Thanks. Demonstrations comparing lifting of different telescopes are helpful. The specifications just don't fully indicate how much more awkward lifting the next size up telescope can be.
Hi very nice to see you. I’m based in Eastbourne and started with a CPC 1100. It was way too heavy so sold it. I now have an Esprit 150 Ed refractor and intend to get a RASA 11 soon. The weight on both is manageable. The key problem is the ota it cannot be disconnected from the heavy.fork mount making a CPC 11 not very portable. Thank you so much for your very clear and useful videos it is helping me a lot to get started. I can recommend an ASI Air too for live stacking deep sky objects. Steve.
I actually love it, when ladies share about their telescopes and astronomy. This hobby seems to have many male enthusiasts ( not saying it’s a bad thing). But having a female perspective is great!
I ended up going with the 8”, your video was super helpful in my deliberation. I saw that you posted the comparison - no doubt the imagery is bigger, both are excellent images. I plan to take my 8in with me in my campervan, so size and weight was the biggest factor.
I am a 65-year-old man, 6'-0" tall (1.83 m) and with average strength for my age. I have a CPC-800 that I bought in 2007 and a CPC-1100HD that I bought in 2017. The 8" has always been quick and easy for me to lift and mount to the tripod. When I got the 11", I immediately felt much less confident getting it onto the tripod. For me, it wasn't so much the weight (although I did have to be more careful about using the proper lifting technique), but the bulk. Getting the mount base centered on the tripod pin became much more difficult. Fortunately, there is a solution: the Starizona Landing Pad. I had bought the 11" through Starizona and had seen this item on their website, but I didn't give it much thought. However, after one night out with the 11", I ordered the Landing Pad. It has been a godsend
Thanks, and I agree with the bulk being difficult to manoeuvre. Starizona landing pads look great but they aren’t sold here at all, so I’ll have to practice my weight lifting with the 925 in the meantime!
I’m 65 years old and own a vintage 1970 orange tube C5 (inherited from my surveyor grandfather) and a C8 Classic purchased in 1986-both are fully optioned, have dual tines and are equatorial wedge mounted. The C5 is so much easier to work with, to setup and transport. They say the best scope is the one you can most frequently and easily set-up to use… Regardless, am now looking at my first computerized C8, after having manually leveled , oriented the mount then aligned equatorially for so many decades, the options today are superb. I have to laugh when I see people giving poor online reviews due to modern Alt/Az mount alignment issues-if only they’d had to learn to do it the ‘proper’ way… Thanks for your great review :-) -the scopes look wonderful, wishing you clear, awesome views!
🔭Hi Ivana, Great video comparing both scopes. I just got the CPC 800 so that I have a field carry scope. Already have the CPC 1100 in my ObservaDome Observatory. The 11" "beast" replaces vintage C8 that was in there for years. It really helps to show how you need to lift these scopes on the tripods. Thanks Again❤
Great video :), the lift wasnt akward. U lifted both with grace. Grats on the 925 CPC, its a great telescope which has some unique specs in the Celestron SCT series.
Nicely presented demonstration! For “portable” scopes, those two are monsters! Glad you get to enjoy them. I’ve put much eye time through my Meades at half the apertures of yours. 😊
I was curious what people thought about the weight. I'm new to Astrophotography am considering buying something similar sooner or later. Taking baby steps before I splurge on a system.
Great information for beginners to think about when purchasing their first scope. Bigger always seems better until reality sets in. As they say the best scope is the one you'll use.
Thanks! Yes this is why I’ve been mulling it over for a while and only now decided to go a size up. That and the fact that larger scopes catch more atmospheric turbulence, something to consider when imaging from somewhere like my location!
The saying is the scope that it easiest to use is the one you will use the most and I agree I have been doing this off and on for almost 20 years. Nice to have the aperture the more light the better but if is difficult to set-up chances are it will sit un-used more.
Nice video Ivana. I have a Celestron 14" Edge HD. I'm a planetary imager like you. I have my Mount on wheels which makes setting up easy if you have room. Also, I use a card table to set my OTA on to so I can catch my breath before sliding it on to the mount. I enjoy your videos.
Imagine if they made a cpc1400. One look at a 14" LX200 and NOPE. Celestron did it right with first the G11s made by losmandy, and a little less right, but better than a fork/wedge with the later ci700 and cge mounts. Both at their limits with a c14, but much easier to deal with an a 14" lx200gps. I still love the cpc1100, but personally owned a USA made c11 on one of those early celestron branded "by losmandy" G11s. Tweakers broke into storage and got all my stuff....
Great Video, Please keep them coming. I've just inherited a 8SE with a ASI622 and utterly confused on what plugs into where and what filters to use. Maybe if you find the time you could do a guide on the basics i.e. connecting the camera, filters and general setup.
Sure, I can do that! You’ll get it all sorted by then though - the nosepiece of the camera goes right into the back where you’d put an eyepiece, it’s that easy. Camera USB3 cable into the blue slot, other end into laptop ISB hub. With filters, you just need a UV/IR cut to start with. You’ve got a great bit of kit there! If you look at my Instagram, there’s lots of photos I’ve done with that exact same setup. Thanks and good luck 😊
Good video. I have the CPC11 and I never lift it from sitting on the ground standing upright. I kept it tilted on it's side in a trunk. I use my right arm only to grab onto the large handle to initially to lift it out of the trunk, then my left arm quickly grabs the other fork arm to centre onto the tripod pin. Clear skies Mark 😊
Thanks! I applaud you for wrangling the 11” on your own 😊 It’s completely impossible when you’re in as small space as I am, I have 4x4 space outside and that's it!
Years ago I had the CPC1100. I’m thinking of getting the HD version. I’m also torn to the Meade lx600 or lx800 in 12”. You have a great scope and celestron and Meade are great
Stick with celestron. Meade still hasn't figured out a way to make putting the ota/fork assembly on the tripod less scary, and the electronics can be less reliable. The ACF optics are great, but the HD optics have been shown to beat them. A 12" LX, other than the lx90, which isn't stable, is a 2 person setup.
