Review Details

NexStar 4SE Computerized Telescope

Product Review (submitted on March 10, 2012):

The 4 SE is the smaller than my two SCTs and is not my first choice for deep space objects (DSOs) a light polluted suburban sky. It is good for Mars (Syrtis Major visible), Venus (phases), Jupiter (moons and at least two cloud belts) and Saturn (rings and one cloud area), asterisms, clusters, and doubles (stars are very pinpoint), and the Orion Nebula

I bought this scope with the idea of having a decent go-to mount in a lightweight package and it is that. I can carry the assembled scope/mount/tripod with one hand and it fits nicely in trunk of the car. I have a C5 spotter and it works well on this mount.

The hand control is the same as on the larger SE mounts and sky align or auto-two star align make it easy to set up. Go-to accuracy is quite good (8-24 zoom EP) as is tracking. . An in expensive security camera, like the Samsung SB-02000, will see more detail and color as well as extend seeing by two magnitudes and show some color not visible in the eye piece.

The mount is good with a video camera but it would not be a good choice for long exposure still cameras.

The flip diagonal design precludes use of the Celestron f/6.3 Reducer, but a .5x 1.25" reducer will work when threaded on an EP. This MCT works well with my video camera, 8-24mm Vixen zoom, a Celestron 24mm Plossl and my 20mm Meade 5000 SWA. It also works well with a 2x Barlow

The scope is a surprisingly good performer and good value. The 5" and 6" gather more light, but at a higher price point.