Telescope Reviews: Current Meade ETX-125...

Please don't get me wrong. I am not saying this one was worse than the original. My point was that it was not the same one. Last weekend we went to this fine place called the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island. There were exhibits that portrayed, well, so many interestings things from the past that it is difficult to focus on one, but generally speaking, for me, the ones that specified that what you are enjoying are originals, not replicas, were much more satisfying and thought-provoking. If I know that that object is the ACTUAL one that was ACTUALLY there a hundred years ago, I will stare at it and even try to extract fingerprints in the wood and intensely visualize it in the hands of the man that was using it to say, ascertain what attitude it should be at to produce the most lift. -A student of history will always appreciate the original Declaration of Independence more than a replica. Yet just anyone who does not really care will just glance at it and walk by.

I guess with this in mind, I would like to have the original ETX-125 from Meade's R&D department from about 1995!

But the point was that I was hoping for the ETX (replica, I know, but the best we can do) that so many people found astronomy with. I could picture them telling their son to unscrew the metal cap while they set up the tripod. Not popping off the light plastic cap. And I could see the reflection of the smile in the violet tube. This new one can't show it. Little things like that. It's just a personal preference that I have a replica of the original, not some excuse for an original. That said, the new one is only $650 and is, as I mentioned, perfectly fine. Just not for me, and others who are looking for the real ETX-125. I can't tell you how many times a heads-up or some kind of info that someone took the trouble to share has assisted me in some way while reading these forums. I am always happy to give back if I can.

I have to disagree with you that the new one looks as solid as the old one, because I held them up together and it was like a slap in the face. I could not have kept that scope a second longer. Knock on the old one and knock on the new one. -And don't forget that even a seemingly little thing like a lens cap can become a big thing if you are transporting it and the cheap one comes off in transit and the edge slides into the meniscus. And you have to admit that it can come off VERY easily. The old one will NEVER, EVER, no matter what you do, you will NEVER get that thing to come off without you WANTING it to come off. Since the ETX is primarily a portable telescope, this should be deemed an important consideration as it will be bounced around a lot.

Yes, the new one came with the 884, which is the same nice tripod as the old. I did not unwrap the Autostar to see which it was, but the audiostar I would not have wanted.

As I said, the optics were probably the same, but who knows if they changed glue or glass or plastics or whatever. I mean, they have changed plenty of thing you CAN see. I personally would rather not have UHTC because the old ones didn't.

That is a very nice setup you have!

Thank you very much for your input, Chris