Great review! My 5th telescope was a Celestron 4se ota bought used for travel and planets even when I was home I'd set it up for planets while I used bigger scopes for DSO's. I recently bought the adapter for my dslr hoping to try it out soon.
I'm completely on-board! I found a "black tube" C-90 in a charity shop a couple of years back for just $25 US. It had a little cosmetic damage but the optics looked great. Took it home and added it to the collection of assorted Maks and short-tubes that I've collected over the past 50+ years of observing...and then forgot about it! A year later (just pre-COVID) I was packing for a star party and on a whim added the C-90 to the pile. Best move of the year! Under clear, black West Virginia skies I came to the same realization you did...THAT is one fine little telescope. It goes everywhere with me, these days.
I watched your video when I already wanted to buy the C90, and thanks to you I discovered the small and awesome AZ-GTI ! I have now the same combo as you, C90 on a AZ-GTI and the Celestron Zoom Eyepiece (but with a 14mm 82° eyepiece on the way) :) . For the finder I 3D printed a holder for a green laser pointer I already had, it works really well and it's very compact, but I'll maybe buy the Rigel Quickfinder like you because it's more discrete ^^ . I also 3D printed a dewshield and did the flock paper mod inside the back tube to increase contrast... And all of this fits in the Celestron backpack ! It's really awesome to be able to travel so easily with this and to be able to lift the whole with one hand :-o . The optics are also realy great, stars are really sharp and I can see a beautiful airy disk without prior collimation. One mistake I made is that I didn't bought the original Skywatcher tripod with the AZ-GTI because I wanted something smaller... But seriously, if you wanna buy it, go for the Skywatcher tripod, it's maybe bulkier but it's REALLY stable, and this Mak NEEDS stability.
Well, John, you called it. Guess who just ordered a C90 as his 3rd telescope? I'm headed out to visit my daughter in Edmonton just before Christmas so this is not an Astronomy focused trip. HOWEVER, this past July I took my NexStar 6SE with me and loved observing at Elk Island National Park near Edmonton and at Jasper National Park. I couldn't face going back without a telescope so, here we are. From my other scopes (I can't believe how little time this took) I have an astronomy tripod, a good 90-degree diagonal, a selection of eyepieces, and I can't wait to try out the C90. Thanks for validating my choice and please keep up the excellent work.
Maks have that little extra bit of optical pixie dust sprinkled on them that makes them punch far above their weight. Dunno how or why, but they just do. I'll suggest the Celestron NexStar 90 instead of the C90. Same optical tube, but, like you said, the C90 is designed for terrestrial use. The NexStar 90 comes with the 90-degree diagonal, two eyepieces, and a perfectly good red dot finder that's located in the correct place for ease of use. Plus, the NexStar 90 is already on a computerized/motorized mount/tripod, so no need to buy another one, like the perfectly good AZ-GTi that you show in your video. The cost of the package you've put together is $239 (USD) for the C90 plus $379 for the AZ-GTi = $618. The NexStar 90 is $420, all in. Or, there's also the AZ-GTi package with the scope included. The 102 Mak on the AZ-GTi is $555 - more aperture, still small enough to be easily portable, and still cheaper than the combo in the video.
I have a little Firstscope dobsonian. Looking for one of these now as an inexpensive camera lens for photos. Should also be great for camping, especially with a small tabletop tripod. Edit: got an older model c90. So far it's been great! It works well on my video tripod with fluid head (i.e. slow motion) and the odd focuser makes it a little more compact, length-wise. It's way lighter than a comparable 4se. So yeah... get one! It's a fabulous scope.
You know since last week I started getting interested into telescopes and spent days on forums and yt looking for the ideal all-in-one telescope: portable and able to be carried on a plane in a bag, with good optics (for both planets and DSO) that would make people go "wow" and enough potential to scale up to astrophotography if I get interested later on. you absolutely convinced me that this MAK is the telescope I been looking for
It’s mostly the mount, which I still use every week for astrophotography. Although I would get the latest version, the Skyadventurer GTi. But yes, the MaK is great as a travel scope.
Nice. I just bought an AZ GTi mount and tripod. But, I use my Orion Observer 134mm Newtonian (6.5 pounds) on it, along with a SVBONY SV405CC camera for EAA.
Thanks for the video! I'm about to buy the Celestron C90, but I'm unsure about what tripod I should get. As a beginner, ideally I'd like to start with a tripod that cost me less than the telescope itself. What would you recommend?
