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Tim C
sage
Reged: 11/11/07
Posts: 271
Loc: Marietta, GA
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Hi Folks - I own a Celestron 8 inch SCT but was looking for a good inexpensive travel scope for a trip out to Sedona and the Grand Canyon. The 80ETX Backpack scope seems like a great bargin and perfect for what I'm looking for. In fact I have hard time believing it could be a good scope at that price with goto (I'm skeptical mainly because my first scope was a cheap meade wal-mart refractor). Are the optics on this scope in the same league as the cheap refractors you get at Wal-mart or are they a step up? Also, any owners of this scope out there that have carried on this backpack scope on an airline flight? Thanks for any input you have...
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Tim
Some average astrophotos: http://TCardin.zenfolio.com/p355986048
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KWB
Postmaster
Reged: 09/30/06
Posts: 9268
Loc: Westminster,Co Elev.1646Meters
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I've never owned an ETX-80 but have owned 3 EXT-70's. The typical Meade Walmart 60mm F/11 acros have pretty decent optics IMO,noticeable better than my present ETX-70 and to the best of my recollection,better than the other 2 as well.
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Kenny
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." - Albert Einstein
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DNTash
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/02/07
Posts: 762
Loc: India
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Tim -- welcome to the CN forum and the ETX thread. I can't speak to the 80, but the 90 has been a joy. I have been trying to turn the 90 into a "backpack" scope, due to its go-to features. It's a bit large, however. The 80 would be ideal in my mind. Have you also considered a small refractor?
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AT 72
TMB 92
Orion 120ST
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Tim C
sage
Reged: 11/11/07
Posts: 271
Loc: Marietta, GA
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Thanks guys. The 80 is about as small as I wanted to go in a refractor and I wanted a portable go to (hard to focus on star charts with a 6 year old around you). This one looks like a perfect setup suitable for airline travel and should let me see some faint fuzzies in a dark sky - was just wondering about the quality of the optics.
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Tim
Some average astrophotos: http://TCardin.zenfolio.com/p355986048
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dirkdentry
member
Reged: 12/10/07
Posts: 95
Loc: Jackson, TN
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I just bought the ETX80-TC *basically the NON backpack edition of scope, b/c I had read that the tripod is a lighterweight version(BB ver.) of regular tripod and I wasnt going to be hiking with mine,needed strength*, but the optics seem great!
I have 8 and 3 year old BOYS and realitvely dark skies by my house, only place i've observed so far and I can navigate around them into the backyard and be setup in less than 10 min. and seeing some great views.
I can see that the 80mm is possibly a little small if you want to see some DSO, but clusters are beautiful, the Double cluster and the Pleiades were BRIGHT! Thursday night. The Orion Neb. (M42) was barely reconizable as a fuzzy star by naked eye, but the ETX80 gave me a surprise, though small, I thought I could see a variation in color, basically more 'detail' from one side of the Nebula to the other, that I had never seen (noticed) in my 8" Dob.
Needless to say, this scope has been easy to use, and the optics, i've been impressed. Only problem is i've had it 2 weeks and i already want to sell it and my Dob for a bigger GOTO.
Let me know if you need anymore or more detailed info, i'm using nightly, weather, or "Curtain Climbers" permiting!
Lee
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8" Meade Starfinder (still on dob mount - for now)
Meade ETX 80
Canon Rebel 300D DSLR
FINE! West Tennessee Weather .... humidity sucks!
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Talstarone
Vendor (Inner Planetary Products)
Reged: 09/12/06
Posts: 7905
Loc: Benson, North Carolina
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I also have the non backpack version of the Etx80.It is a Great Performer for its price.
Considering the extras thrown in with the backpack version,I think it is a Great deal.It is compact enough to carry a good distance and has the ability to do well with Lunar and Planetary targets.
It also has the light grasp to view many of the brighter deep sky targets.
The backpack version is made for a specific purpose(going out into nature while carrying a capable scope for many targets).And the backpack version of the ETX 80 does what it was intended to do,extremely well.
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Todd C.
Celestron NexStar 4SE(102mm F/13)Maksutov-Cass
www.innerplanetaryproducts.com
Meteorites and More....
