C8S GT, SC8, or used LX-90/200

Hi, I'm sort of stuck on my next scope purchase. This would be my 6th
scope (last 4 were 6" - 10" dobsonians). My most recent scope was an
LXD55-SN8. It was really great OTA, and the mount, while poorly made,
did work fine once it was tuned up a bit. However, I sold that scope
and am looking for a replacement. I've decided an 8" SCT would be a
good choice, and more comfortable to use, but just can't decide on
one. I ordered an LXD-75 but then discovered Meade was playing the
end of the month game again. I'm not really into waiting for a year,
so I'm looking at alternatives.

At first I considered the Celestron C8S-GT (Advanced Series on a CG-5A
mount). Sounds great, but the truth is it's probably another mount
made in china. It does have 2" dimeter steel tripod legs, but the
quality of the EQ head iself is questionable. Astronomics has it in
stock but refrained from giving opinions.

My next choice is the LX90. It's a bit more than I want to spend, but
if it's a scope I won't likely grow out of, then maybe it's ok. The
only problem is that I want to do some entry level CCD of DSOs, and
it's an altaz mount. Not sure I can do it with this scope without
sinking a lot more money into it. Also, I wont be able to mount
anything else on the fork which is a big downside. A GEM would be far
more useful.

Third choice is a used classic LX200. This is a heavy scope and
probably A/C only (I think)? Same issues as the LX90, except I can
get it much cheaper.

I really need some help from the regulars who have seen and used all
of these scopes. At this point the cheapest route is the LXD75-SC8,
which also has more features than the Celestron, including a long wait
for the order to be filled.


Are there any goto scopes I've left out? Am I missing an important
feature of the LX series which makes them worth being stuck with a
fork and possibly an expensive wedge?

Thanks
-tom

(vic20owner) wrote in
om:

Hi, I'm sort of stuck on my next scope purchase. This would be my 6th
scope (last 4 were 6" - 10" dobsonians). My most recent scope was an
LXD55-SN8. It was really great OTA, and the mount, while poorly made,
did work fine once it was tuned up a bit. However, I sold that scope
and am looking for a replacement. I've decided an 8" SCT would be a
good choice, and more comfortable to use, but just can't decide on
one. I ordered an LXD-75 but then discovered Meade was playing the
end of the month game again. I'm not really into waiting for a year,
so I'm looking at alternatives.

Just slightly larger... but IMHO you can't go wrong with the Celestron 9.25
CGE.

Just slightly larger... but IMHO you can't go wrong with the Celestron 9.25
CGE.

I think the CGE was out of my price range. I'm in the $1300 range.
Looked at Celestron's goto software and it's sort of featureless. It's
missing basic (neat) features like Autostar's spiral search. I may just
wait on the LXD75 and see what happens.

vic20owner wrote in message ...
Just slightly larger... but IMHO you can't go wrong with the Celestron 9.25
CGE.

I think the CGE was out of my price range. I'm in the $1300 range.
Looked at Celestron's goto software and it's sort of featureless. It's
missing basic (neat) features like Autostar's spiral search. I may just
wait on the LXD75 and see what happens.

Hi. well I happen to own the "Classic LX200" series. Started with an
8"LX200 and now own the 12"LX200. I have been using these LX200
classic scopes for over 3 years now and every time I go out and use
it, I sit back in utter amazement of how good these scopes are. I have
seen used LX200 Classic 8" scopes for less then $1300 with a lot of
good accessories on Astromart. If you get a chance to purchase one
that has been cared for, you got yourself a great scope. Yes it can
also be used via DC with the Meade 1812 adapter. i have seen these on
astromart for $45 or so. The gotos are so accurate, and its an easy
scope to setup. The 8"scope is not that heavy to handle. I know I am
quite satisfied with mine, and they were also quite good optically.
Good luck in your search. Bob Midiri

The classic's GOTO is quite different from
Autostar, though, and if he really
prefers the latter, he should check to see
if it would be to his liking.

