I had this and loved it. If I wasn’t saving for an 11” I’d buy it again. Get the OTA and save the money buy not buying the combo stock mount, though. You’re going to replace it in a month anyway.
Visually a 5” APO would be a lot better for deep sky observing. Particularly clusters and wider nebulae since the focal length will be 1/2 if not a little more than of the 8” SCT. F/7 also will deliver a brighter image versus the f/10. But if you’re interested in higher power planetary viewing and occasional imaging the SCT will benefit from the extra focal length bump.
It is more like a gateway drug than a bucket lister. You will be back for more eventually, a c11 or big dob, a nice eq mount and apo refractor etc... But you will still keep the 8se for grab and go and quick sessions
I cant thank you enough for post this. I had a Celestron 4se but the motor conked out. I started to have it repaired but decided since it was twelve years old it was time to upgrade. I got a darn good deal from BHPhoto out of NYC for a Nexstar 8se for $1100. I kid you not. I was used but all the parts were there and it had not ONE scratch on it. It came with a stand and lens. Before I bought it I looked at your video and looked further online at the prices. It didnt take long to see I had stumbled across a good deal. Thanks again for posting this video. I will be posting soon.
Удивительно то, что автор ни слова не сказал об экваториальном клине , который можно купить отдельно. И тогда данный телескоп можно использовать для астро фото. В 4 и 5 SE экваториальный клин идет в комплекте , на 6 и 8 его нужно докупать.
I have used an 8SE for 8 years for lunar and planetary photography. The instability and backlash in the mount make for a frustrating experience at the high magnifications needed for this work.
Max…could you give a bit more detail on the equipment you used for the photos? I have this Sony mirrorless camera, but I am not getting sharp photos with the adapters I have. Any advice would be appreciated.
@@chrispeters2422 Hi there! The photos I took in the videos the Moon, Mars and Venus are all with a ZWO ASI120MC planetary camera. For high resolution planetary imaging you’ll want a camera with a small chip that can do really fast frame rates. A DSLR or mirrorless DSLR is wonderful for grabbing whole moon shots and some astrophotography, but the detail and sharpness comes from taking lots of pictures and stacking them together. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions! :)
@@MaximumAstronomy Thank you for the quick response and insight. I see a lot of ZWO cameras and the biggest difference in price is megapixels. Would all of them fit the 8SE or do I need to do more homework for compatability?
Yes they all will “fit” technically. They all will come with an 1.25” adapter you can put in directly into the diagonal for imaging. The smaller planetary cameras (usually $300) are smaller size chips for getting closer to the planets and the moon. The larger ones with larger pixel counter are more for deep sky imaging. You’ll probably wind up with one of each kind depending on if you want to explore both. It will be hard to do deep sky imaging with the SE mount versus a dedicated EQ mount that will enable you to do much more advanced work for deep sky. Planetary doesn’t matter a whole lot just you need tracking accuracy.
The stock one not really but if you get a larger 2” and a big eyepiece, depending on where your position on the dovetail bar is, yes you could strike the base. Something to look out for
These have no manual clutch so you have rely entirely on the electric motors to move the thing. I actually removed the electronics and gears so it is free to move now without relying on electric power. They should have designed it with a clutch like most manufacturers did.
Fine scope and a good choice. But I went with the 150mm Orion Maksutov Starseeker. I needed something a little more portable and I liked the fact that you could use the Starseeker manually or with power.
Good vid, just got a 6SE that I'm enjoying a lot for visual while imaging on a separate rig. Can confirm that the 6SE is definitely not under-mounted on the stock mount. The views of M42 through it are truly remarkable. If you can pick one up during a sale do it!
Great scope, but I don't like the mount. Manual clutches, integrated battery, and wi-fi module of Evo 8 definately worth the extra price... or if you are short of money, and buying your 1st scope - buy an 8 inch StarSense dob.
I bought an open box 8SE from Amazon for $1100. Only one scratch on the tube but it worked flawlessly. The setup is quick and easy, the goto is precise and the tracking was a pleasure after having to bump my dob every 20 seconds. I highly recommend getting the wifi dongle so you can use the app to control it with your tablet. You can also get a cheap rechargeable 12volt power supply, instead of the pricy Celestron power supply. The optics are crisp. Truly a fantastic instrument for begiiners and intermediate level hobbyists!
Between this Nexstar 8SE model and the 8" GPS XLT what model would you choose and why. Please give me your honest advise people. Get the oldie or the modern 8SE?
I’d get the 8SE. It’s newer, more supported for new features. You can get the StarSense auto align if you want. If you can afford it I’d recommend the Evolution over the SE some is more robust and more precision motors but they both will deliver great views and plenty of targets to get you deep
The OTA would be fantastic for deep sky imaging. It has the ability to be a 3-in-1 system. 1. F/2 hyperstar imaging with a hyperstar accessory purchased separately for wide field imaging. 2. You can put a reducer on it and make it f/6.3 for smaller deep sky objects. And 3. You can leave it as it is and use it for planetary and lunar imaging where you need the higher magnification :) Hence one of the reasons my C9.25 is one of the most versatile I have in my lineup
I have this scope and I love it. Yes, it does shake a bit when it is windy. I was told that upgrading the stand to the next level heavier model will greatly reduce the shaking on windy nights.
The tracking is really on mine for some reason I don't know. When I used it for solar eclipse a few days ago, it can't track properly. The sun moved out of view quickly. It's leveled, time and location setting are also correct.
Did you perform a “solar system” align? Also was the Sun enabled in the hand controller? Those things will improve tracking since the Sun has its own mode of tracking.
I'm picking up one of these next week for $300 from a family member. He bought it brand new for $1500 and only used it twice! I'm not sure what year it was manufactured. Super excited
I purchased the NextStar 8SE for my daughter during Christmas. I don't like the fact they send you a crappy eye piece that you can only see the moon with but not the planets or stars. With Jupiter, its blurry and you don't get a good view. It upsets me I paid $1600 only to receive a crappy eye piece.
