Celestron C5+

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Brand and Model:Celestron C5+
Price ($USD):discontinued
Type:Schmidt-Cassegrain
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:127mm (5")
f Ratio:f/10
Focal Length:1250mm
Finder:6x30
Electric Power:9V (battery)
Mount:Fork
Tripod:Tabletop Wedge
Weight (lbs):23 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:Comes with 25mm SMA Eyepiece, Star Diagonal, and Visual Back.

Todd Gross's Review
Cloudy Nights' Review
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Celestron C5+
This is a fantastic little scope that is quite portable. I have yet to peer through another Schmidt-Cassegrain to find better optics than a late model C5. The images have little spherical abberation and are very, very sharp.

Comparing the C5 to an 102 mm Celestron achromatic refractor was interesting. For starters, no chromatic abberation with the C5 (well, if you exclude the minimal contribution from the EP.) In terms of sharpness, both were about the same. Higher magnifications were easily achieved with the C5, however, the achromatic refractor seriously loss contrast at higher powers. The only advantage I saw with the achromat was better contrast at low powers.

Cool-down is at least 45 minutes and the optics hold collimation well. The long focal length really helps produce magnification for viewing the planets. The scope works very well on the planets using a 2.5X barlow and Panoptic 19 mm EP.

Good images of nebulas. However, be warned that using an O-III or UHC filter with the C5 will substantially reduce the image brightness. The C5 just doesn't have enough aperture for effective use of narrow band filters (some may disagree with this assertion.)

Overall, I highly recommend the C5, especially the newer ones. Fantastic optics, portable and no false color. A nice combination!

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Mount:9 Ease of Use:10 Value:9
Weight: 20 (Notable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=132932

Celestron C5+
This is my first real telescope. It has given me great enjoyment and performs very well from light polluted urban skies with bright images on planets and many deep space objects and very good star tests although a bit undercorrected I think. The motor works great and the mount is really stable, dampening down from a sharp rap in under a second. This is an extremely versatile rig as the scope can be mounted on a field tripod, used with wedge only on a table, used without the wedge in alt-az mode which can be fun, or removed from the fork mount and matched with a camera tripod for use as a spotting scope. While I plan to get one or two bigger scopes once I move to the burbs, this one will definitely remain my choice for quick setups and for travel. Highly recommended if you can still find a dealer that stocks them.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38178

Celestron C5+
I've had this scope for just about three weeks and in that time I've used it more than I did my 8" Dob. or 4" refractor all last year. This scope is so light and compact that I use it almost every clear night. I can pick up the scope in one hand and my accessory case in the other and be outside observing in less that two minutes. The star test on my unit was fabulous, with a well defined Airy disc and diffraction rings. And the factory collimation was dead accurate. The r.a drive tracked very well and kept each object smack in the center of the field throughout the time it was being observed. Images are bright, sharp and with more contrast than you usually expect from a Schmidt-Cassegrain. What else can I say? This is fantastic scope for anyone wanting a portable scope with great optics. And, as I understand things, Celestron has discontinued production of the C5+, so you should be able to get a good deal on those that remain. If you find one, buy it - you won't be sorry.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38174

Celestron C5+
Needs a sturdy tripod. Celestron recomends their most expense tripod costing upwards over $350.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Mount:7 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=337341

Celestron C5+
This is the one scope i have owned that I will never sell. It is ultra-versatile, portable and has outstanding optics.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:9 Mount:9 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=85291

Celestron C5+
Very bad optics.
Corrector plate to small.
Baffle tube off axis and points not to the center of the
secondary mirror.
Trying to fix it failed.
Trying to get a new mirrorcell with baffletube not
possible.
The mirrors are very good but useless in a tube
that has no optical axis.
Couldn't sell it because noone who looks thru it
wants it.
Never Celestron again.
The singlearm fork mount carries now a pronto
(with pride)
Maybe a Takahashi 60mm fluorite in the future.

Greetings from Germany

Overall Rating: 3
Optics:1 Mount:6 Ease of Use:8 Value:5
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=65344

Celestron C5+
Brilliant little scope. I have accessorized mine (DSCs, red-dot finder) and just *love* it. Optics perform to diffraction limit, drive is remarkably accurate.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38184

Celestron C5+
Great all-around scope. It's very portable, easy to set up, gives great views. Only drawback is it tends to dew easily... needs a dew shield.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38183

Celestron C5+
Rough optics

Overall Rating: 2
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38182

Celestron C5+
I´m a long time user of a C5 spotter, which I later upgraded to a Astronomical Telescope (with New Polaris EQ Mount).
Since 1996 (when I purchased it as used), whenever I look through it, I enjoy it.
If portability, usage for birding, stargazing and even as telephoto lens - the C5 would be my first recommendation.
Had the chance, to look through several comparables in size and price - I never would change it because of its quality in all respects.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38181

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