Celestron GP-C8

Ratings:Top:Astronomy:Equipment Reviews:Telescope Reviews:Celestron GP-C8

 Info  Votes  Messages  More Stats  Up One Level
image
Brand and Model:Celestron GP-C8
Price ($USD):1300
Type:Schmidt-Cassegrain
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:203mm (8")
f Ratio:f/10
Focal Length:2032mm
Finder:6X30 orig.
Electric Power:none
Mount:Great Polaris
Tripod:wooden tripod
Weight (lbs):45 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:For a very easily portable scope, about the best bargain in

the eight inch size. More expensive than a dob. mounted

Newtonian, but more convenient to use than an equatorially

mounted Newtonian.



Standard accessories: 26mm Plossl, Star Diagonal, Visual Back



Celestron's CP-C8 Page

Vote Highlights Vote
Celestron GP-C8
I've owned 3 C8s so far. All have performed superbly on all objects, both planets and deep sky. Even when compared over several months with Tak and AP 4 and 5" apos, all 3 C8s won on all objects, except for the largest clusters. All were 1/4 wave or better using Suiters star test. Nice finish, really a bargin if you think about the cost of one of these compared to the high end apos, makcass, and maknewts out there.
Here is another myth, central obstruction size is the LEAST important criteria when it comes to object contrast. Aperture is the most important, followed by optical quality, then the atmoshere....obstruction is dead last. Now I'm not here to say that it doesn't decrease contrast with low contrast features, yes it does, but you also get an INCREASE in contrast with high contrast and course detail, in an object. It depends on which part of the MTF curve you are looking at. And it only applies when you compare like aperture scopes. Any 8" beats a 4"... the laws of physics can't lie.
We compared my GPC8 to a 7" Mac Newtonian on both planets and deep sky objects over 12 observing sessions. The conclusion was unanimous amoungst the 6 of us doing the testing...The C8 had near identical contrast and detail on planets...and was brighter and had better resolution on DSOs. There was virtually NO difference between them...except price (The C8 with mount) cost about 2/3rds as much as the 7" mac newt OTA alone. Plus, the GPC8 is very portable. Great for city dwellers who need to travel to dark skies.
The GP mount and tripod, was very stable and tracked extremely well. Very little periodic error could be found when doing long exposure astrophotography. The polar finder scope was extremely accurate...as was the setting circles. I never had any trouble using them to find difficult DSOs, once calibrated. The mount was smooth, solid, dampened very well, and is relatively inexpensive. They can easily hold up to 20lbs and even more with a heavier tripod.
After owning 40 scopes, this is probably the best overall value I ever owned.
If you are thinking about getting one....do it, especially if you are only going to own one scope. Very versitile. Don't let anyone tell you that Schmidt Cassegrains are the worst....no way! Aperture wins...especially over anything under 6"s. The laws of physics can't be denied.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:9 Mount:9 Ease of Use:8 Value:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=81778

Celestron GP-C8
I have an older version of this scope called a SPC-8 I bought in 1993. It comes with a Super Polaris mount with wooden legs. The mount has a polar allignment scope build in it. For me that was the initial selling point. I level the mount and allign with Polaris then "dial up" any object I want to view using the setting circles. I can pick off objects one after another this way. No star hopping needed. The optics are superb. I have Starbright coatings on mine. The aperture is big enough to show me some very faint objects. It also shows me nice detail on the moon and planets. Other people who have looked through the scope have remarked how objects snap into focus. I use a JMI Mototrak 4 with it as well as a motofocus. I replace the stock finder with a 9X50 and use an Orion Ezfinder with it as well.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Mount:10 Ease of Use:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=191343

