Celestron CPC 8-Inch
April 8, 2008
Celestron CPC 8-Inch Telescope Review
General Info
Class: CPC Schmidt Cassegrain
Best Uses: Planets, moon, galaxies, nebulae, & Astrophotography (Everything!)
Recommended Experience: Advanced - Professional
Overall Rating: 8.4/10
Official Review: Compared to other 8″ Schmidt-Cassegrain scopes, the Celestron CPC is my #1 choice. It has every feature you’ll want, it is well-built and sturdy, it’s easy to use, takes crystal clear photos, syncs up with your PC, is an all-purpose scope for anything you enjoy observing, it’s priced well at about $2,000 for its specs, and it has wonderful optics.
Also, my favorite aspect of the CPC 800 is that when you find something you enjoy, you can program it into the scope so it’s easy find again…up to 400 times!
Pros: Wide-array of features, GPS, GoTo & SkyAlign, sturdy, 400 user-defined objects and comfortable
Cons: A bit on the heavy side…
Click here to check out the Celestron CPC 8-Inch on Telescopes.com!
Important Details
Usability: 8.8/10 - Fantastically easy to use for advanced astronomers
Comfortability: 9.2/10 - Ergonomically-designed for easy portability, comfortable eyepiece
Durability: 8.6/10 - Heavy-duty steel construction, sturdy tripod & mount
Battery Life: 8.0/10 - Standard Celestron life + car-battery adapter
Backlash: 9.4/10 - Very little to speak of…
Warranty: 9.1/10 - 2-year limited
Storage & Portability: 7.6/10 - Celestron made up for its weight with its ergonomic design; Easy to store
Accuracy: 8.2/10 - Great Altazimuth mount, SkyAlign & 8×50 finderscope
Setup: 8.4/10 - Standard/easy for advanced users (high-tech features could be tough for less-experienced)
Click here to read more reviews on the Celestron 8-Inch CPC telescope!
Tech Specs
Aperture: 203.2mm
Magnification (Lowest Useful, Standard, Highest Useful): 29x, 50.8x, 480x
Focal Length: 2,032mm
Focal Ratio: f/10
Resolution: 0.68 Arc seconds
Angular Field of View: 0.8ยบ
Star Diagonal: 1.25 inch
Tracking: Altazimuth, EQ North & EQ South
Click here to learn more about the 8-Inch CPC!
Telescope Construction
Optical Design: Schmidt-Cassegrain
Viewfinder: 50mm w/ quick release bracket
Eyepiece: 40mm
Tube: Aluminum
Mount Design: Dual Fork arm
Weight: 42lbs total
Tripod: Heavy-duty steel, adjustable (2″ steel legs) & accessory tray
Power Supply: 12VDC 1.5A & Car-battery adapter
Lens Coating: StarBright XLT
Other Equipment: NexRemote & software control
Recommended Accessories: JMI 8-Inch CPC case, 12V Power supply & 1.25in eyepiece and filter set
Extra Features
GoTo: Yes
GPS: Yes
Computerized: Yes
Alignment: SkyAlign, Auto Two-Star Alignment, Two-star Align, SolarSystem Align, EQ North Align, EQ South Align, One-Star Align
Remote: Yes (NexRemote)
Object Database: 40,000 object database
Programming Options: 400 user-definable objects and expanded information on over 200 objects
Summary: If you’re at least semi-experienced with telescopes, and you’re willing to spend some extra cash (around $2,000), the Celestron CPC 8″ is a fabulous choice! A little more high-tech than a beginner would need, it has all the bells & whistles you’ll want for a more enjoyable stargazing experience. With a 40,000 object database, SkyAlign, NexRemote, PC-syncing, GoTo, GPS, and a built-to-last body, the CPC 800 is one awesome telescope!
Click here to order the Celestron CPC 8-Inch from Telescopes.com!
