New Nexstar 8i Special edition

[carlogambino]

There's this new special edition of the nexstar 8i with the classic orange C8 tube. It also seems to have a different alignment procedure with the other Nexstar i series. Look out here:

http://www.celestron.com/prod_pgs/tel/n ... /index.php

[carlogambino]

This looks like Celestron's follow-up to Meade's "Premium ETX models", where they imposed designs on the OTA. The new alignment included(with other alignment procedures) is known as "auto two- star alignment".

[gwenyi]

well.. they probably came up with this to challenge meade's lxd 75 series .

[VinSnr]

There's this new special edition of the nexstar 8i with the classic orange C8 tube. It also seems to have a different alignment procedure with the other Nexstar i series. Look out here:

http://www.celestron.com/prod_pgs/tel/n ... /index.php

IMO, this is a bad move by Celestron. Yes, it is an Orange tube but the orange tube today is not the same as the Orange tube in the 80s. The orange tube of the 80s have better optical QC and the optics are really exquisite. Today's orange tube, I believe is just a change of colour from what they already have.

The two star Auto align thing is really irrelevant. You still have to do one star alignment yourself and the scope goes off to find the 2nd star. If you already done one, is it too difficult to do another one? Because of this feature, the software of this Orange tube nexstar is not compatible with the normal series and hence the scope doesn't come with nexremote. Hence, Celestron is sacrificing Nexremote and the handcontrol just because of this redundant feature.

So unless one really loves that Orange colour or that XLT coatings, I don't see much improvement over the older series. The LX90 NLT series is much more useful.

[carlogambino]

well.. they probably came up with this to challenge meade's lxd 75 series

hmm... i think it's just a cosmetic change, besides the alignment. No difference optically, still the N8i tube, unlike the LX90 NLT which had some mechanical changes.

Hence, Celestron is sacrificing Nexremote and the handcontrol just because of this redundant feature.

i think FAQ states that they will come up with a suitable form of Nexremote for these models. IMHO, the scope will be quite popular cos of the orange colour which many people love.

[Airconvent]

Dag-Nabbit, CarloGambino!
Just when I finally got rid of my desire for the N8, you had to make this post!
Anway, looking at it , seems the difference between the N8i and the special edition is far lesser than the difference between the ETX premium and non-premium editions. All I see is its orange in colour and the 2 star alignment...anything else? Even with the devaluation of the US$, the scope still cost S$2400 excluding shipping. Man, if I had more money to spare, I'll get it together with the GPS module!
For now, the much lower price of the Orion Dob is more attractive..
heh heh

[VinSnr]

Dag-Nabbit, CarloGambino!
Just when I finally got rid of my desire for the N8, you had to make this post!
Anway, looking at it , seems the difference between the N8i and the special edition is far lesser than the difference between the ETX premium and non-premium editions. All I see is its orange in colour and the 2 star alignment...anything else? Even with the devaluation of the US$, the scope still cost S$2400 excluding shipping. Man, if I had more money to spare, I'll get it together with the GPS module!
For now, the much lower price of the Orion Dob is more attractive..
heh heh

I think Celestron is really banging only on that orange colour and all those special edition or signature series words that doesn't translate into useful features. Trying to make sales by creating that nostalgic feeling. But how many young astronomers these days have strong emotions over that Orange C8 especially when it is clear that while the colour is the same, the effort put into the mirrors are different?

[carlogambino]

Hi, I finally realize why celestron realease this scope. It isnt really to compete with any particular scope whatsover. With the auto-two star alignment, Celestron no longer has to pay meade any royalties whatsover from sales of this scope.(remember the lawsuit?) As a celestron lover said on another forum:

Hey Meade...WE ARE allowed to find one star, aren't we?

[VinSnr]

Hi, I finally realize why celestron realease this scope. It isnt really to compete with any particular scope whatsover. With the auto-two star alignment, Celestron no longer has to pay meade any royalties whatsover from sales of this scope.(remember the lawsuit?) As a celestron lover said on another forum:

Hey Meade...WE ARE allowed to find one star, aren't we?

i thought the royalties is only for the true north technology?

The Nexstar 8 has no true north technology what.....what is there to do with royalties??

[carlogambino]

i thought the royalties is only for the true north technology?

The Nexstar 8 has no true north technology what.....what is there to do with royalties??

Hi, not sure what is meant by true north technology, but royalties were for "level-North" alignment. See: http://www.celestron.com/news/index.htm

Note that auto-two star alignment does NOT have "level-North". This was noticed by Nexstar users and it is also in the manual(checked). Most of the Nexstars currently have to "point the tube north and level" in the "auto-star" alignment.

IMHO, this type of alignment was designed so that "Celestron will not have to pay Meade royalties equal to the greater of $100-per-unit or 8% of Celestron’s net revenue from sales of all telescopes that utilize the “level-North” technology."