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#1
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
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. I am considering adding an ETX for more convenient planetary and lunar viewing. The '90 is UKP 600 and the '105 is UKP 750. How much benefit would I get from the larger aperture (medium light polution locally) and are they both light enough to easily transport and easy to set up? I know the shipping weights are approx 12 lbs and 18 lbs Is there anything more compact that would give similar optical performance? Having got a scope for photography and serious use when the occasional occasion (sic) permits I would like one that is small, convenient, has lots of bells and whistles and above all has that special wow factor - look what you can see of the heavens with that tiny little scope! I remember seeing the disc of Jupiter for the first time with a small scope many years ago and the feeling that gave me, how accessible the sky seemed. With either of the Meades I would also buy the eyepieces again (the offer continues). I think the extra UKP 100 would be an investment if I ever came to selling one of the scopes. On the other hand if someone makes a scope smaller, lighter and half the price I wouldn't say no! TIA, James |
#2
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
Hi,
I've had an ETX-105 for a few months now. I find its pretty portable - I often travel from London to family on the Lincolnshire coast for relatively clear skies. I bought the hard case, which isn't that great, but it fits in the boot of a Ford Ka with overnight stuff no problem. The tripod goes on the back seat. Setup takes a few minutes to align, get the finder zero'd, enter the location coord's etc, but no problem. The scope is easily manhandleable, although I often sweat whilst getting holding it with one hand and doing up the tripod screws with the other. I would be very interested in a comparison between your existing scope and the ETX-105. I've got to say I was disappointed with its performance on deep-sky objects (no surprise in hindsight), but for planets and great star views, very enjoyable, especially with the eyepiece set. Jupiter was breathtaking a few weeks ago. Cheers, Les. |
#3
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
Hi,
I've had an ETX-105 for a few months now. I find its pretty portable - I often travel from London to family on the Lincolnshire coast for relatively clear skies. I bought the hard case, which isn't that great, but it fits in the boot of a Ford Ka with overnight stuff no problem. The tripod goes on the back seat. Setup takes a few minutes to align, get the finder zero'd, enter the location coord's etc, but no problem. The scope is easily manhandleable, although I often sweat whilst getting holding it with one hand and doing up the tripod screws with the other. I would be very interested in a comparison between your existing scope and the ETX-105. I've got to say I was disappointed with its performance on deep-sky objects (no surprise in hindsight), but for planets and great star views, very enjoyable, especially with the eyepiece set. Jupiter was breathtaking a few weeks ago. Cheers, Les. |
#4
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
In article , "James Harris"
no.email.please says... 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. I am considering adding an ETX for more convenient planetary and lunar viewing. The '90 is UKP 600 and the '105 is UKP 750. How much benefit would I get from the larger aperture (medium light polution locally) and are they both light enough to easily transport and easy to set up? I know the shipping weights are approx 12 lbs and 18 lbs Is there anything more compact that would give similar optical performance? Having got a scope for photography and serious use when the occasional occasion (sic) permits I would like one that is small, convenient, has lots of bells and whistles and above all has that special wow factor - look what you can see of the heavens with that tiny little scope! I remember seeing the disc of Jupiter for the first time with a small scope many years ago and the feeling that gave me, how accessible the sky seemed. With either of the Meades I would also buy the eyepieces again (the offer continues). I think the extra UKP 100 would be an investment if I ever came to selling one of the scopes. On the other hand if someone makes a scope smaller, lighter and half the price I wouldn't say no! TIA, James If money isn't a problem then the 105 would be my choice. I have the ETX90 I bought it for portability and easy set up. I have to say that I'm very, very pleased with it. As I'm sure you're aware neither of these are in the same league as the big scopes but they do their job very well. When I bought mine the 105 wasn't available and I couldn't afford the 125. I often wonder if I'd had the money would I have gone for size over portability, I think I might and that would have been a mistake! -- Regards Nick |
#5
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
In article , "James Harris"
