Celestron Regal Issues.... (1 Viewer)

[Astrotomicus]

Well, I went ahead and got a Celestron Regal 65, and overall I am very pleased. Optically, I was quite surprised that it is as sharp and had even more contrast than my AT66 refractor. There are a few issues, however, that perhaps Regal owners can chime in on and help me out.

I actually have two of them in hand at the moment. Optically, they are the same. One has a sticky coarse focuser, that seems to hit a hump, while the other is smooth. Both have a little bit of color when hitting the 40x mark when pointed at a distant telephone pole with the sun off behind it ( AT66 has nearly none). Did others find a little bit of color ( ie, chromatic abberration) normal?
And the other issue.... I notice that when I turn the coarse focuser on either sample of the scopes, the image shifts a wee bit- similar to the way it happens at times in my SCT ( Schmidt Cassegrain) scopes, where that is due to mirror shifting. Is that normal for these scopes, or should I be looking to get sample number three?:-O


I thank you in advance for your expertise and experience.

Tom

 

[gcole]

Well, I went ahead and got a Celestron Regal 65, and overall I am very pleased. Optically, I was quite surprised that it is as sharp and had even more contrast than my AT66 refractor. There are a few issues, however, that perhaps Regal owners can chime in on and help me out.

I actually have two of them in hand at the moment. Optically, they are the same. One has a sticky coarse focuser, that seems to hit a hump, while the other is smooth. Both have a little bit of color when hitting the 40x mark when pointed at a distant telephone pole with the sun off behind it ( AT66 has nearly none). Did others find a little bit of color ( ie, chromatic abberration) normal?
And the other issue.... I notice that when I turn the coarse focuser on either sample of the scopes, the image shifts a wee bit- similar to the way it happens at times in my SCT ( Schmidt Cassegrain) scopes, where that is due to mirror shifting. Is that normal for these scopes, or should I be looking to get sample number three?:-O


I thank you in advance for your expertise and experience.

Tom

Hi ... Tom I have owned three Regals, one 65mm & two 100mm & all three had the same problem with the stiff, bumpy focuser. I had no problem with the color at medium powers. I ended up selling all three,even after sending one back to Celestron to correct the problem but they just sent me another with the same issue. Optically I thought they were very good. I would keep the one that is smooth .... gwen

 

[Astrotomicus]

Thank you, Gwen. How about the image shift? Did you notice as you were focusing that the entire image shifted a bit- as if the whole image was going over a small hill and back again?:-O

Tom

 

[gcole]

Thank you, Gwen. How about the image shift? Did you notice as you were focusing that the entire image shifted a bit- as if the whole image was going over a small hill and back again?:-O

Tom

Tom, no I did not ... gwen

 

[Astrotomicus]

Thanks again, Gwen. Well, I'm definitely seeing it in both of my samples. When I focus the whole image moves. It all ends up sharply focused, but it is a bit strange. I guess I can take this to be a defect in the design, especially since it was not noticeable in any of your 3 scopes.

Tom

 

[IvanCavallazzi]

My focus knob works fine... and is actually smooth.

What is a bit of an inconvenient in my sample is the collar that hold the eyepiece that is actually is a bit tight. I need to push and pull with a bit of strength the eyepiece in and out.

I also never felt any shift on the image at all.

Even at the edge of the images I can´t barely see any CA.

Yesterday I went to see Jupiter.., and it was all clear... very defined, the 4 moons point with not much CA, 2 cloud layers well defined...
For a 65 aperture, with prism inside, it did great.
(By the way if you want to see it is the shiniest thing at the sky at night)

 

[Astrotomicus]

Thanks, Ivan. I saw Jupiter as well last night. Stunning and sharp. Yes, A tiny bit of CA depending on where it's viewed thru the objective.
On the two samples I have, the collar is extremely tight on one ( the same that has a sticky focus knob), so much so that the suction creates a near vacuum and the EP is a real chore to pull out. The other one- that which I would like to keep- operates much more smoothly.

