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Equipment Discussions >> Cats & Casses

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Doug76
Long Achro Junkie

Reged: 12/05/07

Loc: Refractor Heaven

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: AlienRatDog]
#4810406 - 09/16/11 05:01 AM

Quote:

LXD75 going bye bye?

Could be. They also announced a competitor to the CGEM and Atlas, called the LX80, which is a GEQ, but is configurable as an alt-az and as a dual scope mount (like the iOptrons).

Post Extras:

LLEEGE
True Blue

Reged: 03/03/05

Loc: Cloud-chester,NY

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: Doug76]
#4810531 - 09/16/11 08:04 AM

Can't say I'm a fan of the threaded CW shaft. Probably proprietary. Looks like Robin Casady will have a new product to make.

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David Pavlich
Transmographied

Reged: 05/18/05

Loc: Mandeville, LA USA

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#4810591 - 09/16/11 08:55 AM

Quote:

Can't say I'm a fan of the threaded CW shaft. Probably proprietary. Looks like Robin Casady will have a new product to make.

Amen!

David

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AlienRatDog
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 07/15/05

Loc: Ann Arbor

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: HCR32]
#4810623 - 09/16/11 09:16 AM

Ok...well that is settled...when I defend my thesis and hopefully make more money than what I am making as a grad student...the 14" LX800 and a nice CCD camera is what I am buying myself as a graduation gift...

Post Extras:

jgraham
Postmaster

Reged: 12/02/04

Loc: Dayton, Ohio

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: AlienRatDog]
#4810674 - 09/16/11 09:57 AM

They've been closing out the LXD75 for some time now just selling off stock. It looks like the LX80 will replace the LXD75.

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Bill Barlow
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/03/07

Loc: Overland Park KS

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: jgraham]
#4810716 - 09/16/11 10:22 AM

At f/8, will these new Meade ACF OTA's have a larger secondary obstruction/mirror similar to the AT RC scopes..somewhere around 40-45%? Will the f/8 OTA's cost more than the current f/10 ACF OTA's?

Bill

Post Extras:

frebie
Chief assistant to the assistant chief

Reged: 04/29/08

Loc: Neither here nor there.

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: Bill Barlow]
#4810824 - 09/16/11 11:27 AM

Quote:

At f/8, will these new Meade ACF OTA's have a larger secondary obstruction/mirror similar to the AT RC scopes..somewhere around 40-45%? Will the f/8 OTA's cost more than the current f/10 ACF OTA's?

Bill

According to preliminary specs, the secondary obstruction of the 10" is approximately 4.05" in diameter (20.95% by area). On the 12" it is approximately 4.36" in diameter (16.86% by area). The 14" is TBD. These specs are preliminary and should be not taken as gospel, as preliminary specs are always subject to change.

No pricing or part numbers on OTAs yet. I would think they would be further downstream than the estimated November shipping date on the scopes, as Meade would probably want to fill the pipeline with complete scopes before breaking out the OTAs separately.

Post Extras:

Tiny
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 05/02/08

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: Bill Barlow]
#4810825 - 09/16/11 11:27 AM

Quote:

What's that "Starlock" thingy parallel to the SCT? A new guiding system?
Seems a whole new mount included in the mix......interesting.

yes its an included guide scope. Some info from mount forum

Quote:

Alignment procedures 2-Star Align, 1 Star Polar Align,
StarLock assited drift align

StarLock Wide-field camera 25mm x 26mm f/1.04 optic with 1/2 inch format CMOS sensor gives field of 14.72 x 11.78 degrees.

Narrow-field camera 80mm x 400mm f/5 optic with 1/2 inch format CMOS sensor gives field of 57.2 x 45.8 arcminutes (2.68 arcseconds/pixel)

High-precision pointing +/- 1 arcminute

High-precision guiding +/- 1 arcsecond RMS (with good seeing. 1-4 second correction update rate depending on star magnitude. Faintest guide star 11th mag.

High-precision alignment Semi-automatic drift align procedure for ulta-precise polar alignment

Quote:

At f/8, will these new Meade ACF OTA's have a larger secondary obstruction/mirror similar to the AT RC scopes..somewhere around 40-45%? Will the f/8 OTA's cost more than the current f/10 ACF OTA's?

Bill

Obstruction should be around 38-39%.

They announced some package/mount pricing, but nothing on OTAs yet.

LX80 Mount will be $800
LX800 Mount will be $6000
LX800 with 10" OTA $8000
LX800 with 12" OTA $9000
LX800 with 14" OTA $10000

my guess is the OTA only pricing will be

10" $3000
12" $4000
14" $6500

Post Extras:

frebie
Chief assistant to the assistant chief

Reged: 04/29/08

Loc: Neither here nor there.

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: dadeo]
#4810842 - 09/16/11 11:37 AM

Quote:

Okay, I dig it! If the gizmos work, how about a conversion kit for the LX200?

The 90 pound payload capacity mount will be available separately (set up for Losmandy-style D-plate mount OTAs) at a retail of $5999. You can always defork an LX200 optical tube and put it on the LX800 mount. However, it is unlikely that the German equatorial mount StarLock system could be easily adapted to the fork mount LX200 (not enough room between the forks for the 80mm guidescope and separate wide field camera). Stranger things have happened, though.