Excellent comparison. Storing the scopes at table level height might make the initial lifting easier. Looking forward to seeing how the planet images come out and sensing a Barlow and ADC investment in your future. : ) Enjoy and great video!
Storing them at waist level would be great, or even on the tripod, but I don’t have that sort of space! Barlow and ADC have been in use with the 8” for a while now and will be coming out when planets come back 😊 Thanks!
Gracias por el video y por la oportunidad de aprendizaje que brindas en el. Me dedicaré a ver el resto del material de tu canal y me suscribiré. Saludos
@@CellistOnTheRoof No he podido evitar ver ya todo tu material en esta plataforma y las impresionantes fotos planetarias que compartes en Instagram en donde ya te sigo. Estaré en espera de más videos para continuar con la oportunidad de aprender de ti. Gracias y saludos
Good info Ivana. Setting up and taking down a scope every night can be a right pain regardless of size. As we've had some clear nights I've been leaving mine set up in position recently (with suitable rain covers) I would like a permanent observatory but do not have the space.
Wouldn’t a permanent obsy be amazing! I don’t enjoy setting up and taking down every time but there’s no other option when you’re in a small English townhouse. How a telescope model carries and how one size compares to another becomes so much more important!
Nice setting up video...with the 925 worth having something to lift the scope on to and get steady make it a two part lift..easier on the body and saves accident or injury
Very vice and informative video! I have the CPC8" but use the Celestron Wedge which makes the Tripod ridiculously heavy to carry. Maybe someday I will upgrade to the 9.25 or 11".
I would put another handle on the other side. I would use hose clamps to hold it onto the side support if I couldn't bolt it on if the material couldn't be bolted without damaging it.
Great point to cover. I like the fact your subject was only of the mounting, rather than covering multiple subjects. Sometimes my attention span (short) gets the best of me. I was curious as to the imager you were using on the 9.25. I have the CPC1100 and it is a job mouning it. I have the wedge and dread having to try to mount it, but first need an imager. Good job!
Hi! I mainly use the CPC for planetary/lunar rather than using a wedge to try and make it do DSO, especially since I’d have to get the Fastar then as well. So the cameras that I use with this one are all planetary - 662mc and 462mm!
@CellistOnTheRoof you can get away with alt az with hyperstar. You just lose a little of the edge when stacking due to field rotation. Much better than dealing with a wedge and all the balance weights needed.
Same size forks and base (other than the bottom of the fork, which spreads wider), just a bigger tube. The 8 is "over mounted", cpc is pretty beefy. The 9.25 and 11 mounts are identical, note the spacers on the 9.25 tube. It isn't really that much bigger, but it is definitely taller and a little heavier. Most of the weight differential is in the optical tube, which is the biggest jump between 8 and 9.25, about 10 lbs. To go up to the 11" is only about 5-6lbs more. 9.25 ota generally about 22.lbs and c11 is 27lbs. Tube only
Love it. The CPC800 is very convenient, but yeah that 925 is a beast to lift in one go - and I carry my 2nd grader on my shoulders… won’t even get into the 11” - it’s a monster. Look into HyperStar imaging for DSO in light polluted areas - total game changer, I have some videos on my channel.
Thanks! I’ve only got a HEQ5 Pro and don’t really want to deal with huge wedges, so for DSO I’m planning on going the RC route - we’ll see, I have yet to graduate from my small RedCat 51 😊
The 2nd grader is equipped with intuitive weight shift and other ergonomic "lift me up" features that make it much easier to lift than an object that is simply dead weight
As a female with a 127mm Newtonian, I wish I could have carried my scope around before I bought it or someone my size would have made a great video like this. Sometimes it's about the awkwardness and not just the weight. While I don't let anyone touch my scope, I do often beg for friends and family to move the Mount out, since I don't have an observatory...yet.
Something like this would be nice in the city as there are few stars to star hop with. The 9.25" is suppose to be better optically. Ask you a question. What are those gears made out of in these mounts? I had a Meade 8" Goto. It worked fine for a couple of years then the plastic gears broke. Rather than spending hundreds of dollars to have it repaired, I took it off the mount, added a dovetail, and now use it on an equatorial mount. The optics are good. Clear Skies!
My 10 inch Meade is heavy, more than that its blessed awkward to line up the stud that threads into the base. I 3d printed a tray that matched the shape of the base and screwed onto the tripod head. Its now so much easier to put the scope up onto the tripod and it feels safe. Years ago in anothe rlife in Massachusets I used Celestron and hated the mount set up. I machined a coupler that allowed the scope to just drop onto the tripod. I am certain an adapter could be printed that would make youir life far easier. Any way enough waffle.
What kind of imaging will you be using the CPCs for? I've inherited a CPC800 and it would be very interesting to learn how you configure and control the scopes. Thanks
Hi! I’m using them for planetary, lunar, and ISS. If you’re interested in what sort of photos the 800 can produce, there’s loads on my Instagram. I’ll try and make a video about the setup! Good luck with your CPC, it’s a brilliant scope.
@@CellistOnTheRoof Thanks for replying. I've been reading about using an off axis guider with derotation. This seems to work in alt-az no need for a wedge.
They are big beasts !!!! I had my eyes closed on the final scope :) It's a struggle putting my Edge HD 11 on its EQ6-R Pro, but these look heavier !! It doesn't help that I'm a weedy weakling and old - although I did top the Magneteer's Strava group again, in a losing battle to get fitter :( :(
Yes these have the added mount base! As much as the 11” aperture is appealing, I’d never be able to do it unless it was permanently set up, and in a tiny townhouse that’s never going to happen.
