asteroid7
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/19/04
Posts: 4238
Loc: CT
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Meade has a new telescope ad in Sky & Tele. Telescope
with Lightswitch technology. Flick a switch - and it's aligned. WOW. Also telescope is a ACF (advanced coma free)
Also has built-in imaging. WOW. All for only $1300 WOW WOW
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Clear Nights "Make My Day"
4.5" f/7 APM (TMB) APO Refractor CG5 GoTo with Orion extension tube
8" Celestron CPC (two)
Eyepieces:
40mm Pentax; 24mm Tele Vue Panoptic, 18mm Tele Vue Radian, 18mm HD Ortho, 15mm Celestron Omini,14mm Pentax,10mm Tele Vue Radian, 7mm,5mm & 3.5mm Nagler; 7.4mm Tele Vue Plossl.
2.5 Tele Vue Powermate
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4570
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Quote:
Meade has a new telescope ad in Sky & Tele. Telescope
with Lightswitch technology. Flick a switch - and it's aligned. WOW. Also telescope is a ACF (advanced coma free)
Also has built-in imaging. WOW. All for only $1300 WOW WOW
Yep, assumin' the "wow-wow" works outa the "box-box"...! 
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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violini
member
Reged: 10/03/08
Posts: 61
Loc: Winnipeg, Canada
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Remember that Meade was sued for wrongly using "Advanced Ritchey-Chretien Desing". Is ETX-LS OTA merely "modified SCT" which they call ACF? How much wider field of view ETX-LS has as compared to ETX125.
Hubble Space Telescope was supposed to be RCT, but the mirror was wrongly ground.
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Own a poor man's Questar:ETX90 RA
Edited by violini (12/28/08 01:24 PM)
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Rob_G
sage
Reged: 10/12/06
Posts: 247
Loc: Syracuse, NY
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I think $1,299 is too much. For that price I'd go for a C-8.
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Rob
Bausch & Lomb Legacy 10x50
Meade ETX 125-AT
Edited by Rob_G (12/29/08 11:29 PM)
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 6758
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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ACF = Advanced Coma Free
This is the same design they previously described as an Advanced RC design, but they had to change the name as part of a legal settlement. The bottom line is; the ACF design should make a dandy imaging platform.
The focal length of the ETX-125 is 1900mm as compared to the ETX-LS which is 1524mm, so the field of view for the LS should be about 25% wider (the magnification about 25% lower) using the same eyepiece. The LS's 6" f/10 should make for a nice scope.
What's going to make the LS pricey is all of the gadgets, if none of the gadgets appeal to you there are other (better) options already available. I'm affraid the price will also keep it out of my range until at least the second wave of refurbs. 
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-John
================================================
Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I, II, & III), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors
Edited by jgraham (12/28/08 09:52 PM)
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violini
member
Reged: 10/03/08
Posts: 61
Loc: Winnipeg, Canada
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6" aperture is at the border line for Mak and SCT (too big for Maksutov, too small for SCT). I wonder how much more light comes out the ETX-LS eyepiece barrel as compared to ETX 125. Also, if Meade goes under, can the owners of ETX-LS have warranty and after market parts and service?
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Own a poor man's Questar:ETX90 RA
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Domerman
What have I done?
Reged: 07/21/07
Posts: 951
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I wonder if they are going to extend this ETX-LS line into larger apertures like say 8". I'm guessing this would result in the end of the LX90 line of scopes.
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~Steve
My Astro-Photo Blog: http://absurduniverse.blogspot.com/
Mounts
BUSTED CGEM w/Dual ADM Vixen/Losmady Saddle and ADM SBS
Scopes
Astronomy Technologies 6" f/9 Ritchey-Chrétien
Orion 80ED w/MoonLite Focuser
Orion ST80 (Guide Scope)
Cameras
QHY8 w/IDAS LPS filter
DSI-C (Auto-Guider)
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mclewis1
Thread Killer
Reged: 02/25/06
Posts: 3946
Loc: New Brunswick, Canada
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Quote:
6" aperture is at the border line for Mak and SCT (too big for Maksutov, too small for SCT).
Hmmm, you might want to discuss how "ineffective" the SCT design is with the thousands of very happy Celestron C5 and C6 owners out there.
Quote:
I wonder how much more light comes out the ETX-LS eyepiece barrel as compared to ETX 125.
