Customer Reviews

Celestron C9 1/4 SGT StarBright XLT ® Advanced Computerized Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

To call any SCT a jack of all trades is accurate, but to end that thought by saying that it is a master of none does not tell the whole story. For one thing, they really are masters of planetary imaging. There are other areas too, such as DSO observing, where, inch for inch, an SCT is very close to some of its rivals. Still other areas, such as wide field observing or focusing, which are commonly considered an SCTs weak points, are to a large degree corrected by the addition of third party fixes. A good 2" inch diagonal and a Feathertouch focuser make the C9.25 a true pleasure to use. In short, I don't see how anyone could be displeased with this telescope, even first-time scope buyers like myself. You may eventually want to add a refractor to the lineup, but I'll bet you keep the C9.25.

The 9.25 inch has many advantages which I will try to describe below.

1. It is probably the largest really portable telescope for a one person setup. Most scopes ten inches or more in diameter are not as easy to transport and set up.
2. The scope has plenty of back focus. There has been enough for any attachment I have
ever used including many different cameras, spectroscopes, flip mirror boxes, and even tunable wavelength filters.
3. With proper collimation the optics provide diffraction limited crisp views of the moon and planets.
4. Images have slightly better contrast than many other Schmidt Cassegrain telescopes.
5. The mirror is large enough to allow serious deep sky photography.
6. The OTA is easily balanced on a mount.
7. The OTA doesn't shake or vibrate much in a breeze.
8. The OTA backplate accepts an almost endless variety of accessories.
9. The OTA is very affordable when compared with other similar telescopes.
10. There was almost no waiting time between ordering the OTA and receiving it.
11. The scope is easily collimated by adding Bob's "Knobs" or similar screws and it holds collimation well.

There are also a few disadvantages:

1. Dew collects on the corrector plate with ease and needs to be prevented from collecting
or removed.
2. There is a lot of mirror shift when focusing which is an annoyance for solar system
photography.
3. The focusing knob is rather coarse and fine focusing adjustments are tricky.
4. The finderscope is barely adequate and is difficult to adjust.

Conclusions:
This is a very capable and affordable telescope that is suitable for both deep sky and solar system photography and visual work. It is light for its size and is easily transported and set up by one person. The aperature is about the right size to achieve the maximum possible resolution allowed by the atmosphere on the great majority of New England nights. When properly collimated it provides diffraction limited views and it provides good contrast between the subject and background sky. It accepts an incredibly large variety of attachments and has plenty of back focus. Minor annoyances include its tendency to accumulate dew on the corrector plate, some difficulty in fine focusing, mirror shift, and a barely adequate finderscope. Cooldown time is acceptable but could be improved.

Based on Astronomy magazine's telescope "report cards," this telescope is best used for...
Lunar Observation: Very Good.
Planetary Observation: Very Good.
Binary/Star Cluster Observation: Very Good.
Galaxy/Nebula Observation: Very Good.
Photography Possible.