Yeah 11" tube is nothing compared to the CPC1100. I had no problem with my 11" g11 setup before the tweakers stole it. The old meade 10" lx premiere that I got in trade for the tripod and counterweights the tweakers didn't know to steal, much harder to setup because of those forks. And being just an RA clock drive, I have to deal with the wedge as well.
Did you ever post the image comparisons of the 8 vs 9.25? I'm torn between the easier portability of the 8'' or the extra light gathering ability of the 9.25!
I have! I’ll try and link it but in case it doesn’t work out, my Instagram is the same name (Cellistontheroof), and there’s a Saturn comparison photo if you scroll down just a touch! instagram.com/p/CxLox2wspem/?igsh=MTJ1OHhxc3A1eGxteA==
Thanks Tom! Indeed they don’t need balancing, there’s an in-built bubble in the tripod and then the whole mount-OTA combo just sits on top. Being alt-az, it’s really forgiving!
I just ran across this vid, and it is REALLY entertaining. I have had a CPC 800 now for years and it is NOT what I call handy and I am over 6 feet tall and over 200 pounds. The 800 is plenty heavy and more than clumsy enough to make moving it through doors and narrow hallways a bit of an hassle. I actually think the author, at 5 ft 4 inches, has an easier time picking her's up. I have to bend and strain my back more. I am sure I could handle a 9.25 with no extra problems, but I don't see the point upgrading for an inch and a quarter of aperture. I don't even want to consider toting around an 11 inch model. Too much. Overall though, the CPC is a very stable rig once you get it assembled. I use a right angle finder and a Telrad on mine. On a bit of a side note, if you happen to have a Nexstar 4/5SE or 6/8SE mount, it will fit on the CPC heavy duty tripod, which is an improvement over the standard Nexstar tripod as far as stability is concerned. I picked up a lone 4/5SE mount on Ebay, so I use it with a C5 tube and my tripod for an lighter on the go rig.
@@CellistOnTheRoof The only adjustment I had to make on my tripod was to lower the center pin just a touch. It was a bit too high for the 4/5SE mount. Now it is perfect for both the Nextstar and the CPC. As far as cameras go, my original is a ZWO ASI120MC. I just upgraded to a ASI678MC, but haven't had the opportunity to use it yet. Believe it or not, it is too cloudy this time of year here in New Mexico, USA. I haven't ever, as of yet, had to quickly take my telescopes inside when it started raining. That isn't much of a problem here. 😊
The weight differential between the 8, 9.25 and 11 is not really that much as they all have the same base, and the forks are the same just spaced wider on the 11 vs.the 8. The 9.25 and 11 have the same forks, the 9.25 has spacers on the tube to make up the difference. The bigger ones are taller though, the 9.25 is about the same length as the 11. I used to demo taking them on and off the tripod all the time. The 8 is heavier than most 8s, but the 11 is lighter than a 10" lx200, and much easier to mount to a tripod than any meade SCT
@@k.h.1587 The weight differential between the 800 mount and tube and the 1100 mount and tube is 23 lbs plus the 1100 is longer and wider. The 1100 weighs 65 lbs. It might not be a big difference standing in my office with the lights on, but it is pretty significant out in a field on a cold dark night. Big, clumsy, and very expensive to drop.
@howiem3883 it is the difference between the 9.25 and 11 that is the smallest. The 8 is heavy for and 8 and the 11 is lighter than a 10" lx200. The 8 is significantly lighter than the other 2, you are correct there. But the 9.25 is not significantly lighter than the 11 and it is just as long. I was trying to say that making the jump from 8 to 9.25 is not significantly heavier or more awkward than just going to the 11. The 9.25 does have that magical quality to it, but it is not as magical as the old USA made ones, but the cpc came out after the shift to China, and some changes were made to the 9.25, w Especially the focuser mechanism which is now the same as the 8. You can tell the older 9.25 because the focus knob does not protrude as far out as the others, and some of the early ones had odometer style counters on them. The basic optical prescription seems similar, or else it wouldn't have the narrower proportion, but like they say they don't make them like they used to, though they still make them pretty well. Me personally, I wouldn't generally choose a big beefy fork mount sct, but now I am stuck with 2 older ones because it was all I could afford to replace my previous setups after they were stolen. Better than nothing. But I may end up deforking the 10" if I can ever afford a good enough mount again. But I would always choose a c11 over a 10" meade, it is just that this 10" fell into my lap as a straight trade for the losmandy tripod and counterweights that the tweakers didnt know to steal when they took the g11 head and c11 cases. I wish I could go back and figure out a way to prevent that theft from happening, as they got pretty much everything of value that I owned. But I am well aware of the awkwardness of setting these up, as I used to work at a big dealer for 5 years and we had all of them as well as the meades in the showroom, and the mount/dismount procedure for the CPCs and LX series was something we would do at times for the locals and ones who would travel to us. It was about a 52 mile trip each way for me to go to work there. I was even out observing at a club site with concrete pads when one of our customers who became a bit of a friend, dropped his 8" lx200 to the concrete while trying to put it on the concrete. He got lucky as the fork arm took the brunt of the damage, the glass was unharmed. His alt/dec stopped working, but it turned out to just be a pulled motor wire he was able to fix, and of course it needed to be re collimated. The top of the fork had a nasty hole/gash scar from that. I'm not sure a cpc would have survived such a fall, but they are easier to lift and mount due to their ergonomic design, so I am sure they are not dropped as often . I still think the cpc1100 is the ideal large goto scope for the money, for.visual use and planetary imaging. I would not suggest trying to use a wedge with them, or the meade LX series, that is a pain in the ass. If I recall, our friend Eddie, was using a wedge when he dropped that lx200. It is even harder to lift them onto a wedge. And I have no choice but to use my 10" on the wedge. Same goes for my powerstar c8, but that is much easier to deal with. I doubt I will ever de fork the 8, it is a classic. And a part of me wants to preserve the 10 in its classic configuration as well, to show the public what it was like in the 80s and early 90s. Buy my van, loaded with scopes, mounts and music gear was "stolen" a few years ago, and transport of the 10 is now impossible unfortunately
There is no need for a 6, the 8 is grossly over mounted in the cpc, and is stable even when it is very windy. The 6se is sufficient and if you want it beefier there is the evolution series, which also can be used manually like a cpc, something the se can't do. A cpc600 would look awfully funny, and only be a few lbs lighter than the 800
For planetary? I wouldn’t choose the HD series because they have an in-built corrector/field flattener, which for planetary imaging isn’t necessary and it’s another layer of glass in the optical train.
