fernando jorge
member
Reged: 10/15/09
Posts: 39
Loc: Montevideo, Uruguay
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Hi! I'm considering buying a telescope and still don't decide beetween the ETX-125PE and the Celestron NexStar 6 SE.
What do I need from the telescope?
1) Must be portable
2) Short setup time
3) Autoalignment
4) Must allow me to do planetary astrophotography
5) Top price $800
I'd really appreciate your comments!
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_______________________________________________
Nexstar 6SE
Celestron 25mm/Meade 15mm s4000, 9mm s5000/Powertank
20x60 soviet binoculars
10x30 Bushnell binoculars
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brianb11213
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/25/09
Posts: 2110
Loc: 55.215N 6.554W
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Neither has the greatest mount in the world but, in my experience, the SE mount is better than the ETX. More stable and more accurate (once properly set up for backlash).
The extra inch of aperture makes a significant difference for deep sky objects. The long focal length of the ETX (f/15) makes it a struggle to get a low power; the 6SE, being f/10, is better in this respect, and yet not so short as to require a strong barlow or ridiculously short eyepieces to get a high magnification for lunar/planetary work.
If it was my money, it would be the SE.
Either way, unless you live in the driest desert in the world, you'll need a dew cap - the exposed front corrector plate of catadioptric scopes is a dew magnet, without a dew cap you'll be limited to very short sessions.
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blb
sage
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 215
Loc: Piedmont NC
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Not sure about the SE, I have the ETX-125PE and love it. I also have a Celestron C6 and love it also. But for what you are wonting to use it for the 6" f/10 would be better than a 5" f/15 scope. I also think the focus on the 6" is better too. I have to use a cloths pin on the ETX for fine focus.
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C-11, C-6, XT10i Dob, ETX125PE, TV102, & AT66
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Bob Griffiths
Postmaster
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 6583
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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For your stated purposes I too would spring for the 6Se BUT I'd also HAVE spend an extra 100 bucks for a Focal reducer if I wanted to get into doing any imaging....
I do not know if you are new to astronomy or not BUT if your Budget JUST FOR THE SCOPE is $800 you will be ok...But if that $800 is for the scope and a few accessories (eyepieces, eyepiece case, chairs etc).. you will be in trouble...BIG TROUBLE in my opinion ESPECIALLY if you get hooked on the hobby....
Bob G
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
Gerbring Heated Motorcycle clothing in the winter
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
The sky over my head....
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fernando jorge
member
Reged: 10/15/09
Posts: 39
Loc: Montevideo, Uruguay
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Thanks for your answers!
$800 is my limit for the telescope, accessories will come later... for sure! 
What about portability? Is the Celestron portable?
And what about quality of image/optics? any of the is superior to the other, or are them in the same league?
Thanks!
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_______________________________________________
Nexstar 6SE
Celestron 25mm/Meade 15mm s4000, 9mm s5000/Powertank
20x60 soviet binoculars
10x30 Bushnell binoculars
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blb
sage
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 215
Loc: Piedmont NC
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I think all scopes in this size range are highly portable. You might say grab and go.
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C-11, C-6, XT10i Dob, ETX125PE, TV102, & AT66
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Bob Griffiths
Postmaster
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 6583
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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Quote:
Thanks for your answers!
$800 is my limit for the telescope, accessories will come later... for sure!
What about portability? Is the Celestron portable?
And what about quality of image/optics? any of the is superior to the other, or are them in the same league?
Thanks!
I do NOT own a 6SE...But I have owned a ETX125 in the past....and I currently own an 8i (earlier model of the 8Se)..
All I can say is my 8i weights in totally assembled and on the tripod completely ready to use at 35 pounds...The 6SE actually weights a few pounds less then that... Portability even when completely assembled is a piece of cake..
The optics I really can not compare (older Celestron vs Older ETX) .. BUT I can tell you what I personally "saw" when I compared several Celestron 9.25 and 11" scopes against several Meade 10 and 12 inch scts with ACF optics before I purchased my CPC1100...
