Jump to content

  •  

CNers have asked about a donation box for Cloudy Nights over the years, so here you go. Donation is not required by any means, so please enjoy your stay.

Photo

C80 Firstscope by Vixen... I love it!

  • Please log in to reply
18 replies to this topic

#1 Lazerguy2010

Lazerguy2010

    Lift Off

  • -----
  • topic starter
  • Posts: 4
  • Joined: 25 Jun 2021

Posted 07 October 2024 - 05:49 PM

Hi,

 

I've read good things on CN about the C80 Firstscope of the Vixen days, about how much better the quality was in those days.

I already had a Chinese SW90/910 refractor as my Grab N' Go scope, and it's a good scope, I do like it.

 

A couple weeks ago I saw an ad for a ''C80 made in Japan'' for 90$ Canadian. Looking at the seller provided photos it showed the little Vixen logo and Made in Japan printed on the original shipping box. So I thought, let's see what Vixen stuff is all about!

 

Today I made a side-to-side comparison between the two scopes.

Day time, interior target so no effects from atmosphere.

Target: dark blue lettering on the white front casing of my heat pump's wall unit, at the other end of a 45-ft corridor.

 

I pushed magnification to 182x using a 10mm ortho EP and 2x barlow. Since both scopes have the same focal length, they gave the exact same magnification. I used the same EP, barlow and diagonal for the 2 scopes.

 

I thought the SW90/910 would win by a tad because of the extra 10mm in aperture... No way!

The C80 gives more sharpness and much more contrast. The dark blue lettering came out much darker and clean, unlike in the SW90/910. Overall a much more pleasant image, and I believe the extra contrast will shine in planetary use. The funny thing is the white background seemed a bit brighter in the C80, even though the calculated exit pupil was 11% less.  I can't explain it. A difference in the AR coatings perhaps?

 

Another strong point in favor of the C80 is the mount. I've had a chinese Alt-Az mount of the same generic design as the C80's (on a Celestron Omni AZ102) , but what a difference in quality!  C80 has butter-smooth slo-mo controls, and so much better quality, all the parts look good and feel solid, precise.

 

And lastly, the tripod: OMG!  The older Vixen wooden tripod is so steady!  Vibrations dampen so much quicker than on the recent chinese lightweight aluminum tripod... my guess is 4-5 times faster.   Yes folks, I'm a believer now!

This C80 is a keeper.  Many thanks to those who wrote good things about this scope!

 

Attached Thumbnails

  • IMG_1316 réduit.jpg
  • IMG_1317 réduit.jpg

  • Jacques, davidmcgo, deSitter and 11 others like this

#2 ericb760

ericb760

    Viking 1

  • *****
  • Posts: 901
  • Joined: 17 Apr 2009
  • Loc: Palm Springs, CA

Posted 07 October 2024 - 06:14 PM

I was hesitant to pick one of these up after purchasing a Meade/Mizar 310 80mm. However, one popped up on SGW so I took a chance. All I can say is "WOW"! While it doesn't exactly blow the Meade away, there is a certain level of sharpness that the Meade just doesn't have. It has now joined the ranks of my "forever" scopes. Which also includes a Celestron/Vixen C4.5.
 

C4.5

C80

 


  • mdowns, jjack's and Kasmos like this

#3 Russell Smith

Russell Smith

    Gemini

  • *****
  • Posts: 3,037
  • Joined: 27 Aug 2017
  • Loc: 76645

Posted 07 October 2024 - 06:15 PM

I love mine. It is now on a Polaris eq mount just because I like EQ mounts.
Vixen made some real nice glass back in the day.
Hope you enjoy it for many years to come.
Russ

#4 Defenderslideguitar

Defenderslideguitar

    Skylab

  • *****
  • Posts: 4,421
  • Joined: 05 Oct 2016
  • Loc: Sol 3

Posted 07 October 2024 - 07:08 PM

yup   had one of those   liked it    great optics in a grab and go format      FYI    I have the Celestron manual for the   C-80  C-80 Firstscope

C-102  C-102FL scanned    can email to folks if needed


  • jpcampbell and Nightflight like this

#5 deSitter

deSitter

    Still in Old School

  • *****
  • Posts: 19,739
  • Joined: 09 Dec 2004

Posted 07 October 2024 - 08:45 PM

Hi,

 

I've read good things on CN about the C80 Firstscope of the Vixen days, about how much better the quality was in those days.

I already had a Chinese SW90/910 refractor as my Grab N' Go scope, and it's a good scope, I do like it.

 

A couple weeks ago I saw an ad for a ''C80 made in Japan'' for 90$ Canadian. Looking at the seller provided photos it showed the little Vixen logo and Made in Japan printed on the original shipping box. So I thought, let's see what Vixen stuff is all about!

 

Today I made a side-to-side comparison between the two scopes.

Day time, interior target so no effects from atmosphere.

