Celestron timeline

I know there have been tremendous swings in quality through the years.

I have a late '80s Super C8 with Starbrite and I'm wondering how this "Japan" scope compares to the current "far-east-country-that-will-remain-nameless" versions.

Do the current coating/glass enhancements make the new models better?

I use mine with a 17mm Type 4 Nagler most of the time.

Thanks.

P

I would check out Rod Mollise's website, if you haven't already. He has a large PDF file for download called, "Uncle Rod's Used SCT Buyer's Guide". It's very informative, organized chronologically, and details all the different models Celestron, Meade, and others have come out with over the years. You can find it hear:

http://skywatch.brainiac.com/used/index.htm

The older SCT's were NEVER made in Japan. Up until the new c-6 SCT They were ALWAYS made in USA - always in Calf.

The newer coatings are defiantely "better" then the original no coatings, then "Enhanced Coatings", then "Starbright" coatings. However, I believe the optical quality was a bit better in the 70's and early 80's scopes - at least from a consistantcy standpoint.

The years to worry about are from around 84 through 90 - known by some as the "Halley" years - where most scope manufactures switched to quantity over quality. With that said, of the 15+ 8" sct's I've owned the single best optically was an Ultima 8 PEC from around 90 - it was simply a breathtaking scope optically. I'm still kicking myself from ever selling it .

BTW - I highly recomend Robert Piekiel's e-book as a reference source for all 8"sct's....

http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=457615

paul putkowski said:

I know there have been tremendous swings in quality through the years.

I have a late '80s Super C8 with Starbrite and I'm wondering how this "Japan" scope compares to the current "far-east-country-that-will-remain-nameless" versions.


P

IN what was was the Super C8 a "Japan scope"? It was made in good old California, USA.

That said, the current Celestron SCTs, whether made in China (the SEs) or California (the rest) are quite noticeably better than the late 80s scopes.

Unk Rod