Reviews - Celestron NexStar 5SE Telescope - 5in Computerized Schmidt-Cassegrain 11036 Reviews - CI-TS-11036-EE

Author: Sebastian (verified customer) , Casual Sky & Bird watcher, from Malaysia on Nov 29, 2012
Pros:  Light Weight, Good aperature (127mm)
Cons:  For the price, can go for 6SE
Would recommend:  yes

Sebastian wrote:

This telescope is the lightest for the size in nexstar SE series family. It have a 127mm Aperature capable to collect good amount of light. It is also easy to set-up and can be used with equatorial mode. The set back is with the price difference from Nexstar 6SE, most people tend to go for Nexstar 5SE. But if you want a scope with light weight mount and capability to do simple astrophotography, this is the telescope to go For

Author: hz37 , Amateur astronome, audio engineer, dad., from Zeist The Netherlands on Oct 31, 2012
Pros:  NexStar computer, precise goto
Cons:  Manual could be better, battery option is nonsense
Would recommend:  yes

hz37 wrote:

I got this telescope for my birthday a while ago. It took me some time to get to know the setup procedures. The manual is a bit terse about the polar alignment. But once you get it all working, it's a remarkable piece of equipment! I did some modest astrophotography with it with nice results, especially considering the diameter of the primary mirror. Especially the PRECISE GOTO has helped me find faint objects (like comets and deepsky objects) in this light polluted area. The telescope became much nicer to work with when I got myself the GPS and a proper power source. The battery option has never worked for me. The motors of the telescope drain the batteries too quickly. In conclusion: an excellent telescope for the price, but do get yourself a proper power supply, a GPS and read about setup procedures on the internet.

Author: KerryAnne , Amateur Astronomer and mother of 3, from Indiana on Dec 14, 2009
Pros:  Everything works great
Would recommend:  yes

KerryAnne wrote:

I actually thought this seemed pretty pricy but man this is actually the best value you can get. If I could give Value for your money something higher than 5 I definitely would. The goto function works exactly as it should, unlike on some of my Meade scopes.

Author: clgorden (verified customer) , 50's, long time amateur astronomer, retired, golfer., from Charlotte, Michigan on Dec 12, 2009
Pros:  After two years still works great
Cons:  confused on upgrade to controller firmware
Would recommend:  yes

clgorden wrote:

Have had this scope for two summers now, and I have seen so many more solar system and ds objects in that time than I did in twenty years with my faithful old (1977) C-8 Super Polaris. This scope is so quick and easy to setup that I get it out about three times as often, so I see more stuff. As usual, Celestron doesn't disappoint. I have had nothing break, and the drive and optics have performed 100% of my expectations. The only issue is I used an old laptop to update the drive and controller firmware and plugged the includud cable into the Acc. port on the drive base instead of the hand controller, thus frying that nasty old laptop graveyard dead. MY BAD, I should have read the manual, dud. As for observing, the real value in this scope is the great optics combined with the very accurate drive. I can slew from object to object, lunar, planetary or deep space, in just a few seconds after a 2 star alignment,(VERY easy to do)and see all of the good observable objects in a section of the ...
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Author: DB from Farmington, NM on Jan 10, 2009
Would recommend:  no

DB wrote:

Did not work - returned the yoke to Celestron - very disappointed - they are going to fix a brand new item instead of replacing with new working one!! Wouldn't know how to rate a brand new non-working item. Disappointed with your company that had to return whole thing not just the non-working item!!!

Author: fatherplusteacher from Rhode Island on Dec 2, 2008
Pros:  Computerized Interface, Worth the Price
Cons:  none yet
Would recommend:  no

fatherplusteacher wrote:

Love this scope! Taught my son how to use it and he mastered it very quickly! Now he can't stop looking out the window at stars. Free shipping is amazing too.

Author: scopenurd from Honolulu, Hawaii on Aug 11, 2008
Pros:  light weight tube, wedge mount.
Cons:  Quality issues, missing items, bad focuser, etc.
Would recommend:  no

scopenurd wrote:

Could not use out of box. Focuser defective and cannot turn know without a lot of force. Nor support from Celestron on phone or email. Missing user manual and software. Motor cheap and will not holder heavier scopes. This scope is much poorer than the 5i. The 6 and 8 inch has much better motor. Will return this.

Author: clgorden (verified customer) , 50's, long time amateur astronomer, retired, golfer., from Charlotte, Michigan on Jul 24, 2007
Pros:  Cost, setup, size, accuracy, portability
Cons:  noe to date This is a great small scope!
Would recommend:  yes

clgorden wrote:

After buying a competitor's small goto scope, I was not happy with ease of setup, stability, or accuracy of mount. Returned to OpticsPlanet, and they got me my NexStar 5SE in one day with free shipping!! The NexStar 5Se is all i would ever want in a small ultra portable scope, and the customer service and return process at OpticsPlanet is unbelieveable. I will always look to OpticsPlanet first for any astronomy needs I have, as once you find a great scope along with great service, why go any place else? Thanks Guys, I have spent more time with the 5SE this summer than any summer with my C-8 ever.