The difference between the tow is a Non issue, ...VISUALLY ... Not only are they in the same league but in the same position on the same ball field...
I would have to say the ACF Meade scopes have a very very slight edge at the extreme edge of the FOV.
BUT it is not noticeable UNLESS you look and look hard...and jump back and forth between the scopes which are set up side by side...
Anyway I placed a value of the ACF optics of the Big Meades as adding no more then 20 bucks to what I was willing to write the check for...
Your eyeballs may tell you differently. The difference was just really a non issue for "ME" BUT I am 100 percent Visual.
The one thing I do know about the 6Se is that it shares the exact same mount and tripod as the 8Se so it is definitely NOT under mounted...and it does not contain as much plastic as my old ETX...
BTW I sold my ETX NOT because I did not like it or use it.... I sold it to buy a bigger scope (aperture fever struck and I dd not duck)
Bob G
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
Gerbring Heated Motorcycle clothing in the winter
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
The sky over my head....
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fernando jorge
member
Reged: 10/15/09
Posts: 39
Loc: Montevideo, Uruguay
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What about auto alignment? Does the etx allows to enter the exact coordinates where you are as the Celestron?
As far as I've read, the Celestron allows me to enter the exact coordinates where am I, while the etx's manual says that I have to choose the city I am from a preloaded menu.
I live in Montevideo, Uruguay. I don't know if my city is in the list. And if I go to the countryside then I may not be able to use the autoalignment?
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_______________________________________________
Nexstar 6SE
Celestron 25mm/Meade 15mm s4000, 9mm s5000/Powertank
20x60 soviet binoculars
10x30 Bushnell binoculars
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StarWars
Postmaster
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 13810
Loc: CyberSpace
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The Nexstar hand controller computer firmware offers...
6 SE Focal length 1500mm
1) Sky Align (select any three stars for alignment)
2) Solar System Align (select any object in the solar system for alignment)
4) Two Star Align (select any stars from HC database or select your own)
The ETX-PE Autostar firmware offers...
ETX-PE Focal length 1900mm
1) Auto Align LNT (allow autostar to select two objects for alignment)
2) Easy Align (select any stars from HC database or select your own)
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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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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4575
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Quote:
What about auto alignment? Does the etx allows to enter the exact coordinates where you are as the Celestron?
As far as I've read, the Celestron allows me to enter the exact coordinates where am I, while the etx's manual says that I have to choose the city I am from a preloaded menu.
I live in Montevideo, Uruguay. I don't know if my city is in the list. And if I go to the countryside then I may not be able to use the autoalignment?
If by "exact coordinates where you are," you mean latitude and longitude, yes. The ETX will allow you to specify the nearest town, the zipcode, or lat/lon during alignment. In practice, "nearest town" is more than good enough.
As for the original question? The 6-inch will have slightly brighter images, but those in the 125 will be sharper.
Mounts? I've tested my 125PE against a NexStar 5 and a NexStar 8SE, and go-to performance is pretty much the same. As for portability? That depends on the person in question IMHO, neither the 125, the NS5, nor the NS8 isoverly portable, not being much less fuss to setup than a C8
Some of my recent ETX ruminations:
http://uncle-rods.blogspot.com/2009/06/etx-love.html
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4575
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Quote:
The ETX-PE Autostar firmware offers...
ETX-PE Focal length 1900mm
1) Auto Align LNT (allow autostar to select two objects for alignment)
2) Easy Align (select any stars from HC database or select your own)
Actually, the current PE software offers three align modes:
Easy Align (scope levels, points north, choose two alignment stars and heads to them without much user intervention).
One Star
Two Star
These two modes are like those in the AT ETX and other Autostar equipped ETXes in that you choose the star(s) for alignment, etc.
One thing the PE does that a Nexstar (without an optional GPS module) doesn't is that it retains time and date via its battery-backed LNT module. Having a PE is like having a GPS scope without the GPS. Unless you move a large distance from your previous location, all you have to do is turn the scope on and center the alignment stars it chooses.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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brianb11213
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/25/09
Posts: 2110
Loc: 55.215N 6.554W
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Quote:
In practice, "nearest town" is more than good enough.
