Bob-1000
member
Reged: 12/23/05
Posts: 19
Loc: Michigan
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I felt guilty about this mint condition scope for $350. A bit dirty inside and the corrector looks to have been over cleaned and has a haze on the inside but I thought it was a good deal and I've wanted a C8 for 35 years. I decided to remove the corrector plate and clean it today and to my dismay the dirt on the secondary is missing reflective material!!!!! Maybe 5-10% missing, its still apart at the moment till I calm down. Is it possible to get a new secondary with out replacing all optics? I notice the first time I looked though it there was a contrast/sharpness issue but thought collimation was the problem hope it mostly still is.
I have a couple questions. It came with a 7mm and 20mm Meade Research-Grade Or are these anything special or do they just sound special?
I upgraded big a year and a to half ago from a 60mm piece of junk to a Antares 8" f5 newt over weight and out of balance on an original Vixen Polaris mount. I really like the way this Cat sets up and it's built very well compared to anything I have used.
Just installed Bob's Knobs (thanks to this forum) will clean, reasemble and try to collimate again.
I would sure appeciate any help at all.
Edited by Bob-1000 (07/18/08 01:59 AM)
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Skywatchr
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/03/06
Posts: 1576
Loc: North-Central Pa.
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You can just get the secondary recoated. It's easy to remove. Hans Weist (the guy that makes Destiny curved spiders) will coat just a secondary and he's very reasonable and quick.
Jeff
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18" F/5 Home-Built Dob. with Mike Dudley Mirror
Highly Modified Meade DS-16 in Roll Off Roof
6" F/15 Brass w/ D&G Lens on DS-16 Mount
DS-10 10" F/4.5 Newtonian
LXD650, LX200 Classic
Orange Tube C11
DayStar 0.45 with multiple ERFs
Vixen ED80sf
10" LX200 GPS SMT
11x80 Meade, 20x80 Celestron binocs (Japan Made).
Lots of Naglers and 8mm and 13mm Ethos.
Gadgets and parts everywhere.
And a Wife that loves it as much as me!
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MtnGoat
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/18/07
Posts: 932
Loc: Columbia Gorge, WA
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That 20mm RG, if it's an Erfle, is one of my favorite eyepieces. Compact, light, good eye relief, flat field, very comfortable. If it's literally an ORthoscopic (hard to tell from your sytax but maybe I'm just stupid), then I suspect it's decent but nothing special.
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"Ignorant people think it's the noise which fighting cats make that is so aggravating, but it ain't so; it's the sickening grammar they use." Mark Twain
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Bob-1000
member
Reged: 12/23/05
Posts: 19
Loc: Michigan
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I'm sure it's me I'm in uncharted territory. Sorry about the misinformation I was reading what the 7 mm box said the 20mm reads Meade Research Grade 20 mm Wide-Angle then on the eyepiece along with 20 mm Wide Angle is MULTI-COATED JAPAN MOP guess I can't be sure the box belongs to the eyepiece.
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Nikon 10X50
Nikon D300 and about a dozen lenses
Nikon N8008
Nikon D200
Antares 8" F5 Newt
Meade 2080 8" Cat
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Bob-1000
member
Reged: 12/23/05
Posts: 19
Loc: Michigan
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Thanks a lot Jeff I was hoping the cost would not be prohibitive. I will look him up. Good time to send it in going to the Grand Tetons camping for a couple weeks.
Bob
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Nikon 10X50
Nikon D300 and about a dozen lenses
Nikon N8008
Nikon D200
Antares 8" F5 Newt
Meade 2080 8" Cat
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Darenwh
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/11/06
Posts: 653
Loc: Saint Francis, WI
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Sounds like you got a good deal pending getting the secondary recoated. Congrats on it. I just got an ETX 90 Astro for $40.00 myself at a garage sale. According to the lady selling it the scope was only opened and used once or twice for only a quick look or two. Judging by the fact that it looked to be new I would have to believe her. Seems like robbery but at least I paid her asking price instead of trying to low ball her like another person was trying to do.
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Daren
St. Francis, WI
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Jason B
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/21/04
Posts: 2070
Loc: Mid-Michigan
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Bob,
1st, off welcome to Cloudy Nights from a fellow Michigander.
Both of those eyepieces are excellent. The 7mm is one of my all time favorite planetary eyepieces. My only expereience with the LX3 was a good one. The optics in the one I had were pretty darn good.
Are you from around the Lansing area by chance?
Jason
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Jason
Discovery 12.5" F5 PDHQ
GSO 6" F5 Newt.
Vixen 80mm F8 APO (FL80S)
Vixen GP and Astro-Tech Voyager Mounts
MX 716 and Canon Rebel XT
Volunteer Administrator for Fox Park Observatory
16" and 12" LX200's
10" Meade and Parks Dobs
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Bob-1000
member
Reged: 12/23/05
Posts: 19
Loc: Michigan
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Jason,
I am about 70 miles North West of Lansing but work about half way between.
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Nikon 10X50
Nikon D300 and about a dozen lenses
Nikon N8008
Nikon D200
Antares 8" F5 Newt
Meade 2080 8" Cat
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Jason B
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/21/04
Posts: 2070
Loc: Mid-Michigan
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Cool. I am in Portland so probably not to far from you.
Once again, I am glad you found CN and good luck with that scope!
Jason
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Jason
Discovery 12.5" F5 PDHQ
GSO 6" F5 Newt.