It won't be a big overpowering difference (and yes some folks will now whip out their calculators and claim x%) but I do notice the difference on faint DSOs between my C6 and Meade 125s and Orion Apex 125s. It's not very noticeable on globulars and open clusters but is on faint nebulae and galaxies.
I'll assume that the differences between a new Meade 6" Aplanatic SCT (ACF) and a Celestron C6 are just as subtle as they are for the existing M8 ACF vs. a C8.
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Mark
C11, C6, APM/TMB115, and AT80ED - Tandem mount CGE and CG-5A, WO EZ-Touch and AT Voyager
25x100s and 8x56s, T-Mount Light, Mark 1 eyeballs - Modded 350D, DSI-P, SPC900, Mallincam
Just because you can doesn't necessarily mean that you should
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nytecam
Postmaster
Reged: 08/20/05
Posts: 5748
Loc: London UK
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Quote:
I wonder if they are going to extend this ETX-LS line into larger apertures like say 8"
Agreed and maybe shorty refractors too  Quote:
...The bottom line is; the ACF design should make a dandy imaging platform. ...
On a Altaz mount platform - I doubt it  despite all the conjecture of this forum that some spied an Polar mount option on an early mockup pic - the latest Meade releases don't show that.
I conjecture [well everyone else is!] that the 'imaging option' is via the built-in light-technology alignment system to be used for wide-angle views of the sky - much like my e-finder but probably in colour 
 
Edited by nytecam (12/30/08 05:37 AM)
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violini
member
Reged: 10/03/08
Posts: 61
Loc: Winnipeg, Canada
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Quote:
I'll assume that the differences between a new Meade 6" Aplanatic SCT (ACF) and a Celestron C6 are just as subtle as they are for the existing M8 ACF vs. a C8.
That would be a big improvement. The stars would appear to be much smaller dots when viewed through ACF instead of big cotton balls as shown in the above photos.
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Own a poor man's Questar:ETX90 RA
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mclewis1
Thread Killer
Reged: 02/25/06
Posts: 3946
Loc: New Brunswick, Canada
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Just so we're clear violini, I have seen virtually NO difference in the view between an M8 ACF and a C8 XLT with the exception of some coma out at the edges of the C8. Both scopes were well collimated and properly acclimated (cooled down). The Meade ACF design is only a slight variation to an SCT. It does improve stellar images at the edges of the fov, it does not appear to offer any visual difference in on axis performance.
And for the record those "big cotton balls" are also conspicuously absent from my C6 as well.
Perhaps it might be better to spend more time experiencing various scopes under the stars than reading the advertising?
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Mark
C11, C6, APM/TMB115, and AT80ED - Tandem mount CGE and CG-5A, WO EZ-Touch and AT Voyager
25x100s and 8x56s, T-Mount Light, Mark 1 eyeballs - Modded 350D, DSI-P, SPC900, Mallincam
Just because you can doesn't necessarily mean that you should
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faz
member
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 21
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Hi all,
Happy New Year to everyone. Better introduce myself. Name here is John and I live near Alicante, Spain.
I've been observing for quite a few years now with various telescopes from an 8 inch newtonian to my present - and favourite - ETX125.
The new ETX LS looks interesting but I wonder about the near 45% central obstruction against the 30 or so percent on the ETX125-AT. Rough calculations seen to indicate that the extra inch won't make a lot of difference to the light gathering capabilities.
I really hope it succeeds however. Could be a winner!
- John
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violini
member
Reged: 10/03/08
Posts: 61
Loc: Winnipeg, Canada
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Quote:
Just so we're clear violini, I have seen virtually NO difference in the view between an M8 ACF and a C8 XLT with the exception of some coma out at the edges of the C8. Both scopes were well collimated and properly acclimated (cooled down). The Meade ACF design is only a slight variation to an SCT. It does improve stellar images at the edges of the fov, it does not appear to offer any visual difference in on axis performance.
And for the record those "big cotton balls" are also conspicuously absent from my C6 as well.
Perhaps it might be better to spend more time experiencing various scopes under the stars than reading the advertising?
Thanks, Mark, for the info. I've never seen any Meade ACF scope. The only reason that I have some interest in ETX-LS is because it's cheaper than buying someone else old Questar. I am happy and still holding on my old ETX90 RA. Coma is not a problem in long focal length/narrow field Maks.