Im literally in the confusing process of trying to select my first telescope. I have been guided towards the c90. Just as Im about to purchase, I see your video saying it should not be your first lol so confusing! For the reasons that Im mostly just looking to start very basic! moon, and other planets in our solar system. Learning how to find them in the sky. Ive read that the finder with the c90 is not that great and should be replaced with a red dot finder. Im also looking to travel with it to places. And lastly, its apparently very low maintenance and does not require adjusting (whereas Dobsonian heritge table tops are not travel friendly, and do require some maintenance. ) Does this all sound correct to you?
I love this scope! Pared with the AZGTi mount, it has been a dream to travel with (as I said in the video). You won’t be disappointed. That said, there is a larger 127mm version made by skywatcher that still fits in a backpack and goes on the same mount (if you have it in the budget).www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1141693-REG/sky_watcher_s11520_127mm_maksutov_cassegrain_ota.html
I bought it as my first scope even when you warned not to hehe but i dont regret it i started with moon and planetary even without tracking and had amazin results then i bought a startracker (not the go to now i regret) and better pics also with a zwo plante camera, now im starting deep sky and bought the asiair, the road couldve been easier but it made me learn from the basics, and i think with the asiair polar align and finding things will be easier anyways j wanted to thank you for me is also the best scope. Oh and the 3x xcel celestron barlow works incredibe in the moon its spectacular the procesed pic of crater plato and mountains
I am thinking of buying one, but I keep hearing/reading reviews that this telescope is dim. Like the main complaint. What are your 2 cents on this? Nice video's for beginners! Off course I subscribed :)
Dimness comes with magnification (this telescope offers high magnification for the size). However, this also makes the sky blacker which seems to make deep-sky objects stand out against the background. I had no trouble seeing galaxies only a few minutes from the city.
Here's everything you ever wanted to know about diagonals: www.cloudynights.com/articles/cat/articles/mirror-vs-dielectric-vs-prism-diagonal-comparison-r2877
I cant decide if I should go with this, or the Skymax 102. I have a DSLR camera and the Star Adventurer 2i I'd like to pair it with. What do you think?
If you can compare them side to side, it'll help: you might find the slight aperture difference important, or the weight difference, or the focusing mechanism. I found that for a packable scope like this, I preferred lighter weight to slightly more aperture. You might feel differently.
Can you post a link to your view finder. I connect mine to a star adventurer. But finding stuff with the view finder is horrible. I was considering a green laser pointer.
It will depend on atmospheric conditions at that magnification. I can get great views of Jupiter (and all four moons!) at 7mm on a good night. You probably can't do much better than 180x with a C90; there comes a point when aperture diffraction becomes a limiting factor.
I've ordered one online, but just read a review about it having a major alignment problem. I dont know if I should cancel the order, or just take my chances? Thanks.
@@LearnToStargaze Thanks. I'm looking forward to using it. I also bought the 8-24mm eyepiece, and hopefully be able to see Jupiter's red spot and Saturn's rings. I'm new to astronomy, so it might take a while. lol.
I loved this video.!! I am researching for my first telescope and this is one of my two final choices. The other being the Astro-tech 60mm ED. I need portability (for airline travel and camping), ease of use and durable. This will be taken into cold climates (I live in Estonia) so I will buy a dew shield and be careful of condensation… Anyway I would (realistically for now) like to attach my iPhone 14 pro to either rig and get photos of planets (if possible) , Milky Way and other sky objects. I may eventually get into using a dslr but this will be for visual mostly I could certainly also use as a spotter for wildlife but that is not the main goal…. I’m torn. :)
@@LearnToStargaze THank you. I have a rather silly question. I photograph aurora with my iphone. What is seen on the phone is much brighter than with the naked eye. That said, what can I expect to see with my eyes when looking through either scope? I imagine that images of moon/planets I will be able to see much like they are on photos. What of the nebulas/milky way/galaxies or stars though? My assumption is that I not see the same as what is seen on the photos in either scope.... I will be doing a lot of visual stuff so need to keep my expectation in check. Thank you again. :)
@@lindasuti1610 If you want to get technical, when viewed with a human eye, the telescope doesn't make anything any brighter than seen without a telescope. A Telescope only makes things bigger, higher resolution, and makes dimmer stars show up; otherwise, nothing gets brighter (unless you're using a camera of course). Galaxies and Nebula require dark skies to see with the human eye. (If you have REALLY keen eyes, you can see several galaxies without a telescope, in dark skies of course). My "how to use any telescope" video has several examples of how things appear to the human eye.