Target: dark blue lettering on the white front casing of my heat pump's wall unit, at the other end of a 45-ft corridor.

 

I pushed magnification to 182x using a 10mm ortho EP and 2x barlow. Since both scopes have the same focal length, they gave the exact same magnification. I used the same EP, barlow and diagonal for the 2 scopes.

 

I thought the SW90/910 would win by a tad because of the extra 10mm in aperture... No way!

The C80 gives more sharpness and much more contrast. The dark blue lettering came out much darker and clean, unlike in the SW90/910. Overall a much more pleasant image, and I believe the extra contrast will shine in planetary use. The funny thing is the white background seemed a bit brighter in the C80, even though the calculated exit pupil was 11% less.  I can't explain it. A difference in the AR coatings perhaps?

 

Another strong point in favor of the C80 is the mount. I've had a chinese Alt-Az mount of the same generic design as the C80's (on a Celestron Omni AZ102) , but what a difference in quality!  C80 has butter-smooth slo-mo controls, and so much better quality, all the parts look good and feel solid, precise.

 

And lastly, the tripod: OMG!  The older Vixen wooden tripod is so steady!  Vibrations dampen so much quicker than on the recent chinese lightweight aluminum tripod... my guess is 4-5 times faster.   Yes folks, I'm a believer now!

This C80 is a keeper.  Many thanks to those who wrote good things about this scope!

By a strange coincidence I got my first Vixen today - the very same scope! Mine has metal tangs instead of the plastic tramework in the tripod. I was very surprised by how robust this tripod was! The legs are going under my superb EQ3-2 equatorial mount, which is where this scope will live. Very interesting comparo to the 90/910mm. I also have a modern Taiwan 90/910mm. I will do the same comparo and report.

 

-drl


  • ericb760 likes this

#6 spacedoutbob

spacedoutbob

    Explorer 1

  • *****
  • Posts: 87
  • Joined: 26 Mar 2008
  • Loc: California

Posted 07 October 2024 - 11:40 PM

I have a number of Celestron/Vixen Telescopes, a SPC-80  2 - C80 AltazScopes,  A  SPC-102 3- C-4.5 Telescopes and 2 - SPC 6 telescopes. I love those scopes, great optics and good sturdy mounts. Congratulations on your new scope.

 

Clear, Dark and Steady Skies,

 

Spaced-Out Bob


  • jcruse64 likes this

#7 Idaho_Skies

Idaho_Skies

    Lift Off

  • *****
  • Posts: 9
  • Joined: 11 Dec 2023
  • Loc: Idaho, USA

Posted 08 October 2024 - 12:21 PM

I use my Vixen-made Firstscope 80 quite a bit.  It, along with with it's larger 90mm brother are my favorite grab and go scopes, either on the original (quite stable) Alt/Az mount or on a Super-Polaris mount.  The Firstscope 80 on the Alt/Az mount is very easy for people to use, making it an ideal outreach telescope as well.

Watching Jupiter a week or so ago, under near ideal atmospheric conditions, I was simply shocked at the amount of detail I was getting out of a simple 80mm refractor.  So fun to see folks still using these older long tube Vixens in this era of APO shorties.


  • deSitter, ericb760, grif 678 and 2 others like this

#8 deSitter

deSitter

    Still in Old School

  • *****
  • Posts: 19,739
  • Joined: 09 Dec 2004

Posted 08 October 2024 - 12:42 PM

I use my Vixen-made Firstscope 80 quite a bit.  It, along with with it's larger 90mm brother are my favorite grab and go scopes, either on the original (quite stable) Alt/Az mount or on a Super-Polaris mount.  The Firstscope 80 on the Alt/Az mount is very easy for people to use, making it an ideal outreach telescope as well.

Watching Jupiter a week or so ago, under near ideal atmospheric conditions, I was simply shocked at the amount of detail I was getting out of a simple 80mm refractor.  So fun to see folks still using these older long tube Vixens in this era of APO shorties.

My classics have been 3" f/16! This one is a shorty sport model in comparison!

 

-drl



#9 jragsdale

jragsdale

    Soyuz

  • *****
  • Posts: 3,821
  • Joined: 07 Dec 2015
  • Loc: Idaho

Posted 09 October 2024 - 08:07 AM

Love the Firstscope 80 scopes. I've found 3 of them locally and I always snatch them up when they do because they make fantastic gifts for.....First Scopes! Gave one to my niece, and one to a friend for his kids to use. If I didn't already have the unbelievable C102F, I'd probably still have a Firstscope 80.


  • deSitter, mdowns, Bomber Bob and 2 others like this

#10 Idaho_Skies

Idaho_Skies

    Lift Off

  • *****
  • Posts: 9
  • Joined: 11 Dec 2023
  • Loc: Idaho, USA

Posted 09 October 2024 - 03:29 PM

My classics have been 3" f/16! This one is a shorty sport model in comparison!

