Celestron G-8

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Brand and Model:Celestron G-8
Price ($USD):$979.95
Type:Schmidt-Cassegrain
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:203mm (8")
f Ratio:f/10
Focal Length:2032mm
Finder:6x30
Electric Power:optional
Mount:CG-5 Equatorial
Tripod:Adjustable Aluminum
Weight (lbs):43 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:If you're looking for a superior first telescope with a traditional German equatorial mount or want to move up to a larger aperture telescope, consider the G-8 telescope (Model #11023) which is mounted on the CG-5 EQ mount, the newest generation of Celestron's German mounts.

8" (203mm) Aperture
Focal Length of 2032mm
Focal Ratio of f/10
1¼ " 25mm SMA Eyepiece (81x)
1¼ " Star Diagonal and Visual Back
6x30 Finderscope
CG-5 EQ Mount
Sturdy Adjustable Aluminum Tripod with Accessory Tray
Weight: 43 lbs.
Optical Tube Made in the US
Fastar Compatible/Capable

Vote Highlights Vote
Celestron G-8
great celestron optics, mount was a little light. pinpoint stars across the field!
great value on an 8" schmit. highly recommended!

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Mount:7 Ease of Use:9 Value:9
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=109136

Celestron G-8
The Celestron G8 is the heir to a long line of Celestron GEM mounted C8s: the Super Polaris C8 and the Great Polaris C8, both on Vixen mounts. The G8, however, uses a Chinese-built CG5 (aka "EQ4") mount in lieu of the Vixen. Is it as good as a Vixen mount? No. The G8 is a bad scope, then? No, not at all. At considerably less than a grand (without drives) this is a decent value. In order to keep the price at this level, Celestron has had to forego the Vixen mounts for the Chinese CG5, but all is not lost.

The EQ4/CG5 is not the mount the SP/GP were, and the SP/GP were never themselves noted for being steadier than a fork mount C8, but the G8's mount _is_ salvageable. But the new owner MUST take pains to fine tune the mount, degreasing and relubricating it as outlined at . Once this is done, the mount peforms OK, and is certainly good enough for visual use--or even beginning photography. The mount has been improved over the several years its been out, now featuring a good ball-bearing system in the RA axis rather than the initial nylon pads.

Optics? Good Celestron OTA, no different from any other Celestron C8. The newer G8s arre Faststar compatible with the requisite removable secondary. If collimated and cooled, this OTA can and WILL do a heck of a job, even on the planets.

Bottom line? OK, with a little fine-tuning of the mount...but unless you really have to low-ball it, most folks will be happier with a basic Celestar or Meade LX10. And remember, once you add dual axis drives, the price goes up pretty close to that of the Celestar/LX10. If you want a C8 on a small GEM, I'd look for a used SP/GP C8, myself.

Peace,
Rod Mollise

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:9 Mount:7 Ease of Use:8 Value:8
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=49216

Celestron G-8
Great optics, very top notch. Mount leaves a little bit to be desired. This is especially true when I put a Televue 2 inch diagonal and large Panoptic on it. For normal 1.25 inch plossl
type eyepieces the mount is acceptable. I've done piggy back photography with this and it worked pretty well even though that was with a medium format camera. I got this at
Astronomics on sale with dual axis drives for under a
grand, but the DEC motor failed after a year.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Mount:7 Ease of Use:8 Value:8
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=204154

Celestron G-8
With dual drives and DSC's and slight modifications to the CG5, This is a very good scope - one I plan on keeping for a very long time.

1st night, M51 - the "bridge" clearly visable. M13 resolved to the core. The Ring with 10mm and barlow - incredible.

Nebulosity on the Pleiades - this is what I got into visual astronomy for.

This is a lot of scope AND mount for the money. Make sure you get a Rigel or other "quick finder" and you are ready. I find that the Celestron drives (that now have brass gears) work well for me.

You can carry this unit assembled. (I'm 50 and it works for me). Additionally, there is a very large owner group so you can always find someone with the "answer" your are looking for.

I would suggest a new diagonal and the focal reducer (for the flat field). Remember the FR gives you two scopes in one - 2000 for planets and 1000 for DSO's!

