Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4494
Loc: Sunny California
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What's interesting is Meade still doesn't show the ETX-LS on their website. I read where they would be adding it in December.
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Vixen Portamount
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StarWars
Postmaster
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 13815
Loc: CyberSpace
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Quote:
What's interesting is Meade still doesn't show the ETX-LS on their website. I read where they would be adding it in December.
The ETX-LS is a prototype and Meade is testing the waters with preorders to see if it is feasible to produce the ETX-LS. 
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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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Aircrftr
sage
Reged: 09/29/06
Posts: 248
Loc: Claremore OK
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With their track record in electronics, I sure hope that they made these electronics absolutely bullet proof. Otherwise, I'm sure it will be the last nail in their coffin.
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14" LX200R
Orion 102ED
Cannon 20Da
DSI PRO (for autoguiding)
All stored in my "Mt. Wilson Observatory" elev.610 ft.
Edited by Aircrftr (01/01/09 12:14 PM)
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4598
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Quote:
I hate to say it, but if you want sharp, pinpoint stars across the entire FOV, buy a good quality APO refractor. I was at a star party a few months ago where someone had a Televue 127mm next to an ETX125 as well as a big Meade ACF. The 127 blew both scopes away. No comparison. Contrast and sharpness were far better with the Televue. And it showed zero CA. Of course at nearly seven grand it's far more expensive. But you do gain much with it. Another terrific scope at this party was a Tak 130mm refractor.
I have a 6" SCT and find I'm using it far less than I did before I purchased my first refractor. I own five refractors so I guess I'm hooked.
But I'm intrigued by this new ETX-LS since I like the idea of just switching it on and it aligns itself. But it'll have to be out for a while with few if any problems before I buy one.
And frankly many APO refractors, if not most, don't really deliver on this either--which is why most APO makers provide field flatteners for their scopes. What does help? The owners of these scopes often run at low power, which helps. 
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4494
Loc: Sunny California
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The Televue 127 provides a wonderful flat field as do many of the Takahashi line of refractors. In the area of contrast and sharpness, any superb quality APO will blow the doors off an SCT or a Mak. You simply cannot get comparable levels with that huge central obstruction in place. Only when you get into really large mirrored scopes do they begin to compare and then once you go into truly big mirrors do they surpass refractors. Of course if money was no object..... FCT-250
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Vixen Portamount
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Chris Rowland
sage
Reged: 02/28/05
Posts: 270
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You do all realise that the built in imager is NOT imaging through the scope don't you?
The information on the Astronomics site shows that the CCD camera uses it's own wide angle lens. It's a pretty small lens; they don't say what the focal length or F Ratio are.
Chris
Chris
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 6764
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Ahah! I was wondering about that. I suspected it had to have a wide angle lens of some kind to locate the alignment stars, but I was hoping for a flip mirror so the camera could use the scope optics. I wonder of the FOV of the camera matches that of the telescope.
Bummer, but not a huge surprise.
Hmmm, I'd be curious to see spot diagrams comparing the field of different designs. Simple two- or three- element closely spaced lenses can't do much if anything to flatten the true field, which I believe is curved with a radius equal to their focal length (the field of a simple Newtonian is curved with a radius of twice the focal length which is the radius of the curvature of the mirror). Reflectors achieve field flatening my using designs that use different parts of the mirror for different parts of the image which is why their clear aperature is smaller than the primary. Camera lenses use the same trick using field stops located within the lens stack. It's possible some refractors include additional elements between the entrance lens and the focal plane, but outside of refractors designed for imaging (essentially monster camera lenses) I'm not sure I've seen any like that. Again, a spot diagram is the best way to quantitatively compare different optical designs for the effect of field curvature.
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-John
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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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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4494
Loc: Sunny California
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Quote:
You do all realise that the built in imager is NOT imaging through the scope don't you?
The information on the Astronomics site shows that the CCD camera uses it's own wide angle lens. It's a pretty small lens; they don't say what the focal length or F Ratio are.