You could probably handle the CPC1100, it is only a few lbs heavier, 5 or 6 maybe 7. 9.25 has this magical formula for a sharper jmage and flatter field with its slightly slower primary hence the longer length to width ratio. But I love the C11, i had mine on a g11 mount, and only had to lift the 27lb tube (maybe 28-29lbs with the adm accessory rail on top and the 2" AP visual back, which I left on the scope, it threaded onto the larger 3.25" rear cell so the baffle wasnt obstructed like it is when using the 2"sct thread plate. This is not an issue on the 8 and 9.25. Unfortunately, tweakers broke into my storage and got all my scopes and accessories, along with most of my guitars and basses, ( luckily I had several in hoc at the time so I didnt lose all of them) and racks and racks of audio gear and all my amps except for one that lived in my car. Since tweakers don't know about anything other than sharks and taking apart VCRs, they left the g11 trjpod that looks like a bunch of random pipes, the counterweights and adm and losmandy 3 pt piggyback rings, which I was able to trade straight across for a 1991 meade 10" lx premier so I could at least have something that was close to the c11, though much harder to setup and transport, and without goto. Not that i really need goto, but it was nice to have on the c11.
Oh that’s really awful. I’m sorry you had that happen. I’m not really fussed about the CPC1100 because my conditions here really can’t justify the cost and hassle, the 925 will do just fine - if it ever clears up enough to use it again!
I’ve never had the Evolution, but from having a glance, I’d say it’s really well geared towards visual use. It has the inbuilt battery and wifi, but the single fork mount is not what I’d personally go for. Great scope though!
I just started using SkyPortal alignment feature on my 8SE and it took me 3 times out before I got what I was doing wrong but now no problems and once aligned it puts objects right into the center of eyepiece every time. If you are like me, if all else fails follow the instructions. Clear Skies!
I thought about it but ultimately decided not to bother. For DSO imaging I decided to get a dedicated EQ mount, and for everything else the Alt-Az CPC does the job just fine!
@@primoroythere is so much BS going around in the amateur community over the last 30 years saying you can't use 2" on an 8" because the rear baffle is under 2". Light comes through in a narrow cone, it works great with 2" eyepieces. You can get almost as wide a field with the 6.3 reducer and 1.25 eyepieces and diagonal. But you are limted to about a 27mm panoptic, maybe a 30mm superwide, before vignetting is a problem with a 6.3 reducer. But you can hit the maximum 7mm exit pupil with a 40mm plossl on a 6.3 reducer, and you are limited to 5.6mm exit pupil with a 56mm plossl at f10. But 7mm exit pupil is only.good in dark skies or with an OIII filter. 5.6mm exit pupil is quite sufficient for most wide field DSO viewing
@@CellistOnTheRoof Yes! I have switched almost entirely to 2" eyepieces for my CPC-800 and CPC-1100HD and I even use 2" eyepieces on my Celestron C5+. A few years ago, I gave all but one of my old 1.25" eyepieces to my oldest granddaughter (now 15) for her telescope. I kept a 17mm Celestron Plossl for public star parties and because it is a remarkably good eyepiece for the $45 it cost me back in the early 2000s.
As humans, curiosity about our own universe is something afforded to few, but if you can do it - it’s wonderful. 2nd hand, these telescopes are 30-40% cheaper than new and usually in mint condition. Astronomers tend to take very good care of their equipment.
![ละลาย (LALALYE) - DAOU PITTAYA ต้าห์อู๋ พิทยา [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wo6r9TgausI/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks. Demonstrations comparing lifting of different telescopes are helpful. The specifications just don't fully indicate how much more awkward lifting the next size up telescope can be.
Hi very nice to see you. I’m based in Eastbourne and started with a CPC 1100. It was way too heavy so sold it. I now have an Esprit 150 Ed refractor and intend to get a RASA 11 soon. The weight on both is manageable. The key problem is the ota it cannot be disconnected from the heavy.fork mount making a CPC 11 not very portable. Thank you so much for your very clear and useful videos it is helping me a lot to get started. I can recommend an ASI Air too for live stacking deep sky objects. Steve.
I actually love it, when ladies share about their telescopes and astronomy. This hobby seems to have many male enthusiasts ( not saying it’s a bad thing). But having a female perspective is great!
Hi Ivana, thank you for your lovely video, I have the CPC 8'', didn't want a scope too heavy to manoeuvre, it's a lovely scope. Clear skies to you x
I ended up going with the 8”, your video was super helpful in my deliberation. I saw that you posted the comparison - no doubt the imagery is bigger, both are excellent images. I plan to take my 8in with me in my campervan, so size and weight was the biggest factor.
Awesome, glad it was useful. I loved my CPC800, such a wonderful scope. Good luck!
I am a 65-year-old man, 6'-0" tall (1.83 m) and with average strength for my age. I have a CPC-800 that I bought in 2007 and a CPC-1100HD that I bought in 2017. The 8" has always been quick and easy for me to lift and mount to the tripod. When I got the 11", I immediately felt much less confident getting it onto the tripod. For me, it wasn't so much the weight (although I did have to be more careful about using the proper lifting technique), but the bulk. Getting the mount base centered on the tripod pin became much more difficult. Fortunately, there is a solution: the Starizona Landing Pad. I had bought the 11" through Starizona and had seen this item on their website, but I didn't give it much thought. However, after one night out with the 11", I ordered the Landing Pad. It has been a godsend
Thanks, and I agree with the bulk being difficult to manoeuvre. Starizona landing pads look great but they aren’t sold here at all, so I’ll have to practice my weight lifting with the 925 in the meantime!
