Celestron f/8.8 SP-C102F

Does anyone know anything about this Medium-aperture refractor??

In a Review by Robert Burnham this scope came out on top with flying colors, taking the "best optics" category. The other 3 competitors: VERNON scope 94mm. f/7 Brandon
TELEVUE Genesis 4" f/5
ASTRO-PHYSICS Starfire 102mm. f/8
John Meiners, Astoria, OR.

Yes? I believe they were made by Vixen (note the circle-V
logo on the label). I've owned two of their
later siblings, the Orion / Vixen 102 FL which are slightly
longer at F9. Superb scopes for the money, almost no false color,
good spherical correction. The lens design is a coated negative
element on the outside, and an uncoated inner positive
Fluorite element. Rumor has it that the lenses are
made by a division of Canon.

The color correction is superb. I have only seen a few
refractors with less false color -- some of the longer TMB
lenses, and the NP-101.

Some examples are here....
http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=375233
http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=375850
http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=371037

"SP" refers to the Super-Polaris mount they came with.
"F" refers to Fluorite.

I believe there was an issue with the Celestron
F8.8 version where it would not take 2" eyepieces
without some special adapter (Lumicon made some).
Vixen made an appropriate 2" later for the later
F9 version.

I recently tested the Vixen F9 version side-by-side
with a Tak FS-102 (F8). Very similar. The Vixen
had slightly less false color, but probably
only in proportion to its slower F-ratio.

John.....I have this exact scope and would stack it up against any refractor with the same aperture thats on the market today. It's a classic and will become more so as time goes on.

I have it mounted on a UniStar heavy deluxe mount attached to a Bogen/Manfrotto 3058 tripod. The entire rig looks custom made.

I'm the original owner....purchased the scope and Super Polaris mount back in 1993. Sold the SP mount because of it's weight...getting too much for me and I wanted an Alt/Az mount. Looking back ...I should have kept it...now I would have two great mounts to go along with a superb telescope.

John if you need any further info on this scope...feel free to contact me.
Regards.....Ed Portka