Chris
Chris
That sucks! I thought the imager worked through the scope. So where is the small lens located?
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Vixen Portamount
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Chris Rowland
sage
Reged: 02/28/05
Posts: 270
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Quote:
Quote:
You do all realise that the built in imager is NOT imaging through the scope don't you?
The information on the Astronomics site shows that the CCD camera uses it's own wide angle lens. It's a pretty small lens; they don't say what the focal length or F Ratio are.
Chris
Chris
That sucks! I thought the imager worked through the scope. So where is the small lens located?
This picture
http://www.astronomics.com/main/image_detail.asp?catalog_name=Astronomics&category_name=5KTFHB132AKT8LUQ09MW1DRD44&product_id=ineaks8m716er9ncec3 shows it under the OTA.
Chris
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4494
Loc: Sunny California
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That really defeats the purpose of having an imager with the scope. I could easily mount my DSLR on top of one of my goto mounts, attach a telephoto to it and get better results.
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Vixen Portamount
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nytecam
Postmaster
Reged: 08/20/05
Posts: 5758
Loc: London UK
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Quote:
You do all realise that the built in imager is NOT imaging through the scope don't you?
Yep - told you so weeks ago -it's just like my e-finder but coupled for initial alignment for folk who're new to this game 
However I do have 40mm of aperture in mine rather than 'pea-size' lenses
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Nytecam 51N 0.1W
Meade 30cm LX200+ETX-70+e-finder+C8+Ha+CaK PSTs SBIG SGS+homebuilt spectrographs
Starlight SXVF_M9+Lodestar CCDs/Canon 300D DSLR/Fuji E550
My observatory build-ETX-70 imaging-my videos
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2784
Loc: Aston, PA
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Quote:
Just so we're clear violini, I have seen virtually NO difference in the view between an M8 ACF and a C8 XLT with the exception of some coma out at the edges of the C8. Both scopes were well collimated and properly acclimated (cooled down). The Meade ACF design is only a slight variation to an SCT. It does improve stellar images at the edges of the fov, it does not appear to offer any visual difference in on axis performance.
And for the record those "big cotton balls" are also conspicuously absent from my C6 as well.
I tried a ACF 10" vs a Nexstar 11. The Nexstar 11 showed more nebulosity with its 20% more light gathering power, but the stars were much crisper in the ACF 10.
That said there is some degree of variability in any mass produced scope line, you might have had an exceptional C8 versus an average ACF 8, who knows? But when I tested the two random samples the advertising was spot on... "tighter stars at the edge of the field of view", no misleading advertising there. On axis performance is "advertised" to be the same, (and you and I agree, they are the same) they were making no claims about improving that at all.
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 6764
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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The plot thickens...
In the ad in the February issue of S&T they describe the wide-angle ECLIPS imager AND the ability to control a DSI CCD camera through the mount and display the image in real time on a video monitor.
The price is also listed as $1299 MSRP.
I think it looks powerfully cool, I just wish I had $1299 burning a hole in my pocket (I love a good gadget).
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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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dbs
journeyman
Reged: 07/09/09
Posts: 5
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Does anyone has one of these already? Any reviews?
Kind of like the idea of the light switch where the scope just align everything itself.
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Arthur Dent
Galactic Hitch-Hiker
Reged: 10/23/08
Posts: 1184
Loc: South Yorkshire, UK
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Quote:
Does anyone has one of these already? Any reviews?
Kind of like the idea of the light switch where the scope just align everything itself.
Hi dbs
Welcome to Cloudy Nights and the ETX Forum in particular.
Several CN members have got an ETX-LS and have given "first impressions" and "first light" reports.
I can't remember specifically which threads they are in, but if you use the SEARCH function and the phrase "ETX-LS" in the "subject and body" (top rhs) and ensure that "Meade ETX" is selected in the drop down box under "Forum to Search", you should be able to find them.