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Own a poor man's Questar:ETX90 RA
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Rob_G
sage
Reged: 10/12/06
Posts: 247
Loc: Syracuse, NY
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Quote:
The new ETX LS looks interesting but I wonder about the near 45% central obstruction against the 30 or so percent on the ETX125-AT.
The ETX-125 actually has a central obstruction of approximately 41% because of the secondary baffle.
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Rob
Bausch & Lomb Legacy 10x50
Meade ETX 125-AT
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StarWars
Postmaster
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 13796
Loc: CyberSpace
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Quote:
I think $1,299 is too much. For that price I'd go for a C-8.
If I have $1299 to spend I would buy the 6SE or add another $200 and buy an 8SE ...
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Sony Digital Media player..
MX 460 earbuds
Celestron 2x Barlow Lens
Orion Collimation Eyepiece
Rigel Quick Finder
Assorted Bino's 
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nytecam
Postmaster
Reged: 08/20/05
Posts: 5748
Loc: London UK
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Quote:
The stars would appear to be much smaller dots when viewed through ACF instead of big cotton balls as shown in the above photos.
Glad violini my pic helpful in describing telescope optics but they were not taken with any telscope - just f/2 85mm and 58mm focal length lens respectively and log stretched to demo stellar penetration with a small camera lens What galaxy detail can you see with 1-inch aperture
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Nytecam 51N 0.1W
Meade 30cm LX200+ETX-70+e-finder+C8+Ha+CaK PSTs SBIG SGS+homebuilt spectrographs
Starlight SXVF_M9+Lodestar CCDs/Canon 300D DSLR/Fuji E550
My observatory build-ETX-70 imaging-my videos
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4570
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Quote:
Quote:
I'll assume that the differences between a new Meade 6" Aplanatic SCT (ACF) and a Celestron C6 are just as subtle as they are for the existing M8 ACF vs. a C8.
That would be a big improvement. The stars would appear to be much smaller dots when viewed through ACF instead of big cotton balls as shown in the above photos.
Well, "better". The stars in a standard scope are not "cotton balls" visually, nor are they perfect in the ACF SCTs. ACF is an improvement, but the ACF troops are still, for example, still hoping Meade will come out with a reducer/corrector to flatten the field some. Others are using the good, ol' Celestron/Meade f/6.3 reducer/corrector.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4494
Loc: Sunny California
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I hate to say it, but if you want sharp, pinpoint stars across the entire FOV, buy a good quality APO refractor. I was at a star party a few months ago where someone had a Televue 127mm next to an ETX125 as well as a big Meade ACF. The 127 blew both scopes away. No comparison. Contrast and sharpness were far better with the Televue. And it showed zero CA. Of course at nearly seven grand it's far more expensive. But you do gain much with it. Another terrific scope at this party was a Tak 130mm refractor.
I have a 6" SCT and find I'm using it far less than I did before I purchased my first refractor. I own five refractors so I guess I'm hooked.
But I'm intrigued by this new ETX-LS since I like the idea of just switching it on and it aligns itself. But it'll have to be out for a while with few if any problems before I buy one.
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Vixen Portamount
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StarWars
Postmaster
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 13796
Loc: CyberSpace
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Quote:
I hate to say it, but if you want sharp, pinpoint stars across the entire FOV, buy a good quality APO refractor. I was at a star party a few months ago where someone had a Televue 127mm next to an ETX125 as well as a big Meade ACF. The 127 blew both scopes away. No comparison. Contrast and sharpness were far better with the Televue. And it showed zero CA. Of course at nearly seven grand it's far more expensive. But you do gain much with it. Another terrific scope at this party was a Tak 130mm refractor.
I have a 6" SCT and find I'm using it far less than I did before I purchased my first refractor. I own five refractors so I guess I'm hooked.
But I'm intrigued by this new ETX-LS since I like the idea of just switching it on and it aligns itself. But it'll have to be out for a while with few if any problems before I buy one.
Starlighter
The price of a NP127 is $6985 or you could buy a ETX-125PE and a 12" LX200 ACF... 
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Sony Digital Media player..
