Meade ETX-80

Folks,

I'm looking for some advice from anyone good enough to throw in their tuppence worth. I've been thinking about picking up a small goto scope for a while, something easy to use, easy to transport etc. Astroshop.de are currently selling the Meade ETX 80 for €299 and I've got the following couple of questions:

1. Anybody on the boards have one of these scopes? What are they like regarding ease of use, reliability, performance etc?

2. Anybody have any idea whether Astroshop are subject to the same dealership restrictions that I've read about in other threads on the site? It states on their website that they won't sell Celestron telescopes outside of Germany, but nothing regarding restrictions on Meade telescopes.


Thanks,
Michael

Dont know about the scope but it looks like a nice little "grab and go" scope.

As for not being allowed to sell Celestron outside of Germany. That pretty much complies with any country in Europe that has a main Celestron dealer.

Cant buy Celestron from the UK because Ireland has a dealer of their products (Astronomy Ireland).

MEADE on the other hand dont seem to have that limitation with their dealers.

Far as i know there is no Meade dealership here in Ireland so people in Ireland are free to import Meade products from anywhere in Europe.

I MAY be wrong in all of this and there will be others who can comment more correctly.

How much is shipping and VAT if you buy from Germany? Just wondering cuz i'm gonna be importing a Vixen Mak VMC200 L OTA from there within the next couple of monts(and also a Porta mount from the UK) and i'l like to know how much extra the shipping and VAT is gonna add to the price.

MEADE on the other hand dont seem to have that limitation with their dealers.
Far as i know there is no Meade dealership here in Ireland so people in Ireland are free to import Meade products from anywhere in Europe.
I MAY be wrong in all of this and there will be others who can comment more correctly.

Haven't bought any Meade equipment for a while but as far as I know, Andromeda Optics in Dublin and North Down Telescopes in Northern Ireland are still authorised Meade Dealers.

Andromeda Optics in Dublin

Do you have an address for them?

Do they have a shop?

I ask because i couldnt find them in the phone book and i think their website is under going redesign.

I'd like to take a drive out to them and see what i can see.

Yeah the ETX80 is grand but on the borderline between
Toy / Beginner.
Question.
Why get a go to when you could pick up a decent size newt or even a
small Dob for the same (or for just a little more) money?
It is transport issues?

Hi Michael,
I don't think you'll have any issues buying the Meade scope from a shop in Germany, If its similar to the etx70 then it'll be a nice little grab and run scope, the one thing is that it is small so don't expect to see alot through it.
This ext80 replaces the etx70, or so I read.
Shop around Michael, do not take the first scope/shop you find, seriously consider why you want this scope and what are your limitations interms of transport and carrying ability, this scope is in the very easy end of that scale but at the cost of low aperture.