no.email.please says... 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. I am considering adding an ETX for more convenient planetary and lunar viewing. The '90 is UKP 600 and the '105 is UKP 750. How much benefit would I get from the larger aperture (medium light polution locally) and are they both light enough to easily transport and easy to set up? I know the shipping weights are approx 12 lbs and 18 lbs Is there anything more compact that would give similar optical performance? Having got a scope for photography and serious use when the occasional occasion (sic) permits I would like one that is small, convenient, has lots of bells and whistles and above all has that special wow factor - look what you can see of the heavens with that tiny little scope! I remember seeing the disc of Jupiter for the first time with a small scope many years ago and the feeling that gave me, how accessible the sky seemed. With either of the Meades I would also buy the eyepieces again (the offer continues). I think the extra UKP 100 would be an investment if I ever came to selling one of the scopes. On the other hand if someone makes a scope smaller, lighter and half the price I wouldn't say no! TIA, James If money isn't a problem then the 105 would be my choice. I have the ETX90 I bought it for portability and easy set up. I have to say that I'm very, very pleased with it. As I'm sure you're aware neither of these are in the same league as the big scopes but they do their job very well. When I bought mine the 105 wasn't available and I couldn't afford the 125. I often wonder if I'd had the money would I have gone for size over portability, I think I might and that would have been a mistake! -- Regards Nick |
#6
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
Hi Les,
Since posting I've had a look at an ETX 90 in my local store. I didn't get to make use of it, just get an idea of its weight and size. I must say I was amazed at how light it was - and how plasticy it seemed. I've seen a comparitive review on Mike Weasners site http://www.weasner.com/etx/guests/gu...omparison.html between the '90 and the '105. The local store didn't have a '105 in stock but they will call me when one arrives. Hopefully I will be able to try it out before choosing as there were some comments on the noise of the drives. Is there anything with similar quality optics and above all similar or lower weight and bulk that would be cheaper without the Goto stuff? That seems to add a lot to the costs of these Meades. Cheers, James "Les" wrote in message om... Hi, I've had an ETX-105 for a few months now. I find its pretty portable - I often travel from London to family on the Lincolnshire coast for relatively clear skies. I bought the hard case, which isn't that great, but it fits in the boot of a Ford Ka with overnight stuff no problem. The tripod goes on the back seat. Setup takes a few minutes to align, get the finder zero'd, enter the location coord's etc, but no problem. The scope is easily manhandleable, although I often sweat whilst getting holding it with one hand and doing up the tripod screws with the other. I would be very interested in a comparison between your existing scope and the ETX-105. I've got to say I was disappointed with its performance on deep-sky objects (no surprise in hindsight), but for planets and great star views, very enjoyable, especially with the eyepiece set. Jupiter was breathtaking a few weeks ago. Cheers, Les. |
#7
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
Hi Les,
Since posting I've had a look at an ETX 90 in my local store. I didn't get to make use of it, just get an idea of its weight and size. I must say I was amazed at how light it was - and how plasticy it seemed. I've seen a comparitive review on Mike Weasners site http://www.weasner.com/etx/guests/gu...omparison.html between the '90 and the '105. The local store didn't have a '105 in stock but they will call me when one arrives. Hopefully I will be able to try it out before choosing as there were some comments on the noise of the drives. Is there anything with similar quality optics and above all similar or lower weight and bulk that would be cheaper without the Goto stuff? That seems to add a lot to the costs of these Meades. Cheers, James "Les" wrote in message om... Hi, I've had an ETX-105 for a few months now. I find its pretty portable - I often travel from London to family on the Lincolnshire coast for relatively clear skies. I bought the hard case, which isn't that great, but it fits in the boot of a Ford Ka with overnight stuff no problem. The tripod goes on the back seat. Setup takes a few minutes to align, get the finder zero'd, enter the location coord's etc, but no problem. The scope is easily manhandleable, although I often sweat whilst getting holding it with one hand and doing up the tripod screws with the other. I would be very interested in a comparison between your existing scope and the ETX-105. I've got to say I was disappointed with its performance on deep-sky objects (no surprise in hindsight), but for planets and great star views, very enjoyable, especially with the eyepiece set. Jupiter was breathtaking a few weeks ago. Cheers, Les. |
#8
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
On Mon, 14 Jul 2003 13:00:52 +0100, "James Harris" no.email.please
wrote: Is there anything with similar quality optics and above all similar or lower weight and bulk that would be cheaper without the Goto stuff? That seems to add a lot to the costs of these Meades. James, you could consider the 105 or, preferably, the 127mm maksutov that is made in China by Synta and sold under the Skywatcher brand hert. The 127 got a good review in Astronomy Now a while ago. - Mike |
#9
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Buy ETX 90 or ETX 105
On Mon, 14 Jul 2003 13:00:52 +0100, "James Harris" no.email.please
wrote: Is there anything with similar quality optics and above all similar or lower weight and bulk that would be cheaper without the Goto stuff? That seems to add a lot to the costs of these Meades. James, you could consider the 105 or, preferably, the 127mm maksutov that is made in China by Synta and sold under the Skywatcher brand hert. The 127 got a good review in Astronomy Now a while ago. - Mike |
#10
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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. |
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