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#11
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
If I'm honest I think the ETX-105 is excellent resolution-wise,
star-testing suggests the optics are good, and planetary detail is very good, and Autostar works well. But after several months my thoughts a 1. I wish I'd got the 125, because I keep wondering how much better it would be. Still reasonably portable. 2. That £750 plus extras taking it over £1000 is an awful lot for a 4" scope. It's left me thinking I would like a 8" reflector at least to get better deep-sky performance. Even the brightest (say M13) are fairly unimpressive through the 105. 3. The Meade hard carry case isn't very good - a decent photographic case or other specialist astro case would be much better. Having said that, the eyepiece offer added a lot to the value... Cheers, Les. |
#12
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
"James Harris" no.email.please wrote in message . ..
Folks, I already have a Meade SC-8 LXD-55 but it is just too heavy for day-to-day use where I have to transport it to a viewing location, and a little noisy for preference. Just re-read this and realised the alternative to the ETX I suggested is more or less the one you already have! I'm thinking about upgrading my ETX105 to an 8" reflector... |
#13
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
"James Harris" no.email.please wrote in message . ..
Folks, I already have a Meade SC-8 LXD-55 but it is just too heavy for day-to-day use where I have to transport it to a viewing location, and a little noisy for preference. Just re-read this and realised the alternative to the ETX I suggested is more or less the one you already have! I'm thinking about upgrading my ETX105 to an 8" reflector... |
#14
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
Unless you lost your ETX105 in a catastrophic event, I would not recommend
you switch to an ETX125. You will be hard-pressed to see any significant improvement over the ETX105, except perhaps it is slightly brighter. The rule of thumb when upgrading is to ensure aperture diameter is at least 50% bigger. (based on the ETX105's 4", that means you need to move to at least 6"!) -- If replying directly, please delete "abc" from e-mail address. Thanks "Les" wrote in message om... If I'm honest I think the ETX-105 is excellent resolution-wise, star-testing suggests the optics are good, and planetary detail is very good, and Autostar works well. But after several months my thoughts a 1. I wish I'd got the 125, because I keep wondering how much better it would be. Still reasonably portable. 2. That £750 plus extras taking it over £1000 is an awful lot for a 4" scope. It's left me thinking I would like a 8" reflector at least to get better deep-sky performance. Even the brightest (say M13) are fairly unimpressive through the 105. 3. The Meade hard carry case isn't very good - a decent photographic case or other specialist astro case would be much better. Having said that, the eyepiece offer added a lot to the value... Cheers, Les. |
#15
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
Unless you lost your ETX105 in a catastrophic event, I would not recommend
you switch to an ETX125. You will be hard-pressed to see any significant improvement over the ETX105, except perhaps it is slightly brighter. The rule of thumb when upgrading is to ensure aperture diameter is at least 50% bigger. (based on the ETX105's 4", that means you need to move to at least 6"!) -- If replying directly, please delete "abc" from e-mail address. Thanks "Les" wrote in message om... If I'm honest I think the ETX-105 is excellent resolution-wise, star-testing suggests the optics are good, and planetary detail is very good, and Autostar works well. But after several months my thoughts a 1. I wish I'd got the 125, because I keep wondering how much better it would be. Still reasonably portable. 2. That £750 plus extras taking it over £1000 is an awful lot for a 4" scope. It's left me thinking I would like a 8" reflector at least to get better deep-sky performance. Even the brightest (say M13) are fairly unimpressive through the 105. 3. The Meade hard carry case isn't very good - a decent photographic case or other specialist astro case would be much better. Having said that, the eyepiece offer added a lot to the value... Cheers, Les. |
#16
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
Err - James Harris mumbled something like:
Maybe we should swap! :-) Seriously, I have now seen the '90 and the '105 in the local shop. I must say the 105 is /much/ heavier (and maybe more solid) than the 90. I read on the Meade site that it uses metal gears where the 90 uses nylon but that can't account for all of the difference. I can now see why you would sweat a little trying to attach the 105 to the tripod! Thoughts at the mo are to keep my SCT and add the ETX 90. I'll try and get enough time in the shop to see them operate as I only had less than 15 mins before. I'll maybe pick the quietest....! By the way I asked one dealer what the EC part of the name, such as ETX-105EC meant and he didn't know. From Mike Weasner's site this apparently means they are Autostar capable. http://www.weasner.com/etx/faq.html Interesting link there on how to control a model which is pre-EC. Cheers, James I think you'll find it's electronic control. Vis. not Autostar. Arthur -- -- 52:30:25N, 1:17:51E http://www.ambermile.co.uk --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.504 / Virus Database: 302 - Release Date: 24/07/2003 |
#17
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
Err - James Harris mumbled something like:
Maybe we should swap! :-) Seriously, I have now seen the '90 and the '105 in the local shop. I must say the 105 is /much/ heavier (and maybe more solid) than the 90. I read on the Meade site that it uses metal gears where the 90 uses nylon but that can't account for all of the difference. I can now see why you would sweat a little trying to attach the 105 to the tripod! Thoughts at the mo are to keep my SCT and add the ETX 90. I'll try and get enough time in the shop to see them operate as I only had less than 15 mins before. I'll maybe pick the quietest....! By the way I asked one dealer what the EC part of the name, such as ETX-105EC meant and he didn't know. From Mike Weasner's site this apparently means they are Autostar capable. http://www.weasner.com/etx/faq.html Interesting link there on how to control a model which is pre-EC. Cheers, James I think you'll find it's electronic control. Vis. not Autostar. Arthur -- -- 52:30:25N, 1:17:51E http://www.ambermile.co.uk --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.504 / Virus Database: 302 - Release Date: 24/07/2003 |
#18
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
James,
I'm sure you've thought of this, but check the ETX you get has UHTC. My 105 came with UHTC at no extra cost, although I have read on some sites that these coatings are available at extra cost... I got mine from Telescope House; it arrived in two days with free postage. I am surprised to see how controlled the costs of Meades are. There seems to be practically no variation on the web sites at least... Cheers, Les. |
#19
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
James,
I'm sure you've thought of this, but check the ETX you get has UHTC. My 105 came with UHTC at no extra cost, although I have read on some sites that these coatings are available at extra cost... I got mine from Telescope House; it arrived in two days with free postage. I am surprised to see how controlled the costs of Meades are. There seems to be practically no variation on the web sites at least... Cheers, Les. |
#20
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
My 105 sounds like a quietish coffee grinder on max speed, but is much
better at lower speeds. Almost inaudible when tracking... Les (with ear defenders). |
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