Telescope Reviews: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focuser

· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt

· Submit a Review / Article

Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums

Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User

You are not logged in. [Login]

Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online
FAQ · Calendar

Equipment Discussions >> Cats & Casses

Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all)

Starman27
Post Laureate

Reged: 01/29/06

Loc: Illinois, Iowa

Re: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focuser new

[Re: budman1961]
#5627563 - 01/17/13 08:01 AM

I agree. Let's try to stay on topic of the Meade micro focuser.

Thanks.

Post Extras:

ahopp
sage

Reged: 05/24/12

Re: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focuser new

[Re: Starman27]
#5627575 - 01/17/13 08:11 AM

So, you can control the focuser from the handbox. How would I control it from my PC, can I do it over the serial cable, if so, what software?

Post Extras:

cavefrog
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/11/08

Loc: loozyanna

Re: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focuser new

[Re: ahopp]
#5627699 - 01/17/13 09:36 AM

Yes, you can control it and other functions from the PC over the serial cable with many different programs. Starry Night from Meade, stellarium, Cartes du Ciel, and others. Google planetarium programs or remote telescope control.

Theo

Post Extras:

Bill Barlow
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/03/07

Loc: Overland Park KS

Re: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focuser new

[Re: cavefrog]
#5627760 - 01/17/13 10:21 AM

Can you manually use this focuser on these f/8 OTA's if you don't use a computer or a go-to mount?

Bill

Post Extras:

Whichwayisnorth
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/04/11

Loc: Southern California

Re: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focuser new

[Re: cavefrog]
#5627807 - 01/17/13 10:52 AM

Last night I was using The Sky X Pro's auto focus routine with it as well. First time though so I was playing around with settings until I decided to just use a focus mask and call it a night. Just wanted to chime in here and say that everything I've tried with the focuser seems to work fine with it. I didn't think I'd like it as much as I do. I am about 25 feet away from my telescope under my patio with a heater blowing on me. So much nicer to be able to focus without getting up from my chair. Also nice not having the computer right next to the telescope so I can see the focus.

Quote:

Yes, you can control it and other functions from the PC over the serial cable with many different programs. Starry Night from Meade, stellarium, Cartes du Ciel, and others. Google planetarium programs or remote telescope control.

Theo

Post Extras:

GSO
member

Reged: 08/11/10

Re: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focuser new

[Re: cavefrog]
#5628305 - 01/17/13 03:25 PM

Quote:

I have 2 of them,......

Microfocuser manual

Theo

Thanks for that
Mine works well but has a grinding noise
will examine it and see what the problem is

Post Extras:

gillmj24
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/06/05

Loc: PA

Re: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focuser new

[Re: Bill Barlow]
#5628856 - 01/17/13 08:46 PM

Quote:

Can you manually use this focuser on these f/8 OTA's if you don't use a computer or a go-to mount?

Bill

The LX800 scopes they had at NEAF were all manual focus with a new "zero-shift" system they were marketing. Instead of one rod just pushing the mirror off axis I think it was supposed to push the mirror at at least 3 points so that the mirror wouldn't shift. It was definitely different, the knob was about 3x the diameter as the LX200 type scopes. And like a feathertouch it had a fine focus knob if I recall correctly.

Has anyone confirmed whether or not they are selling the old LX200GPS microfocuser with the LX850??? It sounds like the new 2 speed manual focuser is being called the LX850 microfocuser and it is not the same as the LX200 electronic one. Has anyone seen an electronic LX850 microfocuser that screws onto the back of the tube??

Edited by gillmj24 (01/17/13 08:59 PM)

Post Extras:

Bill Barlow
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/03/07

Loc: Overland Park KS

Re: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focuser new

[Re: gillmj24]
#5628904 - 01/17/13 09:17 PM

Thanks for the information. I was hoping that you could just use your hand and fingers to focus the object seen in the eyepiece.

Bill

Post Extras:

gillmj24
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/06/05

Loc: PA

Re: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focuser new

[Re: Bill Barlow]
#5628914 - 01/17/13 09:25 PM

They learned their lesson from the RCX I suppose. Not that mine ever had any problems, but I know many had focus runaways. If the optics are like the f/8 RCX people will love them, large central obstructions and all

Post Extras:

gillmj24
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/06/05

Loc: PA

Re: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focuser new

[Re: gillmj24]
#5628931 - 01/17/13 09:35 PM

Ok they updated their website!

http://meade.com/lx850

There is a 7:1 two speed mechanical focuser that moves the mirror. It was supposed to be zero shift but maybe it wasn't working as well as they hoped. So they added the electronic microfocuser which in the very small picture it is attached to the scope and resembles the old LX200GPS one.

Edited by gillmj24 (01/17/13 09:36 PM)

Post Extras:

galaxy_jason
Vendor

Reged: 05/22/07

Loc: Texas

Re: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focuser new

[Re: gillmj24]
#5654597 - 01/31/13 04:02 PM

The manual focuser works very well indeed! Virtually no shift while focusing. However, the 14", having such a big mirror will add a focus lock so you don't get differential movment between Starlock and your camera. When the primary is locked you need an external focuser.

Post Extras:

Bill Barlow
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/03/07

Loc: Overland Park KS

Re: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focuser new

[Re: galaxy_jason]
#5655038 - 01/31/13 08:44 PM

Jason, is the new manual focuser on the M14 done using your fingers or is it a motor focus unit..thanks.

Bill

Post Extras:

Griffin!
super member

Reged: 09/12/10

Re: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focuser new

[Re: Bill Barlow]
#5655059 - 01/31/13 08:53 PM

It sounds like it has the new manual focuser like all of the other OTAs but it gives you the option of a focus lock, which if you use you would then use the electric motor focus unit included with the OTA.

Post Extras:

galaxy_jason
Vendor

Reged: 05/22/07

Loc: Texas

Re: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focu new

[Re: Griffin!]
#5655273 - 01/31/13 11:03 PM

Exactly. Except the new focuser on the OTA has an outer (course) and inner (fine) knob.

Post Extras:

GlennS
member

Reged: 06/19/12

Re: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focuser new

[Re: budman1961]
#5725340 - 03/11/13 08:17 AM

The Micro Focuser is the same one as the LX200GPS -- it vas an adapter that screws onto the rear cell, the adapter does not add to back-focus -- the focuser fits over it, not in back of it.
Yes, I wish it had a compression ring -- it has three screws that hold onto what ever you connect it to -- there is an adapter that provides SCT threads to the rear, or you can place the diagonal directly into it -- I use the SCT thread adapter because the diagoal SCT adapter has sturdier screws.
The microfuser iscontrolled directly by the hand controller -- there is no extra external power supply for it -- it plugs into the mount 'focuser' port.

Post Extras:

ahopp
sage

Reged: 05/24/12

Re: 14" LX850 will ship with electronic micro-focuser new

[Re: GlennS]
#5725365 - 03/11/13 08:33 AM

Glenn,

Which OTA did you get and when?

Tony

Post Extras:

Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all)

Extra information

5 registered and 19 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator: Cotts, Starman27

Print Thread

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Thread views: 2338

Jump to

CN Forums

Home

Cloudy Nights LLC
Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics