Views of C5

Post by **Airconvent** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:18 am

Hi all,
Just curious to know what you think of the C5 as compared with the Skywatcher SCT 127mm. Apart from the Eclipse. Mak 6", I though the 5" is a reasonable upgrade path for me to upgrade my ETX90 to a 5" scope.

Will the C5 sit proper and stable on a manfrotto 410 head?
Who is selling one currently? :-)

Thanks
rich

Post by **weixing** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:49 am

Hi,

Just curious to know what you think of the C5 as compared with the Skywatcher SCT 127mm. Apart from the Eclipse. Mak 6", I though the 5" is a reasonable upgrade path for me to upgrade my ETX90 to a 5" scope.

Generally, the image quality C5 produce IMHO is around the same as a Sky-Watcher 5 MCT. It is around 1kg lighter than a Sky-Watcher 5" MCT and can accept 2" eyepiece with the right diagonal. But it is more expensive than a Sky-Watcher 5" MCT.

Will the C5 sit proper and stable on a manfrotto 410 head?

Should be no problem at all. It is only around 2.5kg.

Who is selling one currently?

Kayheem is selling a C5 OTA with 2" diagonal. See the Buy and sell section. Intend to buy from him initially, but aperture fever hit me again!

Have a nice day.

ariefm71 · Post by **ariefm71** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 11:39 am

though the 5" is a reasonable upgrade path for me to upgrade my ETX90 to a 5" scope

imho, for compound scopes, you will need to get at least 2" increment to see and appreciate the difference in image quality.
cheers,
arief

kayheem · Post by **kayheem** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 1:10 pm

1 major difference between the C5 and the skywatcher MCT is that the C5 accepts standard SCT accessories e.g. focal reducers, 2" diagonals, off-axis guiders etc. The MCT has a longer focal ratio/length. Would be more suitable for high power planetary/lunar views. If you do more of deepsky, the C5 would do better with a slightly lower F.L. and the ability to use the standard 0.63X focal reducer.

Other standard comment from SAA would be that there is more variablility in QC for the Chinese Maks compared to the C5.

HTH

Kay Heem

Post by **acc** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 5:34 am

Rich, I have the Nexstar 5 under the dark skies here in Monterey. The optics are good but I can tell u that the "shiok" factor with a 5" scope is just not there.... Save some money by skipping this (marginal) incremental upgrade from ur ETX90/ETX105/Orion 80ED cos' very soon the itch for an 8" will return....

Dun let history repeat itself leh... U have bought and sold so many small scopes already!!!! Be a man and get an 8-incher!!

Post by **weixing** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 10:00 am

Hi,

Rich, I have the Nexstar 5 under the dark skies here in Monterey. The optics are good but I can tell u that the "shiok" factor with a 5" scope is just not there.... Save some money by skipping this (marginal) incremental upgrade from ur ETX90/ETX105/Orion 80ED cos' very soon the itch for an 8" will return....

Dun let history repeat itself leh... U have bought and sold so many small scopes already!!!! Be a man and get an 8-incher!!

Talk with him on this matter for a few time :argue: He want a 8 inch scope, then I say got a lot in Astromart. He then say he is looking for a NexStar 8i or Ultima 2000, then I said there are some in Astromart too. Then he say too expensive... Ask him get an OTA and go manual, he don't want... he want one with GOTO!! Yesterday night, ask him to get an OTA with DSC, to have a manual GOTO. Forgot what he say, but I think he still don't like the idea.... Ha Ha Ha... :bangwall: :violent:

Have a nice day.

Post by **Airconvent** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 4:55 pm

weixing wrote:Hi,
Rich, I have the Nexstar 5 under the dark skies here in Monterey. The optics are good but I can tell u that the "shiok" factor with a 5" scope is just not there.... Save some money by skipping this (marginal) incremental upgrade from ur ETX90/ETX105/Orion 80ED cos' very soon the itch for an 8" will return....