 

-drl

Agree completely, I still have my old Jaeger 83mm f/15 that I built back in 1983.  It is asking me to take it out more often wink.gif .


  • deSitter likes this

#11 Bomber Bob

Bomber Bob

    ISS

  • *****
  • Posts: 24,233
  • Joined: 09 Jul 2013
  • Loc: The Swamp, LA (Lower Alabama)

Posted 09 October 2024 - 05:38 PM

ALL of my Vixen scopes have been very good to great.  My C80 is no exception.  Vixen kept the weight down, and the quality up.  For a relatively fast F11, its performance rivals the ASTRO 76 F15:

 

Celestron C-80P S23 - Mizar SP (LS Full).jpg

 

And it looks mighty fine riding on a Mizar SP!


  • abe, photiost and Steve Allison like this

#12 deSitter

deSitter

    Still in Old School

  • *****
  • Posts: 19,739
  • Joined: 09 Dec 2004

Posted 09 October 2024 - 05:41 PM

ALL of my Vixen scopes have been very good to great.  My C80 is no exception.  Vixen kept the weight down, and the quality up.  For a relatively fast F11, its performance rivals the ASTRO 76 F15:

 

attachicon.gif Celestron C-80P S23 - Mizar SP (LS Full).jpg

 

And it looks mighty fine riding on a Mizar SP!

I've been cleaning and lubing my Custom a80m/C80 since Monday. Everything is very well made. The legs are fantastic, best wooden legs I have. They are going on my 6345 in a leg swap. Despite being 40 years old, all 9 struts are ramrod straight.

 

-drl



#13 LDW47

LDW47

    Voyager 1

  • *****
  • Posts: 11,739
  • Joined: 04 Mar 2012
  • Loc: North Bay,Northern Ontario,Canada

Posted 09 October 2024 - 06:19 PM

I put a 2" Crayford on mine so that I could use my 2" eps, it bumped up the level of performance somewhat.  I keep mine on a Porta II. The Alt. travel on an AZ3 is pretty limited without backing off the main center nut and adjusting the mounts alt travel manually or sometimes it backs off and you have to give it a good torgue down so that it doesn't tip back as you raise the alt level. It is quite common with AZ3's.    PS:  I wish I could post a pic but size limitations won't allow.


Edited by LDW47, 10 October 2024 - 11:55 AM.


#14 LDW47

LDW47

    Voyager 1

  • *****
  • Posts: 11,739
  • Joined: 04 Mar 2012
  • Loc: North Bay,Northern Ontario,Canada

Posted 09 October 2024 - 06:21 PM

IMG_9591.jpeg   

 

Here it is with the 2" focuser.


  • deSitter, Bomber Bob, vtornado and 1 other like this

#15 vtornado

vtornado

    Cosmos

  • *****
  • Posts: 9,609
  • Joined: 22 Jan 2016
  • Loc: Kane County Illinois

Posted 10 October 2024 - 08:56 PM

I love mine.  Just about a perfect 80mm achromat.   I replace my focuser with a 2 inch.

 

I bought mine from another CN member.  Not museum quality, but I look through my telescopes not at them.

 

I wish a 100 f/10 vixen would pop up near me.


  • LDW47 and Bomber Bob like this

#16 Defenderslideguitar

Defenderslideguitar

    Skylab

  • *****
  • Posts: 4,421
  • Joined: 05 Oct 2016
  • Loc: Sol 3

Posted 13 October 2024 - 06:54 PM

My second one  did not come with a tripod of mount but it liked many of my mounts     like the Unistar     so simple and solid



#17 photiost

photiost

    Soyuz

  • *****
  • Posts: 3,529
  • Joined: 14 Dec 2006
  • Loc: Montreal, Canada

Posted 19 October 2024 - 04:53 PM

Very nice telescope .. you cant go wrong with the Vixen C80 

 

congrats !! 



#18 grif 678

grif 678

    Gemini

  • *****
  • Posts: 3,353
  • Joined: 22 Dec 2010
  • Loc: NC

Posted 25 October 2024 - 01:36 PM

I have had three of them, all wonderful. Saved one for my grandson. The only thing, the slow motion on the altaz will have a little play, when starting the movement. If yours does not, it will later. I replaced mine with the unitron 140 altaz mount, a light year ahead of the vixen altaz, as far as solid build, and smoothness of slow motion controls.The Vixen mount is a great mount, better than most in its class, but does not match the unitron altaz.



#19 grif 678

grif 678

    Gemini

  • *****
  • Posts: 3,353
  • Joined: 22 Dec 2010
  • Loc: NC

Posted Yesterday, 10:54 AM

There is one of these, Vixen sourced so it is the good one, on ebay with the salvation army for $99, including tripod and mount. Looks very good.




CNers have asked about a donation box for Cloudy Nights over the years, so here you go. Donation is not required by any means, so please enjoy your stay.


Recent Topics






Cloudy Nights LLC
Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics