Telescope Reviews: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes

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faltered
sage

Reged: 04/01/05

Meade LX800 Optical Tubes
#5527845 - 11/19/12 12:25 PM

Meade taking pre-orders for Meade f/8 OTA's
http://store.meade.com/acf-ota/lx800-acf-12-f-8-optical-tube-assembly.html

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Griffin!
super member

Reged: 09/12/10

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

new

[Re: faltered]
#5527923 - 11/19/12 01:11 PM

Looks like they have all 4 of them up:

http://store.meade.com/acf-ota.html?focal_ratio=26

Edited by Griffin! (11/19/12 01:11 PM)

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Peter in Reno
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Reged: 07/15/08

Loc: Reno, NV

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: Griffin!]
#5527974 - 11/19/12 01:29 PM

Are these scopes truly flat field? It does not have built-in flattener like Celestron EdgeHD. How can this scope have flat field without flattener? It's my understanding that they may be "coma free" and not necessarily flat field.

What I am really interested about these scopes is internal zero shift Crayford focuser. My real question is does it still flop during imaging since they no longer have mirror locks?

Anyone that bought LX800 with Meade F/8 scope, do you like the scope (not the mount)? Have you done any imaging? If so, can you show photos?

Thanks,
Peter

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Dunkstar
member

Reged: 03/26/12

Loc: Under the sky

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: Peter in Reno]
#5528021 - 11/19/12 01:50 PM

Is it me or does that secondary look HOOOOGE

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Bill Barlow
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/03/07

Loc: Overland Park KS

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: Dunkstar]
#5528049 - 11/19/12 02:07 PM

Being at f/8, the CO's are probably approaching 40%.

Bill

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Peter in Reno
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Reged: 07/15/08

Loc: Reno, NV

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: Bill Barlow]
#5528135 - 11/19/12 02:59 PM

One of the disadvantages for having a faster than f/10 SCT is bigger secondary mirror. That's how SCT works. It may not matter for imaging DSOs. I am not sure how this would impact the contrast for planets, visual or imaging.

Peter

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David Pavlich
Transmographied

Reged: 05/18/05

Loc: Mandeville, LA USA

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

new

[Re: Peter in Reno]
#5528292 - 11/19/12 04:05 PM

With the imaging side of the hobby growing so fast, I would make an educated guess and say that the latest LX200 OTAs are pointed directly at the imaging fraternity.

Having said that, the optics of Meade's last attempt at f8, the RX400 series, had seriously good optics. The visual side of the equation said that views were very good. And if I remember correctly, the focus was done with the movement of the corrector/secondary mirror. No image shift OR mirror flop! It's unfortunate that the other bells and whistles were so troublesome.

David

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gillmj24
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Reged: 12/06/05

Loc: PA

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: David Pavlich]
#5528313 - 11/19/12 04:14 PM

I can tell you from having owned two RCXes previously, in 10 and 12 inch sizes, that the views were a LOT better than a standard SCT despite the larger secondary obstruction. It was from the f/8 RCX that the f10 LX200ACF was developed, and I have owned a few good LX200ACF tubes as well. I think the RCX400 views were even better. Just crisper stars, more refractor like. Not refractor like contrast with a secondary obstruction of course, but a lot more aperture than most refractors! Put me on AP's 12" f/8 refractor waiting list.

Is it "FLAT" without having a dedicated field flattener? (You can probably buy one for photography since you won't need one visually!) Well people beat me up on these forums when I said the views at the edge of the field of a Nagler 31mm rivaled APO refractor quality and so it must have a "flatter field".

The major issue with the RCX (and not one I've used) was the electrical focusing secondary with three motors that had to stay perfectly synched. For the first time in a mass produced SCT type scope, the primary was fixed. No image shift during focus, no flopping on either side of the meridian, nothing. If the new manual focus mechanism works as advertised, they have an excellent RCX optical design to work with and will be a winner. Sadly many RCX had focus runaways with the focusing secondary. Mine were perfect, zero image shift, worked as advertised, period. You collimated with the autostar with the same 3 focus motors too, that was awesome but recollimation was hardly needed despite how much banging around the 90 pound scope took getting the beast set up by myself.

But... but.. but... but only the EDGE can have a Flat Fieeeeellllldddddd!!!! Waaaaaaaahhhhhhh

Edited by gillmj24 (11/19/12 04:21 PM)

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rmollise
Postmaster

Reged: 07/06/07

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: gillmj24]
#5528336 - 11/19/12 04:21 PM

I loved the RCX I got a chance to use during its brief life. Caveat? I'd be hesitant to order one unless the dealer had one IN STOCK.