I am going to call Celestron today and find out why there is a mirror shift.

Tom

 

[IvanCavallazzi]

Thanks, Ivan. I saw Jupiter as well last night. Stunning and sharp. Yes, A tiny bit of CA depending on where it's viewed thru the objective.
On the two samples I have, the collar is extremely tight on one ( the same that has a sticky focus knob), so much so that the suction creates a near vacuum and the EP is a real chore to pull out. The other one- that which I would like to keep- operates much more smoothly.

I am going to call Celestron today and find out why there is a mirror shift.

Tom

Look if you really are experiencing shift in the image by just focusing. Be careful because if anything is going on with the mirror-prism that might reduce the life-span of your scope a lot. Even if the image is ok now.

If possible, I would definitely check this out before keeping it.

 

[Astrotomicus]

Thanks Ivan,

I did call Celestron's Tech Dept today and they did confirm that this was not supposed to be happening, So I'll be sending both back and taking it from there.

Tom

 

[Astrotomicus]

Well, I got a third one today. Same issue. The image moves a bit as I turn the coarse focus knob. Now Celestron says their sample does the same.:eek!:
Have no idea what to do at this point. I really like the scope, but I'm concerned about future problems.

 

[looksharp65]

This may be far out, but I think I recall that Henry Link mentioned that some scopes focus by moving the prism. (I think this was quite recently).
If the Regals do that, it might explain the moving image.

 

[henry link]

Yep, I haven't seen one, but it's very likely that this scope focuses by moving a prism. There's no mirror, but the prism movement and the optical axis must be perfectly parallel to avoid image shift. I would surprised if very many specimens manage perfect parallelism. Either the shaft the prism travels on will be a little off or the optical axis will be a little tilted or both. If the shift is small and no catching or scraping is noticed in the focuser movement I wouldn't worry too much about it. Keep the one that's optically the best of the three.

 

[Kammerdiner]

I haven't noticed any shifting in my 80mm Regal, but then I haven't really looked for it. Guess I will now, though.

The eyepiece suction is caused by an o-ring seal in the scope. In mine, the Celestron zoom slips in pretty easily, but a Baader Hyperion creates real suction. Try to pull it out and it'll get sucked back in! I gently rock it back and forth to break the seal and it comes out. I consider this a good sign--very good seal.

On mine, the coarse focus is a bit bumpy but I don't mind. For the price, the scope is a knockout.

And speaking of knockouts, Jupiter has indeed been putting on quite a show of late.

On a good night, the 80mm Regal actually does a respectable job on the rings of Saturn--I mean you can see them at least. Not bad for a little birding scope.

Mark

 

[Astrotomicus]

Well, thanks to all who have replied. I thought this was a dead thread. I wanted to add that today I went into a BassBro Shop ( Oh, how I love that store:t where they have several spotting scopes you can look thru out to their nature walk. EVERY SINGLE SCOPE I looked through- 5 maybe- had some image shift.

I will add that I made a second call to Celestron and spoke to another fellow who had actually taken one of the Regals apart. You are correct. It operates on a moving prism, and their sample did, upon inspection, have some image movement.

So, I am going to keep my Regal, because I am otherwise absolutely astounded at the quality of its optics. Very little color on Jupiter ( as well as making out 3 bands on a sharp disc with no problem), and the Moon was jaw dropping. Wonderful contrast. I do notice at a certain daylight angle a ghost image reflection, and if anyone would like to comment on that, it would be appreciated.

Tom

 

[IvanCavallazzi]

I do notice at a certain daylight angle a ghost image reflection, and if anyone would like to comment on that, it would be appreciated.

Tom

Mine too!

Depending on the angle it gives me a non-reversed image of somewhere.
I am trying to map exactly from where this image comes... if you unscrew the eyeguard it is easier to find the angle. But really that only happens if I deliberately look for it. Otherwise, the entire range of the view is perfect.