Post Extras:

jmiele
Patron Saint?

Reged: 12/04/10

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: frebie]
#4811076 - 09/16/11 01:45 PM

The OTA prices have always been close between the big 2. I would expect the same here as well. Joe

Post Extras:

tim53
Postmaster

Reged: 12/17/04

Loc: Highland Park, CA

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: rmollise]
#4811178 - 09/16/11 02:44 PM

Quote:

I will say this: Very interesting...but...given what's gone on the last few years, they need to do everything in their power to make sure this is right _out the door_. No more early adopter-beta testers as with the RCX.

I agree whole-heartedly. Problem is that Meade has a track record of advertising and taking orders before the product is fully ready, going back at least 30 years to when I was working for them.

The prices seem... ...astronomical to me, though. Maybe it's time Meade brought back a well-made, inexpensive Newt on a Gem!

Pigs might be able to fly, after all, if you get 'em moving fast enough!

-Tim.

Post Extras:

SGT500
Post Laureate

Reged: 10/03/06

Loc: Sarasota, Florida

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: tim53]
#4811209 - 09/16/11 03:05 PM

That looks SOLID! When i eventually upgrade my mount i think it will be to that Lx800. Assuming they are good and nobody has any problems. but wow, what a nice looking piece of machinery.

Post Extras:

skybsd
Post Laureate

Reged: 02/01/08

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: skybsd]
#4811225 - 09/16/11 03:16 PM

Quote:

Looks AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regards,

skybsd

Hmmmmm..,

NOW I know why I like the looks of these mounts..,

Anyone else see the resemblance

Regards,

skybsd

Edit: Reminder, use a link to images that are not your personal property. Thanks.

Edited by rick rian (09/18/11 03:49 PM)

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Stew57
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 05/03/09

Loc: Silsbee Texas

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: David Pavlich]
#4811227 - 09/16/11 03:17 PM

I actually think the threaded cw shaft may be a good feature. Cross meridian two turns up and slightly east heavy, cross back and 2 turns down and still slightly east heavy. makes balancing easier..31mm eyepiece 2 turns down..mallincam 4 turns down...DSLR 6 turns down

I had thought of this as a feature myself and would be nice if one just would log how many turns each piece of equipment needed. Of course some easy to operate lock would be needed.

Post Extras:

jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more

Reged: 04/30/03

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: Stew57]
#4811241 - 09/16/11 03:27 PM

Quote:

I had thought of this as a feature myself and would be nice if one just would log how many turns each piece of equipment needed. Of course some easy to operate lock would be needed.

I like the threaded cw shaft on the NJP in my permanent setup but it would probably be a pain if the mount had to be assembled for each session. No locks are required; the weights don't move. It's a real convenience to not have to clamp and unclamp them.

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Astrojensen
Post Laureate

Reged: 10/05/08

Loc: Bornholm, Denmark

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: skybsd]
#4811245 - 09/16/11 03:34 PM

Quote:

Hmmmmm.., NOW I know why I like the looks of these mounts..,

Anyone else see the resemblance

Regards,

skybsd

Now that you mention it...

Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark

Post Extras:

skybsd
Post Laureate

Reged: 02/01/08

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: Astrojensen]
#4811261 - 09/16/11 03:46 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Hmmmmm.., NOW I know why I like the looks of these mounts..,

Anyone else see the resemblance

Regards,

skybsd

I'm just sayin'

Heeheehee!!!!!

Regards,

skybsd

Now that you mention it...

Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark

Post Extras:

Rick Woods
Postmaster

Reged: 01/27/05

Loc: Inner Solar System

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: skybsd]
#4811411 - 09/16/11 05:20 PM

Well, it's a GEM. The all look pretty much like that.
I dunno - a 40% CO is pretty extreme. This would not make a great visual planetary scope. You'd lose a bit more fine detail; but I guess what you DO get to see is nice and sharp?

I'm with Tim; let's see a high-quality Newt on a solid gem, reasonably priced!

Quote:

I actually think the threaded cw shaft may be a good feature. Cross meridian two turns up and slightly east heavy, cross back and 2 turns down and still slightly east heavy. makes balancing easier..31mm eyepiece 2 turns down..mallincam 4 turns down...DSLR 6 turns down

Yeah, but two turns up from the previous three turns down for the 31mm, or wait, the last eyepiece I used was the 9T6, so that's 1.5 turns up, subtract the extra 2 turns for meridian cross, carry the 1...

Your brain could explode!

Post Extras:

rmollise
Postmaster

Reged: 07/06/07

Re: Meade's new LX800... new

[Re: skybsd]
#4811413 - 09/16/11 05:21 PM

Quote:

Anyone else see the resemblance

Regards,

skybsd

Yep.

Post Extras:

Bill Barlow
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/03/07

Loc: Overland Park KS

Re: Meade's new LX800... [Re: frebie]
#4811426 - 09/16/11 05:32 PM

Thank you for the preliminary information on some of these scopes "specs".

Bill

Post Extras:

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