Hold up. There’s no reason for that finderscope to be on the bottom. Rotate the scope along the bearing axis, relocate the Rigel, and you’re good, right?? I’m guessing if it were that obvious you’d have done it though. Would you mind explaining the problem a bit more? My C90 is on the way so I don’t have one to tinker with directly yet.
Great review! My 5th telescope was a Celestron 4se ota bought used for travel and planets even when I was home I'd set it up for planets while I used bigger scopes for DSO's. I recently bought the adapter for my dslr hoping to try it out soon.
I'm completely on-board! I found a "black tube" C-90 in a charity shop a couple of years back for just $25 US. It had a little cosmetic damage but the optics looked great. Took it home and added it to the collection of assorted Maks and short-tubes that I've collected over the past 50+ years of observing...and then forgot about it! A year later (just pre-COVID) I was packing for a star party and on a whim added the C-90 to the pile. Best move of the year! Under clear, black West Virginia skies I came to the same realization you did...THAT is one fine little telescope.
It goes everywhere with me, these days.
Great find!
I watched your video when I already wanted to buy the C90, and thanks to you I discovered the small and awesome AZ-GTI ! I have now the same combo as you, C90 on a AZ-GTI and the Celestron Zoom Eyepiece (but with a 14mm 82° eyepiece on the way) :) . For the finder I 3D printed a holder for a green laser pointer I already had, it works really well and it's very compact, but I'll maybe buy the Rigel Quickfinder like you because it's more discrete ^^ . I also 3D printed a dewshield and did the flock paper mod inside the back tube to increase contrast... And all of this fits in the Celestron backpack ! It's really awesome to be able to travel so easily with this and to be able to lift the whole with one hand :-o . The optics are also realy great, stars are really sharp and I can see a beautiful airy disk without prior collimation. One mistake I made is that I didn't bought the original Skywatcher tripod with the AZ-GTI because I wanted something smaller... But seriously, if you wanna buy it, go for the Skywatcher tripod, it's maybe bulkier but it's REALLY stable, and this Mak NEEDS stability.
Yes! It's the perfect combo for travel. Now that I have the AZ-GTI on a wedge, I got the Sharpstar 61, which is great for imaging on the go.
Well, John, you called it. Guess who just ordered a C90 as his 3rd telescope?
I'm headed out to visit my daughter in Edmonton just before Christmas so this is not an Astronomy focused trip. HOWEVER, this past July I took my NexStar 6SE with me and loved observing at Elk Island National Park near Edmonton and at Jasper National Park. I couldn't face going back without a telescope so, here we are.
From my other scopes (I can't believe how little time this took) I have an astronomy tripod, a good 90-degree diagonal, a selection of eyepieces, and I can't wait to try out the C90. Thanks for validating my choice and please keep up the excellent work.
I’ve definitely had more fun with that little telescope than almost any other. Have a great time on your trip!!!
Maks have that little extra bit of optical pixie dust sprinkled on them that makes them punch far above their weight. Dunno how or why, but they just do.
I'll suggest the Celestron NexStar 90 instead of the C90. Same optical tube, but, like you said, the C90 is designed for terrestrial use. The NexStar 90 comes with the 90-degree diagonal, two eyepieces, and a perfectly good red dot finder that's located in the correct place for ease of use. Plus, the NexStar 90 is already on a computerized/motorized mount/tripod, so no need to buy another one, like the perfectly good AZ-GTi that you show in your video.
The cost of the package you've put together is $239 (USD) for the C90 plus $379 for the AZ-GTi = $618. The NexStar 90 is $420, all in.
Or, there's also the AZ-GTi package with the scope included. The 102 Mak on the AZ-GTi is $555 - more aperture, still small enough to be easily portable, and still cheaper than the combo in the video.
I have a little Firstscope dobsonian. Looking for one of these now as an inexpensive camera lens for photos. Should also be great for camping, especially with a small tabletop tripod.
Edit: got an older model c90. So far it's been great! It works well on my video tripod with fluid head (i.e. slow motion) and the odd focuser makes it a little more compact, length-wise. It's way lighter than a comparable 4se. So yeah... get one! It's a fabulous scope.