Great Scope and good mount, tripod will need some work.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 4 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39544

Celestron G-8
I'm giving it a 10 because I think the C8 OTA is one of the finest commercially available pieces of equipment. They also seem to hold up well in use: a lot of the inexpensive dobs seem to degrade quickly and become frustrating to use. HOWEVER, the CG-5 mount is a hunk of junk. The person who wrote on the CG8 review that one should sell the CG5 mount and get a Super or Great Polaris was right on the money. Yeah, sure you can regrease the CG5 and put new legs on it. But you will still have a poorly machined mount. The optional polar scope is cheap, inaccurate, and difficult to align. It's like a cheap finder only worse. Once it is aligned, it won't stay aligned after you pack it into your car. By contrast the Vixen Great Polaris mount is well machined, needs no alignment, does not get out of alignment. It has an illuminated polar scope that is a pleasure to use: blocks out stars of magnitude inferior to polaris. Newcomers to astronomy tend to underestimate the importance of the mount. It is AS important as the optical tube. The G8 gives you a first rate optical tube, worth paying for, and third rate mount. On the optics: you will split the double double in Lyra cleanly and consistently under a wide variety of seeing conditions at 200x; you can see moon and shadow transits on Jupiter; the separation of the Great Red Spot from the main belt, a number of other bands and details; Cassini's division, bands on Saturn, etc. A very fine deal. But buyers are well advised to buy the OpticalTube Assembly only (possible at most dealers)and get either the Great Polaris or Losmandy G8 mounts for superior viewing performance. If you buy the G8 and keep the aluminum tripod and mount you wil find that the Celestron dampening pads work very well: vibratoins will cease. BUT, they worsen torque. If you are using RA and Dec coordinates you need a mount not to twist when you turn the scope around. Otherwise it drifts out of polar alignment. I think the C8 is an excellent way to get into astronomy and with a better mount you're basically looking at $1500-$2000 in entry costs versus about $800-$1200 for a good dob. I think the SCT design features are worth the extra money. As a closing note, aside from the mount an excellent upgrade is to 2" diagonal and eyepieces, the views are stunning.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39543

Celestron G-8
The optics on my G-8 are wonderfull. The star test reveals identical and concentric diffraction circles both inside and outside of focus at 400x. With some work, the CG-5 mount can be made rock solid. I dismantled the equatorial head end and cleaned and regreased the components. I also replaced the aluminum legs with home made oak legs. The difference is astounding. Damp times are usually less than a second! You can use the CG-5 mount with other tube assemblies as well. The 8" SCT optical tube is sharp and will show you so much in the night sky it's unbelieveable. Planetary performance is just excellent. This scope is a great buy for $1000.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39541

Celestron G-8
I have had many telescopes thru the years, and can honestly say I have never been very impressed with what was offered on the market for $1,000 to $2,000. Until now,! I can tell you, the optics on the celestron g8 scope are as fine as I have seen on scopes costing 3 times as much. The CG5 mount is very stable on firm ground, I will tell you, I did have to disassemble the mount and use a lighter grease ( white lithium ) is recommended, to get the smooth action I have come accustom to. But it was worth the hour it took. Mine came with dual axis drive. and after adjusting gear tension, tracks just fine even, for astrophotography. This scope purchased thru (Astronomics.com )is an excellent bargain at $999.00 and with the money you save you can even afford acces. recomended acces. Polar axis finder, lanthinum vixen telephoto lens its like having 20 lenses in 1 lens. and if you own a 35 mm camera a( T ring adapter) and bracket for your camera for astrophotography. Again I have owned many scopes in 30 years of astronomy and cannot say enough about my celestron g8 the difraction limited optics star test was textbook with multiple defraction rings in and out of focus with the star coming to pinpoint clarity. Most impressive. you can search many, many, months looking for the perfect scope, be my guest. For myself I have found the scope I wish to own for the rest of my life. bye. Thanks again to the folks at Celestron and Astronomics .com Mr. Nickelson. If you have futher questions, please e mail me at defcon7y2@hotmail.com Thanks!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39538

Celestron G-8
A cooled and collimated 8 inch celestron SCT is an excellent performer and value. Don't let anybody tell you it is'nt!

Overall Rating: No Vote
Optics:8 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=324707

Celestron G-8
Great scope for beginners. On nights I want a quick peek, I grab my G-8 (fully set up) and enjoy the great views. When properly collimated the performace is excellent. Mount is not heavy-duty and a little shaky, but it will due.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 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=136544

Celestron G-8
The G-8 was my first scope, and I must say it's perfect for the beginner. Very good optics, low cost, great fun, only mount should be a bit better. Thank's Celestron.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Mount:8 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=136110

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