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Basic Technology
All of these telescopes use the Schmidt/Cassegrain design. A lens with one flat side and one curved side on the C5's aperture (opening) admits light. The light from the opening strikes a primary mirror in the base of the scope, then goes back to a secondary mirror near the aperture and then returns to the back, finally reaching the observer's eyepiece. The design's big advantage is that it shortens the conventional reflector tube length.
C5 and C5+
An upgraded version of an older model C5, this C5 entered the market in December 1992. It is considered a good choice for seeing eclipses and viewing the deep sky. The focusing knobs are very smooth for this type of telescope. Although it has only one arm to support it, it is quite steady because of the optical tube's lightness. Mounting a single camera for astrophotography presents no problems; however, a two-camera setup causes instability.
G5
Ease of use characterizes the G5. It's light and compact enough to be carried in one trip, and users can store it without having to take it apart. The equatorial mounting that comes with the G5 enables it to pivot around the celestial Equator and up and down relative to the pole star. The G5 is well-suited for looking at the planets, the Moon, galaxies and other distant objects.
NexStar 5/5i
The NexStar 5 and 5i (abbreviated N5 and N5i) are also lightweight. In addition, these models feature computerized tracking. Users can choose celestial objects from a menu; then the telescope's motor drive moves to the precise coordinates. The computer has a "sky tour" option, which enables observers to "browse" through the sky by categories. Some 18,000 objects are in the memory, which also displays astronomical information. Adding to the convenience is a hand-held remote control.