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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Greetings... new member, first post...
I picked up the ETX125AT , AT package with UHTC, EC and Autostar controller, deluxe field tripod, and LPI digital camera for $945 the at Discovery Channel store... pretty good deal I think...
after a quick setup, calibration of the motors, and alignment, I was off and running... took the tonight' s best tour... saturn and orion nebula were spectacular, and left me desiring more... yummm...
anyway, I want to get more eyepieces, so heres my dilemma...
Discovery Channel Store has a value package for $39.99... Meade 5mm plossl, 18mm wide angle, and a 2x barlow... but individually, they don't seem to match up with anything in the Meade catalog... by peicing together bits of info from several sources, I think at least the 5mm is actually a "made for Meade" 3000 series (dunno about the others specifically) and that this package is targeted to the ETX 60/70 market...
value package
my questions about this package are:
1) has anybody tried this package?
2) are they quality pieces and will they hold up to the jump from a 60/70 to a 125?
3) will I actually be able to use the 5mm piece on the ETX125?
I am also considering as an option to above, just making the jump to the Meade series 4000 8 - 24mm zoom, as this would seem to cover my needs in a single eyepiece that I would not have to interchange... seems like a sweet piece, but with this option I would have to pick up a barlow...
zoom
has anybody used this eyepiece, and what are your impressions?
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StarWars
Mr. Postmaster Man
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 22112
Loc: Frost Byte Falls <>
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Hello
Not sure which meade series they are. Wolf Camera sells the same kit for $39.99.
http://www.wolfcamera.com
However the Meade 4000 eyepiece kit for $149 is a very good deal... 
http://www.buytelescopes.com/product.asp?t=32&pid=8411&m=
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StarWars
Mr. Postmaster Man
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 22112
Loc: Frost Byte Falls <>
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The ETX-125 with a FL 1900mm using a 5mm eyepiece equals 380X.
Solar Filters
http://telescopes.net/thousand_oaks_optical_-_solar_.html
Eyepieces
http://telescopes.net/m_-_eyepieces.html
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Dagobert
super member
Reged: 10/22/04
Posts: 115
Loc: Cincinnati, OH
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Pegleg,
I bought the 3 piece package you are referring to. The 18 is pretty nice and the barlow performs OK. The 5 is pretty rough to use - no eye relief and the opening is slightly bigger than a pinhole. Magnigication is extreme and only good on the best of nights. Though I have since used it to star test my refracter...I guess everything has its purpose. You're going to like the "stock" 26mm that comes with the ETX. That is a 4000 series I believe. I agree with Apollo, that series 4000 set is a sweet deal at $149. You really won't need a barlow with that set-up as it pretty much covers all your useful magnifications with the ETX125. Have fun!!
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Chris
Zeiss APQ 130/Tak EM-200 Temma
/MiniBorg 45ED/Canon-Hutech 300D/Lacerta M-GEN/
HP hx4700 PDA/Saeco Incanto Espresso Machine
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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thanks all...
I called anacortes, and they put me on a waiting list for the next delivery of the Meade set... but I HAD to have something for the holiday family gatherings, and the Meade zoom was also on backorder, so I substituted the 8-24mm Teleview clickstop zoom... I've read it incorporates the same optics...
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Dagobert
super member
Reged: 10/22/04
Posts: 115
Loc: Cincinnati, OH
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Well happy holidays then Pegleg. Let us know how you like the zooooooommmmm.
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Chris
Zeiss APQ 130/Tak EM-200 Temma
/MiniBorg 45ED/Canon-Hutech 300D/Lacerta M-GEN/
HP hx4700 PDA/Saeco Incanto Espresso Machine
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I can't find any Meade 4000 eyepiece sets for sale. Have they been discontinued? I just have the 26mm at the moment so a set would be great.
Also, the #126 Barlow is listed for the EXT 125. Anyone know if the #140 APO Barlow would also be suitable. It only costs a little more and I'd have thought it would be worth it. Then again, maybe it would be a waste of money. Anybody got any thoughts on that?
Many thanks
Sean
Thanks
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hi All,
You can find the Meade 4000 eyepiece sets for sale on eBay 
$199-300 depending on the day of sale still not a bad bargain if you ordered the pieces at the best prices on-line it adds up to about $450  plus the shipping charges for each EP, the best prices are of course not all on the same sites so it would end up costing $550 
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moynihan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/22/03
Posts: 2039
Loc: Lake Michigan Watershed
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University Optics orthoscopics. my high power on my 127mm ETX tube assembly is the 7mm.
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"May I have the ability to reduce the uncertainties I can; the willingness to work with the uncertainties I cannot; and the scientific knowledge to know the difference."
Based upon an adaptation from Reinhold Niebuhr's Serenity Prayer, by J. Barsugli, C. Anderson, J. Smith and J. Vogel.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
my questions about this package are:
1) has anybody tried this package?
2) are they quality pieces and will they hold up to the jump from a 60/70 to a 125?
3) will I actually be able to use the 5mm piece on the ETX125?
I bought the exact package you did for Christmas. I bought the 3 eyepiece set. I have had great luck with the 18 mm wide angle and the #126 Barlow. I haven't used the 5mm too much - I am brand new to this and am struggling looking through that little pin hole.
I jumped on the $149 eye piece set from Anacortes - I was alerted here on CN. Got the 7 eye pieces and have used all of them. The Meade 4000 series does well for me though I don't have any other experiences with which to compare.
I have had some great, but cold nights viewing and couldn't be happier right now with my purchase. Any shortcomings I am experiencing now I believe are 99% operator head space and timing, not shoddy equipment.
I can see this as a hobby where I'll always want the newest, greatest thing out there, but I am going to be content with what I have and learn to use it the best of my ability. My wallet is not limitless.
......I am not ruling out the possibility of a large aperture Dob down the road though... 
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