For most of us, maybe. (My "nearest" is 50 miles away but even in the crowded UK there are places much further from the "nearest town" listed!) However setting the lat & long to the nearest minute of arc is easy enough for everyone, and at least ten times as accurate as is necessary for proper operation of the mount.
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fernando jorge
member
Reged: 10/15/09
Posts: 39
Loc: Montevideo, Uruguay
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1) So the ETX allows entering lat&long instead of using "nearest town" list?
2) BTW, does the ETX has an optional GPS module similar to the Nexstar?
3) I think my last (but not least) concert now is the quality of the planetary images taken. I've seen several ETX good images, but still couldn't get any from the Nexstar 6SE.
I really appreciate your feedback! I have a week to decide which one I'm buying
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_______________________________________________
Nexstar 6SE
Celestron 25mm/Meade 15mm s4000, 9mm s5000/Powertank
20x60 soviet binoculars
10x30 Bushnell binoculars
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4575
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Quote:
For most of us, maybe. (My "nearest" is 50 miles away but even in the crowded UK there are places much further from the "nearest town" listed!) However setting the lat & long to the nearest minute of arc is easy enough for everyone, and at least ten times as accurate as is necessary for proper operation of the mount.
Well, not really. I regularly use the scope at a dark site 50 miles from home. Do I change my site? No. Does it make any difference? No. After 60 miles, I might change it...but even then...for stars and deep sky objects all that really matters is that you carefully center the alignment stars.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4575
|
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Quote:
1) So the ETX allows entering lat&long instead of using "nearest town" list?
2) BTW, does the ETX has an optional GPS module similar to the Nexstar?
3) I think my last (but not least) concert now is the quality of the planetary images taken. I've seen several ETX good images, but still couldn't get any from the Nexstar 6SE.
I really appreciate your feedback! I have a week to decide which one I'm buying
1. Yes.
2. Yes (with a third party module).
3. If I were wanting to take planetary images, neither a five or a six inch would be my choice. An 8-inch is pretty much where you will want to start for that.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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fernando jorge
member
Reged: 10/15/09
Posts: 39
Loc: Montevideo, Uruguay
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Budget restrictions! about $800 top
Also want something portable and with goto.
In that scenario, my two available choices are etx-125 and Nexstar 6SE
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_______________________________________________
Nexstar 6SE
Celestron 25mm/Meade 15mm s4000, 9mm s5000/Powertank
20x60 soviet binoculars
10x30 Bushnell binoculars
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4575
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Quote:
Budget restrictions! about $800 top
Also want something portable and with goto.
In that scenario, my two available choices are etx-125 and Nexstar 6SE
And I think you could be very happy with either. I'm just saying that neither will be _optimum_ for high resolution planetary imaging. Casual images of the Moon? Smaller scale images of Jupiter and Saturn? Sure. Detailed planetary pictures? Harder. The more light the better when you are trying to get large-scale detailed planetary pictures.
If that is the main goal, I would look for a used C8. As I said earlier, neither the 5 nor the 6 is much more portable than something like a NexStar 8i.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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fernando jorge
member
Reged: 10/15/09
Posts: 39
Loc: Montevideo, Uruguay
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I understand. My main focus is portability and low setup time. Astrophotography won't be for science, just for fun.
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_______________________________________________
Nexstar 6SE
Celestron 25mm/Meade 15mm s4000, 9mm s5000/Powertank
20x60 soviet binoculars
10x30 Bushnell binoculars
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fernando jorge
member
Reged: 10/15/09
Posts: 39
Loc: Montevideo, Uruguay
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Googling for ETX-125 images I've found this:
http://www.frankryanjr.com/jupiter.htm
http://www.weasner.com/etx/guests/2006/guests_planets1.html
And from the Nexstar 6SE:
http://www.celestronimages.com/details.php?image_id=2959&mode=search
http://www.celestronimages.com/details.php?image_id=1682&mode=search
According to this the ETX might be better than the Celestron?
