· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Mounts Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 Tim Giles member Reged: 09/25/10 A year on - where are we with the LX80?       #5650481 - 01/29/13 02:50 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi all, I have been reading seemingly endless posts about the LX80. I was wondering if those in the know could give me a few lines on where we are a year on. Is it worth the money, would a purchaser get something that is likely to work out of the box? Post Extras:       Jmax sage Reged: 09/28/10 Loc: Alabama Re: A year on - where are we with the LX80? [Re: Tim Giles]       #5650490 - 01/29/13 02:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Mine works fine for visual in EQ or ALT/AZ mode with 30lbs of payload. If the danged rain and clouds would ever let up, I might could try it for photography or really load it up in ALT/AZ mode with my C9.25 and 200mm reflector . Mine was shipped to me in December and made in China, if that matters. Post Extras:       Mkofski professor emeritus Reged: 07/19/11 Loc: Greenfield, Indiana, USA Re: A year on - where are we with the LX80? [Re: Jmax]       #5650526 - 01/29/13 03:07 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I received mine in August or September and have been real happy with it in altaz with about 25 pounds. I did try to get some numbers from Phd early on but my lack of experience was the real problem. The weather here has stopped just about any observing since early or mid December. Someday I may learn enough about AP to give the mount a real test. Right now I'm waiting on a replacement HC from Meade. I killed mine trying to upgrade the firmware. I wanted the dual OTA feature and liked the Polar and AltAz configuration. If I was buying a mount today it would still be the LX80 or maybe the new VX from Celestron. $1,000 was/is my absolute maximum budget for a mount. There are a lot of other options I'd have looked at if that had been $2,500. Post Extras:       neotesla Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/18/10 Loc: Canada Re: A year on - where are we with the LX80? [Re: Mkofski]       #5650546 - 01/29/13 03:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Just got an LX80 and so far it works as expected. Using it in Alt Az mode for a 127mm f5 Petzval refractor. I really have nothing bad to say about it, but as well I have no interest in AP either. Post Extras:       LTE member Reged: 12/15/12 Loc: Scotland Re: A year on - where are we with the LX80? [Re: Tim Giles]       #5650574 - 01/29/13 03:26 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   We had to wait over a year for the LX80 to reach the UK, and I have been very disappointed with it, mainly because of the lack of rigidity and excessive settling time with an 8in F5 Newtonian (20 lbs). Has any one looked inside to see what the problem is? Tom Post Extras:       mmalik Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/13/12 Loc: USA Re: A year on - where are we with the LX80? [Re: Tim Giles]       #5651123 - 01/29/13 08:37 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Writing is on the wall; some useful alternatives here.... Thx Post Extras:       Starhawk Post Laureate Reged: 09/16/08 Loc: Tucson, Arizona Re: A year on - where are we with the LX80? [Re: mmalik]       #5652169 - 01/30/13 12:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I think there is a fair amount of exhaustion with them on this group. Read the threads. If a miracle had happened, you'd know about it. -Rich Post Extras:       rmollise Postmaster Reged: 07/06/07 Re: A year on - where are we with the LX80? [Re: Starhawk]       #5652186 - 01/30/13 12:11 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Depends on your expectations. Based on my use of Jack Huerkamp's 80 (which he no longer has), I'd say it is OK for visual use with a C9.25 and lighter telescope in alt-azimuth mode. In polar, it's just too shaky. There's really no reason to put it in polar, anyway, since you are most assuredly not going to be doing long exposure imaging with this mount. I also had questions about build quality. It looks good, but aside from several folks having cracked/broken tripod heads, Jack's mount lost its go-to alignment midway through one evening. Edited by rmollise (01/30/13 01:44 PM) Post Extras:       Stew57 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 05/03/09 Loc: Silsbee Texas Re: A year on - where are we with the LX80? [Re: rmollise]       #5652343 - 01/30/13 01:35 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Meade has too many other things to get up and running, so I would say the wait is going to be a bit longer for it to get sorted. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 22 registered and 24 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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