Celestron CI-700

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Brand and Model:Celestron CI-700
Price ($USD):$1399.95
Type:Equatorial
Attributes:checkedMotorized checkedPEC checkedGoto
Electric Power:12V
Weight (lbs.):90lbs total
Description:Manufactured by Celestron using modern CNC machining technology, the CI-700 Equatorial mount is the very same mount that supports our CM-1100 and CM-1400 telescopes. With a standard dovetailed mounting plate and dual-axis drive system, the CI-700 will provide maximum strength and rigidity essential for quality telescope performance both visually and photographically. The CI-700 includes many exceptional features.


Product Specifications:

1" solid, centerless ground shafts in both axes
180 tooth gear (5.625" dia.) maintains minimum error for long exposure photography
.4375" dia. precision 303 stainless steel worm
High torque motors resulting in fast slew rates up to 20x
Preloaded bearings in both axes for smooth axis rotation and gear mesh
Slow motion controls in both axes for smooth manual motions
Built-in polar axis finderscope is standard
PEC (periodic error correction) included
BC (backlash compensation) in declination included
Sidereal, solar, lunar and King tracking rates
.3x and .5x guiding rates
Car battery adapter included
22 lb. counterweights included
Machined aluminum and stainless steel
Maximum capacity of 60 lbs.
Weighs 90 lbs.

60lbs Max Capacity.

Celestron's Mounts Page
Cloudy Nights' CI700 Modifications
Ed Ting's Review of the CM-1400 with blurb on the CI-700

Vote Highlights Vote
Celestron CI-700
This mount seems to be in the process of being (if not already) discontinued. It had a rocky history and some early teething problems... but I heard good things about the later ones and couldn’t resist the $1295 closeout price. I’m glad I didn’t.

If you would really like a Losmandy G11, and can afford one, buy one. However if the idea of spending close to a thousand dollars less (counting polar scope and other add-ons) for a mount with similar capabilities and a slightly lower lever of cosmetics, buy one of these while they are still available new.

I’m thrilled with the performance of mine. Very low error, smooth and steady clutches and solid performance. I’ve had an FS-102 (4 inch refractor) and a Mewlon 180 with heavy DSLR mounted simultaneously (total with side by side plates weighs around 37 pounds) and performance was perfect. No flashy goto, just a perfectly “transparent” mount. In use, with the clutches set right, you just move the scope around like a smooth dob, and when you stop, it tracks... perfectly.

Yes it’s big and heavy (just like a G11). But also like a G11, it will let you set up an FS-102 in windy conditions with no vibration or shake... I live on a windy hill and don’t like to read about “settle down times”... I like rock solid mounts like this one, that just “stay there”.

Overall Rating: 10
Performance:10 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=225840

Celestron CI-700
Excellent mount. Can easily carry my C8 tube with piggyback 60mm, and DSLR camera. Very low periodic error. Once drift-aligned I can shoot up to 25x without needing to track a guide star. I have mine mounted to an HD Meade field tripod using a Losmandy pier adapter. I've shot at least hundred hours of images with this mount with temps down to 10 deg F. It will be a sad day when this mount quits working. Much more stable than the Losmandy GM8 I had previously. It was a good mount but had more periodic error and could carry less weight. CI-700 is highly recommended, if you can find one!

Overall Rating: 9
Performance:9 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=611717 