Whowoo, yep, I'm off to buy one. Thanks very much! X
You know since last week I started getting interested into telescopes and spent days on forums and yt looking for the ideal all-in-one telescope: portable and able to be carried on a plane in a bag, with good optics (for both planets and DSO) that would make people go "wow" and enough potential to scale up to astrophotography if I get interested later on. you absolutely convinced me that this MAK is the telescope I been looking for
It’s mostly the mount, which I still use every week for astrophotography. Although I would get the latest version, the Skyadventurer GTi. But yes, the MaK is great as a travel scope.
Nice. I just bought an AZ GTi mount and tripod. But, I use my Orion Observer 134mm Newtonian (6.5 pounds) on it, along with a SVBONY SV405CC camera for EAA.
Fun!
Thanks for the video!
I'm about to buy the Celestron C90, but I'm unsure about what tripod I should get. As a beginner, ideally I'd like to start with a tripod that cost me less than the telescope itself.
What would you recommend?
At minimum: www.highpointscientific.com/celestron-heavy-duty-alt-az-tripod-93607
It all there in the video. Sorry. Great video and very formative Thanks
Im literally in the confusing process of trying to select my first telescope. I have been guided towards the c90. Just as Im about to purchase, I see your video saying it should not be your first lol so confusing! For the reasons that Im mostly just looking to start very basic! moon, and other planets in our solar system. Learning how to find them in the sky.
Ive read that the finder with the c90 is not that great and should be replaced with a red dot finder.
Im also looking to travel with it to places. And lastly, its apparently very low maintenance and does not require adjusting (whereas Dobsonian heritge table tops are not travel friendly, and do require some maintenance. ) Does this all sound correct to you?
I love this scope! Pared with the AZGTi mount, it has been a dream to travel with (as I said in the video). You won’t be disappointed. That said, there is a larger 127mm version made by skywatcher that still fits in a backpack and goes on the same mount (if you have it in the budget).www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1141693-REG/sky_watcher_s11520_127mm_maksutov_cassegrain_ota.html
I bought it as my first scope even when you warned not to hehe but i dont regret it i started with moon and planetary even without tracking and had amazin results then i bought a startracker (not the go to now i regret) and better pics also with a zwo plante camera, now im starting deep sky and bought the asiair, the road couldve been easier but it made me learn from the basics, and i think with the asiair polar align and finding things will be easier anyways j wanted to thank you for me is also the best scope. Oh and the 3x xcel celestron barlow works incredibe in the moon its spectacular the procesed pic of crater plato and mountains
Glad it worked out!
I am thinking of buying one, but I keep hearing/reading reviews that this telescope is dim. Like the main complaint. What are your 2 cents on this? Nice video's for beginners! Off course I subscribed :)
Dimness comes with magnification (this telescope offers high magnification for the size). However, this also makes the sky blacker which seems to make deep-sky objects stand out against the background. I had no trouble seeing galaxies only a few minutes from the city.
@@LearnToStargaze Thank you for the explanation!
Can you please name the other devices that you used to take the astro photos. Great job
Thanks! Was there a device I missed at the 6 minute mark? I think this is all included in the video. Maybe the power cord?
@@LearnToStargaze I think he means the the mount and tracker, are they also go to.
For $129, that's a great deal.
What's a good value star diagonal to use if one needs to buy one. Celestron Dialectric worth it, or the Celestron Prism?
Here's everything you ever wanted to know about diagonals: www.cloudynights.com/articles/cat/articles/mirror-vs-dielectric-vs-prism-diagonal-comparison-r2877
I have a question, What size is the male threading on the back of the scope?
I cant decide if I should go with this, or the Skymax 102. I have a DSLR camera and the Star Adventurer 2i I'd like to pair it with. What do you think?
I mean, neither are designed for Astrophotography… the focal ratio is super high. What mount would you choose?
@@LearnToStargaze Well at the moment I have a pretty have decent photography tripod but will move to an actual EQ mount in the future.
If you can compare them side to side, it'll help: you might find the slight aperture difference important, or the weight difference, or the focusing mechanism. I found that for a packable scope like this, I preferred lighter weight to slightly more aperture. You might feel differently.
Can you post a link to your view finder. I connect mine to a star adventurer. But finding stuff with the view finder is horrible. I was considering a green laser pointer.