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_______________________________________________
Nexstar 6SE
Celestron 25mm/Meade 15mm s4000, 9mm s5000/Powertank
20x60 soviet binoculars
10x30 Bushnell binoculars
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AlexDJ30
sage
Reged: 09/02/08
Posts: 276
Loc: Monterrey, Mexico
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Fernando both scopes can do AP..well planetary AP fine, the ETX-125 its a mak so its a better scope for planetary visually and imagening, but for DSO's its not very good. The SCT aka 6SE its all around scope, good for planets good for DSO's.
I have both and i will favor you buy the 6SE..why..because it have 1 more inch, maybe thats not much but it gathers more light than the ETX-125. On the construction side i compare both and the 6SE its better made mechanically speaking, y have a ETX-125 AT and it feels more plastic than the 6SE by a lot even that the 6SE its one arm it feel better constructed.
Its light setup both so on this category both are on the same league, so both are grab and go in a way.
For me meade has lost some of his quality, its good scope but stil they havent upgrade the insides of the ETX family only the outside and cosmetics but the inside are the same. By the way my 6SE have almost non image shift, my ETX-125 on the other hand get my nerves, have a lot of image shift while focusing and even that i have do the recomendations to crack all the focuser many times its still the same with lots of image shift.
I will vote for the 6SE than the ETX right now, unless meade upgrade the focus mechanism and use better parts on the inside i will not loook right now on the etx ball park.
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Equipment:
- ETX 125 AT
- C6 ASGT
- WO 66mm SD
- 2.5X ED Barlow, 8-24mm Zoom Eyepice
- Canon EOS Rebel XSi
- Celestron Nextimagen
- Orion Starshoot CCD cam
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BobH
super member
Reged: 01/03/08
Posts: 143
Loc: PA
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I have no experience with Celestron, but have an ETX-125PE and am dissatisfied enough with it to now be considering Celestron for my next scope (of the grab-and-go class).
The etx is certainly grab-and-go, but slewing accuracy for me has been lousy, and tracking is so jumpy that astrophotography is out of the question. The possible solution is a "Supercharge" but I have to ask why should I have to pay another $300+ on an $800 scope to get it to work well? The bottom line is you get what you pay for and an $800 set of scope/mount/eyepiece is cheap.
Be very careful about the AP claims. Some high-profile pictures touted as being taken through the etx were actually taken through an etx piggy-backed on a much larger scope (LS 200 8-14") and some of those in an observatory!
I am extremely upset about the way we true amatures are being taken. All the major vendors and publications warn against the so-called "department store" telescope claims, but I submit that the major players in the amature astronomy field are really not much better.
Good Luck.
Bob
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"Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise." - Cato the Elder
Meade 8" LX200 GPS
ETX 125 PE
Tasco 50mm x 600mm
StellarVue 115ST on MiniTower
Orion Astroview 100
Celestron 8x42 Outland LX
'03 Harley FXDL (oops, wrong forum)
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 6760
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Both these scopes would make fine general purpose visual scopes and should be okay at basic lunar imaging. However, anything beyond very basic planetary imaging and very, very basic deep sky imaging requires a much better mount than either of these scopes have. I bought my ETX-125PE as a visual companion to my imaging gear and in that capacity it has been a great little scope and a good value. I also like using it for taking quick, full-disk images of the moon using my DSLR. I've also used the SE scopes and I was impressed with them, but I prefered the ETX design and the MCT optics set.
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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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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4575
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Quote:
I am extremely upset about the way we true amatures are being taken. All the major vendors and publications warn against the so-called "department store" telescope claims, but I submit that the major players in the amature astronomy field are really not much better.
Good Luck.
Bob
And the same goes for PC makers, car makers, washing machine makers, and television set producers. And it always will. The solution for amateur astronomers is to educate yourself.
--------------------
Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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StarWars
Postmaster
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 13810
Loc: CyberSpace
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Well, the 6 SE is 6 inches vs. ETX-125 which is 5 inches... 
Plus the 6 SE motor mount gear train is all metal while some of the ETX motor mount gear train is plastic.. 
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Sony Digital Media player..