I haven't got one, but by all accounts, they "Do exactly what it says on the tin" and align themselves completely automatically and members have been impressed.
Hope this helps,
Art
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If I like it, the wife says that we can't afford it!
=======================================================
Meade ETX105 (a nice "Grab & Go" scope) & Celestron NexStar 6SE with Bob's Knobs.
Various EP's from 6mm to 26mm, Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Zoom, a 2x Barlow, 2" diagonal and 7Ah PowerTank.
MRF and Antares 8x50 RACI finder scope - both for the 6SE's OTA, whilst the ETX gets a plain RDF.
Canon EOS 400D DSLR (un-modded) and SPC900 webcam. Finally climbing the AP Learning Curve!
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4598
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Quote:
That really defeats the purpose of having an imager with the scope. I could easily mount my DSLR on top of one of my goto mounts, attach a telephoto to it and get better results.
Not really. The purpose of the imager is just to conduct alignments. The fact that you can snap constellation portraits with it is a plus. Which don't mean a scope that aligns itself is for everybody or is something most folks even need (though many Newbies DO fail in go-to alignment because they center the wrong alignment stars).
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Peter9
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/30/08
Posts: 810
Loc: Yorkshire - Born & Bred
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Hi Art, I have been disappointed with the lack of reports about the ETX-LS. All mention of the scope on this forum seem to have dried up over the last 2 weeks. Don't know whether it's down to people not buying, certainly the number of members saying they have bought one has been low, or whether they are buying but not getting the chance to use them due to the weather. I hope the scope is a success for meade's sake. How do you read it?.
Peter.
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Some of the pleasure I get from life I owe to Astronomy.
Astronomy does not owe me a thing.
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Nexstar 8se
150mm Helios Newton Reflector EQ 3 G.E.M.
6.3mm 10mm Plossls. Celestron 25mm & 40mm E.Ps. 8mm x 24mm Baader Hyperion Zoom. 2x Barlow. 9x50 R.A.C.I Finderscope. G.L.P and Bracket. Dew Shield. Home made Solar filter. Home made H.C Holder.(Great Asset). Maplin's 12V 17ah Auto Start Unit.
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Arthur Dent
Galactic Hitch-Hiker
Reged: 10/23/08
Posts: 1184
Loc: South Yorkshire, UK
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Hi Peter
Yes. There was an initial couple of reports a couple of weeks ago, but I haven't seen anything recently as you say.
Now this could be down to a few things.
1) Not many people have bought an ETX-LS.
2) People have bought an ETX-LS and have been too busy playing with their new toy (sorry) telescope.
3) People have ordered an ETX-LS and are STILL waiting for it to be delivered.
Personally, I think it's either #1 or #3!
Art
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If I like it, the wife says that we can't afford it!
=======================================================
Meade ETX105 (a nice "Grab & Go" scope) & Celestron NexStar 6SE with Bob's Knobs.
Various EP's from 6mm to 26mm, Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Zoom, a 2x Barlow, 2" diagonal and 7Ah PowerTank.
MRF and Antares 8x50 RACI finder scope - both for the 6SE's OTA, whilst the ETX gets a plain RDF.
Canon EOS 400D DSLR (un-modded) and SPC900 webcam. Finally climbing the AP Learning Curve!
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pepper
journeyman
Reged: 06/17/09
Posts: 9
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I have mine still, but been busy with lawyers and the such, so no play time here.
I did look at the moon a couple times as was impressed! found out the hard way that you must use a filter to look at a full moon... good thing I overbuy, and bought a moon filter, so I was covered there
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StarWars
Postmaster
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 13815
Loc: CyberSpace
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Quote:
I have mine still, but been busy with lawyers and the such, so no play time here.
I did look at the moon a couple times as was impressed! found out the hard way that you must use a filter to look at a full moon... good thing I overbuy, and bought a moon filter, so I was covered there
Tell the Lawyers to get their own ETX-LS... 
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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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