Celestron 52268 C90 Mak Spotting scope (Black)

by Celestron

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 16 x 7 x 10 inches ; 5.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 17 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0038QYRDO
• Item model number: C90 Mak
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #952 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
  • #27 in Camera & Photo > Binoculars, Telescopes & Optics > Spotting Scopes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 17, 2010

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Celestron’s 52268 90mm Maksutov Spotting Scope delivers excellent high power optics in a compact, affordable package. The 52268 package includes a backpack style soft carrying case, an 8x21 erect image finder scope, a 1.25 inch size correct image 45* prism diagonal, and a fully coated 32mm plossl eyepiece for a magnification of 39X.

The Maksutov-Cassegrain design of the C90 uses a combination of mirrors and lenses; this “folded” optical system has a focal length of 1250mm in a body only twelve inches long. The Maksutov design delivers high power views without a trace of the chromatic aberration, also called blue fringing, that can distort high power views in competing refractor style spotting scopes. At 40X magnification where some low cost spotting scopes start to seem fuzzy, the C90 is just getting started. The C90 uses the same 1.25 inch eyepieces used in astronomical telescopes. The standard equipment 32mm plossl eyepiece yields a magnification of 39X, but many other eyepieces can be used to vary the magnification.

The Celestron model 52268 seems very well built, with excellent multi-coatings visible on the front lens. The real beauty of this 90mm Maksutov spotting scope, however, is in the view it offers. When I use an optional 12.5mm eyepiece to look at Jupiter at 100X I can clearly see Jupiter’s major cloud bands as well as its four moons. When I look at the Moon and stars I can easily push the magnification to 200X with an optional 6mm eyepiece. When I look at birds in the backyard, I’m treated to delightful views full of vibrant color and crisp detail. With a close focus distance of only 15 feet, the detail and texture I see is simply amazing.

High magnification viewing requires a solid tripod, of course. Celestron’s Heavy Duty Altazimuth Tripod comes with slow motion controls to allow the scope to be pointed precisely, and I can clamp the dovetail base on my CG5 mount for astronomical use. The other drawback to high magnification viewing is a narrow field of view; high magnification makes it hard to follow moving targets like birds in flight. Overall the Celestron C90 Maksutov Spotting Scope does a fine job as a companion to good pair of binoculars. The C90 also doubles as a portable astronomy scope; it won’t show the flag on the Moon but it will show thousands of craters on the Moon as well as showing the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Compact and portable
• Excellent high power optics
• Upgradeable with 1.25” eyepieces
• Adaptable for astronomy and photography

Cons:

• Not waterproof

Product Description

Perfect for all Types of Viewing Situations! Celestron's C90 Mak is ideal for outdoor and wildlife observing, as well as hunting and celestial viewing. The Maksutov optical design is recognized for being a portable design that is easy to use and has a variety of applications, making it an excellent choice for both terrestrial and astronomical usage. This C90 Mak has excellent optics with razor sharp images over a wide field.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Camera Lense, March 30, 2010

By 

Bobby G. Bristoe (Ellettsville Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Celestron 52268 C90 Mak Spotting scope (Black) (Electronics)

First of all, this is a great little telescope. I unpackaged it and didn't even bother with the eyepiece. I attached my Canon Rebal to it right off the bat and took pictures of first light of the moon. I recieved it on March 29 2010 and it just happened to be a full moon. The pictures I got where stunning, and clear. both of my boys loved it too. Just bare on the camera, it is a 1250mm lense. To give you an idea, with a 50mm lense, the moon is little more than a dot, at 300mm, the moon takes up maybe 1/10th of the picture frame. With the 90mm Mac, the moon fills the frame. I did also try the 32mm eyepiece out tonight, and it is also a stunning view. I looked at the Orion Nebula, but I do need a stouter tripod, and the moon. As a starter scope, this is a fantastic buy. I have only used it at night, but I can tell you that with the stars as bright as they are in this scope, day time views have to be awsome. I also baught the Celestron Lense kit, but I will have to wait on my tripod to use the higher powered eyepieces. You might want to consider a star tracking tripod. I will be doing some time exposier photography when I get mine in. Orion will probably be first. I hope Celestron keeps making this scope. By the way, this is a metal scope, not plastic. It comes with a no fault life time warranty, and is constructed very well.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astronomy scope?, October 7, 2010

By 

Divot (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

The 52268 has a Vixen-style dovetail mounting plate with 1/4-20 threaded holes which allow it to be mounted on many astronomy and photography tripods. However, for some reason known only to Celestron and OpticsPlanet, as of January 2010 this all-metal scope is being sold as a "spotting scope." It comes with: a 45-degree image-erecting prism; two eyepieces; a 1.25 inch / T-adapter (for a camera); a thing made almost totally of plastic one may, with foolish optimism, call a "tripod"; a tiny 8x21 finder scope; a backpack for the scope and eyepieces; and a very tight bag for the tripod.