MX 460 earbuds
Celestron 2x Barlow Lens
Orion Collimation Eyepiece
Rigel Quick Finder
Assorted Bino's
|
rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4575
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Quote:
Well, the 6 SE is 6 inches vs. ETX-125 which is 5 inches...
Plus the 6 SE motor mount gear train is all metal while some of the ETX motor mount gear train is plastic..
I believe you will find some plastic in the transfer gears of the Se as well...but it really doesn't make any difference. If properly done there is no problem with that at all. If. 
--------------------
Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
|
brianb11213
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/25/09
Posts: 2110
Loc: 55.215N 6.554W
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Quote:
believe you will find some plastic in the transfer gears of the Se as well...but it really doesn't make any difference.
More to the point is the design difference: the ETX has a worm drive (good) but the worm wheel is so small it looks like a refugee from a Swiss ladies mechanical watch movement. The SE drive train uses spur gears. Both mounts tend to have rather a lot of backlash ... experience seems to be that the SE mount, properly set up, "finds" objects more accurately.
Also the Celestron handset is, in my opinion and that of most others who've used both, considerably easier to navigate.
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Joe Lalumia
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 3611
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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Let's face it--------- NONE of the hand controllers are as difficult to navigate as say an XBOX game controller! Kid's navigate game controllers all day long.
The ETX does just fine- IF you calibrate motors, train drives, calibrate sensors and do an accurate 2 star alignment. Then use a 26mm or so eyepiece to LOCATE the sky object.
Mine has been running just fine for over 3 years now. If you want big metal gears and a stable platform for imaging get something like an Atlas mount for $1500 AND AN 80MM TRIPLET refractor for $3000 more. The ETX and the SE are both visual grab and go telescopes.
Just the rantings of an old guy.
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, SV 80/9D & M4 mount, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, 20x80 binoculars, SV-BV3s-- www.texasastro.org
"Great minds discuss ideas;Average minds discuss events;Small minds discuss people." Unknown
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blb
sage
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 215
Loc: Piedmont NC
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Quote:
The ETX does just fine- IF you calibrate motors, train drives, calibrate sensors and do an accurate 2 star alignment. Then use a 26mm or so eyepiece to LOCATE the sky object.
Mine has been running just fine for over 3 years now. The ETX and the SE are both visual grab and go telescopes.
Just the rantings of an old guy.
I agree! Mine is over five years old now and is still working great.
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C-11, C-6, XT10i Dob, ETX125PE, TV102, & AT66
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Jim10
newbie
Reged: 10/07/08
Posts: 4
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I own an ETX 125 PE. It's optical clarity depends on what has occurred during the last submission to Meade for repair. For short periods the unit has exhibited outstanding optical characteristics. However, when the scope would be returned from a repair session for some other reason, it would exhibit different characteristics. I take this to mean that the optics are great. However, the problems are arising from the mechanical parts that are used to adjust/focus the unit. When I observed the SCTs used on public nights by my local Club, I noticed that Celestron was far and away the most popular brand. My replacement for the ETX will be a Celestron.
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John Zimmerman
member
Reged: 10/05/09
Posts: 15
Loc: California
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In the past several years I have bought a number of new Meade and Celestrons. Every Meade I bought had to be sent back to the factory for repairs. I am very reluctant to ever purchase another Meade instrument, which is unfortunate, because they are very good optically and their GOTO system has many nice features.
I have had much better luck with Celestrons, and only had to send one back for repairs. I have more confidence in the reliability of a Celestron.
As for the ETX-125 v 6SE, The 6 will gather more light. But you are also comparing a 5" Mak against a 6" SCT, and the Mak will tend to give more contrasty, refractor-like images. And, to complicate the decision-making process, the 6SE is $200 more than the ETX-125.
Still, in the end, if I had a choice, I would get the 6SE because I would be confident it would not ask me for a trip to the factory.
--------------------
John Zimmerman
Celestron NexStar 11GPS
Celestron Nexstar 8SE
Orion Astroview 120ST
Celestron NexStar 4
Meade ETX 90PE
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