BianchiAZ
member
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 92
Loc: Fraser, Michigan
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I posted this in another forum and was redirected to post here...
I am thinking of purchasing a Meade ETX-125EC. It is being sold in sold on Craigs for $500.00. I spoke with the person selling it and apparently it was his fathers. The father did not use it much(maybe 10 time) He has used it three times himself and has had it for six years. I can easily go view the scope as it is about 10 miles away from my home. I do not "know" this scope or what to look for.
I did some research on it the best I could. I am sure this has no UHTC coatings on the optics. Also I found a site that explains some differences between the older models vs.the newer. The seller does not know what year it was purchased.
The seller states it is in "Mint" condition and barely ever used. He has no interest in Astronomy.
Are there any issues with this scope? What is the going rate for this scope? It has a field tripod and 3 lenses. One is a zoom lens. There is no picture of the hand controllers but he says there are two. One of them says Autostar on it.
I am attracted to this scope due to the fact it has hardly any use at all. Is there any issues with the earlier manufacturing of these scopes? Do I need to worry about any issues mechanically? I no nothing about these scopes. This will be my next step up in price for a scope. I will be using the scope at least once or twice a week when weather permits.
Thanks for reading...
Regards,
Rick
Edited by BianchiAZ (10/11/09 05:33 PM)
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Joe Lalumia
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 3612
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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$899 is the going price for new.
http://www.meade.com/etx_premier/index.html
From time to time refurbished units(with new warranty) are offered for sale by Meade and the Meade dealers for $599-$699.
The ultimate test is to have him set it up outside, do an alignment, GOTO an object, and FIND IT! and then let it track for 20 minutes - 30 minutes and it's still in the eyepiece.
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, SV 80/9D & M4 mount, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, 20x80 binoculars, SV-BV3s-- www.texasastro.org
"Great minds discuss ideas;Average minds discuss events;Small minds discuss people." Unknown
Edited by Joe Lalumia (10/11/09 09:10 PM)
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StarWars
Postmaster
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 13810
Loc: CyberSpace
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I did't see the #497 HC... 
You would want the #497 HC goto computer.. 
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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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Rusty G
member
Reged: 12/01/07
Posts: 66
Loc: Hueytown, Alabama
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Rick, I bought a brand new 125 PE from Woodland Hills Telescope about 2 months ago for 695 plus 50 for shipping. I think they still have the sale going. It's for the astro tube which they were out of but they sent me the blue tube for the same price. If you call them ask for the telescope guy. I really like mine....Rusty
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Shadowalker
Unpretentious Rocket Scientist
Reged: 11/23/04
Posts: 3558
Loc: Poplarville, MS, USA
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Quote:
I did't see the #497 HC...
You would want the #497 HC goto computer..
yeah, odd the way he puts it, "Autostar capable." As if it doesn't come with it.
I'd call. Seems like a good deal if everything comes with it.
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Tom Nicolaides
http://www.first-light.org
My evil self is at that door, and I have no power to stop it
-- Dr. Edward Morbius
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Treehopper
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 582
Loc: Upstate NY
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Not a bad deal but not great. I picked my ETX-125PE (astro-tube version, with the UHTC coatings) for <$700 last year. The coatings aren't a deal-breaker, although they do seem to brighten the image slightly (about .5 visual magnitude, ballpark.)
I'd want to know which AutoStar controller (#497 is okay, if it's a #494, someone's pulled a switcharoo on it.) If it also includes the older style slew-only controller, that's icing but not the cake.
It'd also help to know which EP's. Chances are one is the Series 4000 26mm Super Plossl. That came with the scope. Says one of the three is a zoom. Depends on which zoom. If it's the Pentax or Baader Hyperion, then it's a good deal (particularly if it's the latter...they usually run around $200-225.)
Guess it all comes down to the accessories and if it's been maintained in as good a condition as advertised.
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Tim
Champion of small aperture scopes everywhere!
Meade ETX-125PE
Meade ETX-80
Celestron FirstScope 76mm Mini-dob
 Updated: 09/16/2009
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Robo-bob
member
Reged: 05/02/05
Posts: 60
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I'd be making sure that it isn't one of the early models of the 5" series. The first few years, the forks did NOT have a metal subframe like the newer ones do. These earlier models were notoriously finicky and not nearly as solid/stable. If it's an early one without the subframe, I wouldn't pay any more than the value of the OTA itself. That is, $250 at most.
Some may disagree with this, but I have owned a bunch of these ETX125's. I really liked these scopes but the early ones were just a major lesson in frustration IMO.
Good Luck
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BianchiAZ
member
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 92
Loc: Fraser, Michigan
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Hmm... Is there a way to tell by a model number what production run this was? Off to do more research on this.
Thankjs for all of your replies.
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Orion 8" SkyQuest Dobsonian W/Telrad
Celestron Nexstar 114GT Reflector
Tasco 11T Reflector D4.5 FL900mm w/EQ2 mount
Jason Disoverer 454 #313 60mm/900mm Refractor
Tasco 9F 60mm/910mm Refractor
St.Clair Shores Michigan
Oscoda, Michigan
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Taylor
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/10/05
Posts: 558
Loc: Federal Way, WA
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He is including the #883 tripod in the picture, not the #884 tripod.
The #884 tripod has more stable steel tube legs, a better head on it that provides more support, which equals more stable viewing.
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Some OTAs, a mount, some eyepieces, and some cameras
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deleterman
super member
Reged: 03/13/09
Posts: 145
Loc: san diego,ca
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I would go with woodland hills.the newer one are much better.you will be farther down the road with a newer one.H.B.
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BianchiAZ
member
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 92
Loc: Fraser, Michigan
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After reading around I have decided to pass on that telescope. Thank you again for all the replies.
RJ
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Orion 8" SkyQuest Dobsonian W/Telrad
Celestron Nexstar 114GT Reflector
Tasco 11T Reflector D4.5 FL900mm w/EQ2 mount
Jason Disoverer 454 #313 60mm/900mm Refractor
Tasco 9F 60mm/910mm Refractor
St.Clair Shores Michigan
Oscoda, Michigan
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