80mm Meade 5000 Triplet ?

[Paul-F]

Hi,

I currently have a 12" LX90  & 15x70 Celestron binos

For visual richfield use and maybe to take it on trips (family hols etc) I have decided to get a smaller scope, probably a refractor.

I am looking at an 'as  new' meade 5000 apo triplet 80mm f6 (]there are no extras that I am aware of) and finding it hard to value tbh so I would like to know where it stacks up quality & performance wise against what is currently available new .. I am also wondering if I should really be looking at a larger aperture doublet for visual. However, if the price is right I'll probably give this one a try ..

I plan to mount piggyback on the lx90 and get a 'just about ok' tripod for travel purposes.

[Dude_with_the_tube]

Apo triplet will always be better then ED and way better then acrho for both visual and photography.As a travel scope size wise i think it would be perfect.

As for quality of this scope,here is a reading material for you:http://www.cloudynights.com/page/articles/cat/user-reviews/telescopes/80mm-90mm-refractors/meade-80mm-series-5000-ed-apo-r1568

[Paul-F]

Apo triplet will always be better then ED and way better then acrho for both visual and photography.As a travel scope size wise i think it would be perfect.

As for quality of this scope,here is a reading material for you:http://www.cloudynights.com/page/articles/cat/user-reviews/telescopes/80mm-90mm-refractors/meade-80mm-series-5000-ed-apo-r1568

Thanks - Read that write-up which was from 7.5 years ago and it seems like a good scope (referred to as a sub $600 scope back then) and meade sell the 6000 series now which I assume is an 'improved' scope (Meade say: better and altogether more impressive than their already illustrious predecessors) - I want to figure what that improvement is and how the 5000 compares to these, for example, so that I can work out how much is a fair price. I have no personal experience of smaller scopes so looking for views based on user experience whilst I still have my cash in my pocket

http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Meade-Series-6000-80mm-f-6-ED-Triplet-APO-OTA.html

https://www.altairastro.com/product.php?productid=16493

http://www.skywatcherusa.com/ed-apo-refractors/esprit-ed-triplet-apo-refractors/esprit-80mm-ed-triplet-apo-refractor.html

[John]

Apo triplet will always be better then ED and way better then acrho for both visual and photography.As a travel scope size wise i think it would be perfect.

As for quality of this scope,here is a reading material for you:http://www.cloudynights.com/page/articles/cat/user-reviews/telescopes/80mm-90mm-refractors/meade-80mm-series-5000-ed-apo-r1568

In theory, yes but the Skywatcher ED120 doublet refractor has showed less CA than the Meade 5000 127 series triplet in a number of tests and in an example of the Meade that I compared with my ED120 too.

[ollypenrice]

Apo triplet will always be better then ED and way better then acrho for both visual and photography.As a travel scope size wise i think it would be perfect.

As for quality of this scope,here is a reading material for you:http://www.cloudynights.com/page/articles/cat/user-reviews/telescopes/80mm-90mm-refractors/meade-80mm-series-5000-ed-apo-r1568

I haven't found this to be so. If all else were equal then it would be so but all else is not equal. I had the Meade 127 Triplet and liked it, especially for the price, but I don't think it was any better than the SW120 doublet. There are Takahashi and TeleVue doublets that are far better than many triplets, too.

There is a lot of competition, now, the in the 80mm market. The TV85? Although it isn't light it is very robust and both optically and mechanically it's outstanding. It's built to last and to be maintained, plus it tends to be under-valued on the used market because it's considered old fashioned.

Olly

[Lars]

I can't answer for the other telescopes in the 5000 series, but I have an Ascension 80mm that is a clone of the Meade 5000 80mm (I think Explore Scientific made another clone) and that telescope doesn't show any CA at all. The focuser however is a very weak point. I had to tweak mine quite a lot and it still barely carries a 500 g camera when pointing above 55-60° altiitude unless I lock the focuser.

/Lars

[Liquid360]

I once had a 10in LX90 and have always heard that the 12in was VERY undermounted. Are you certain it'll hold an 80mm? Just asking.

[lensman57]

I can't answer for the other telescopes in the 5000 series, but I have an Ascension 80mm that is a clone of the Meade 5000 80mm (I think Explore Scientific made another clone) and that telescope doesn't show any CA at all. The focuser however is a very weak point. I had to tweak mine quite a lot and it still barely carries a 500 g camera when pointing above 55-60° altiitude unless I lock the focuser.

/Lars

I too have the Ascension 80mm Triplet which is basically a Meade series 5000 but with a double speed focuser. It is a very good scope for the price and a used one recently got sold for £500.00.

The scope uses the Hoya FD1 glass which is the equivalent of the FPL 51 if not marginaly better. My focuser does need tightening up a bit from time to time but it does hold a 383L+ and a Xagyl FW even pointing vertically up . There is hardly if any false colour but it is very fussy about focus. Hope this helps. BTW I find this scope superior to both my SW ED 80 and SW 100 ED DS Pro optically, I bought mine new with a test certficate.  It is no FSQ by a long margine but at the price it is pretty competative.

A,G

[Paul-F]

Scope seems like a good one so I have decided to get the 80mm triplet for visual and maybe later try some photography at some point.

I gather that if i want to do some more serious photography I'll be looking at an heq6 mount but for now, as to mounting it, what will do for visual grab & go use, possibly with a clock drive