never gonna happen.  After Round 2 / 4 sacral injections, I'm slowly making progress...

 

Vixen has had a lot of Hits.  The C80 (A80M) has to be at the top of that list:  High-Quality Optics, Solid Build, yet light weight / grab & go, and a very useful aperture -- so much it can show you, even in town.

I suffered from sciatica nerve pain for over year. All the doctors said it was lumbar stenosis. Finally a back surgeon determined my pain was caused by a bad hip. The moment I woke from hip replacement surgery my sciatica pain was over. 
 

BTW …. the C80P is a keeper. 

[SoCalPaul]

Reviving this thread because I was recently fortunate to find a local, orange-tube C80 in outstanding condition, other than some slightly rusty screw heads.

 

This is my second one, having owned the black-tube version back in late 90's. My recollections of that first C80's performance set high expectations, and this second specimen lived up to them!

 

Star clusters presented beautiful, pinprick stars against a relatively dark background despite my light-polluted skies. I was amazed at how much nebulosity showed up in the Orion Nebula. I tried a few double stars, but seeing was poor so not a good night for that particular test. Omega Aur's companion was clearly split (5" sep / mag 8.2), but I was not able to detect the companion of Theta Aur (3.9" sep / mag 7.2).

 

I am curious to know which came first, the orange tube version or the black tube? Does anyone know the approximate dates of these orange tube versions?

 

Focuser is smooth but a little stiff, will try loosening the retaining plate screws a tiny bit to see if that provides sufficient relief. If not, I'll disassemble, clean and lube it.

 

It came with an unusual, 6x30 RA finder (but not correct-image). I expected it to be a PITA, since I would not be able to use the two-eye method to get the finder close to the target. But I quickly found that the finder's FOV is so great that just a rough sighting along the scope's tube put the target star(s) in view.

 

Also, this version seems to have beefier legs than I recall with my first C80, and they are in beautiful condition.

 

The mount came with an RA drive but not the power box/controller. The seller tells me that he thinks he has it somewhere, along with the iconic triangular Vixen storage box and some additional accessories. He said if he finds that stuff, he'll let me know.

 

In a world of big glass and exotic APOs, I get great satisfaction in seeing a simple, high quality achromat over-achieve and punch way above its weight class!

 

Clear skies,

Paul

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[deSitter]

I have the black tube Vixen/Celestron on a Custom alt-az mount - same great optics but the mechanics are different than on your scope. The objective cell and focuser have subtle differences. I'm certain your scope is earlier - from the mid 80s likely. Mine is from the early 90s.

 

-drl

[SoCalPaul]

I have the black tube Vixen/Celestron on a Custom alt-az mount - same great optics but the mechanics are different than on your scope. The objective cell and focuser have subtle differences. I'm certain your scope is earlier - from the mid 80s likely. Mine is from the early 90s.

 

-drl

Thanks, good to know.

 

IIRC, my black-tube C80's dust cap fitted the end of the dew shield, and I don't recall that the lens cell had collimation screws.

 

On this specimen, and some others I've seen in this thread, the dust cap fits directly onto the lens cell, deep inside the dew shield. A bit of a pain to remove. And the the cell has collimation screws.

 

Paul

 

PS - after that photo, I removed the polar scope and configured the mount as alt-az, which I prefer over equ.

Edited by SoCalPaul, 18 December 2024 - 02:43 PM.

[deSitter]

Thanks, good to know.

 

IIRC, my black-tube C80's dust cap fitted the end of the dew shield, and I don't recall that the lens cell had collimation screws.

 

On this specimen, and some others I've seen in this thread, the dust cap fits directly onto the lens cell, deep inside the dew shield. A bit of a pain to remove. And the the cell has collimation screws.

 

Paul

Mine had no dust cap, that is WIP Sooner or later I'll find some spreadable cheese with a fitting lid!

 

Mine has no collimation screws but they would be useless on this scope, because I have NEVER seen a classic refractor with perfect collimation other than this one. I cannot adjust my adjustable ones so well. I was astonished.

 

-drl

[deSitter]

I suffered from sciatica nerve pain for over year. All the doctors said it was lumbar stenosis. Finally a back surgeon determined my pain was caused by a bad hip. The moment I woke from hip replacement surgery my sciatica pain was over. 
 

BTW …. the C80P is a keeper. 

What is "P"? I knew L, M, S, and SS for long, medium, short, and super-short f/ratios. Mine was known as the a80m by Vixen. f/11.4. Celestron by Vixen Firstscope 80 (C80). So I don't think Celestron offered the 80L which was f/15. Did they? PS on my Celestron either the word Vixen or the maker's mark is stamped in several places. The only thing different is the finish.

 

Pain sucks, glad that's over!

 

-drl

Edited by deSitter, 18 December 2024 - 05:44 PM.

[Kasmos]

Reviving this thread because I was recently fortunate to find a local, orange-tube C80 in outstanding condition, other than some slightly rusty screw heads.

