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.

"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...

"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...

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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).