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Meade model 291 any good? Worth $12

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#1 Powerstroke

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Posted 03 May 2023 - 10:08 PM

Found this at goodwill $12 900mm focal length 60mm. Longer than  Normal 700

Hmm



#2 SeattleScott

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 12:17 AM

It has slightly more aperture than a good finderscope. You can put it through its paces and see what it can do, Moon should be good if nothing else. Should be able to deliver some pleasing views of some other showpiece targets as well, but it will obviously be limited by aperture, and possibly the mount.



#3 Powerstroke

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 12:35 AM

It has slightly more aperture than a good finderscope. You can put it through its paces and see what it can do, Moon should be good if nothing else. Should be able to deliver some pleasing views of some other showpiece targets as well, but it will obviously be limited by aperture, and possibly the mount.

It didn't come with any mount but I rigged up a tripod. I'm seeing some sorta funny shadow ring around the  moon .  The detail is pretty good.  



#4 deSitter

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 12:42 AM

The 200 and 300 series refractors from Meade which were sold in the early 90s are very good to outstanding telescopes, made by Mizar in Japan (eventually outsourced to Taiwan). Users always report excellent performance. If the telescope does not perform, go over the Equipment Discussions -> Classic Telescopes forum and solicit advice. Often these old telescopes have had their objectives disassembled for cleaning, then reassembled backward or otherwise wrong (flipped element, improper spacing).

 

-drl


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#5 Powerstroke

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 12:51 AM

The 200 and 300 series refractors from Meade which were sold in the early 90s are very good to outstanding telescopes, made by Mizar in Japan (eventually outsourced to Taiwan). Users always report excellent performance. If the telescope does not perform, go over the Equipment Discussions -> Classic Telescopes forum and solicit advice. Often these old telescopes have had their objectives disassembled for cleaning, then reassembled backward or otherwise wrong (flipped element, improper spacing).

 

-drl

I unscrewed the main lens to clean. The diagonal was missing.  I just used a cheap China one. The finder scope has no eyepiece 



#6 deSitter

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 01:44 AM

I unscrewed the main lens to clean. The diagonal was missing.  I just used a cheap China one. The finder scope has no eyepiece 

Take this over to Classic Telescopes and show pics - give reports.

 

-drl



#7 Powerstroke

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 02:19 AM

Take this over to Classic Telescopes and show pics - give reports.

 

-drl

Ok. How old are these? I thought 70s not 90s



#8 Powerstroke

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 02:23 AM

I picked this up today at local goodwill thrift store. No mount and no diagonal or ep. Finder has no eyepiece also. I rigged  it up and looked at the moon with a 25mm .965 ep and sorta see a second ring around the moon. 

Anyone know what this is. Also what year were these first sold? 

Post your opinions on if it's a good scope or not. I'm trying to learn about it.the long focal length was what attracted me. 

 



#9 Kasmos

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 03:19 AM

If it's a Blue made in Japan version like this...

https://www.cloudyni...eade-model-291/

...they can be good.

 

I think that's the type that Robert (Clamchip) has and he likes his very much.

 

The ring around the Moon might indicate that the Crown lens has been flipped.



#10 deSitter

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 03:30 AM

Ok. How old are these? I thought 70s not 90s

Yes those numbers go back to the 70s. The 70s scopes were made in Japan as well, and they are also usually very good to excellent.

 

-drl



#11 clamchip

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 11:38 AM

If it's like my model 291 yes I like mine very much.

I think there is something about this generation because I own a Sears with a

reflex finder about the same age and it also has jaw-dropping abilities.

Here's my 291. Notice the factory 30mm finder. Also I rotated the focuser for

right side finder and is why everything looks a little different than most.

I forgot to say I'm using a hybrid prism diagonal for 1.25" ep's.

Robert

 

post-50896-0-15527200-1614045072.jpg


Edited by clamchip, 04 May 2023 - 11:47 AM.

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#12 Powerstroke

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 07:07 PM

If it's a Blue made in Japan version like this...

https://www.cloudyni...eade-model-291/

...they can be good.

 

I think that's the type that Robert (Clamchip) has and he likes his very much.

 

The ring around the Moon might indicate that the Crown lens has been flipped 

Whats the crown lens? The main? I found that I'm seeing 3 stars 2 faint ones and the real on in the middle. I removed the china diagonal and was able to focus without one and all looked normal on stars. Of course this is very awkward.  I have the scope jury rigged to a camera tripod. I need ideas on how to make a mount maybe I can make something with sheet metal. I do some metal fab and weld.



#13 Powerstroke

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 07:07 PM

Yes those numbers go back to the 70s. The 70s scopes were made in Japan as well, and they are also usually very good to excellent.

 

-drl

This one is japan. All metal. 



#14 Powerstroke

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 07:12 PM

If it's like my model 291 yes I like mine very much.

I think there is something about this generation because I own a Sears with a

reflex finder about the same age and it also has jaw-dropping abilities.

Here's my 291. Notice the factory 30mm finder. Also I rotated the focuser for

right side finder and is why everything looks a little different than most.

I forgot to say I'm using a hybrid prism diagonal for 1.25" ep's.

Robert

 

attachicon.gifpost-50896-0-15527200-1614045072.jpg

Same one. What ep is supposed to be in the finderscope?  I need a hybrid diagonal.  I order everything from amzon so if it's not on there I'm not buying it from said other places. I have a old Meade 114mm reflector with .965 ep that work well enough for me so really I can use whatever. 