 

 

I am curious to know which came first, the orange tube version or the black tube? Does anyone know the approximate dates of these orange tube versions?

 

Nice find!

The orange tube tubes were the first ones offered. 1983-to late 1984. IIRC, the ads in the fall of '84 announced the black versions and I don't belive any of the black ones ever had a collimatible cell.

 

What is "P"? I knew L, M, S, and SS for long, medium, short, and super-short f/ratios. Mine was known as the a80m by Vixen. f/11.4. Celestron by Vixen Firstscope 80 (C80). So I don't think Celestron offered the 80L which was f/15. 

The C80P was the last of the Japanese made Vixens and offered in '97 when the Chinese models were the new standard offering. The 'P' stood for 'Premium' so you paid a premium to get one.

 

[SoCalPaul]

The mount came with an RA drive but not the power box/controller. The seller tells me that he thinks he has it somewhere, along with the iconic triangular Vixen storage box and some additional accessories. He said if he finds that stuff, he'll let me know.

 

Happy to report that the seller found the accessories- MD-5 quartz drive controller and power cord (with 9v battery connector), KE 25mm in excellent condition, an LPR filter, and a few miscellaneous wrenches, all in a classic, Vixen triangular tub with cover. Everything appears to be in good working order.

 

I will test it out this coming weekend.

 

Clear skies,

Paul

[LDW47]

The P model came with the EQ mount, the non P model came with an AZ3 mount, it was the only difference. The alt control on the AZ3 was bad, real bad, everything else was great. Here is mine with a 2" Crayford on a Porta II.  PS:  I hope I haven't posted this photo before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by LDW47, 14 January 2025 - 06:09 PM.

[jkmccarthy]

The P model came with the EQ mount, the non P model came with an AZ3 mount, it was the only difference. The alt control on the AZ3 was bad, real bad, everything else was great [...]

That was my first thought also ... C80P suffix P = Polaris, for the EQ mount in SoCalPaul's first photo in post #39 above.
 

[LDW47]

That was my first thought also ... C80P suffix P = Polaris, for the EQ mount in SoCalPaul's first photo in post #39 above.
 

The mount was called the Super Polaris. All those Vixen made scopes ended in 1996, the next year they were Chinese made. I had the Chinese Made 102mm model, the optics in it was excellent, even Ed Ting gave it a high recommendation / rating.

[SoCalPaul]

The mount was called the Super Polaris. All those Vixen made scopes ended in 1996, the next year they were Chinese made. I had the Chinese Made 102mm model, the optics in it was excellent, even Ed Ting gave it a high recommendation / rating.

 

The mount in my photo above (post #39) is the original Polaris mount. It has the threaded cwt shaft and is not as beefy as the later Super Polaris and Great Polaris mounts.

 

Nonetheless, the Polaris mount is well designed and built, and makes an excellent platform for the C80, especially compared to the shaky, crap mounts one often sees on "beginner" scopes.

 

I have owned specimens of the Super Polaris, Super Polaris DX, Great Polaris and Great Polaris DX mounts. The SP-DX was the beefiest and most solid of them all. The wooden tripod was a thing of beauty. I think AP imported these for a while, before they began producing their own mounts?

 

Clear skies,

Paul

[Kasmos]

The P model came with the EQ mount, the non P model came with an AZ3 mount, it was the only difference. The alt control on the AZ3 was bad, real bad, everything else was great. Here is mine with a 2" Crayford on a Porta II.  PS:  I hope I haven't posted this photo before.

 

IMG_9591.jpeg

That was my first thought also ... C80P suffix P = Polaris, for the EQ mount in SoCalPaul's first photo in post #39 above.
 

Not exactly. The first of both the orange and early black GEM mounted C80s were on the Polaris mount and were designated only as a C80 on their OTA stickers. The alt-az version of the Vixen C80 were called the Firstscope 80 and had it on the sticker. The Super Polaris-C80s were designated as a SP-C80 on their stickers. What Bomber Bob called a C80P in post #15 and shows the sticker that says Premium 80 were only offered with a Alt- Az mount. They were the last of the 80mm Vixens and were offered as a upgrade to the Chinese models that were being offered in their place. 

 

I have a Black SP-C80 and a C80 Polaris and the Polaris model and like the Orange one shown above in post #39 has C80 on the sticker

 

This Firstscope 80 sticker is from a Vixen Alt-Az model and Russell shows the same type in post# 11 as well.

 

The above ad was in an ad for mostly the Chinese models (like the one below)

Since it was an upgrade from the new Chinese offerings it no longer used the Firscope name.

 

This ad from Sept 1997 shows both Chinese and the last of the Vixens and that's the Premium 80 in the lower right.

 

What ads to the confusion is the Firstscope name was used for both the Alt-Az and GEM mounted Chinese models but never on the GEM mounted Vixens.

Edited by Kasmos, 15 January 2025 - 04:16 AM.