MX 460 earbuds
Celestron 2x Barlow Lens
Orion Collimation Eyepiece
Rigel Quick Finder
Assorted Bino's
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4494
Loc: Sunny California
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Yep. I said it was expensive. But the best stuff usually is. It's my dream scope. That or a Tak TAO-130F. They're roughly the same price and offer similar quality. Then they'd need to be either on the best alt-azimuth mount which is probably a hugely expensive DiscMount M6 equipped with Sky Commander or a fine, heavy duty equatorial goto which would either be the Tak EM-200 USD III or a Losmandy G-11. Both are expensive with the Tak fully loaded running over five grand. A good runner up would be the Celestron CGE which at $3,000 complete is a steal. And it's all made in the USA! So's the Losmandy which runs $3,195 less mounting plates and counterweights.
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Vixen Portamount
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4494
Loc: Sunny California
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What's interesting is Meade still doesn't show the ETX-LS on their website. I read where they would be adding it in December.
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Vixen Portamount
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StarWars
Postmaster
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 13796
Loc: CyberSpace
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Quote:
What's interesting is Meade still doesn't show the ETX-LS on their website. I read where they would be adding it in December.
The ETX-LS is a prototype and Meade is testing the waters with preorders to see if it is feasible to produce the ETX-LS.
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Sony Digital Media player..
MX 460 earbuds
Celestron 2x Barlow Lens
Orion Collimation Eyepiece
Rigel Quick Finder
Assorted Bino's
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Aircrftr
sage
Reged: 09/29/06
Posts: 248
Loc: Claremore OK
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With their track record in electronics, I sure hope that they made these electronics absolutely bullet proof. Otherwise, I'm sure it will be the last nail in their coffin.
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14" LX200R
Orion 102ED
Cannon 20Da
DSI PRO (for autoguiding)
All stored in my "Mt. Wilson Observatory" elev.610 ft.
Edited by Aircrftr (01/01/09 12:14 PM)
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4570
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Quote:
I hate to say it, but if you want sharp, pinpoint stars across the entire FOV, buy a good quality APO refractor. I was at a star party a few months ago where someone had a Televue 127mm next to an ETX125 as well as a big Meade ACF. The 127 blew both scopes away. No comparison. Contrast and sharpness were far better with the Televue. And it showed zero CA. Of course at nearly seven grand it's far more expensive. But you do gain much with it. Another terrific scope at this party was a Tak 130mm refractor.
I have a 6" SCT and find I'm using it far less than I did before I purchased my first refractor. I own five refractors so I guess I'm hooked.
But I'm intrigued by this new ETX-LS since I like the idea of just switching it on and it aligns itself. But it'll have to be out for a while with few if any problems before I buy one.
And frankly many APO refractors, if not most, don't really deliver on this either--which is why most APO makers provide field flatteners for their scopes. What does help? The owners of these scopes often run at low power, which helps.
--------------------
Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4494
Loc: Sunny California
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The Televue 127 provides a wonderful flat field as do many of the Takahashi line of refractors. In the area of contrast and sharpness, any superb quality APO will blow the doors off an SCT or a Mak. You simply cannot get comparable levels with that huge central obstruction in place. Only when you get into really large mirrored scopes do they begin to compare and then once you go into truly big mirrors do they surpass refractors. Of course if money was no object..... FCT-250
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Vixen Portamount
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Chris Rowland
sage
Reged: 02/28/05
Posts: 268
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You do all realise that the built in imager is NOT imaging through the scope don't you?
The information on the Astronomics site shows that the CCD camera uses it's own wide angle lens. It's a pretty small lens; they don't say what the focal length or F Ratio are.
Chris
Chris
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 6758
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Ahah! I was wondering about that. I suspected it had to have a wide angle lens of some kind to locate the alignment stars, but I was hoping for a flip mirror so the camera could use the scope optics. I wonder of the FOV of the camera matches that of the telescope.
Bummer, but not a huge surprise.
Hmmm, I'd be curious to see spot diagrams comparing the field of different designs. Simple two- or three- element closely spaced lenses can't do much if anything to flatten the true field, which I believe is curved with a radius equal to their focal length (the field of a simple Newtonian is curved with a radius of twice the focal length which is the radius of the curvature of the mirror). Reflectors achieve field flatening my using designs that use different parts of the mirror for different parts of the image which is why their clear aperature is smaller than the primary. Camera lenses use the same trick using field stops located within the lens stack. It's possible some refractors include additional elements between the entrance lens and the focal plane, but outside of refractors designed for imaging (essentially monster camera lenses) I'm not sure I've seen any like that. Again, a spot diagram is the best way to quantitatively compare different optical designs for the effect of field curvature.
