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Celestron C102F
| Brand | Celestron |
| Part Number | |
| Availability | available |
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Product Info
Overview
Reviews
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Dec 4, 2007
C102F - Best APO from the 1980s
Pros:Light weight, absolutely excellent optics.
Cons:The orignal focuser is okay. The Moonlite is an easy change over.
Comments:There are two back issue magazine articles and two reviews from amateur telescope book reviews that may be of interest to anyone interested in learning about the C102F.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
ASTRONOMY, June 1990, pg.52, "ASTRONOMY Tests Four Medium-Aperture Refractors". The testers said, "The C102F is as color-free as any refractor we've ever seen...Optically the Celestron was tops..."
SKY & TELESCOPE, April 2004, pg. 124, "Daytime Telescoping Testing" by Ernie Pfannenschmidt. The data showed that the C102F had a Chromatic aberration of 0.015 percent whereas the other four OTAs tested were between 0.019-0.057 percent. The same C102 along with two other OTAs tested had no visual color.
Also in both Phillip S. Harrington's, STAR WARE 2nd edition on pg. 110, and 3rd edition pg. 180, he listed "10 of the Best Telescopes of Yesteryear," (from ratings sent in by his readers) and the C102F was among them.
In the text portion of his first edition of STAR WARE, on page 63, Mr. Harrington states: "As good as the C102 is, the C102F is in an entirely different class. Though it costs considerably more than the C102, the higher price is offset by the instrument's exceptional quality. Contrast, false color supression, and sharpness are all extraordinary. The images produced by the C102F are amoung the best of any 4-inch aprochromat sold today." (1994)
Also, THE BACKYARD ASTROMONOMER'S GUIDE, revised edition, by Terence Dickinson & Alan Dyer, on page 60, under "Great Telescopes of the Past," rated the "Celestron/Vixen Flourite Apo Refractors... as ...supersharp..., and are amoung the finest small-aperture refractors ever made." (2002)
The quality of views in my circa 1988 C102F is such that I had no reservations in increasing my investment in this telescope. I added a 2" MoonLite CF1-V focuser with the motor focus option and the 4.5" compression ring draw tube with 1.25" adapter. With this focuser, I had MoonLite custom make a custom dovetail plate so that I can continue to use the original adjustable multi-position finderscope which is quite unique. I also added Vixen supplied tube stickers next to the original Celestron stickers. I replaced the Vixen Super Polaris mount with a Great Polaris DX mount with half pier and wooden tripod legs. I added a Vixen tube ring accessory plate to the top of the scope. I also purchased a Vixen Sky Sensor 2000-PC computer/motor drive version 2.06 which was the last one made that can interface with a laptop computer. I placed all this on a set of JMI Wheely Bars with 5" wheels. On the Wheely Bars, I added a custom made large triangular aluminum accessory tray.
The scope is not only a scope to die for but it's one that you would want to die with. You will never see mine for sale on the astro classifieds in my lifetime.Jul 16, 2007Celestron by Vixen C102 Fluorite F8.8
Pros:Sharp color free Apo optics, good mechanics, reasonably priced on used market
Cons:No longer available; focuser should be upgraded
Comments:This was and still is a well sought out used APO refractor. An early review by Astronomy magazine in the early 90's claimed this scope was the best optically of the 4 APO refractors tested at the time. My particular example is a testament to that review. I see ZERO color on bright objects, comparing Jupiter in the C102F with my 6" refractor, I see a creamy pastel white orb, compared to the yellowish color orb with the achromat. Venus is pure white, so are bright stars. Optically there is some slight under-correction with the optics, sharp diffraction rings inside focus, less sharp diffraction rings outside focus, but it does what a good refractor is meant to do which is to provide crisp snap in focus views of the planets, double stars, or the lunar limb. It does quite well on DSOs also, as contrast is one of the keys to observing them. This particular C102F has been updated with a beautiful MoonLite 2 speed focuser (see my review on the MoonLite), which is the icing on the cake that a premium refractor should have. The Vixen focuser, though acceptable, is no match to this MoonLite focuser. The F/8.8 OTA has a larger tube of 114mm diameter, is well baffled, is solidly constructed, and still relatively lightweight. If you are in the market for an high quality APO refractor, but on a fixed budget, keep an eye open for a used Celestron/Vixen C102F OTA. They are a real bargain in today's market of Apo refractors.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? YesSort by
