C9.25 or C8

asimov (John) · #1 14-03-2006, 07:35 PM

Hi guys.

I'm heading down the SCT track soon (real soon

) And was wondering this:

My ideal SCT would have to be the C9.25 OTA only, based on (LOTS) of reviews & photographs posted by guys such as Robert_T/Rumples/Dennis & Matt, to name but a few.

$2300 + shipping AU & it would fit snugly on my motorised EQ5 like a bug in a rug

I also have the opportunity to purchase a second-hand 10 yr. old C8 OTA only...for a THIRD of the price of the C9.25 (the black one with the orange 'CELESTRON' on it) Which supposedly has 'fine scratches' on the corrector plate..Would this be a concern, these fine scratches??

Whatever I purchase, I will only be doing imaging with it, very little visual stuff.

Also, please bear in mind I know NOTHING about SCT's. Never even seen one before except in photo's.

Can anyone tell me about this Black tubed C8 ?

Any help appreciated & comments welcome.

Neilzstar · #2 14-03-2006, 08:14 PM

Have a black tube Celestar 8 deluxe (since 1995.) It was at SV last week. Has excellent optics by ronchi test. Mine is fork mount which is a bit touchy but settles quickly. But you won,t have that on the EQ. regards, Neil

Robert_T · #3 14-03-2006, 08:24 PM

Hi Asi, I think Houghy bought one of these recently so perhaps he can comment on how it is. I know there was some vintages of the Celestrons when the optics were less that ideal.

Me personally, I'd be wary of second hand optics. I like the protection of a warranty if things turn out not to be quite right (I have made use of this in the past). I think for a planetary scope you need the optical quality to be particularly high. Perhaps fine scratches are not of concern, but it makes you wonder if the scope has been well looked after etc. Recent Celestron optics have achieved a good reputation and the C9.25 rates very highly on quality. In star tests the c9.25 I bought seems pretty close to the Mewlon which has 1/20th wave optics.

I guess it's always a bit of a gamble whatever you do and a compromise of money versus performance etc... I'd love to have a Mewlon 250, but at $10,000 for the OTA I was happy to compromise on the C9.25 - in terms of performance per $ I reckon it must be in front.

cheers,

davidpretorius · #4 14-03-2006, 08:43 PM

know nothing about 'em, but i would love to see you with a newie mate!

Loved pauls at snake valley, a fine piece of work and the optics were fantastic.

Pauls, Dennis and Rob's jupiter videos seem to be 3d straight out of the box. Better than the 10" gso dob I believe.

asimov (John) · #5 14-03-2006, 08:57 PM

Trying to find a review on a black C8 OTA about 10 years old is like trying to find a needle in a haystack

My biggest dillema is moving to the USA in 12 mths or so.

Do I buy the C9.25 now & sell it again, or do I ship it with me which could cost, I dunno...$400 ??

Hence the idea of perhaps going second hand.

Robert_T · #6 14-03-2006, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asimov

Trying to find a review on a black C8 OTA about 10 years old is like trying to find a needle in a haystack

My biggest dillema is moving to the USA in 12 mths or so.

Do I buy the C9.25 now & sell it again, or do I ship it with me which could cost, I dunno...$400 ??

Hence the idea of perhaps going second hand.

Here's the deal, Asi buys it and uses it for 12 months then sells to DP before winging over to the US and buying himself a C14 on a CGE mount for the same price.... well, Ok maybe a stretch, but you could buy a new C9.25 over there for much the same what you'd sell it for here second hand

Hitchhiker · #7 14-03-2006, 09:09 PM

http://skywatch.brainiac.com/used/used_sct.pdf

This is a large pdf document (about 5 Mb) but reviews all older model SCTs.

matt · #8 14-03-2006, 09:17 PM

And just wait till I get a night or 2 of equally good seeing, DP...

then you'll be able to count me in that list

davidpretorius · #9 14-03-2006, 09:22 PM

don't they keep 80% of their value????

Matt, you simply better move state & if you do, you are a shoe in!! Whilst the politicians are there, far too much hot air causing inversions and porr seeing!!!

asimov (John) · #10 14-03-2006, 09:23 PM

Comments Dave, hmmm??

Actually, I've already run that scenerio past Dave.

asimov (John) · #11 14-03-2006, 09:27 PM

80% of value? I have my stuff forsale under 50% & can't sell anything, lol.

h0ughy (David) · #12 14-03-2006, 09:39 PM

ASImov,

my scope is a little beauty, circa 1990's, the person who I bought it from looked after it very well. I know the scope you are looking at, you will have to get a finder scope for it but for $600 it is a good buy and learn from, and you can modify it without crying!

asimov (John) · #13 14-03-2006, 09:52 PM

Yeah, I figured someone would know exactly what C8 I was looking at.

A bit worried about the scratched corrector though.

Thanks for your input mate

h0ughy (David) · #14 14-03-2006, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asimov

Yeah, I figured someone would know exactly what C8 I was looking at.

A bit worried about the scratched corrector though.

Thanks for your input mate

Did they supply an image of the corrector? generally you will not notice the little belmishes, unless it is the size of a bus.

All my SCTs have marks of some description

asimov (John) · #15 14-03-2006, 10:09 PM

I've requested more images, particularly a close-up of the corrector. Not received yet.

netwolf · #16 14-03-2006, 11:02 PM

hmm i wondered who would scoop that up, its possible the Telrad i got was of this scope too. There is also a C11 going fairly cheply at the moment. Well if you do get it Asimov, you may have a buyer for it in a few months time cause i cant afford it right now. Just got me P's (late learner) and have to buy a car.. oh the pain the pain..

Regards

sheeny (Al) · #17 16-03-2006, 03:41 PM

G'Day Asi,

If I was in your position, Asi, I think I would go with the C8, with the aim to sell before I left to go OS, and aim to buy a 9.25 when I got to the states.

That way you'll get to know your way around an SCT, and probably not lose too much cash in the process...

As for the marks on the corrector plate, my scope is less than 12 months old, and I remember when I first got it, the corrector plate was so clear and blemish free that I had real trouble seeing it! But now there are little blemishes and marks all over it, and the only thing that has touched it is dew and whatever dust happens to find it's way there. I use a real gentle air blower to remove any dust I can, but based on advice I've picked up from this forum I'm resisting the temptation to wipe it. So I guess, I'm suggesting that if it has XLT coatings they are easily marked, but whether or not those marks are significant in terms of image quality you probably won't know till you test it. But I suggest the marks would have to be pretty bad before it'll worry the image...

Anyone have any better experience?

Al.

asimov (John) · #18 16-03-2006, 05:58 PM

Thanks for your wise comments Al. I'm actually thinking of doing just that....As much as I REALLY want that 9.25, I think it would be smarter to get it in the States.

Cheers.

acropolite (Phil) · #19 16-03-2006, 08:00 PM

I wouldn't be happy with the scratches they look fairly extensive, like the corrector has been cleaned with something very abrasive. I would go with the c9.25 if you have the money, you'll never say you wished you had bought the 8 inch.

h0ughy (David) · #20 16-03-2006, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asimov

Hard to see, but the fine scratches are there (C8) Also, if it's 10 yrs old the primary (& possibly secondary) will be needing to be re-aluminized, wouldn't they?

I cant really define anything too bad there, but as for the re aluminising, if the scope has been sealed, I woud say not needed. Offer him $500 plus postage bottom line take it or leave it