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Meade's new LX800...

Started by David Pavlich , Sep 15 2011 05:57 PM

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574 replies to this topic

#1 David Pavlich

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 05:57 PM

Did you get your email from our host? New SC at f8 and ACF optics. Let the speculation begin!

David

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#2 Rick Woods

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 06:22 PM

Ah, Meade is (maybe) once more pushing the envelope, and risking a new product introduction. I love when they do that!
I hope it's a good one, and gets some support. That'll force Celestron to do something to compete, and bingo - we get a whole new class of telescope choices!

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#3 rmollise

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 06:34 PM

I will say this: Very interesting...but...given what's gone on the last few years, they need to do everything in their power to make sure this is right _out the door_. No more early adopter-beta testers as with the RCX.

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#4 jmiele

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 06:42 PM

F/8, that's the RCX FL isn't it? Humm. Interesting.. Joe

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#5 Festus

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 06:58 PM

I was just looking at the HD scopes and this news has me hesitating. I am certainly interested in the OTA and like the new focuser concept. My RCX experience has me still gun shy of the the whole electronic - do everything - approach. I do miss the RCX optics, best I have ever had.

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#6 Tiny

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 07:00 PM

Impressive. F8 coma free native. F5 coma free and flattened with the reducer. Claimed no image shift or need for mirror locks due to a new focus system.

I have one complaint from the announcement however. They seem to be doing what Celestron did. They have a low[er] end and a high end but nothing inbetween. Would of been nice to see a mount option in the ~2k-3k range out the door right away to give people another option from the CGEM/DX instead of budget mounts or the CGE Pro competitor.

I can only imagine they'll release a baby brother to the LX800 mount with a 50-60lb capacity later.

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#7 LLEEGE

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 07:55 PM

Finally Meade has put the RCX optics in an OTA! This could be a serious game changer.

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#8 jmiele

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 08:14 PM

Indeed. Time shall tell..Joe

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#9 jgraham

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 08:15 PM

Cool. This may explain the end of the LXD75. Congratultions to Meade for bringing a new product to the market!

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#10 AlienRatDog

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 08:56 PM

LXD75 going bye bye?

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#11 Tiny

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Posted 15 September 2011 - 09:24 PM

Finally Meade has put the RCX optics in an OTA! This could be a serious game changer.

i dont think its the exact same. They seem to have dumped the moving corrector. Kind of a good thing as well since it means the scopes should be able to utilize hyperstar.

Heres the post from the venders section

Edit: Please provide a link to images that are not your personal property. Thanks.

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#12 Martin Lyons

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Posted 16 September 2011 - 12:25 AM

What's that "Starlock" thingy parallel to the SCT? A new guiding system?
Seems a whole new mount included in the mix......interesting.

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#13 MtnGoat

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Posted 16 September 2011 - 12:47 AM

Good lord. I think I'm in love.

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#14 MtnGoat

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Posted 16 September 2011 - 12:53 AM

What's that "Starlock" thingy parallel to the SCT? A new guiding system?
Seems a whole new mount included in the mix......interesting.

If they're ambitious it's a built in imager and plate solver to drive dead on gotos on it's own, as well as direct dead on polar aligns.

If they aren't it's just their own rolling of an autoguider.

I tell you this, Unca Rod is right...at $6000 no one had better be used as beta testers.

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#15 MtnGoat

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Posted 16 September 2011 - 12:54 AM

yes...it does look like a plate solver!

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#16 meade4ever

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Posted 16 September 2011 - 01:01 AM

Oh my god, these telescopes are beautiful to look at !
Thanks for sharing

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#17 Martin Lyons

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Posted 16 September 2011 - 01:09 AM

I tell you this, Unca Rod is right...at $6000 no one had better be used as beta testers.

I dunno, if they paid me $6000 I wouldn't mind :lol:

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#18 skybsd

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Posted 16 September 2011 - 01:52 AM

Looks AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :cool:

Regards,

skybsd

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#19 dadeo

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Posted 16 September 2011 - 01:55 AM

Okay, I dig it! If the gizmos work, how about a conversion kit for the LX200?

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#20 HCR32

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Posted 16 September 2011 - 02:27 AM

I was just looking at the HD scopes and this news has me hesitating. I am certainly interested in the OTA and like the new focuser concept. My RCX experience has me still gun shy of the the whole electronic - do everything - approach. I do miss the RCX optics, best I have ever had.

Have to agree. Rcx had the best optics. I had it side by side with my TMB and let me tell you I wanted to put the TMB away. I'm just wondering if these new ota are of the same quality?

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#21 Doug76

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Posted 16 September 2011 - 04:01 AM

LXD75 going bye bye?

Could be. They also announced a competitor to the CGEM and Atlas, called the LX80, which is a GEQ, but is configurable as an alt-az and as a dual scope mount (like the iOptrons).

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#22 LLEEGE

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Posted 16 September 2011 - 07:04 AM

Can't say I'm a fan of the threaded CW shaft. Probably proprietary. Looks like Robin Casady will have a new product to make.

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#23 David Pavlich

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Posted 16 September 2011 - 07:55 AM

Can't say I'm a fan of the threaded CW shaft. Probably proprietary. Looks like Robin Casady will have a new product to make.

Amen!

David

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#24 AlienRatDog

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Posted 16 September 2011 - 08:16 AM

Ok...well that is settled...when I defend my thesis and hopefully make more money than what I am making as a grad student...the 14" LX800 and a nice CCD camera is what I am buying myself as a graduation gift...