I’m 65 years old and own a vintage 1970 orange tube C5 (inherited from my surveyor grandfather) and a C8 Classic purchased in 1986-both are fully optioned, have dual tines and are equatorial wedge mounted. The C5 is so much easier to work with, to setup and transport. They say the best scope is the one you can most frequently and easily set-up to use… Regardless, am now looking at my first computerized C8, after having manually leveled , oriented the mount then aligned equatorially for so many decades, the options today are superb. I have to laugh when I see people giving poor online reviews due to modern Alt/Az mount alignment issues-if only they’d had to learn to do it the ‘proper’ way… Thanks for your great review :-) -the scopes look wonderful, wishing you clear, awesome views!
Thanks for the video. Very very helpful.
🔭Hi Ivana, Great video comparing both scopes. I just got the CPC 800 so that I have a field carry scope. Already have the CPC 1100 in my ObservaDome Observatory. The 11" "beast" replaces vintage C8 that was in there for years. It really helps to show how you need to lift these scopes on the tripods. Thanks Again❤
Thanks, really glad it was useful! Good luck, the observatory sounds amazing.
Nice presentation, nice voice. Keep updating more videos.
Great video :), the lift wasnt akward. U lifted both with grace. Grats on the 925 CPC, its a great telescope which has some unique specs in the Celestron SCT series.
Thanks! There was some huffing and puffing, hence the music 😄
Nicely presented demonstration! For “portable” scopes, those two are monsters! Glad you get to enjoy them.
I’ve put much eye time through my Meades at half the apertures of yours. 😊
I was curious what people thought about the weight. I'm new to Astrophotography am considering buying something similar sooner or later. Taking baby steps before I splurge on a system.
Great information for beginners to think about when purchasing their first scope. Bigger always seems better until reality sets in. As they say the best scope is the one you'll use.
Thanks! Yes this is why I’ve been mulling it over for a while and only now decided to go a size up. That and the fact that larger scopes catch more atmospheric turbulence, something to consider when imaging from somewhere like my location!
The saying is the scope that it easiest to use is the one you will use the most and I agree I have been doing this off and on for almost 20 years. Nice to have the aperture the more light the better but if is difficult to set-up chances are it will sit un-used more.
Nice video Ivana. I have a Celestron 14" Edge HD. I'm a planetary imager like you. I have my Mount on wheels which makes setting up easy if you have room. Also, I use a card table to set my OTA on to so I can catch my breath before sliding it on to the mount. I enjoy your videos.
Imagine if they made a cpc1400.
One look at a 14" LX200 and NOPE. Celestron did it right with first the G11s made by losmandy, and a little less right, but better than a fork/wedge with the later ci700 and cge mounts. Both at their limits with a c14, but much easier to deal with an a 14" lx200gps.
I still love the cpc1100, but personally owned a USA made c11 on one of those early celestron branded "by losmandy" G11s. Tweakers broke into storage and got all my stuff....
Very helpful demonstration. Thanks!
Great Video, Please keep them coming. I've just inherited a 8SE with a ASI622 and utterly confused on what plugs into where and what filters to use. Maybe if you find the time you could do a guide on the basics i.e. connecting the camera, filters and general setup.
Sure, I can do that! You’ll get it all sorted by then though - the nosepiece of the camera goes right into the back where you’d put an eyepiece, it’s that easy. Camera USB3 cable into the blue slot, other end into laptop ISB hub. With filters, you just need a UV/IR cut to start with. You’ve got a great bit of kit there! If you look at my Instagram, there’s lots of photos I’ve done with that exact same setup. Thanks and good luck 😊
Good video. I have the CPC11 and I never lift it from sitting on the ground standing upright. I kept it tilted on it's side in a trunk. I use my right arm only to grab onto the large handle to initially to lift it out of the trunk, then my left arm quickly grabs the other fork arm to centre onto the tripod pin. Clear skies Mark 😊
Thanks! I applaud you for wrangling the 11” on your own 😊 It’s completely impossible when you’re in as small space as I am, I have 4x4 space outside and that's it!
Thank you! Very informative and friendly.
Years ago I had the CPC1100. I’m thinking of getting the HD version. I’m also torn to the Meade lx600 or lx800 in 12”. You have a great scope and celestron and Meade are great
Stick with celestron. Meade still hasn't figured out a way to make putting the ota/fork assembly on the tripod less scary, and the electronics can be less reliable. The ACF optics are great, but the HD optics have been shown to beat them.
A 12" LX, other than the lx90, which isn't stable, is a 2 person setup.
Excellent comparison. Storing the scopes at table level height might make the initial lifting easier.
Looking forward to seeing how the planet images come out and sensing a Barlow and ADC investment in your future. : ) Enjoy and great video!
Storing them at waist level would be great, or even on the tripod, but I don’t have that sort of space! Barlow and ADC have been in use with the 8” for a while now and will be coming out when planets come back 😊 Thanks!
Gracias por el video y por la oportunidad de aprendizaje que brindas en el. Me dedicaré a ver el resto del material de tu canal y me suscribiré. Saludos
Muchas gracias por los comentarios amables, buena suerte con tu astronomía!
@@CellistOnTheRoof No he podido evitar ver ya todo tu material en esta plataforma y las impresionantes fotos planetarias que compartes en Instagram en donde ya te sigo. Estaré en espera de más videos para continuar con la oportunidad de aprender de ti. Gracias y saludos
Good info Ivana. Setting up and taking down a scope every night can be a right pain regardless of size. As we've had some clear nights I've been leaving mine set up in position recently (with suitable rain covers) I would like a permanent observatory but do not have the space.
