Meade Starfinder 8" EQ


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Brand and Model:Meade Starfinder 8" EQ
Price ($USD):599
Type:Newtonian
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:203mm (8")
f Ratio:f/6
Focal Length:1200mm
Finder:6x30
Electric Power:6 AA batteries
Mount:GEM
Tripod:aluminium
Weight (lbs):lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:optional Magellan computer

Vote Highlights Vote
Meade Starfinder 8" EQ
Just read your review.. Ive used the 8eq and own the 10eq.. First of all the optics on both the 8 used and my 10" eq are outstanding.. Ive had mine tested and Im completly happy.. Oh no particle board mirror cell either.... The mount for the 8 is solid and the scope tracked flawlessly.. You just about have to replace the focuser.. I did with the JMI..A telrad is next and The 6x30 finder should be a 9x50 at least.. However thats all an upgrade.. Over all I think the scope is a great buy.. Its simple in design. Has large setting circles, the mount is solid and optics are good.. Replacement of the above items and youve got a 10. I think meade could offer better focuser and finder but it would raise the price..

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41088


Meade Starfinder 8" EQ
I picked up one of these second hand from my local astronomy shop (stellar vision). I was amazed at the perfect star test after some tweaking of the collimation. Haven't seen a more perfect optic in any newtonian reflector i have observed with , and i have owned quite a few , Parks, Orion, and an enterprise optics homemade dob. This particular scope was manufactured in 1996. I think if you can find one of these Meade starfinder telescopes from the 90's you will be very happy with it. Mine only required a bit of cleaning and repainting. A fun project in the midst of this pandemic. Mark in Tucson, Az

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=625634


Meade Starfinder 8" EQ
Optics are first rate!!! The mount is Rock solid to say the least. Ease of use is great. The best value I know of for eight inches of aperature on an EQ mount. Tracks very well. Kept Mars centered in the eyepiece for a long time. Overall a great scope just very BIG. The mount is heavy. If you have a garage so you don't have to tear it down and put it back up I can't think of a better scope for the price. However I do agree with the others the finder is too small! an easy fix though. My focuser is fine. I guess i lucked out. Again One Great scope for the price.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Mount:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=142653


Meade Starfinder 8" EQ
As stated above this scope provides top-notch optics at a bargain. My only complaints involve the accessories and mechanics of the scope. The finder is the worst i have ever encountered. It is only a matter of time before it gets used for batting practice. The focuser also has too much plastic.and seems to rub against the hole for it when focused. I tried to remove some of the cardboard it was hitting but it still isn't perfect. Motions on the scope are jerky but not so bad to be unusable, just annoying. The 26mmSP is great and one of my favorite eyepieces. I also own an 90mm ETX and its optics are also superb. Meade seems to concentrate on producing first rate optics then throwing together third rate mounts. If they start using forethought on their hardware and mounts the scopes will be hard to beat optically and financially

Overall Rating: 6
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41087


Meade Starfinder 8" EQ
Our club has an older version of this scope. I has actual rings to mount the scope to the mount instead of straps. It is essentially the same design though. The scope we have must date to the 1970s(?). The mount is stable but a pain to transport. The axes move fairly smoothly for the age of the scope. I have yet to try to polar align the scope. All I do is roughly align the polar axis with the north star. The optics on the scope are clear depending on collimation. The eight inch aperture gives a nice view of deep sky objects. The scope also give a nice view of the moon and Mars. Since I am use to a Celestron C8 the long tube took some geting used to. We put a red dot finder on the scope and that helps a great deal in aiming the scope and star hopping. For the current price I think the scope would be a good buy. It offers a nice aperture and stable mount for the money.

Overall Rating: No Vote
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41086

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