The long focal length is why I was interested in this one. Plus no plastic



#15 Bomber Bob

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 07:21 PM

The Model 291 is a TOWA (Japan) version, not Mizar.  It's the same as the Towa Model 305.  The lens could be good to outstanding - Towa quality varied between units.  IMO, well worth $12 if the lens is undamaged.

 

What ep is supposed to be in the finderscope?

 

IIRC, it came with a RAMSDEN cross-hair eyepiece, around 18mm focal length, with the small 24.5mm / .965" barrel size...


Edited by Bomber Bob, 04 May 2023 - 07:23 PM.


#16 DreamWeaver

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 07:44 PM

Whats the crown lens? The main? I found that I'm seeing 3 stars 2 faint ones and the real on in the middle. I removed the china diagonal and was able to focus without one and all looked normal on stars. Of course this is very awkward.  I have the scope jury rigged to a camera tripod. I need ideas on how to make a mount maybe I can make something with sheet metal. I do some metal fab and weld.

The crown element is the one that faces the stars.  Here’s a diagram that should help you.  https://www.cloudyni...port/?p=7277406



#17 sdedalus83

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 09:18 PM

Same one. What ep is supposed to be in the finderscope?  I need a hybrid diagonal.  I order everything from amzon so if it's not on there I'm not buying it from said other places. I have a old Meade 114mm reflector with .965 ep that work well enough for me so really I can use whatever. 

The long focal length is why I was interested in this one. Plus no plastic

Amazon doesn’t have any hybrid diagonals or any worthwhile .956” eyepieces. From your description it sounds like your objective is fine and that your diagonal is either way out of alignment or has a second surface mirror. You could post in the odds and ends thread or a wanted ad in the classifieds for a known good .965 or hybrid diagonal. 

You could try a .965 to 1.25” adapter before a 1.25” diagonal but you probably won’t have enough inward focuser travel (backfocus). 



#18 Powerstroke

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 11:10 PM

The Model 291 is a TOWA (Japan) version, not Mizar.  It's the same as the Towa Model 305.  The lens could be good to outstanding - Towa quality varied between units.  IMO, well worth $12 if the lens is undamaged.

 

What ep is supposed to be in the finderscope?

 

IIRC, it came with a RAMSDEN cross-hair eyepiece, around 18mm focal length, with the small 24.5mm / .965" barrel size...

Ok . It's missing. At first I didn't realize it would hold a reg .965 ep



#19 Powerstroke

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 11:29 PM

Amazon doesn’t have any hybrid diagonals or any worthwhile .956” eyepieces. From your description it sounds like your objective is fine and that your diagonal is either way out of alignment or has a second surface mirror. You could post in the odds and ends thread or a wanted ad in the classifieds for a known good .965 or hybrid diagonal. 

You could try a .965 to 1.25” adapter before a 1.25” diagonal but you probably won’t have enough inward focuser travel (backfocus). 

I have a few .965 ep. The diagonal came of some broken Vivitar  kid scope. It's probably just bad. 

 

Since I don't have a mount this is pretty hard to use anyway. 

I'm going to test the diagonal  on a cheap cstar 60mm refractor.  I'll probably save this for a rainy  day. I figured it was worth saving

I've Got too many dinky scopes now lol



#20 deSitter

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Posted 04 May 2023 - 11:40 PM

Whats the crown lens? The main? I found that I'm seeing 3 stars 2 faint ones and the real on in the middle. I removed the china diagonal and was able to focus without one and all looked normal on stars. Of course this is very awkward.  I have the scope jury rigged to a camera tripod. I need ideas on how to make a mount maybe I can make something with sheet metal. I do some metal fab and weld.

It sounds like the diagonal is using a 2nd surface mirror! So those are bounce reflections from the front glass. That would be a first in cheapness discovered, and you'd be sort of famous :)

 

-drl



#21 Powerstroke

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Posted 05 May 2023 - 12:07 AM

It sounds like the diagonal is using a 2nd surface mirror! So those are bounce reflections from the front glass. That would be a first in cheapness discovered, and you'd be sort of famous smile.gif

 

-drl

I'm not sure. I guess I should stop buying stuff lol  

Especially when I like a wide field-of-view but  here I am buying  narrow stuff people have tossed to the good will donations 



#22 Powerstroke

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Posted 05 May 2023 - 12:22 AM

Here's a picture as best as I can manage  of the moon and the weird effect

The scope and the lense. I can't see anything obvious

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Album: Arizona 2023
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20230327 033136
Album: Arizona 2023
154 images
1 comments

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#23 Powerstroke

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Posted 05 May 2023 - 03:01 PM

So basically these Long focal length small apture telescopes are good for what?  Looking at planets? High power? I'm not sure I understand the real point of something like this compared to a 114mm 900mm newtonian that are easy to point and aim at objects and sees in great detail. Maybe I missed something here. I can't imagine that this would be easy to use or any better than the so called hobby killer telescopes 



#24 clamchip

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Posted 05 May 2023 - 03:59 PM

Warning, 60mm's can be very addicting. Here's a good place to start:

 

https://www.cloudyni...s-are-worth-it/

 

Robert


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#25 deSitter

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Posted 05 May 2023 - 05:10 PM

Here's a picture as best as I can manage  of the moon and the weird effect

The scope and the lense. I can't see anything obvious

No question, the double image of the Moon is being caused by a 2nd surface mirror, like a bathroom mirror. Must have been a toy.

 

-drl


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