>Excellent mount.  Can easily carry my C8 tube with piggyback 60mm, and DSLR camera.  Very low periodic error.  Once drift-aligned I can shoot up to 25x without needing to track a guide star.  I have mine mounted to an HD Meade field tripod using a Losmandy pier adapter.  I've shot at least hundred hours of images with this mount with temps down to 10 deg F.  It will be a sad day when this mount quits working.  Much more stable than the Losmandy GM8 I had previously.  It was a good mount but had more periodic error and could carry less weight.  CI-700 is highly recommended, if you can find one!
*******************************
 I found one with an Astrophysics Starfire 152 F9. OTA that is poorly documented on the net. In late 2017 it went for $3155USD on e-bay. The mount needs connector repairs but the OTA is fine with the AP photographic focussers. Altogether the package is quite nice even if though twenty years old.
 I'll have to troll for some expertise in getting the mount to function as new, or as a modern GOTO.
Celestron CI-700
Salut Franzi,der Urlaub ist vorbei und ich habe leider nicht eine Blogrunde in der Zeit geschafft. Aber jetzt komme ich endlich dazu und sehe diesen safanhegten Quilt! Der ist ja traumhaft schön geworden. Aber auch die anderen Dinge, die ich verpasst habe, gefallen mir unheimlich gut. Amour, Tina

Overall Rating: 9
Performance:6 Ease of Use:0 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=611324

Celestron CI-700
One of the best astrophotography mounts ever made. Tracks much better than my previous G-11 ever did, with better PE, and at a better price. I have used mine for four years now, and it is built like a tank and has never given me a problem.

This is a very heavy mount, and is capable of carrying a heavy payload with ease. I can image with my C9.25, guidescope, SLR camera, and guider, and there is no vibration even in windy conditions. I will keep this mount forever!

One of the coolest things about it is the way the clutches work - you can move the mount without having to flip any levers etc - once you get it pointed to where you want, it just starts tracking. It is as easy to use as pointing a dob, but with all the benefits of a good tracking mount.

Overall Rating: 10
Performance:10 Ease of Use:6 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=471710

Celestron CI-700
I used this mount for 3 years with my old C11 which I purchased as a package. I only did visual work, and found the tracking excellent. The polar aligment scope was a real monster to set up; it should have fit in a precise bore in the head, not been mounted on top with thumbscrews. The most irritating thing is the clutches are hard to adjust and the tension varies throughout the range of motion. The mount seemed at about it's limits with the 25 lb. C11 tube; I would not want to even try the 14" on this mount. The legs on mine were of fixed length which led shorter viewers to stand on a stool. It was OK for me, but I'm 6'4".

On the plus side, the tracking logic and motors seem excellent. The tripod is sturdy, and the spreader works pretty well. I would definately go with a G11 over this mount, however.

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=426494

Celestron CI-700
For the money this is an OK mount. It has been discontinued and existing stock is going for ~$1895 as of now Aug 03. This mount has decent stability and quality for visual work and will work for CCD with a bit of work. Never top flight though. THe problem is Celestrons customer service. We just bought our second CI700 (use them for work) because we could make no progress with Celestrons tech support. FIrst mount blew over in high wind and damaged dec assembly. Software dictated that we stick with a CI 700 so I was tasked with repair. Absolutely impossible! Celestron needs to get their act together. I called at least 10 times as well as faxed several. I never got past the hired biscuit answering the phones. Because the expense of new software outweighed the mount we just bought a new mount. THis will not happen again. I would encourage those considering a mount in this catagory to go to Losmandy. I have one of these as my personal mount and can attest that if you call them they will answer the phone, as often as not it's Scott L. answering himself.

Overall Rating: 7
Performance:6 Ease of Use:5 Value:8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=285529 

>For the money this is an OK mount.  It has been discontinued and existing stock is going for ~$1895 as of now Aug 03.  This mount has decent stability and quality for visual work and will work for CCD  with a bit of work.  Never top flight though.  THe problem is Celestrons customer service.  We just bought our second CI700 (use them for work) because we could make no progress with Celestrons tech support.  FIrst mount blew over in high wind and damaged dec assembly.  Software dictated that we stick with a CI 700 so I was tasked with repair.  Absolutely impossible!  Celestron needs to get their act together.  I called at least 10 times as well as faxed several.  I never got past the hired biscuit answering the phones.  Because the expense of new software outweighed the mount we just bought a new mount.  THis will not happen again.  I would encourage those considering a mount in this catagory to go to Losmandy.  I have one of these as my personal mount and can attest that if you call them they will answer the phone, as often as not it's Scott L. answering himself.
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