--------------------
-John
================================================
Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I, II, & III), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4494
Loc: Sunny California
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Quote:
You do all realise that the built in imager is NOT imaging through the scope don't you?
The information on the Astronomics site shows that the CCD camera uses it's own wide angle lens. It's a pretty small lens; they don't say what the focal length or F Ratio are.
Chris
Chris
That sucks! I thought the imager worked through the scope. So where is the small lens located?
--------------------
Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Vixen Portamount
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Chris Rowland
sage
Reged: 02/28/05
Posts: 268
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Quote:
Quote:
You do all realise that the built in imager is NOT imaging through the scope don't you?
The information on the Astronomics site shows that the CCD camera uses it's own wide angle lens. It's a pretty small lens; they don't say what the focal length or F Ratio are.
Chris
Chris
That sucks! I thought the imager worked through the scope. So where is the small lens located?
This picture
http://www.astronomics.com/main/image_detail.asp?catalog_name=Astronomics&category_name=5KTFHB132AKT8LUQ09MW1DRD44&product_id=ineaks8m716er9ncec3 shows it under the OTA.
Chris
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4494
Loc: Sunny California
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That really defeats the purpose of having an imager with the scope. I could easily mount my DSLR on top of one of my goto mounts, attach a telephoto to it and get better results.
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Vixen Portamount
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nytecam
Postmaster
Reged: 08/20/05
Posts: 5748
Loc: London UK
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Quote:
You do all realise that the built in imager is NOT imaging through the scope don't you?
Yep - told you so weeks ago -it's just like my e-finder but coupled for initial alignment for folk who're new to this game 
However I do have 40mm of aperture in mine rather than 'pea-size' lenses
--------------------
Nytecam 51N 0.1W
Meade 30cm LX200+ETX-70+e-finder+C8+Ha+CaK PSTs SBIG SGS+homebuilt spectrographs
Starlight SXVF_M9+Lodestar CCDs/Canon 300D DSLR/Fuji E550
My observatory build-ETX-70 imaging-my videos
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2779
Loc: Aston, PA
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Quote:
Just so we're clear violini, I have seen virtually NO difference in the view between an M8 ACF and a C8 XLT with the exception of some coma out at the edges of the C8. Both scopes were well collimated and properly acclimated (cooled down). The Meade ACF design is only a slight variation to an SCT. It does improve stellar images at the edges of the fov, it does not appear to offer any visual difference in on axis performance.
And for the record those "big cotton balls" are also conspicuously absent from my C6 as well.
I tried a ACF 10" vs a Nexstar 11. The Nexstar 11 showed more nebulosity with its 20% more light gathering power, but the stars were much crisper in the ACF 10.
That said there is some degree of variability in any mass produced scope line, you might have had an exceptional C8 versus an average ACF 8, who knows? But when I tested the two random samples the advertising was spot on... "tighter stars at the edge of the field of view", no misleading advertising there. On axis performance is "advertised" to be the same, (and you and I agree, they are the same) they were making no claims about improving that at all.
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 6758
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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The plot thickens...
In the ad in the February issue of S&T they describe the wide-angle ECLIPS imager AND the ability to control a DSI CCD camera through the mount and display the image in real time on a video monitor.
The price is also listed as $1299 MSRP.
I think it looks powerfully cool, I just wish I had $1299 burning a hole in my pocket (I love a good gadget).
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-John
================================================
Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I, II, & III), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors
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dbs
journeyman
Reged: 07/09/09
Posts: 5
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Does anyone has one of these already? Any reviews?
Kind of like the idea of the light switch where the scope just align everything itself.
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Arthur Dent
Galactic Hitch-Hiker
Reged: 10/23/08
Posts: 1182
Loc: South Yorkshire, UK
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Quote:
Does anyone has one of these already? Any reviews?
Kind of like the idea of the light switch where the scope just align everything itself.
Hi dbs
Welcome to Cloudy Nights and the ETX Forum in particular.
Several CN members have got an ETX-LS and have given "first impressions" and "first light" reports.
