Celestron C90 users?
Toews Karen
articles and the FAQ from this group, the C-90 looks great. I was
wondering if anyone out there uses or has used this scope? Comment and
criticisms would be very helpful. The only neagative things I have read
that are that the focus ring is awkward and the scope is heavy. I would
also be interested to know what tripods have been used with this scope.
Bogen seems to make a lot of tripods and I'm having a difficult time
deciding. Thanks a lot!
Karen
Randi S. Minetor
I have been using a Celestron scope for four years. While mine is not a
C-90, it's very similar -- it's actually a photographic lens (500mm) that
my husband uses both for photograpahy and as an astronomical telescope. We
also own Celestron 7x50 binoculars, which are the best I've ever used.
I have found the scope to be exceptional in the field on a sunny day. With
my 25mm eyepiece and image erecting prism, I can get up to 36x
magnification -- great for observing ducks on the other side of a marsh.
However, mine is a Cassegrain (mirror) format and doesn't let in nearly as
much light as the Kowa or new Nikon scopes do, so in a less-than-optimum
situation you're at a disadvantage. Plus, it is indeed heavier than most
recommended birding scopes.
Showing up on a birding trip with a Celestron sure does impress the other
birders -- making them think you know more than perhaps you actually do.
This can be a severe disadvantage if you want to be unobtrusive among a
group of experienced birders!
I've been using a Bogen phototgraphic tripod with the scope, and would
recommend one of the more lightweight ones -- the number doesn't come to me
immediately, but the one in the $90 range (in Orion catalog) would be very
good for field birding.
I myself plan to purchase a Kowa scope with the fluorite lens in the next
six months, to replace my Celestron.
--Randi Minetor
rmin...@pipeline.com
susan cassidy
I have a C90, and although it does give a bright image, due to the
larger-than-average aperture, I think that for birding, I would have
been happier with a Kowa or similar. I may trade mine in for a Kowa,
Swarovski, etc. The focus mechanism is very awkward. I need to get
a decent zoom eyepiece for mine, too. Changing eyepieces to get a
higher magnification is too much hassle for me to do in the field.
We also have a B & L Spacemaster that we use all the time in the field and
from our "bird viewing window" at home, but would like to upgrade to
better optics someday. I thought the C90 would be a good compromise
for both birding and astronomy, but I don't like it for either.
--
Susan Cassidy
email: susan....@sandiegoca.attgis.com
Michael Tiffany
toew...@raven.csrv.uidaho.edu (Toews Karen) wrote:
> I am thinking about purchasing a spotting scope, and after reading review
> articles and the FAQ from this group, the C-90 looks great. I was
> wondering if anyone out there uses or has used this scope?
I have had a C90 for about 12 years. It works fairly well as a spotting
scope, but set-up is a bit awkward, since you have to put in the porro
prism and the eyepiece (30mm). Make sure (if you get one) that you get the
big rubber shade for the front.
The C90 doesn't seem to be significantly heavier than the old Spacemaster,
but the new refractor scopes are probably lighter.
Where the C90 really shines is as a telephoto lens. It is far lighter and
cheaper than a standard 1000mm tele of equivalent speed. Image quality is
excellent, although purists object to the donuts formed by out-of-focus
highlights. The C90 is light enough and fast enough to use with a gunstock
or even hand-held, and I have some very good shots of hawks on the wing,
etc. I can't afford the kind of equipment the pros use for this sort of
thing.
Tripods: I use an inexpensive Velbon video tripod with quick-connect and
it works well enough. Bogen is probably higher quality.
Yiams
photography, interchangeable eyepieces, and price.
I've used it for several years and really enjoy it. Granted, it is bulkier
and can be somewhat fragile (when compared to refractor scopes), and it is
slower to set up and take down. When I compare my image versus a small
refractor scope, it is worth the time and trouble.
Then, changing eyepieces to "zoom" in on a questionable id makes the other
quite jealous!
I really like it and would definitely purchase another. If you want
photography, don't purchase the armored version. The lens hood will not
fit and that causes problems with photography.
Have fun, Randy
Yiams
I've owned a Celestron C90 for several years and am very pleased with the
scope.
If I may explain my choice. I wanted something for a scope to which I
could attach a camera and use it as a lens. The C90 becomes a 1000mm f/11
reflector. It means you need some good light and/or fast film (EI 200 or
more unders questionable lighting -- heavy overcast). I have been please
with the shots I've taken with the lens.
As a spotting scope a reflector style is not as rugged as a refractor. It
is larger, but does not weigh much more. It does require a bit longer to
set up and tear down, so mobility can be a problem.
