cpc9.25 or LX200 gps 12"

[stadaik]

Well im still looking for a dobsonian but i just found these 2 telescopes. The price is the same. The cpc is at excellent condition and is 1 year old. The meade has a lot external scratches...whats your choice?

[mikeDnight]

Without hesitation I'd go for the CPC, for no other reason than I simply dislike Meade as a company. They produce some really shoddy mechanics and over the years have churned out some pretty poor optics too. Celestron, for my money, are in a different league. The 9.25" would be a fine telescope that would complement your big dob nicely, when you eventually get one.

Mike

[Peter Drew]

Both are good telescopes. I'm on my third 12LX200, they are very heavy! Both are very different from a Dobsonian, you need to carefully consider your needs.  

[Davey-T]

Depends what you want to look at 12" Meade has pretty narrow FOV so I'd choose the CPC9.25

Dave

[ollypenrice]

The uncertainty principle at work. 

Apart from having decent aperture these scopes are about as un-Doblike as you can get. Dobs tend to have fast F ratios and a wide FOV, the opposite of SCTs. WIth the long SCT FL automated tracking has a lot to be said for it.

I have a 10 inch Meade and would call the optics quite good. I think on the whole Celestron will be a tad better in comparable aperture but the Meade has more of this useful commodity. I wouldn't worry about external condition. Mine looks like a dog's breakfast but it gives good views. Could you live with the FL of the 12 inch? I feel very boxed in even by mine.

Do they need to be portable? The 12 inch Meade isn't! 

If dew is a problem (maybe not on Rhodes?) factor in the need for dew heaters.

Olly

[A40farinagolf]

As a CPC925 owner I'd strongly recommend it, simple to use, reasonably portable but more importantly great optics.

When combined with wide angle 2" quality eyepieces at say 30mm + FL the views can be stunning.

[stadaik]

thnx everyone. I know its far away from what im looking for but the price is a bargain and it worths a second thought.

[KY Cygni]

as a new CPC 925 owner I can say its a great scope as said with 2" eyepeices its very good, dpnt know about the Meade so cant comment but if its all dinged up its had a hard life

[Dave In Vermont]

Moving the 12" LX-series scope's requires a plan if you're going to need to move it any distance by foot. My current techology is to use a long, smooth bench. I place the scope on the bench and slide it to where I want it. This often needs repeating to get there, but that's nothing.

Others use various different wheeled-vehicles to transport. Everyone who makes their own have come up with novel designs. Some are amazing! People discover their "inner-artist" in find ways to lug their 'Big-Blue' from house to site. This is supposing, of course, you don't have a dedicated observatory. I'll bet these scopes are responsible for ½ of all private observatories in the world!

True words spoken on Meade's mechanical side. The focuser on their SCT's are garbage, as are the declination clutch. These should be fixed. Peterson makes excellent kits to fix these, and other, problems - seeing as Meade is deaf to people's complaints. I've heard they've overhauled their Customer-Service people. I've gotten into fist-fights over the telephone with those dopes before. Once re-done with Pete Peterson's kits, these scopes work remarkably well. That's why I have two of 'em.

Pete Peterson (he's on vacation this week. Try back on the 14th):

http://www.petersonengineering.com/sky/