Wouldn’t a permanent obsy be amazing! I don’t enjoy setting up and taking down every time but there’s no other option when you’re in a small English townhouse. How a telescope model carries and how one size compares to another becomes so much more important!
This is a really helpful video.
Nice setting up video...with the 925 worth having something to lift the scope on to and get steady make it a two part lift..easier on the body and saves accident or injury
My thinking this that 1inch of aperture is really not going to make that much difference is worth the extra weight?
Lovely scopes. I prefer to use an EQ mount though. I do have my 12" dobsonian go to alt/az obviously and it's fine for planetary imaging etc.
Very vice and informative video! I have the CPC8" but use the Celestron Wedge which makes the Tripod ridiculously heavy to carry. Maybe someday I will upgrade to the 9.25 or 11".
I would put another handle on the other side. I would use hose clamps to hold it onto the side support if I couldn't bolt it on if the material couldn't be bolted without damaging it.
Great point to cover. I like the fact your subject was only of the mounting, rather than covering multiple subjects. Sometimes my attention span (short) gets the best of me. I was curious as to the imager you were using on the 9.25. I have the CPC1100 and it is a job mouning it. I have the wedge and dread having to try to mount it, but first need an imager. Good job!
Hi! I mainly use the CPC for planetary/lunar rather than using a wedge to try and make it do DSO, especially since I’d have to get the Fastar then as well. So the cameras that I use with this one are all planetary - 662mc and 462mm!
@CellistOnTheRoof you can get away with alt az with hyperstar. You just lose a little of the edge when stacking due to field rotation. Much better than dealing with a wedge and all the balance weights needed.
I bought the 8" because of it portability to performance ratio. I never realised the 9.25 is SO much bigger.
Same size forks and base (other than the bottom of the fork, which spreads wider), just a bigger tube. The 8 is "over mounted", cpc is pretty beefy. The 9.25 and 11 mounts are identical, note the spacers on the 9.25 tube.
It isn't really that much bigger, but it is definitely taller and a little heavier. Most of the weight differential is in the optical tube, which is the biggest jump between 8 and 9.25, about 10 lbs. To go up to the 11" is only about 5-6lbs more. 9.25 ota generally about 22.lbs and c11 is 27lbs. Tube only
Love it. The CPC800 is very convenient, but yeah that 925 is a beast to lift in one go - and I carry my 2nd grader on my shoulders… won’t even get into the 11” - it’s a monster.
Look into HyperStar imaging for DSO in light polluted areas - total game changer, I have some videos on my channel.
Thanks! I’ve only got a HEQ5 Pro and don’t really want to deal with huge wedges, so for DSO I’m planning on going the RC route - we’ll see, I have yet to graduate from my small RedCat 51 😊
The 2nd grader is equipped with intuitive weight shift and other ergonomic "lift me up" features that make it much easier to lift than an object that is simply dead weight
As a female with a 127mm Newtonian, I wish I could have carried my scope around before I bought it or someone my size would have made a great video like this. Sometimes it's about the awkwardness and not just the weight. While I don't let anyone touch my scope, I do often beg for friends and family to move the Mount out, since I don't have an observatory...yet.
Absolutely! I would have loved to see someone my size handle them in a video - that’s why I figured I should make one while I have them both! Thanks 🙏
Something like this would be nice in the city as there are few stars to star hop with. The 9.25" is suppose to be better optically. Ask you a question. What are those gears made out of in these mounts? I had a Meade 8" Goto. It worked fine for a couple of years then the plastic gears broke. Rather than spending hundreds of dollars to have it repaired, I took it off the mount, added a dovetail, and now use it on an equatorial mount. The optics are good. Clear Skies!
They’re all metal gears in the CPC!
@@CellistOnTheRooflooks like synta puts the same drives and gears in those giant goto dobs as well
Great video! Thank you!
i have bothof them, this is a great video for astro beginners.
My 10 inch Meade is heavy, more than that its blessed awkward to line up the stud that threads into the base. I 3d printed a tray that matched the shape of the base and screwed onto the tripod head. Its now so much easier to put the scope up onto the tripod and it feels safe. Years ago in anothe rlife in Massachusets I used Celestron and hated the mount set up. I machined a coupler that allowed the scope to just drop onto the tripod. I am certain an adapter could be printed that would make youir life far easier. Any way enough waffle.
What kind of imaging will you be using the CPCs for?
I've inherited a CPC800 and it would be very interesting to learn how you configure and control the scopes.
Thanks
Hi! I’m using them for planetary, lunar, and ISS. If you’re interested in what sort of photos the 800 can produce, there’s loads on my Instagram. I’ll try and make a video about the setup! Good luck with your CPC, it’s a brilliant scope.
@@CellistOnTheRoof
Thanks for replying.
I've been reading about using an off axis guider with derotation. This seems to work in alt-az no need for a wedge.
Personally I’m a fan of dedicated proper kit for DSO, so I’ve never tried modifying my planetary kit. Good luck!
They are big beasts !!!! I had my eyes closed on the final scope :) It's a struggle putting my Edge HD 11 on its EQ6-R Pro, but these look heavier !! It doesn't help that I'm a weedy weakling and old - although I did top the Magneteer's Strava group again, in a losing battle to get fitter :( :(
Yes these have the added mount base! As much as the 11” aperture is appealing, I’d never be able to do it unless it was permanently set up, and in a tiny townhouse that’s never going to happen.
Yeah 11" tube is nothing compared to the CPC1100. I had no problem with my 11" g11 setup before the tweakers stole it.
The old meade 10" lx premiere that I got in trade for the tripod and counterweights the tweakers didn't know to steal, much harder to setup because of those forks. And being just an RA clock drive, I have to deal with the wedge as well.
Did you ever post the image comparisons of the 8 vs 9.25? I'm torn between the easier portability of the 8'' or the extra light gathering ability of the 9.25!