When I purchased my C90 I obtained a 33x, 56x, and 83x ocular set. This
allows me to "zoom" in on the subject. This is where you can feel the
jealousy waves emmanating from the people with small, portable refractor
scopes! Beware! Other oculars are available on both sides of the range I
stated above. There is one problem by going higher: If you go beyond 83x
you experience the "Law of Dimishing Returns". The amount of light you
lose withthe higher powers does not make it worth it -- from how I
understand it.
If you get more oculars I would also make these recommendations: buy a
slow motion head for your tripod. Without it, even the slightest movement,
when adjusting the tripod head by hand, produces a visual jolt that is
most unpleasant. And the beastie you've been trying to id for the last 5
min is nowhere within the scope's view anymore. I discovered this the hard
way and was quickly on the telephone with plastic in hand to find a slo-mo
device. It's WONDERFUL!
Second recommendation is a good, sturdy tripod. I use a Bogen 3021. Yes,
it is somewhat heavy, but if you spend bucks on the scope and the image
doesn't remain steady due to a cheap (<insert preferred name or letter
here> - mart) tripod -- it ain't worth it. I find any Bogen tripod to be
well built.
If you're still shopping, check Christopher's. Ltd. somewhere in Oklahoma.
There are ad's in the back of Audubon magazine, I know. You may also want
to try Orion Telescope.
Have fun!
Randall D. Williams
from the Home Office (boy) in Sioux City, Iowa
Linda Payzant
:
: >I am thinking about purchasing a spotting scope, and after reading review
: >articles and the FAQ from this group, the C-90 looks great. I was
: >wondering if anyone out there uses or has used this scope? Comment and
: >criticisms would be very helpful. The only neagative things I have read
: >that are that the focus ring is awkward and the scope is heavy.
That's certainly correct about the focus ring being awkward. We used to
own a C90. If you have small hands, it's very difficult to use the focus
ring because the diameter is so great. Also we found that in the winter
the focus ring would almost sieze up entirely (this is in Nova Scotia).
We now own a Kowa and we are _very_ pleased with it.
--
Linda Payzant, Waverley, N.S.
T.N. Bishop
First, as a 1000mm telephoto lens, it was always very disappointing; the
photos look washed out, and I used it very little for that.
Second, the optics were disappointing until I got rid of the .96" eyepieces
and replaced it with 1 1/4" Erfle eyepieces. What a difference. Although
I got it for astronomy originally (for which it works OK, in my opinion),
I was pretty happy with it for birding for about 10 years, because of the
bright images that these better eyepieces gave.
Third, focusing is very tough, especially when people not used to it are
trying to see a bird thru your scope.
Last year, after wondering about it for years, I looked through the recently
reintroduced Celestron C-5 and that's all it took. Traded in my C90 towards
it and havent regretted it at all. The C-5 is about twice as expensive as
the C90, but makes it look like a toy. The focusing is MUCH better, the
sighting is much quicker and more accurate, and the resolution and colors
are outstanding. It's heavy, but light enough to carry around for a few
hours.
Has anyone else used a C-5 for birding?
Tom Bishop
pacbell.c...@frsni08.frsn5555.pacbell.com
In article <D1sEF...@cs.dal.ca>, <aa...@cfn.cs.dal.ca> writes:
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> From: aa...@cfn.cs.dal.ca (Linda Payzant)
> Subject: Re: Celestron C90 users?
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> Date: Mon, 2 Jan 1995 16:42:47 GMT
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>
> : Karen writes:
> :
> : >I am thinking about purchasing a spotting scope, and after reading review
>
> : >articles and the FAQ from this group, the C-90 looks great. I was
> : >wondering if anyone out there uses or has used this scope? Comment and
> : >criticisms would be very helpful. The only neagative things I have read
> : >that are that the focus ring is awkward and the scope is heavy.
>
>
getting used to the focas ring. If I rember HA it was about
two weeks for me to master it's use on close birds 6-30 ft.
when using it as a lens on a nikon f2as. Have had many great
shots with it but you should use asa200+ 1000 IS best.
My old one came with 9/16" ?? oculars that where
soon upgraded to 1 1/4"and stright prism only use the small
ones now when in the desert in day the 1 1/4 get to bright
and hard an the eyes.
You must get a good tripod (rec. bogan with video head)
this dose add some weight my unit is apx. 8lbs. but again this
can be used by many? I just did one CBC in Los Banos Ca. and
carried it for four hrs. and 5 miles. with no tbl. it took
all the guess work out of id'ing sparrow at 100+ yds.
It takes me about 1 1/2 min. to but together
(take out of case remove covers put on prism and eye piece
and mount on tripod) after that I leave it set up for the rest
of the day and tose it in the back of the car. Have had it
knocked over twice so far it only has some scars and has not
died been lucky.
good birding
tony leonardini
wa6qmq