Which Go-To

Hi everyone,

I am looking to buy a go-to scope and have budgeted myself £1000 - I was looking at 3 - Meade LXD75 6 inch Schimdt Newtownian, Celestron C8-NGT Advanced 8 inch reflector and Meade ETX 125. The 125 is the lightest of the 3 and the most portable, but in terms of what you could see it would be limited especially compared to the Celestron. What are the Celestron mounts like - the new LXD75 is supposed to have an excellent mount. Are there any other scopes which would be suitable? Long term aim is to do astrophotography with the scope.

Your Assistance would be appreciated

Neill

PS My current scope is for sale - a 6 inch Tal reflector - please have a look at some pics - www.nancylaw.co.uk/telescope.htm

In follow up to my original post has anyone read any reviews of the new ETX series - the Premier Edition - if buying an ETX - would it be worth spending the extra cash on the newer model given its new features of automatic alignment and the smartfinder(red-dot finder)

Again your assistance would be appreciated

Neill

Hi Neill,
Surely the 6" reflector is no where near 1000E, the price in sky and telescope suggests nearly half that?!?

I intend buying a LXd mount later onm in the year for a 6" mak OTA I have here, apparentlky its supposed to be a great mount for the cost.
I cant coment on the celestron scope as i havent seen it.

A friend of mine has an ETX90, a fine little scope, very portible but has limited light grasp.

Given that the gotos were all the same on all 3 scopes, I'd go for the one with the biggest aperture.

Hi Neil,

I have an 8" LXD75 SNT and it cost just under £1100 (from telescope house). I think it would be worth paying a little extra for an extra 2 inches if you can. I am very happy with this scope but I would make a few comments:
1) The focal length is quite short (800mm) so you have to use a barlow if you want over x125 or the eyepiece focal lengths get very short. This is only an issue for planetary work.
2) The mount is ok, but not brilliant. At high magnification is moves about all over the place if you try to focus by hand. Gusts of wind will cause it to shake.
3) optically I am very happy with it. Nice wide fields and bright images.

I was considering an ETX125 but I was scared off by reports of the plastic gears failing. Also one of the best features of the ETX - the beautiful blue tube has been replaced by that ghastly nebula picture. I couldn't buy a telescope that looks that bad, even if it will only be used in the dark!

Simon

I have an 8" LXD75 SNT and it cost just under £1100 (from telescope house). I think it would be worth paying a little extra for an extra 2 inches if you can. I am very happy with this scope but I would make a few comments:
1) The focal length is quite short (800mm) so you have to use a barlow if you want over x125 or the eyepiece focal lengths get very short. This is only an issue for planetary work.
2) The mount is ok, but not brilliant. At high magnification is moves about all over the place if you try to focus by hand. Gusts of wind will cause it to shake.
3) optically I am very happy with it. Nice wide fields and bright images.

just some comments on your observations from an owner of the 10" (I've the LXD55 but its similar)

1. The 10" is only a little longer at 1016mm. A barlow is a must for planetary work, and I am even experimenting with a 5X powermate to get decent sizes like the folks with the SCT's here post.
2. The problems you mention with vibration and the wind are even worse with the 10". There are some things you can do to help this. Fisrtly never extend the mount legs. Second remove the thin teflon washers at the joints at the top of the legs. Third, get vibration pads; they help a lot. fourth get some kind of electronic focusser. Fifth, take a part the mount and put it together again to remove any slack/backlash. finally, stay indoors when its windy
3. This is the beauty of the scope. You have a very wide field of view, in a short (ish) tube (the corrector plate corrects for optical problems).

Cheers,
~Al

Hi Albert,

I looked at a 2nd hand 10" LXD55 in the shop, but it seemed huge (probably a function of diameter as well as length). The guy said he thouht the mount really struggles with the 10". Besides, the LXD75 came with the LPI which was nice.

Electric focusser in the pipeline!

When I was assembling my mount I thought the fact that the equatorial head is only attached to the tripod via the legs spreader plate was a really poor design. At some point I plan to take it apart and fit a proper locknut.

I have no problems with the autostar and goto, and optically I think it is great.

Simon