Larry


Bob Midiri wrote:


Hi. well I happen to own the "Classic LX200" series. Started with an
8"LX200 and now own the 12"LX200. I have been using these LX200
classic scopes for over 3 years now and every time I go out and use
it, I sit back in utter amazement of how good these scopes are. I have
seen used LX200 Classic 8" scopes for less then $1300 with a lot of
good accessories on Astromart. If you get a chance to purchase one
that has been cared for, you got yourself a great scope. Yes it can
also be used via DC with the Meade 1812 adapter. i have seen these on
astromart for $45 or so. The gotos are so accurate, and its an easy
scope to setup. The 8"scope is not that heavy to handle. I know I am
quite satisfied with mine, and they were also quite good optically.
Good luck in your search. Bob Midiri

Larry Ozarow wrote:

The classic's GOTO is quite different from
Autostar, though, and if he really
prefers the latter, he should check to see
if it would be to his liking.

Good point thanks for bringing that up. Also, if I go with the LX, I'm
stuck with having only that scope on the mount. If I find a way to get
an SCT on a GEM (with autostar) then I can use the mount for a few
different scopes. Maybe the LX200 is good enough that I wont feel the
need to use other scopes...I dunno.

Bob Midiri wrote:


Hi. well I happen to own the "Classic LX200" series. Started with an
8"LX200 and now own the 12"LX200. I have been using these LX200
classic scopes for over 3 years now and every time I go out and use
it, I sit back in utter amazement of how good these scopes are. I have
seen used LX200 Classic 8" scopes for less then $1300 with a lot of
good accessories on Astromart. If you get a chance to purchase one
that has been cared for, you got yourself a great scope. Yes it can
also be used via DC with the Meade 1812 adapter. i have seen these on
astromart for $45 or so. The gotos are so accurate, and its an easy
scope to setup. The 8"scope is not that heavy to handle. I know I am
quite satisfied with mine, and they were also quite good optically.
Good luck in your search. Bob Midiri

Thanks for the info Bob. I finally decided I didn't want to gamble my
money on another LXD experiment. I spent some time looking at the
photography done with the LX90 and decided that it is quite capable of
doing everything I want to do with an 8" scope if I just add a wedge and
a few other items down the road. It's not an LX200, but it's close
enough to do the limited CCD and piggy back that I want to do with it

My gut feeling is that the LX90 will be much higher quality than another
chinese CG-5 clone. Not saying there is anything wrong with the LXD
mount, but I'd like the most bang for the buck, and I think the LX90
would last longer (mechanically) and retain value better than the LXD.
The $400 I save on the LXD75 would return and bite me when I have to
sell the scope for dirt when it turns out to be a lemon, or when I want
to upgrade and the LXD75 turns out to be a temporary model like the
LXD55's, and nobody wants it anymore.

Sooo... I changed my order to the LX90 and it'll be here next week.

Think I made the right choice? I think I did.

-tom

(vic20owner) wrote in message . com...
Hi, I'm sort of stuck on my next scope purchase. This would be my 6th
scope (last 4 were 6" - 10" dobsonians). My most recent scope was an
LXD55-SN8. It was really great OTA, and the mount, while poorly made,
did work fine once it was tuned up a bit. However, I sold that scope
and am looking for a replacement. I've decided an 8" SCT would be a
good choice, and more comfortable to use, but just can't decide on
one. I ordered an LXD-75 but then discovered Meade was playing the
end of the month game again. I'm not really into waiting for a year,
so I'm looking at alternatives.

snip----


Go ahead and get a new LX90 even if your budget is $1300. That will
get you a new LPI w/Autostar Suite and a $150 rebate (which means you
have to get $150 in Meade stuff before you get the $150 rebate). You
could then sell the LPI for say $120 and likewise on the Meade rebate
stuff. This would get you closer to $1300, not quite there but
closer. You would end up with a very nice scope still under warranty.
I would do that if at all possible rather than a used LX90...just my
2 cents worth...
Good Luck,
Dave

Go ahead and get a new LX90 even if your budget is $1300. That will
get you a new LPI w/Autostar Suite and a $150 rebate (which means you
have to get $150 in Meade stuff before you get the $150 rebate). You
could then sell the LPI for say $120 and likewise on the Meade rebate
stuff. This would get you closer to $1300, not quite there but
closer. You would end up with a very nice scope still under warranty.
I would do that if at all possible rather than a used LX90...just my
2 cents worth...
Good Luck,
Dave

Thanks Dave, I went with the LX90. Looks like we did the same math.

-tom