New Meade short tube at Ritz Camera

I recently was surprised to see a Meade 60mm F/5.8 short tube with 2
1.25 inch eyepieces, a barlow (plastic) and a 45 degree prism with a
small tripod and carrying case. The tube has the standard 1/4 - 20
threads for tripods. All of this for only $50. I couldn't resist and
have found that the optics aren't that bad but are not coated. A star
test shows some spherical aberation and slight astigmatism but overall
not bad especially for the $50. Color is also not that bad. This can
make a good finder or auxilary scope as it is quite lightweight.
Saturn showed the slightest hint of the Casini division using a good
diagonal and planetary eyepiece. Overall I think this is an
interesting find.

I recently was surprised to see a Meade 60mm F/5.8 short tube with 2
1.25 inch eyepieces, a barlow (plastic) and a 45 degree prism with a

Hi:

Sounds like the optics from the old ETX 60. But those were definitely coated...

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html

I recently was surprised to see a Meade 60mm F/5.8 short tube with 2
1.25 inch eyepieces, a barlow (plastic) and a 45 degree prism with a

Hi:

Sounds like the optics from the old ETX 60. But those were definitely coated...

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html

I recently was surprised to see a Meade 60mm F/5.8 short tube with 2
1.25 inch eyepieces, a barlow (plastic) and a 45 degree prism with a

Hi:

Sounds like the optics from the old ETX 60. But those were definitely coated...

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html

"Darren Drake" wrote in message
om...
I recently was surprised to see a Meade 60mm F/5.8 short tube with 2
1.25 inch eyepieces, a barlow (plastic) and a 45 degree prism with a
small tripod and carrying case. The tube has the standard 1/4 - 20
threads for tripods. All of this for only $50. I couldn't resist and
have found that the optics aren't that bad but are not coated. A star
test shows some spherical aberation and slight astigmatism but overall
not bad especially for the $50. Color is also not that bad. This can
make a good finder or auxilary scope as it is quite lightweight.
Saturn showed the slightest hint of the Casini division using a good
diagonal and planetary eyepiece. Overall I think this is an
interesting find.

Not coated or merely not multicoated? Totally uncoated optics are nowadays
rare.

"Darren Drake" wrote in message
om...
I recently was surprised to see a Meade 60mm F/5.8 short tube with 2
1.25 inch eyepieces, a barlow (plastic) and a 45 degree prism with a
small tripod and carrying case. The tube has the standard 1/4 - 20
threads for tripods. All of this for only $50. I couldn't resist and
have found that the optics aren't that bad but are not coated. A star
test shows some spherical aberation and slight astigmatism but overall
not bad especially for the $50. Color is also not that bad. This can
make a good finder or auxilary scope as it is quite lightweight.
Saturn showed the slightest hint of the Casini division using a good
diagonal and planetary eyepiece. Overall I think this is an
interesting find.

Not coated or merely not multicoated? Totally uncoated optics are nowadays
rare.

"Darren Drake" wrote in message
om...
I recently was surprised to see a Meade 60mm F/5.8 short tube with 2
1.25 inch eyepieces, a barlow (plastic) and a 45 degree prism with a
small tripod and carrying case. The tube has the standard 1/4 - 20
threads for tripods. All of this for only $50. I couldn't resist and
have found that the optics aren't that bad but are not coated. A star
test shows some spherical aberation and slight astigmatism but overall
not bad especially for the $50. Color is also not that bad. This can
make a good finder or auxilary scope as it is quite lightweight.
Saturn showed the slightest hint of the Casini division using a good
diagonal and planetary eyepiece. Overall I think this is an
interesting find.

Not coated or merely not multicoated? Totally uncoated optics are nowadays
rare.

"Michael A. Covington" wrote in message ...
"Darren Drake" wrote in message
om...
I recently was surprised to see a Meade 60mm F/5.8 short tube with 2
1.25 inch eyepieces, a barlow (plastic) and a 45 degree prism with a
small tripod and carrying case. The tube has the standard 1/4 - 20
threads for tripods. All of this for only $50. I couldn't resist and
have found that the optics aren't that bad but are not coated. A star
test shows some spherical aberation and slight astigmatism but overall
not bad especially for the $50. Color is also not that bad. This can
make a good finder or auxilary scope as it is quite lightweight.
Saturn showed the slightest hint of the Casini division using a good
diagonal and planetary eyepiece. Overall I think this is an
interesting find.

Not coated or merely not multicoated? Totally uncoated optics are nowadays
rare.

No there is no coating visible whatsoever. I guess this is partly the
reason for the low $50 price tag. Even the 17.5mm and 9mm eyepieces
aren't coated.

"Michael A. Covington" wrote in message ...
"Darren Drake" wrote in message
om...
I recently was surprised to see a Meade 60mm F/5.8 short tube with 2
1.25 inch eyepieces, a barlow (plastic) and a 45 degree prism with a
small tripod and carrying case. The tube has the standard 1/4 - 20
threads for tripods. All of this for only $50. I couldn't resist and
have found that the optics aren't that bad but are not coated. A star
test shows some spherical aberation and slight astigmatism but overall
not bad especially for the $50. Color is also not that bad. This can
make a good finder or auxilary scope as it is quite lightweight.
Saturn showed the slightest hint of the Casini division using a good
diagonal and planetary eyepiece. Overall I think this is an
interesting find.

Not coated or merely not multicoated? Totally uncoated optics are nowadays
rare.

No there is no coating visible whatsoever. I guess this is partly the
reason for the low $50 price tag. Even the 17.5mm and 9mm eyepieces
aren't coated.

"Michael A. Covington" wrote in message ...
"Darren Drake" wrote in message
om...
I recently was surprised to see a Meade 60mm F/5.8 short tube with 2
1.25 inch eyepieces, a barlow (plastic) and a 45 degree prism with a
small tripod and carrying case. The tube has the standard 1/4 - 20
threads for tripods. All of this for only $50. I couldn't resist and
have found that the optics aren't that bad but are not coated. A star
test shows some spherical aberation and slight astigmatism but overall
not bad especially for the $50. Color is also not that bad. This can
make a good finder or auxilary scope as it is quite lightweight.
Saturn showed the slightest hint of the Casini division using a good
diagonal and planetary eyepiece. Overall I think this is an
interesting find.

Not coated or merely not multicoated? Totally uncoated optics are nowadays
rare.

No there is no coating visible whatsoever. I guess this is partly the
reason for the low $50 price tag. Even the 17.5mm and 9mm eyepieces
aren't coated.