Meade DS-127-EC


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Brand and Model:Meade DS-127-EC
Price ($USD):499
Type:Newtonian
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:127mm (5")
f Ratio:f/8
Focal Length:1020mm
Finder:6x30
Electric Power:10 AA batteries
Mount:Altazimuth
Tripod:Adjustable aluminum
Weight (lbs):20 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:Includes #492 dual-motor electronic control system, two 1.25" eyepieces (MH9 EP, MA26 EP), Meade StarNavigator Software.

Limiting visual magnitude is 12.6

Resolving power is 0.9

Max practical visual power is 350x

Tube length is 38 inches

Vote Highlights Vote
Meade DS-127-EC
Tube too long for the scope but optics good. Stored it. Tracking very good if alignment is good. Just very difficult to get a successful alignment so may need to use an reticle eyepiece to be sure star is centered. when mounting tracking motors must be sure to engage correctly the teeth on the gears. Mount very light and portable, good and stable for short tubes - 127mm-130mm, 5" SCT. Loved the cradle mount.

Overall Rating: 7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=623830


Meade DS-127-EC
Tracking is poor. Autostar is almost more trouble to set up than it's worth. Mount is horrible.

Overall Rating: 4
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40021


Meade DS-127-EC
Star test using 5mm Vixen LV (200X) showed well-collimated optics, slightly turned in mirror, and circular diffraction patterns. Quite good image brightness. I have managed to see distant galaxies to about mag 9. Mount is quite stable if you spread out the legs to maximum. The Autostar on this scope works well if it is trained properly. Sometimes I get 100% hit on goto objects, but at times have to turn on the High Precision function to slew to faint objects. Motor tracking is good, but induces vibrations ( esp the azimuth motor). For high mag work (e.g planetary viewing), I turn off the motor after slewing by invoking the Sync function, then track the object manually.
I have compared the image from this scope to that of an 8" LX200 and conclude that the quality is impressive for the price.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40020


Meade DS-127-EC
The telescope tube is ok. The problem is the tripod and the electronic system. I used the thelescope like 5 times and after that the locks in the legs were broken, also I received my telescope bad assambled because the nut in the az. axe was not be tight enough, as a consecuence at the beggineng I cuold not alingne the telescope and of course it was impposible finding any thing. The Electronic system is really bad, I think it was designed for smaller telescopes like DS60-EC or DS70-EC because befor to start I have to find an equlibrium point, I mean, if the equilibrium poin is not detected some times the telescope does not go up or down, I suppouse the problem here is the motors aren't powerfull enough for the weigth of this telescope. An other big problem is the telescope does not have any sensor if the thelescope is in its vertical limit (0deg or 90deg) and the user does not realize this situation and continues presing the control button the telecope could be damaged. Of course what cloud you expect for less than $500?

Overall Rating: 3
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40019


Meade DS-127-EC
I just want to warn beginners to steer clear of this scope. It is pure shoddy workmanship--the level of scope they sell in toy stores and Walmart. They also sell this DS series in Costco, and it's the sort of junky product they prey on well-meaning but uninformed parents with. Meade has sunk to new lows with this disposable toy which will turn off young and old tyros alike to astronomy forever.

Any buyer interested in a quality GOTO in this price range would be well advised to invest in the Celestron Nexstar 114GT ($499). This is a quantum leap up in performance, utility, reliability and overall investment. Celestron has maintained their legendary build quality right down into their cheapest scopes. Sadly, Meade has not.

--Ken Melville

Overall Rating: 2
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40017


Meade DS-127-EC
For the price I was pleased. I am a beginner and do not know all to look for but the scope pleased me!

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40015


Meade DS-127-EC
This is DEFINITELY a beginners scope, and I'd only recommend it if you absolutely *had* to have a cheap GOTO scope with the maximum possible aperture. Complaints include the use of a plastic draw tube on the focuser, the fact that the scope rings don't tighten down far enough to hold the scope in the mount cradle (several people complaining about this), and that there's no collimation tools included with the scope.

Everybody and their brother knows that a newtonian (or dobsonian) scope *will need collimation right out of the box*. Subjecting beginning astronomers to this amazing lack of attention to detail is disappointing, and coming from Meade makes it that much worse.

The mount is at the absolute limit of tolerance for a scope of this size. It really needs to be beefed up. If you try to use a Barlow on this scope, you'll throw the balance completely out and you'll have to find the new baance point before slewing to a new location.

Optical quality is good after collimation has been performed.

Overall Rating: 5
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40012


Meade DS-127-EC
I purchased the Meade DS 127-EC as an upgrade from my 80mm Celestron refractor. I was wanting a decent beginning to intermediate, larger ap. scope, for a price. I have been very pleased with this scope so far. I have been able to view many objects that I would have never found with my 80mm refractor, due to the GOTO capability. If you are looking for perfect images and rock solid mounts be prepared to pay for them. If you are new to astronomy and on a budget, the DS 127-EC is a fun scope to own. Decent Ap. with decent GOTO features make it truly fun to own. However, make sure you invest in an electronic focuser. Helps tremendously with focus jitters.

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40018


Meade DS-127-EC
Looking for advice on purchasing this scope.

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40016


Meade DS-127-EC
This telescope I don't think I would recomend for anybody especialy a begginer after asembly it needs to be colmulated and no tools are provided for this although I considered this to be minor the mount is so weak that focusing by hand is a real problem it will cause you to go complety off target the plastic eyepiece guide doesn't keep the eyepiece steady durring focusing with an electric focuser and your image will jump and wander you will need to rebalance the telescope in the mount every time you want to swith between a 2 inch eyepiece and a 1 1/4 inch or even add a barlow lens the vibration of the motors working will not allow a clear Image of any object at High power while tracking The 10 AAA battery pack will only allow a very limited time about 4 hours before the become to weak to be usefull to track or goto another object I am very disaponted in this telescope I expect higher quality standards from Meade

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40013

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