I have! I’ll try and link it but in case it doesn’t work out, my Instagram is the same name (Cellistontheroof), and there’s a Saturn comparison photo if you scroll down just a touch!
instagram.com/p/CxLox2wspem/?igsh=MTJ1OHhxc3A1eGxteA==
Great vid, Ivana! How on earth do you balance one of these things? Maybe they don’t need balancing like my News and HEQ5Pro? New video idea maybe?
Thanks Tom! Indeed they don’t need balancing, there’s an in-built bubble in the tripod and then the whole mount-OTA combo just sits on top. Being alt-az, it’s really forgiving!
@@CellistOnTheRoof Looks like I need to upgrade, LOL
Not a good time to tell you the 8” is going to be selling then? 😄
@@CellistOnTheRoof Stop temping me to buy more amazing stuff, LOL. I don’t think my office can take it anymore.
I just ran across this vid, and it is REALLY entertaining. I have had a CPC 800 now for years and it is NOT what I call handy and I am over 6 feet tall and over 200 pounds. The 800 is plenty heavy and more than clumsy enough to make moving it through doors and narrow hallways a bit of an hassle. I actually think the author, at 5 ft 4 inches, has an easier time picking her's up. I have to bend and strain my back more. I am sure I could handle a 9.25 with no extra problems, but I don't see the point upgrading for an inch and a quarter of aperture. I don't even want to consider toting around an 11 inch model. Too much. Overall though, the CPC is a very stable rig once you get it assembled. I use a right angle finder and a Telrad on mine.
On a bit of a side note, if you happen to have a Nexstar 4/5SE or 6/8SE mount, it will fit on the CPC heavy duty tripod, which is an improvement over the standard Nexstar tripod as far as stability is concerned. I picked up a lone 4/5SE mount on Ebay, so I use it with a C5 tube and my tripod for an lighter on the go rig.
Thanks, and that’s a great tip about Nexstar. The tripod for CPC really is brilliant and more stable than anything else I’ve tried.
@@CellistOnTheRoof The only adjustment I had to make on my tripod was to lower the center pin just a touch. It was a bit too high for the 4/5SE mount. Now it is perfect for both the Nextstar and the CPC.
As far as cameras go, my original is a ZWO ASI120MC. I just upgraded to a ASI678MC, but haven't had the opportunity to use it yet. Believe it or not, it is too cloudy this time of year here in New Mexico, USA. I haven't ever, as of yet, had to quickly take my telescopes inside when it started raining. That isn't much of a problem here. 😊
The weight differential between the 8, 9.25 and 11 is not really that much as they all have the same base, and the forks are the same just spaced wider on the 11 vs.the 8. The 9.25 and 11 have the same forks, the 9.25 has spacers on the tube to make up the difference.
The bigger ones are taller though, the 9.25 is about the same length as the 11.
I used to demo taking them on and off the tripod all the time. The 8 is heavier than most 8s, but the 11 is lighter than a 10" lx200, and much easier to mount to a tripod than any meade SCT
@@k.h.1587 The weight differential between the 800 mount and tube and the 1100 mount and tube is 23 lbs plus the 1100 is longer and wider. The 1100 weighs 65 lbs. It might not be a big difference standing in my office with the lights on, but it is pretty significant out in a field on a cold dark night. Big, clumsy, and very expensive to drop.
@howiem3883 it is the difference between the 9.25 and 11 that is the smallest. The 8 is heavy for and 8 and the 11 is lighter than a 10" lx200.
The 8 is significantly lighter than the other 2, you are correct there. But the 9.25 is not significantly lighter than the 11 and it is just as long.
I was trying to say that making the jump from 8 to 9.25 is not significantly heavier or more awkward than just going to the 11. The 9.25 does have that magical quality to it, but it is not as magical as the old USA made ones, but the cpc came out after the shift to China, and some changes were made to the 9.25, w
Especially the focuser mechanism which is now the same as the 8. You can tell the older 9.25 because the focus knob does not protrude as far out as the others, and some of the early ones had odometer style counters on them.
The basic optical prescription seems similar, or else it wouldn't have the narrower proportion, but like they say they don't make them like they used to, though they still make them pretty well.
Me personally, I wouldn't generally choose a big beefy fork mount sct, but now I am stuck with 2 older ones because it was all I could afford to replace my previous setups after they were stolen. Better than nothing. But I may end up deforking the 10" if I can ever afford a good enough mount again. But I would always choose a c11 over a 10" meade, it is just that this 10" fell into my lap as a straight trade for the losmandy tripod and counterweights that the tweakers didnt know to steal when they took the g11 head and c11 cases.
I wish I could go back and figure out a way to prevent that theft from happening, as they got pretty much everything of value that I owned.
But I am well aware of the awkwardness of setting these up, as I used to work at a big dealer for 5 years and we had all of them as well as the meades in the showroom, and the mount/dismount procedure for the CPCs and LX series was something we would do at times for the locals and ones who would travel to us. It was about a 52 mile trip each way for me to go to work there.
I was even out observing at a club site with concrete pads when one of our customers who became a bit of a friend, dropped his 8" lx200 to the concrete while trying to put it on the concrete. He got lucky as the fork arm took the brunt of the damage, the glass was unharmed. His alt/dec stopped working, but it turned out to just be a pulled motor wire he was able to fix, and of course it needed to be re collimated. The top of the fork had a nasty hole/gash scar from that. I'm not sure a cpc would have survived such a fall, but they are easier to lift and mount due to their ergonomic design, so I am sure they are not dropped as often .
I still think the cpc1100 is the ideal large goto scope for the money, for.visual use and planetary imaging. I would not suggest trying to use a wedge with them, or the meade LX series, that is a pain in the ass. If I recall, our friend Eddie, was using a wedge when he dropped that lx200. It is even harder to lift them onto a wedge.