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Alph
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/23/06

Loc: Melmac

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: faltered]
#5528412 - 11/19/12 05:11 PM

Quote:

Meade taking pre-orders for Meade f/8 OTA's
http://store.meade.com/acf-ota/lx800-acf-12-f-8-optical-tube-assembly.html

Looks like Meade changed strategery, so to speak

The question now is where is the R/C that supposed to be already available a year ago?

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Lee Jay
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 02/27/08

Loc: Westminster, CO

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: Alph]
#5528708 - 11/19/12 08:07 PM

Secondary Obstruction (%) 10"/12"/14": 20.95 16.86 13.28

I assume this is by area.

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Lee Jay
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Reged: 02/27/08

Loc: Westminster, CO

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: Lee Jay]
#5528709 - 11/19/12 08:07 PM

The 12" is $2700 on top of the LX800 mount, and $3500 as an OTA only. Bummer.

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Lee Jay
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Reged: 02/27/08

Loc: Westminster, CO

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: Lee Jay]
#5528716 - 11/19/12 08:14 PM

Hmm....
EdgeHD11 + f/7 R/C = $3979 from OPT
12" f/8 + f/5 RC = $3898 from Meade

Of course, the top two are actually available, and the bottom two are "preorder", plus the top one can be had used at times for a good deal less.

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Raginar
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/19/10

Loc: Rapid CIty, SD

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: Lee Jay]
#5529518 - 11/20/12 07:34 AM

Expensive. I agree with Lee, at least the EdgeHD's are available.

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Bill Barlow
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/03/07

Loc: Overland Park KS

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: Lee Jay]
#5530370 - 11/20/12 02:57 PM

Wow, those are pretty expensive to buy apart from the mount. Not sure Meade is going to sell a lot of the f/8 OTA's at those prices.

Bill

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Lee Jay
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Reged: 02/27/08

Loc: Westminster, CO

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: Bill Barlow]
#5530386 - 11/20/12 03:07 PM

Quote:

Wow, those are pretty expensive to buy apart from the mount. Not sure Meade is going to sell a lot of the f/8 OTA's at those prices.

Bill

Celestron sells a lot of the EdgeHD 11s, and they are only $100 less than the Meade 12 ($3399 versus $3499).

Also, the EdgeHD 14 is $5799 while the Meade 14 is $5999, and is as fast as the Edge with the $580 reducer attached. So, in that case, the Meade is actually $380 cheaper.

Edited by Lee Jay (11/20/12 03:11 PM)

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Bill Barlow
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/03/07

Loc: Overland Park KS

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: Lee Jay]
#5530965 - 11/20/12 08:17 PM

Do these new Meade f/8 OTA's weigh about the same as the f/10 ACF scopes?

Bill

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Lee Jay
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Reged: 02/27/08

Loc: Westminster, CO

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: Bill Barlow]
#5530982 - 11/20/12 08:29 PM

Quote:

Do these new Meade f/8 OTA's weigh about the same as the f/10 ACF scopes?

Bill

The 10" f/10 is listed as 29.46 pounds for the LX200.
The 10" f/8 is listed at 33 pounds for the LX800.

I suppose some of that difference could be the dovetail(s) which aren't on the LX200 OTAs.

Edited by Lee Jay (11/20/12 08:41 PM)

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David Pavlich
Transmographied

Reged: 05/18/05

Loc: Mandeville, LA USA

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: faltered]
#5531200 - 11/20/12 10:35 PM

I just sent an inquiry to see if there's any date on the OTA only release. I'll let you know if I hear anything.

David

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Gord
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Reged: 01/06/04

Loc: Toronto, ON, Canada

Re: Meade LX800 Optical Tubes new

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[Re: Lee Jay]
#5531235 - 11/20/12 10:47 PM

Quote:

Celestron sells a lot of the EdgeHD 11s, and they are only $100 less than the Meade 12 ($3399 versus $3499).

Also, the EdgeHD 14 is $5799 while the Meade 14 is $5999, and is as fast as the Edge with the $580 reducer attached. So, in that case, the Meade is actually $380 cheaper.

Except that it doesn't have a flat field. It also has a much larger central obstruction.

Visually (especially planetary observing/imaging), I don't think these are as good of scope as the Edges just based on the design specs. The Edge's were targeted at imagers, but a lot are realizing the benefits for visual use as well.

Clear skies,

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