Dun let history repeat itself leh... U have bought and sold so many small scopes already!!!! Be a man and get an 8-incher!!
Talk with him on this matter for a few time :argue: He want a 8 inch scope, then I say got a lot in Astromart. He then say he is looking for a NexStar 8i or Ultima 2000, then I said there are some in Astromart too. Then he say too expensive... Ask him get an OTA and go manual, he don't want... he want one with GOTO!! Yesterday night, ask him to get an OTA with DSC, to have a manual GOTO. Forgot what he say, but I think he still don't like the idea.... Ha Ha Ha... :bangwall: :violent:

Have a nice day.

hahahaha..weixing...you say until I so fussy...actually, I am looking at astromart and in fact has emailed alot of sellers but most don't ship overseas and if they do, the cost rockets to very sky high.
most are selling nexstar 8 but are pricing them based on the nexstar 8i instead...
and yes, if there's an N8 in singapore at a reasonable price, I'll go for it...
currently, I am looking at a 6" interim scope that is available right now..heh heh

fizzy123 · Post by **fizzy123** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 5:05 pm

Hi Rich,
I think goto is not important in astro it is more of a gimmick. :k-crazy: :beep: In Singapore, the the nite sky is veri bright thus the number of DSO seen is limited. :k-sad: Thus even with a boast of a few thousands of DSO in the computer scope, u can't observe much. A 5inch is a combo of price and observing efficiency. It is much shorter than a MAK thus easy to setup and more observing time. It can also light enough to sit on any commercial tripod. :k-chuckle:

ariefm71 · Post by **ariefm71** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 8:01 pm

even in magnificently light polluted singapore, you WILL see a lot of difference between a 5" and 8". Ask kayheem, he got both scopes.

Arief

Post by **Airconvent** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 10:21 pm

acc wrote:Rich, I have the Nexstar 5 under the dark skies here in Monterey. The optics are good but I can tell u that the "shiok" factor with a 5" scope is just not there.... Save some money by skipping this (marginal) incremental upgrade from ur ETX90/ETX105/Orion 80ED cos' very soon the itch for an 8" will return....

Dun let history repeat itself leh... U have bought and sold so many small scopes already!!!! Be a man and get an 8-incher!!

hi cc...you've been quiet all this while but the moment we talk about my scope choices, you sure to join in!

seems like since day 1 of this hobby, you have been pestering me to upgrade the aperture...my ETX105 is the result of you getting me to stop the purchase of the ETX90 and upgrade..heh heh

currently, I have a super duper portable , a midrange goto and an excellent quality wideview apo refractor. that would have covered most needs but now,

here's my intention:

I'm looking to upgrade the 90mm portable to a 127mm portable. both the etx90 and the c5 will fit my video camcorder bag perfectly but the C5 will offer more aperture..for that lazy short trip to my multistorey car park on a clear night. c5 is also the biggest scope that will fit on the 410 head properly...

My etx goto has worked flawlessly after I fixed the earlier motor problem. And I have to insist GOTO is IMPORTANT as far as I'm concerned. I cannot imagine myself having a productive night without it. For serious observing...But of course, having compared the ring nebula between the N8GPS and the ETX105, I have to agree the 362% increase in aperture MAKES the difference! But I am also painfully aware of size and portability , nto against my car but against myself...I settled for the N8 as it has a single forkarm and is the lightest and most portable 8" goto around. ..Manual star hopping I can slowly learn but I want my objects NOW!!
too bad so far the only good offers will only ship to the US ...

The refractor is another scope I loved to use. Had wanted to sell it to finance a Dob such as the Perseid Dob. The scope works beautifully ifor wide views but being a dolt with star hopping there is only so many objects I can see in one night by myself....so far have not received any motivational offers, so I'll keep the option open for now...alternative is the brush up on my star hopping (right fizzy123??).

btw, this is unrelated but I sure miss CC and his CSNs....Hope he comes back soon !