Celestron GP-C8
I have recently adquired a GP-C8 from my local dealership and I am in love with this scope. I have own and Ultima 8 in the past and I cant say how happy I am to have this one instead. This was a used unit from a local, perfect condition and barely used. Dealer cleaned and adjust collimation before purcharse oh boy. I have such a good views of saturn and jupiter. Deep sky is awesome. I also own a televue genesis and I can see more detail on my C-8 although love both scopes for different reasons. All it takes is a perfectly collimated telescope to show you the sky as it should be. By the way the Vixen mount is oustanding, I just dont like the clucth on the motors but smooth as silk. Love this one.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37442

Celestron GP-C8
A great classic scope. The mount is far better then the CG-5 although a beefier set of legs helps greatly. Watch out for collimation woes. I added a set of "Bob's Knobs" to make optical adjustments simpler but beware that the knobs should have some small spacers under them so that the screw actually bears on the secondary mount instead of the plastic knob. The owner of a properly collimated C8 will be rewarded with great views of most astronomical objects. I also highly suggest ditching the stock 6X30mm finder scope or at least adding a 1 power finder like a Telrad. I piggy back a Short Tube 80 on mine as a finder scope. The Vixen mount handles the increased weight just fine.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37441

Celestron GP-C8
The best combination of aperture and easy transportability. Laser interferometer shows lamda/9 wavefront! Very nice view´s on deep sky and plantes. Schmidtplate could be smoother (bright area around stars on high magnification).

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37439

Celestron GP-C8
Excellent all around instrument, extremely portable, and light weight.
Optics are first rate, the star test was at least 1/5 wave with very smooth surfaces. Planetary contrast was equivalent to my Tak FS128 Apo (which has a PERFECT star test!), with BETTER detail and resolution in Jupiters bands! It easily beat out my C102 Flourite 4" apo on all objects. Breaks up globulars much better than all but the biggest apos. It stood toe to toe with a 7'MacNewt. Even the MacNewt's owner was impressed with the C8! So versatile, with numerous types of accessories available that if someone asked me what would be the best all around scope in terms of weight, light gathering, deep sky and Planetary performance. This is it! Mount is solid with smooth actions in both axises. The wood tripod is stiff with excellent dampening characteristics. The polar finder is extremely accurate. Along with the well made setting circles and verniers, enables the observer to find objects quite easily by dialing in there coordinates. The optional 9V DC drive is quite accurate and contributes to the GPC8's portability and versatility. Much better mount than the newer CG5's.
To bad these are no longer available with the GP mount. Although the optics of the Newer G8's are excellent optically, the included G5 mount, though quite solid, has less accurate setting circles and polar axis finder.
My advise is to buy a G8, sell the mount, and buy a GP mount by Vixen to put it on.
I've owned many scopes, exotic refractors to big Newtonians. Why many can the SCT's is beyond me. The vast majority I've looked thru are excellent. Those that weren't usually were out of collimation. Once collimated, they performed superbly. ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS: APERTURE WINS! Take it from a guy who has owned more than 20 telescopes. 6 SCT's, 7 refractors, and 7 Newtonians. This scope is hard to beat! If I could give it an 11, I would!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37437

Celestron GP-C8
A fantastic scope that I absolutely love. Its optics are great and the Vixen Great Polaris German mount is the best thing that ever happened to Celestron's C8 optical assembly.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37435

Celestron GP-C8
Excellent Optics and solid, smooth mount.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37432

Celestron GP-C8
Excellent Optics

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37431

Celestron GP-C8
I did this one the hard way. I wanted a new C8 but didn't want the CG5 mount being used on the new ones. I ended up buying a slightly used C8 OTA from a guy off astromart.com and a used GP wood-legged mount with drives and a new paddle from another. The total cost to me shipped was $950 ($500 for the OTA and $450 for the GP).

Keep your eyes open because this is a classic pairing of tube and mount and it's a far better way to go, in my opinion, than a new C8 on the Chinese mount.

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37440

[Click Here to Login]
Don't have a login? Register!

Checking Your Telescope
Starting out in Amateur Astronomy
 
How to use This Site
Why Register?
[Get rid of the ads!]
Voting Guide