Meade LX-50 8"

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Brand and Model:Meade LX-50 8"
Price ($USD):1395
Type:Schmidt-Cassegrain
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:203mm (8")
f Ratio:f/10
Focal Length:2000mm
Finder:6x30
Electric Power:9V (6 AA batteries)
Mount:Heavy duty fork
Tripod:optional
Weight (lbs):? lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):OTA: 9.1 "
Description:Secondary size: 3 "
Comes with 12V 25 ft. Car adapter cable.
1.25 " Diagonal Prism.
25 mm MA eyepiece.
Standard Equatorial wedge.
Dec. Motor and hand controller.

Vote Highlights Vote
Meade LX-50 8"
Great scope, have had no problems at all with the optics of my scope. The Dec. motor with the fix kit is the only way to go in haveing it track good. Planetary viewing is very good, but no where as sharp as my 6" apo refractor. Deep sky viewing is where this scope dose its best.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Mount:9 Ease of Use:8 Value:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=75564

Meade LX-50 8"
I have used this scope and compared it to a Celestar 8" SCT with wedgepod (about same price range). There is no comparison, except for optics. The Celestron wins hands down.

1) The C8 is a lighter OTA and fork assembly - much easier to transport and yet built just as well. I think the Meade forks are heavier, but the C8 is just as sturdy.

2) The Celestron wedgepod is much easier to use than the Meade tripod and wedge assembly. The Celestron wedgepod tray on top really helps hold stuff, too but the Meade does not have one. The Meade is much more difficult to set up.

3) Optics were virtually identical. Very good. Neither had dark dark background and were typical SCT optics. Can't beat the price for 8" of aperture and the ability to keep an object in view. You can find the C8 used for around $700-$750 and Meade LX 50 a little more here in 2003. BTW - I think dobs are dumb. But, maybe it's me. I just like to be able to put an object in fov and watch it for a long time even at high power without moving scope constantly. That's why I think the Meade is a good buy on used market for 8" of aperture.

4) The Meade RA lock seems to be better. Give the edge here to Meade.

5) Based on ease of use, the mount, and weight - I give the edge to the C8. Optics were the same. I think the entire C8 scope and mount are a well engineered combination. The Meade is good, but just more difficult to set-up and use.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:9 Mount:8 Ease of Use:6 Value:8
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=180171

Meade LX-50 8"
Good value for money

Overall Rating: 7
Optics:6 Mount:5 Ease of Use:4 Value:6
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=165107

Meade LX-50 8"
i got it for $1000 shipped and in great shape i used to have a lx50 10" but was so big and heavy that i wanted something smaller.great telescope would reconmeand it to anyone

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38143

Meade LX-50 8"
F10 version has good optics though not as good as Meade's advertising would have you believe. Able to pick up 4 craterlets on the floor of Plato under moderate seeing using an 8 mm Radian. Regularly see at least 5 bands on Jupiter, shadow transits of the major moons and the great red spot. The Cassini division on Saturn is easy to see.
26 mm Plossl that came with the scope is fine on axis but deteriorates noticeably at the edges. I would personally prefer Meade to limit the field.
6x30 finder scope is a cheap toy, and has a very limited focus range (it will not accomodate my -3 dioptre correction)
My biggest gripe is the poor mechanical tolerances of the supplied 1 1/4 inch right angle mirror diagonal which can be noticeably rattled in the eyepiece holder. On clamping the unit noticeably twists and is unlikely to be normal to the optical axis.
Mount is sturdy and supports scope well, however my overall feeling is that similar rigidity could be realised through improved engineering practices and without the excessive weight.
Standard Tripod is sturdy although at full extension some vibration is noticable.
Dec drive is noisy but not as bad as some reports would have you believe.

Bottom line: Good visual scope, fair value for money. Improvements required however in several areas.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38140

Meade LX-50 8"
I have the 10" LX50 and am very happy with it's performance. The Magellan II pits the object in the field of view 95% of the time. The other 5% is just on the edge. I have installed the dec fix kit. I have set it up next to the LX 200 and had LESS trouble than the owner of the LX 200. One can hear a LX 200 making "coffee grinding" noise for a great distance. Over the past 30 years I have had many fine home made instruments and find that the LX 50 is a great scope. Those that berate the LX 50 for the LX 200 should have bought a LX 200 in the first place so they can complain about it instead !

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38139

Meade LX-50 8"
Generally speaking this is a good scope to consider if you think want to do astrophotograhy work but can't afford the LX-200. It is much sturdier than the LX-10 and optically the same as all the LX series. It also has an autoguider input.

However, don't get this scope planning to add the Magellan II. It would be much better to sink in a little more cash up front for the LX-200. Using the Magellan II is acquired skill that some never master. When you get the knack, it is still no where near as precise as the LX-200. Also once you add the Magellan, you will have cables coming out of everywhere which complicates turning the scope more than 180 degrees. The Dec motors range from bad to worse, with most having a serious speed and torque mismatch with the RA motor. They are also very loud. (Doesn't make you a hit at star parties!) The Scopetronix dec fix helps but shouldn't be required on a scope of this price.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38135

Meade LX-50 8"
Optics on mine are well corrected. Drives are fine for visual & piggyback photography. I have no Dec drive problems that seem to be widely reported with this scope. keeping it well collimated is all that I do to provide very good performance on the planets & deep sky.

Jim Nadeau skyjunkie@acadiacom.net

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38134

Meade LX-50 8"
Excellent observation scope, not so great for astrophotography without heavy modification. No PEC, and the DEC motor is weak without a mod kit from Jordan Blessing.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38131

Meade LX-50 8"
I bought my LX50 second hand for around 60% of the list price (the scope was in perfect condition). First of all, it looks great and impresses the neighbours!. The optics on mine are excellent. The usual stuff (M13; M2; M57.. ) all of a sudden appear and are as you see them in many astro-photos. Brighter galaxies are also no problem. I have done some tracked fotos and they turned out fine. The only real contra is the weight. I dread to think what a 10" version would be like to hoist onto the tripod. If you can get one for around 60% in perfect condition then go for it.

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38142

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