Vixen 80mm F8 APO (FL80S)
Vixen GP and Astro-Tech Voyager Mounts
MX 716 and Canon Rebel XT
Volunteer Administrator for Fox Park Observatory
16" and 12" LX200's
10" Meade and Parks Dobs
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rmollise
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 1651
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Quote:
I felt guilty about this mint condition scope for $350. A bit dirty inside and the corrector looks to have been over cleaned and has a haze on the inside but I thought it was a good deal and I've wanted a C8 for 35 years. I decided to remove the corrector plate and clean it today and to my dismay the dirt on the secondary is missing reflective material!!!!! Maybe 5-10% missing, its still apart at the moment till I calm down. Is it possible to get a new secondary with out replacing all optics? I notice the first time I looked though it there was a contrast/sharpness issue but thought collimation was the problem hope it mostly still is.
I have a couple questions. It came with a 7mm and 20mm Meade Research-Grade Or are these anything special or do they just sound special?
NO need to feel guilty that is a fair price for this ol' kitty. As for the secondary...if the scope had MCSOG optics, that's the reason for the secondary's deterioration. It was silvered, not aluminized. Meade was recoating silvered secondaries not asking questions for quite a while (original owner, etc.), but as things are now, yes, it's prob'ly better to get somebody else to do it. If anything on the OTA says MCSOG, though, you might give 'em a call.
Those eyepieces are very good hang on to them.
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Uncle Rod
Watch for Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT--coming in December!
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MtnGoat
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/18/07
Posts: 932
Loc: Columbia Gorge, WA
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Quote:
I'm sure it's me I'm in uncharted territory. Sorry about the misinformation I was reading what the 7 mm box said the 20mm reads Meade Research Grade 20 mm Wide-Angle then on the eyepiece along with 20 mm Wide Angle is MULTI-COATED JAPAN MOP guess I can't be sure the box belongs to the eyepiece.
That's the one. Brushed aluminum base, lighter weight than many modern eyepieces, huge eye lens, the sides are same diameter from top to bottom with a grip ring cut into the lower barrel about half way up the total length, square/flat top.
Try it, you'll like it. If you don't, sell it to me. I want two for a binoviewer.
I shouldn't do this in case you don't want it, but here's what you have... 
Meade Research Grade 20mm Erfle
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"Ignorant people think it's the noise which fighting cats make that is so aggravating, but it ain't so; it's the sickening grammar they use." Mark Twain
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Bob-1000
member
Reged: 12/23/05
Posts: 19
Loc: Michigan
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Daren,
Guess I'm going to Wisconsin yard sailing. I've gotten some good deals at yard sales but never a scope.
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Nikon 10X50
Nikon D300 and about a dozen lenses
Nikon N8008
Nikon D200
Antares 8" F5 Newt
Meade 2080 8" Cat
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Darenwh
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/11/06
Posts: 653
Loc: Saint Francis, WI
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My first deal at a yard sale also. I was riding by (on my scooter) and took a double take when I saw the box. I thought it must be one of the Wally world etx 70's or 60's but stopped and looked and am quite happy I did. Other than a little dust on some surfaces (only a few specs of dust on the corrector when viewed w/flashlight from side) it looks like new. No deterioration of any of the plastic parts, no chips/scratches/wear of any type on any surface of the scope, not even a set screw mark on the 26MM Series 4000 plossl. Even the legs of the tabletop tripod are perfect. Manuals were still sealed in their plastic bag. I am going to have alot of fun with this scope. Never thought I would be carrying a telescope home on the back of my scooter but am glad I did.
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Daren
St. Francis, WI
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Bob-1000
member
Reged: 12/23/05
Posts: 19
Loc: Michigan
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Thanks for all the info. Used the scope last night could see some detail in the bands on Jupiter never been there before though think my 8" f5 newt will do that. Seeing wasn't great either. What can I say my wife doesn't let me out much. Still a little off on collimation hope to get better with practice Oh and I kind of lied I did buy a scope (Tasco 8v) at a yard sale once but paid about what it was worth.
Bob
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Nikon 10X50
Nikon D300 and about a dozen lenses
Nikon N8008
Nikon D200
Antares 8" F5 Newt
Meade 2080 8" Cat
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Bob-1000
member
Reged: 12/23/05
Posts: 19
Loc: Michigan
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Maybe the last update. It does have "Multi-coated Silvered Optics Group" on the OTA I called Meade twice and they said they don't repair that any more for any price and no replacement is available. I was just concerned about it getting lost or damaged. The people at Destiny were on vacation till after I left for vacation. They did get back to me and are very reasonable and their CS beats Meade's by a light year or so! So I will send it to them when the skies are gray.
Thanks for all the help
Bob
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Nikon 10X50
Nikon D300 and about a dozen lenses
Nikon N8008
Nikon D200
Antares 8" F5 Newt
Meade 2080 8" Cat
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Skywatchr
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/03/06
Posts: 1576
Loc: North-Central Pa.
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As long as you ship the mirrors UPS, or FedEx, and insure them for the cost of another replacement scope, you won't have to worry about them getting "lost" or damaged. Hans did a couple of mirrors for me and I'm quite satisfied with his work, and quick turnaround time.
Jeff
--------------------
18" F/5 Home-Built Dob. with Mike Dudley Mirror
Highly Modified Meade DS-16 in Roll Off Roof
6" F/15 Brass w/ D&G Lens on DS-16 Mount
DS-10 10" F/4.5 Newtonian
LXD650, LX200 Classic
Orange Tube C11
DayStar 0.45 with multiple ERFs
Vixen ED80sf
10" LX200 GPS SMT
11x80 Meade, 20x80 Celestron binocs (Japan Made).
Lots of Naglers and 8mm and 13mm Ethos.
Gadgets and parts everywhere.
And a Wife that loves it as much as me!
|
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