"Outer Space at Down to Earth Prices"
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 6758
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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I have the 60mm version of the BackPack Observatory (ETX-60BB) and I've enjoyed it. As long as you realize this is essentially an RFT refractor designed primarily for wide angle viewing it's great. For daylight terrestrial viewing the higher magnifications work fairly well. For terrestrial viewing the motor-driven mount is also very comfortable. With the little ETX-60 I found the tripod to be plenty sturdy enough. The backpack is also very nice and well made, the only thing I wouldn't do is try to strap the tripod to the back of the pack like the manual suggests, the pack is too soft to carry the tripod that way. However, I've found it very comfortable to wear the pack and carry the tripod.
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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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timlilley
member
Reged: 01/06/08
Posts: 21
Loc: Northeast Georgia, USA
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Hey Tim,
I, too, recently bought an ETX 80BB for pretty much the same reasons as you (no kids here, though) and because I wanted a fairly inexpensive GoTo for beginning astrophotography. I've had mine a couple of months now. Here are some experiences and observations that may prove helpful to you.
1 - It turned out that the horizontal drive on the first scope I got was not right out of the box. After figuring that out with the help of some ETX "vets," I called Meade and they replaced it immediately. The new one seems even better than I expected in terms of GoTo and tracking.
2 - Depending on how much you end up using the scope (it wouldn't surprise me if it was a lot after you get it!), you may wish to upgrade to an AutoStar 497 controller. The unit comes with a 494 handbox as standard, and it's ok. But the 497 is software-update-able, and there's even a software package you can buy that will GPS-enable the 497. I didn't learn about that until yesterday, but I'll definitely be getting that all set up. You need a GPS unit with RS-232 connectivity and, thankfully, I do. 
3 - The scope has a built-in 2X barlow that swings in and out of position for the 90-degree diagonal. The owner's manual indicates you need to turn the focus knob counterclockwise to focus the barlow, and that "you may need 20-25 turns for it to focus." I needed 52 turns with to refocus with the supplied Meade 26mm Plossl. I tried an external 2X barlow I have here for comparison, and it focused with barely two turns of the focus knob. I'll be using an external barlow from now on.
4 - I'm very pleased with the relative stability of the tripod. It's really not bad at all.
5 - Presuming you follow Meade's instructions for "setting home position" before aligning the GoTo, and the instructions for aligning the GoTo, I suspect you'll be pleased with its performance. It does quite well, IMO, especially for the price.
I hope this helps. Hope you decide to go for it.
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Clear Skies, Tim
Celestron C4R
William Optics ZS66
Meade ETX 80BB
Celestron/Vixen Cometron 60mm
Hyperion Zoom and 5mm
Celestron & Meade Plossls
Nikon D80 for imaging
Viewing conditions here:
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dirkdentry
member
Reged: 12/10/07
Posts: 95
Loc: Jackson, TN
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Hey I agree with ALL 5 of Tim's points exactly. A have have almost the same experience this scope. Cant wait for warmer weather, i'll never sleep!
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8" Meade Starfinder (still on dob mount - for now)
Meade ETX 80
Canon Rebel 300D DSLR
FINE! West Tennessee Weather .... humidity sucks!
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Alex^DJ^
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/02/05
Posts: 1200
Loc: Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
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If you want a travel scope this its "Ok" this mean dont expect apo images , lots of purpple around bright objects. lots of plastic, for planetary is not recomended, for the Luna its very good, the rest well lots of purple fringe but with a filter can be tone down. The fgood thing is the small package it comes for travel, their focus system is just barely OK, the 2X barlow integrated is usable but its much better an external one. the tripod is ok if there is no wind..if there is wind it will shake like creazy so putting something heavy is OK.
If you only plan the wide views this scope is very nice, for planets its just barely OK...
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My Telescopes and Equipment:
- WO 66SD scope
- ETX-125 (Soon to be sold) "My Big Fat Mak"
- C6-ASGT " The Mexican "
- Starshoot CCD Cam
- Nextimagen Planetary Cam
- Canon EOS Rebel XTi (400D Unmoded)
Eyepices and Accesories:
- Celestron E-Lux 25mm
- GSO Superview 20mm
- GSO Superview 15mm
- ADM dual saddle plate
- 100mm Guide rings
- Orion 2X Shorty barlow
- Garmin E-Trex GPS handheld
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