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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hi all, Just perusing the forums for opinions to help me make my mind up as to which scope to get, Meade or Celestron. I am up in the air at this point! Either the Meade LX200GPS 10" or 12" or the Celestron NS11GPS. I have the funds to go with a 14 inch if that would be a wise choice, however, these funds are limited to a one time purchase so I don't want to make any mistakes on my choice. I would like the scope to be somewhat portable, but I am a 6 footer at over 200 pounds and fairly muscular, albeit with back problems that crop up now and again. I would also like to do astrophtography now and again, and would prefer the photos turn out like the best you see when looking in the forums if this is possible at this level of gear. I came into a bit of money so can make this purchae now, and realize there will be at least another $1000 in acessories I will need to purchase along with the scope. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated as I am a total newbie at this, but have had the desire for many years, and just now have the oppertunity to jump in head first so to speak.   Thanks To all for any guidance you can provide. Tom
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conus
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/12/03
Posts: 2974
Loc: OC, Calif
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The Celestron CGE 11" is a little more expensive at $4150.00, but you mentioned both portability and astrophotogtraphy. The Celestron 11" OTA is only 27 pounds, as opposed to Meade's 12" OTA and fork, which is around 75 pounds. If you wanted to go with a Losmandy mount, the Celestron 11" OTA by itself is 2K.
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Steve R.
12" Orion XTi
Fujinon 10x42
Oberwerk 12x60
My toUcam Images
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Echo
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/29/03
Posts: 3320
Loc: So Cal
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They are all great scopes. Just keep in mind that setting up the 12 and 14 inch scopes usually requires two people. It's is not so much a matter of weight. They are just awkward. I love my LX200, but if astrophotogaphy is in your future you will need a wedge if you buy a forkmounted scope. Any of the scopes you are looking at are going to give great views.
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Queen of GOTO
Life is short.... get a massage!
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LivingNDixie
Lord of Ferrets
Reged: 04/23/03
Posts: 15782
Loc: Hoover, AL
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I totally agree with what Echo just said. The 12inch LX200 is massive. The couple that I have seen were probably twice as bulky and maybe I wouldn't be surprised twice as heavy. I imagine centering the scope on the tripod is almost impossible on the 12 inch LX200 at night in the dark...Heck it was hard enough on a 8 inch LX200 LOL
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Preston
Celestron 11" Nexstar GPS XLT
Lunt LS60T/Ha 60mm f/8.33 (on order)
It’s not finishing something when your tank is empty that makes you a stronger person. It’s brushing yourself off and refacing the foe that defeated you with the same determination and willingness to fight that you had when you began your journey.
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Echo
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/29/03
Posts: 3320
Loc: So Cal
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Preston,
The tripod is for the 12" 50 pounds vs 28 for the 10". Surprisingly, the fork is only about 12 pounds heavier. The fact that the ota is so top heavy is the problem when mounting it on the tripod.
It's a thing of beauty but I don't think it would get as much use as 10", especially if you have to travel to get to dark skies.
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Queen of GOTO
Life is short.... get a massage!
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Festus
sage
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 205
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I'm 5'7" 145lbs and honestly don't have any issues setting up my 12" lx200. I carry it down one set of stairs - slide it on to its tripod. I carefully feel for flush then tighten it down. I have the shortened tripod but nothing else to aid.
I was intimidated when I first laid eyes on the 12" resting on a full length giant tripod, and found it uncomfortable to lift it to that height - needing to kind of bend backwards a bit (not good practice!). Then I tried mounting it on a tripod shorten to 31" and decided - this is my scope. Never looked back, just up. 
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22365
Loc: NE Ohio
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The biggest issue in setting 'em up alone is that on the Nexstar 11 the optical tube stores between the forks, as does the 10" LX200. The 12" and 14" models don't; the OTA must be pointed up, taking the center of gravity WAY far from the handles.
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hi all, Thank you so much for the quick response. Now, if only all of you lived next door.  Some of you do live in my vicinity though, and hopefully when the time comes, I can rely upon you for local club/star party info. After spending hours reading the forums last night, and all the curtious respones I recieved after leaving my plea for help in both the Meade and Celestron forums, I am leaning toward the Celestron NS11GPS or possibly the CGE version. I also wonder about the possibility of going with the new Vixen Sphinx mount in combination with the Celestron 11" OTA? Has anyone had any experience with the Vixen mount? Most likely I will get the Celestron NS11GPS system as it seems to be tried and true, and for a newbie such as myself, I don't need trouble with the equipment from the
git go. It was also infered by some that the CGE mount being new, had some idiosincrasies that may not be good for a newbie. As allways these days there are so many choices I must cover my bases to avoid future regrets. Again, I thank you all for your input in this decision. Without this forum I would be lost. Tom
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
I also wonder about the possibility of going with the new Vixen Sphinx mount in combination with the Celestron 11" OTA? Has anyone had any experience with the Vixen mount?
I have a Sphinx. It is rated by Vixen for a 22 lbs max load, so the C11 OTA (even if carbon fiber) is 28 lbs. That would appear to be too much for the Sphinx mount.
The Sphinx hardware seems to have some potential. However, sadly the software is lagging behind. The present StarBook software does not presently come close to matching the features in the higher-end Celestron Nexstar series.
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Michael McCulloch
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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What sort of scope(s)are you using with your Sphinx mount? I am thinking of buying one for a TeleVue 102 or 101 NP refractor, or a Tak Sky 90, any of which will be under 15 lbs with accessories. I may do some digital photography of short duration (probably relying on stacking multiple short exposures. Long film guiding is out of the question, since I have severe back problems.)
What sort of problem do you have with the Starbook... lack of pointing accuracy, or more a lack of tracking accuracy? Also, I was wondering if you might find that the Starbook fails to work properly in very cold conditions?
Thanks,
Warren
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