
What are Meade "MA" EPs?
Started by
Bill Fischer
, Apr 12 2010 01:58 PM
9 replies to this topic
#1
Posted 12 April 2010 - 01:58 PM
I bought a Meade DS2090. It is a 90mm fl 800mm Refractor and it came with a set of EPs marked "MA --mm". What is the FOV of these EPs? What is the smallest fl EP that I can use with this scope? I need this scope for travel to a place that I my lose it, but I may invest in some better EPs if these "MA"s are a waste of time. I tried a Meade 20mm SWA in it and it worked well.
#2
Posted 12 April 2010 - 02:05 PM
The MA stands for modified achromat, a variation on the Kellner. In my opinion, replacing these 40 degree AFOV, 3 lens-element eyepieces with Plössls would be a good thing.
http://www.chuckhawk...ece_designs.htm
Dave Mitsky
http://www.chuckhawk...ece_designs.htm
Dave Mitsky
#3
Posted 12 April 2010 - 02:08 PM
MA = Modified Achromatic. They're pretty much the bottom end of the Meade eyepiece line. I believe they're a Kellner-type eyepiece, with a small AFOV. My old 8" reflector came with two of them (9mm & 25mm). I replaced them immediately after trying them. I lean toward the "waste of time" side of things.
I understand GSO plossls are only about $25 each, maybe less, and they're quite good. The Meade Series 4000 Super Plossls are also good, and you can find them very cheap.
I understand GSO plossls are only about $25 each, maybe less, and they're quite good. The Meade Series 4000 Super Plossls are also good, and you can find them very cheap.
#4
Posted 12 April 2010 - 02:10 PM
The trick here is what quality MAs. Fully multi coated MAs can work fine in slower scopes. Kind of like good plossls vs. cheap plossls. Keep in mind that some people love their Kellners.
#6
Posted 13 April 2010 - 03:03 PM
Interesting what the Meade literature has to say about them. I recently purchased a used Meade 90mm and it came with 9 & 25mm MA's, plus a 4mm SR lens cap...errr ep. 
I just might have to give them a try on Mars & Saturn. It might be interesting to see how they compare in sharpness to the Meade 4000 series Plossls. I do have the 25mm in .965 that I've used with the Tasco...I always liked the nice bright images it puts up, but had never used it for anything more then a finder ep.

I just might have to give them a try on Mars & Saturn. It might be interesting to see how they compare in sharpness to the Meade 4000 series Plossls. I do have the 25mm in .965 that I've used with the Tasco...I always liked the nice bright images it puts up, but had never used it for anything more then a finder ep.
#7
Posted 13 April 2010 - 03:55 PM
I've had MA's in 9mm and 25mm focal length(Japan made)but I like the original Japan made Kellner's better. I have a beautiful Orion 25mm volcano-top Kellner that is hard to beat in the 20mm--30mm range of all various eyepieces I've had(Plossl's,Erfles,Konigs). I'm not saying the MA's I had were bad-but what is it's design compared to regular Kellner's--I don't know. Are they still 3-elements?
Jim
Jim
#8
Posted 13 April 2010 - 04:43 PM
Back in the 'ol days of 2-element Ramsdens and such, the MA eyepieces were considered "premium." The older Japanese made ones were really quite nice but back then very few fast refractors were made and sold. The 1.25" were fully multi-coated, the .965" size were not. Today, I agree that good quality Plossls are an upgrade from MA's.
#9
Posted 13 April 2010 - 04:53 PM
Kellners. And often not very good ones. The ones Meade was shipping in the mid 90s are only tangentially related to sumpin' called an "eyepiece."

#10
Posted 13 April 2010 - 09:24 PM
Thanks for the good info and suggestions. When I tried my new 20mm SWA (Thank you Astronomics) next to the MA 25mm on M37 the 20mm FOV was much larger and stars much brighter. I guess I will look for some normal plossls to use.