To convert the 52268 into an astronomy scope one needs to buy a 90-degree 1.25 inch star diagonal, and I suggest adding a red dot finder, a moon filter, and some astronomy books. Additional eyepieces are not required as the included Plossls are adequate and give you 39x and 100x--two very useful powers. What else? Adding a REAL ASTRONOMY TRIPOD AND MOUNT--something like the Vixen Porta-II or the Astro-Tech Voyager or the Celestron Omni CG-4--could turn this into a very good grab-and-go scope.

I originally rated this as four stars because of the tripod, but the scope shouldn't be penalized. Whoever set up this package could not possibly include a $250 astronomy or photo (see the Manfrotto 055XB and Bogen 410 geared head) tripod for the price.

UPDATE 10/7/10

After using this scope with the Manfrotto 055XB tripod and Bogen 410 geared head mostly for astronomy for about six months, my impressions: You get what you get, which is a 3 1/2 inch aperture (somewhat reduced by the center mirror) telescope. I still like two included eyepieces for astronomy. I could clearly see the single band now visible on Jupiter with the 100x eyepiece this past weekend. The focuser is smooth. Very nice.

But with only 3 1/2 inches-worth of light, you don't get bright views of dim objects. Yes, you can see the ring and dumbbell nebulas in a field of black, but an 8-inch scope breathtakingly fills the black field with stars. This scope works best for the bright stuff: lunar and planetary observing. With that limitation, for its size and price, it is excellent.

As for tripods, the Manfrotto 055XB tripod and Bogen 410 geared head are functional, sturdy, rugged and compact, however the Vixen and Astro-Tech mentioned above are designed for astronomy, and are probably easier to use.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Celestron C90 Mak Spotting Scope (Black), October 14, 2011

By 

Flying4905 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Celestron 52268 C90 Mak Spotting scope (Black) (Electronics)

The only other telescope I have owned was a tiny, cheapo K-mart thing that I had when I was 13. With it I was able to make out the moons of Jupiter, however, which was utterly fascinating.

Fast forward many years, I just purchased the Celestron C90 scope, and it's a whole 'nother animal. Comes with all the accessories you will need except a tripod, including a handy backpack style soft case. The dovetail mount is drilled and tapped to fit any standard tripod. Comes with 45 degree image erector, Plossl type eyepiece, lens covers, a sighting scope, lens cloth, etc.

I bought this unit to use as a terrestrial spotting scope, and for the price it is a remarkable unit. It has a quality look and heavy weight feel that is impressive for a scope in this price range. These catadioptric-style scopes have a couple of real advantages vs. traditional, refractor type spotting scopes. First, the C90 uses common 1.25" astronomic eyepieces, of which there are multitudes of them in the aftermarket to choose from (although the 32mm eyepiece that is included is quite good, this was a nice surprise). Secondly, the C90 is capable of providing very good images at focal lengths (i.e. high magnification) that leave regular spotting scopes in the dust.

I did a quick test of the unit mounted on a Bogen tripod and pointed it at Jupiter on a night with about a quarter moon. To my surprise, I could faintly make out the bands on the planet disk itself. With a set of filters I'm sure the color bands would have been even more evident. Views of the moon were contrasty, very bright and quite sharp. The focusing knob, at the rear of the main scope tube, is very precise and has a nice feel/resistance to its motion. To be sure, the C90 would make a dandy backyard astronomic telescope, although a motorized astro tripod would be necessary to truly enjoy star-gazing with it. Informal daytime terrestrial viewing with various eyepieces showed crisp, contrasty images at magnifications twice that of typical refractor spotting scopes in this price range. A bonus: the rear case of the C90 is threaded for cameras using the T-mount system, and given the right tripod and camera setup, can provide quite impressive photographic results.

Recommended accessories for this wonderful little scope - a Celestron "zoom" eyepiece, to minimize swapping out single-focal-length eyepieces; also, a sturdy, high-quality tripod of either the camera or the astronomical variety, depending on your needs.

SUMMARY: A very capable, sturdy spotting/astro scope for a very attractive price. I'm super pleased with the Celestron C90, and it is a pleasure to own and use.