It’s the Rigel Quikfinder. You can find it at the telescope store of your choice.
Hello i wanna scope that can clearly see people in their garden at like 800-1000 yard is it a good choice
That is a strange thing to use a telescope for. This comment reminds me of Dylan’s video: ua-cam.com/video/x0O9JvzyCus/v-deo.html
Hi, should I buy a Celestron 6mm ultra wide eyepiece to use in this C90 telescope? The magnification will be 208x, will the image be clear and bright?
Probably not, but it’s hard to say. You’ll have to test it! I typically use a 25mm eyepiece or zoom eyepiece with this telescope.
I had the Skywatcher Skymax 90 and used with my 7mm Nagler I got around 178x and the views of the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn were incredible!
It will depend on atmospheric conditions at that magnification. I can get great views of Jupiter (and all four moons!) at 7mm on a good night. You probably can't do much better than 180x with a C90; there comes a point when aperture diffraction becomes a limiting factor.
I've ordered one online, but just read a review about it having a major alignment problem. I dont know if I should cancel the order, or just take my chances? Thanks.
These scopes tend to me very reliable. I’ve never heard of anyone having any issues.
@@LearnToStargaze Thanks. I'm looking forward to using it. I also bought the 8-24mm eyepiece, and hopefully be able to see Jupiter's red spot and Saturn's rings. I'm new to astronomy, so it might take a while. lol.
@@alexj9111 Saturn’s rings are easy and fun to see, as are Jupiter’s Moons. The Great Red Spot takes very stable air (and timing). Good luck!
@@LearnToStargaze Thanks.
What your suggestions for first telescope?
That depends on your needs. Are you looking for a photography instrument? Or do you just want to see the rings of Saturn?
@@LearnToStargaze just see the rings o Saturn with cell phone support
Thanks for helping me out
@@georgenes1 Check out this one: Celestron Inspire 100AZ Simple to use, and quality enough for years of enjoyment.
@@LearnToStargaze thanks again
Currently saving up for a C90MAK as a broke college student, counting the days till I have enough
Check B&H photos used telescope page :-) good luck with your studies!
I loved this video.!!
I am researching for my first telescope and this is one of my two final choices. The other being the Astro-tech 60mm ED.
I need portability (for airline travel and camping), ease of use and durable. This will be taken into cold climates (I live in Estonia) so I will buy a dew shield and be careful of condensation…
Anyway I would (realistically for now) like to attach my iPhone 14 pro to either rig and get photos of planets (if possible) , Milky Way and other sky objects. I may eventually get into using a dslr but this will be for visual mostly
I could certainly also use as a spotter for wildlife but that is not the main goal….
I’m torn. :)
Remember aperture determines your resolution. The C90 has 1.5 times the resolution of the 60mm, so planets will look that much better in the C90.
@@LearnToStargaze THank you. I have a rather silly question. I photograph aurora with my iphone. What is seen on the phone is much brighter than with the naked eye. That said, what can I expect to see with my eyes when looking through either scope? I imagine that images of moon/planets I will be able to see much like they are on photos. What of the nebulas/milky way/galaxies or stars though? My assumption is that I not see the same as what is seen on the photos in either scope....
I will be doing a lot of visual stuff so need to keep my expectation in check. Thank you again. :)
@@lindasuti1610 If you want to get technical, when viewed with a human eye, the telescope doesn't make anything any brighter than seen without a telescope. A Telescope only makes things bigger, higher resolution, and makes dimmer stars show up; otherwise, nothing gets brighter (unless you're using a camera of course). Galaxies and Nebula require dark skies to see with the human eye. (If you have REALLY keen eyes, you can see several galaxies without a telescope, in dark skies of course). My "how to use any telescope" video has several examples of how things appear to the human eye.
@@LearnToStargaze I will check the video out right now! I have access to dark skies :)
@@LearnToStargaze I went crazy and bought a used C5! Thank you for your videos.
Wish you could go much slower and actually teach us what exactly to buy and how to use it . The scope and mount .
Thanks for the feedback, I'll try to go into more detail on each tool in future videos.
no funcionan los subtítulos
Hold up. There’s no reason for that finderscope to be on the bottom. Rotate the scope along the bearing axis, relocate the Rigel, and you’re good, right?? I’m guessing if it were that obvious you’d have done it though. Would you mind explaining the problem a bit more? My C90 is on the way so I don’t have one to tinker with directly yet.