And I have no choice but to use my 10" on the wedge. Same goes for my powerstar c8, but that is much easier to deal with. I doubt I will ever de fork the 8, it is a classic. And a part of me wants to preserve the 10 in its classic configuration as well, to show the public what it was like in the 80s and early 90s.
Buy my van, loaded with scopes, mounts and music gear was "stolen" a few years ago, and transport of the 10 is now impossible unfortunately
Love the cpc line! would be nice if celestron made a cpc 6”
There is no need for a 6, the 8 is grossly over mounted in the cpc, and is stable even when it is very windy. The 6se is sufficient and if you want it beefier there is the evolution series, which also can be used manually like a cpc, something the se can't do.
A cpc600 would look awfully funny, and only be a few lbs lighter than the 800
What would you recommend a Celestron CPC 800 Deluxe HD or a Celestron CPC 9.25?
For planetary? I wouldn’t choose the HD series because they have an in-built corrector/field flattener, which for planetary imaging isn’t necessary and it’s another layer of glass in the optical train.
Thanks for your quick response
You could probably handle the CPC1100, it is only a few lbs heavier, 5 or 6 maybe 7.
9.25 has this magical formula for a sharper jmage and flatter field with its slightly slower primary hence the longer length to width ratio.
But I love the C11, i had mine on a g11 mount, and only had to lift the 27lb tube (maybe 28-29lbs with the adm accessory rail on top and the 2" AP visual back, which I left on the scope, it threaded onto the larger 3.25" rear cell so the baffle wasnt obstructed like it is when using the 2"sct thread plate. This is not an issue on the 8 and 9.25.
Unfortunately, tweakers broke into my storage and got all my scopes and accessories, along with most of my guitars and basses, ( luckily I had several in hoc at the time so I didnt lose all of them) and racks and racks of audio gear and all my amps except for one that lived in my car.
Since tweakers don't know about anything other than sharks and taking apart VCRs, they left the g11 trjpod that looks like a bunch of random pipes, the counterweights and adm and losmandy 3 pt piggyback rings, which I was able to trade straight across for a 1991 meade 10" lx premier so I could at least have something that was close to the c11, though much harder to setup and transport, and without goto.
Not that i really need goto, but it was nice to have on the c11.
Oh that’s really awful. I’m sorry you had that happen. I’m not really fussed about the CPC1100 because my conditions here really can’t justify the cost and hassle, the 925 will do just fine - if it ever clears up enough to use it again!
CPC 925 is it a beginner's telescope Or Intermediate or Professional??
Nice vid. Looks easier then carrying my 12 dob. Mybe just looks that way.
Asides from the sturdy mount, what are the differences between the evolution 8 and cpc 8?
I’ve never had the Evolution, but from having a glance, I’d say it’s really well geared towards visual use. It has the inbuilt battery and wifi, but the single fork mount is not what I’d personally go for. Great scope though!
@@CellistOnTheRoof it makes me wonder, because that mount looks sturdy enough for the 8 in sct.
@@HelenoPaivait is, much bigger than the SE and has the clutches like the cpc. The 9.25 comes with a cpc tripod.
I think there pins that go into the mount that make easier. I think ed tang covers this.
So the secret is to do deep squats to build core and leg muscles. And a love of astronomy would be a great motivator.
I have the 9.25 GOTO. Do you have any problems with 3 star alignment?
Hi, I don’t use it often but I haven’t had issues!
I just started using SkyPortal alignment feature on my 8SE and it took me 3 times out before I got what I was doing wrong but now no problems and once aligned it puts objects right into the center of eyepiece every time. If you are like me, if all else fails follow the instructions. Clear Skies!
Is it easy to get it to auto track the planets ie keep in the center of view finder
Great video!!.. I guess they save you a fortune in gym membership
If only! I need a gym membership just so I can lift the 925 😄
Have you tried or are you able to use a wedge with them?
I thought about it but ultimately decided not to bother. For DSO imaging I decided to get a dedicated EQ mount, and for everything else the Alt-Az CPC does the job just fine!
❤
2 inch eyepiece is a must for me, which the 8 inch telescope does not accommodate.
It does, all you need is a 2” visual back adapter.
@@CellistOnTheRoof OH! Thanks.
@@primoroythere is so much BS going around in the amateur community over the last 30 years saying you can't use 2" on an 8" because the rear baffle is under 2".
Light comes through in a narrow cone, it works great with 2" eyepieces. You can get almost as wide a field with the 6.3 reducer and 1.25 eyepieces and diagonal. But you are limted to about a 27mm panoptic, maybe a 30mm superwide, before vignetting is a problem with a 6.3 reducer.
But you can hit the maximum 7mm exit pupil with a 40mm plossl on a 6.3 reducer, and you are limited to 5.6mm exit pupil with a 56mm plossl at f10.
But 7mm exit pupil is only.good in dark skies or with an OIII filter. 5.6mm exit pupil is quite sufficient for most wide field DSO viewing
@@CellistOnTheRoof Yes! I have switched almost entirely to 2" eyepieces for my CPC-800 and CPC-1100HD and I even use 2" eyepieces on my Celestron C5+. A few years ago, I gave all but one of my old 1.25" eyepieces to my oldest granddaughter (now 15) for her telescope. I kept a 17mm Celestron Plossl for public star parties and because it is a remarkably good eyepiece for the $45 it cost me back in the early 2000s.
can you hook a pvs14 night vision to it?
9.25 is better if one has a fixed personal dome...where mobility is not required...
Do you think that 1" of aperture makes a noticeable difference?
@@Rick-or2kq Of course, it does.
11” and 14” is even better
Beide schöne Teleskope aber das C 9.25 hat die bessere Optik.
Looks expensive looking at places no one will ever go to
As humans, curiosity about our own universe is something afforded to few, but if you can do it - it’s wonderful. 2nd hand, these telescopes are 30-40% cheaper than new and usually in mint condition. Astronomers tend to take very good care of their equipment.
Great video, thanks!