12 replies to this topic

[John Kocijanski]

For sale locally on facebook.  I assume it is a Vixen with good optics? Has a three vane spider and no center spot on the main mirror.   Dates to early 90s?  Worth $350?  Thanks.

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[CHASLX200]

Had 2 that were very sharp.

[ericb760]

Yes, it is a Vixen. And, yes, they are very sharp. I paid $100 for mine. I don't think I would have paid much more than that.
 

[deSitter]

Yes, it is a Vixen. And, yes, they are very sharp. I paid $100 for mine. I don't think I would have paid much more than that.
 

 

The mount is outstanding, but nearly $400 is way too much. I'd say a mint condition one with known good optics maybe $250.

 

-drl

[apfever]

I don't think going rates are anywhere near $350.  It would have to be darn nice and complete and the earlier version with the better finder to get into the $250 range, with some nice paperwork,  maybe an extra thing on top of all that.....  

[CHASLX200]

I don't think going rates are anywhere near $350.  It would have to be darn nice and complete and the earlier version with the better finder to get into the $250 range, with some nice paperwork,  maybe an extra thing on top of all that.....  

Only in FL.

[glittledale]

another vote that they are lovely telescopes that put up excellent views. the seam in the tube makes it tricky to hold so the way the tube is secured in the rings is a little unconventional, but it works. those mirrors were not center spotted originally.

 

if everything is in super condition and there was a r.a. motor w/hand controller and a nice box of plossls i might offer $300.  bare bones, i'd offer $200, maybe $225 - probably because i have a real soft spot for that scope. the polaris mount is very good, but of a different era. one way to look at it is that $200 will not buy the same quality 4.5" eq mounted newt today.  

Edited by glittledale, 02 March 2025 - 05:58 PM.

[scout]

Another extra cost with classic reflectors is the mirror coatings degrade over time, so you may have to pay to get it recoated if you want the mirror to work at its peak potential.

[Jon Isaacs]

I had a C-4.5,.  I theory I still have it but I haven't seen it for 15 years.  

 

I bought mine on Craigslist, the seller was asking $65 and I gave him an extra $20... Nice scopes but the tube rings tend to damage the paint in and dent the tube.

 

 

Jon

 

Edited by Jon Isaacs, 03 March 2025 - 10:30 AM.

[Terra Nova]

Wonderful little scopes. I had two (and the Meade version).

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[deSitter]

Possibly the most under-sppreciated of all scopes. 4.5" is enough aperture to see more or less one of everything. The mirror in my Meade NT114/500 is absolutely perfect. Letter perfect star test. It needs to get a new coating after 30 years.

 

-drl

[Terra Nova]

Possibly the most under-sppreciated of all scopes. 4.5" is enough aperture to see more or less one of everything. The mirror in my Meade NT114/500 is absolutely perfect. Letter perfect star test. It needs to get a new coating after 30 years.

 

-drl

My Meade version was easily the best of my four 4s. It was a cinch to collimate owing to it’s excellent primary and secondary cells. It also had a larger diameter tube. The Meade was my favorite over the Celestron 4.5 or the Edmund 4.25. They were all good tho!

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[Bomber Bob]

Possibly the most under-appreciated of all scopes.

 

Yep!!  Views like a 3" APO for a lot less money.  I wound up testing several -- original 1980s Vixen & 2000s China-made versions -- and all performed very well:

 

 

The very best I've tested in this category -- 1983 Mizar COMET 100 F8:

 

 

I haven't tried the Meade... or, the truly Classic 1960s TOWA models, like the Tasco 11T.

 

I also agree that the mirror cells / hardware makes a big difference in my overall opinion of these small reflectors -- the best models hold collimation for months / years at a time.

Edited by Bomber Bob, 09 March 2025 - 02:34 PM.