I can't remember specifically which threads they are in, but if you use the SEARCH function and the phrase "ETX-LS" in the "subject and body" (top rhs) and ensure that "Meade ETX" is selected in the drop down box under "Forum to Search", you should be able to find them.
I haven't got one, but by all accounts, they "Do exactly what it says on the tin" and align themselves completely automatically and members have been impressed.
Hope this helps,
Art
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If I like it, the wife says that we can't afford it!
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Meade ETX105 (a nice "Grab & Go" scope) & Celestron NexStar 6SE with Bob's Knobs.
Various EP's from 6mm to 26mm, Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Zoom, a 2x Barlow, 2" diagonal and 7Ah PowerTank.
MRF and Antares 8x50 RACI finder scope - both for the 6SE's OTA, whilst the ETX gets a plain RDF.
Canon EOS 400D DSLR (un-modded) and SPC900 webcam. Finally climbing the AP Learning Curve!
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4570
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Quote:
That really defeats the purpose of having an imager with the scope. I could easily mount my DSLR on top of one of my goto mounts, attach a telephoto to it and get better results.
Not really. The purpose of the imager is just to conduct alignments. The fact that you can snap constellation portraits with it is a plus. Which don't mean a scope that aligns itself is for everybody or is something most folks even need (though many Newbies DO fail in go-to alignment because they center the wrong alignment stars).
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Peter9
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/30/08
Posts: 806
Loc: Yorkshire - Born & Bred
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Hi Art, I have been disappointed with the lack of reports about the ETX-LS. All mention of the scope on this forum seem to have dried up over the last 2 weeks. Don't know whether it's down to people not buying, certainly the number of members saying they have bought one has been low, or whether they are buying but not getting the chance to use them due to the weather. I hope the scope is a success for meade's sake. How do you read it?.
Peter.
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Some of the pleasure I get from life I owe to Astronomy.
Astronomy does not owe me a thing.
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Nexstar 8se
150mm Helios Newton Reflector EQ 3 G.E.M.
6.3mm 10mm Plossls. Celestron 25mm & 40mm E.Ps. 8mm x 24mm Baader Hyperion Zoom. 2x Barlow. 9x50 R.A.C.I Finderscope. G.L.P and Bracket. Dew Shield. Home made Solar filter. Home made H.C Holder.(Great Asset). Maplin's 12V 17ah Auto Start Unit.
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Arthur Dent
Galactic Hitch-Hiker
Reged: 10/23/08
Posts: 1182
Loc: South Yorkshire, UK
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Hi Peter
Yes. There was an initial couple of reports a couple of weeks ago, but I haven't seen anything recently as you say.
Now this could be down to a few things.
1) Not many people have bought an ETX-LS.
2) People have bought an ETX-LS and have been too busy playing with their new toy (sorry) telescope.
3) People have ordered an ETX-LS and are STILL waiting for it to be delivered.
Personally, I think it's either #1 or #3!
Art
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If I like it, the wife says that we can't afford it!
=======================================================
Meade ETX105 (a nice "Grab & Go" scope) & Celestron NexStar 6SE with Bob's Knobs.
Various EP's from 6mm to 26mm, Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Zoom, a 2x Barlow, 2" diagonal and 7Ah PowerTank.
MRF and Antares 8x50 RACI finder scope - both for the 6SE's OTA, whilst the ETX gets a plain RDF.
Canon EOS 400D DSLR (un-modded) and SPC900 webcam. Finally climbing the AP Learning Curve!
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pepper
journeyman
Reged: 06/17/09
Posts: 9
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I have mine still, but been busy with lawyers and the such, so no play time here.
I did look at the moon a couple times as was impressed! found out the hard way that you must use a filter to look at a full moon... good thing I overbuy, and bought a moon filter, so I was covered there
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StarWars
Postmaster
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 13796
Loc: CyberSpace
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Quote:
I have mine still, but been busy with lawyers and the such, so no play time here.
I did look at the moon a couple times as was impressed! found out the hard way that you must use a filter to look at a full moon... good thing I overbuy, and bought a moon filter, so I was covered there
Tell the Lawyers to get their own ETX-LS... 
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Sony Digital Media player..
MX 460 earbuds
Celestron 2x Barlow Lens
Orion Collimation Eyepiece
Rigel Quick Finder
Assorted Bino's
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