Meade ETX series - anyone got one?

[Mancunian Lee]

Are they hugely complicated or something? I ask because there seems to be a lot of books to help you out, many of them look like they are an extended manual or something. Im considering a new telescope at the moment and this is really putting me off one.

If they are as easy to use as Meade let us believe, why the need for so many 3rd party manuals?

[gsjag]

Hi ML. They're not quite as easy as Meade make out but after a couple of evenings out, they're pretty simple. Take a look at the video guides on the Meade website which give an overview of the main points, but on the whole, I find mine a great little scope.

Gary

[gsjag]

BTW, If you're unsure about spending on a new one, Steve from First Light Optics had his 105 up for sale for £299. A real bargin!

Check him out at:

http://stargazerslounge.co.uk/index.php?topic=6700.0

Gary

[GordonCopestake]

They are not complex but they are popular hence the number of books

[FLO]

Gordon beat me to it.

[Mancunian Lee]

Cool, just weighing up my options really. I was set on one before i got my skywatcher 200 but ended up going for the other obviously!

They are a bit pricey dont you think? Considering the other go to scopes you can get for the money. When i last looked they had little competition but now they dont look as good as the rest imo. Not used an ETX or the competition though so im going off the specs only

[GordonCopestake]

The construction of a mak is more complex than a newt and the ETX has electronics and GOTO which costs money. They are nice scopes and very portable, they dont tend to have great apertures though with the largest model being 125mm (I think)

[Greg]

I had a little ETX 70 for a while a lovely little scope...

I bought the ETX book from Steve to compliment it.

As has been said above.

I'm one of those types that will buy the book after i've watched the DVD....If you see what I mean!

[gsjag]

You're right Gordon, the 125 isthe largest Meade mak. They did do a 7" but have stopped production now.

I think the ETX 70 is a refractor.

[lunator]

Yep

The ETX 70 is a refractor.

Mine is a good scope. Once you have used it is is not difficult or complex.

I use it as a portable scope and it ok for that but the 70mm aperture is its biggest drawback.

Cheers

Ian

[GordonCopestake]

A 70mm Mak would be silly as the central obstruction would be huge. I have no idea how celestron sell a 90mm mak tbh

[gsjag]

The 90mm mak market was there for the taking - for all of us who couldn't afford a Questar. Actually, there is no dealer support in the UK for Questar, so thats the biggest problem.

[GordonCopestake]

I think i'de rather have an 80mm short tube refractor with a 100% aperture than a 90mm mak with a 80% aperture

[gsjag]

Yeah, it's whatever floats your boat. It's good that we all like different things, then star parties are more fun!

[GordonCopestake]

Well said! It's the fact that we can choose whatever we like that makes astronomy one of the more enjoyable hobbies! It would be boring if there was one scope that did everything and we all had one! Although the C8 did try hehe