Meade ETX-125EC

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Meade ETX-125EC
Typical for Meade ETX's: Great Maksutov-Cassegrain optics (if a little lower than average contrast) with poor mount. Much more substantial look and feel than the ETX90. Movement along axes very (silky) smooth. Noisy motors when both slewing and tracking (less noisy in Polar mount than in Alt/AZ). Difficult to manually obtain sharp focus at high magnification - just light contact with focus knob and image starts "dancing". Nearly impossible to focus with OTA in line with fork mount (near Zenith in Atl/AZ; near pole in Polar). High power views of moon, planets, doubles, etc. competetive with 8" SC's. Overall, scope is nice balance between portability (with Autostar and in Atl/AZ mount) and great high power and descent deep sky views.

Overall Rating: 7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Meade ETX-125EC
its not a scope,it is a problem for meade and us.

Overall Rating: 3
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39621

Meade ETX-125EC
it is not a scope, it is aproblem for meade and us

Overall Rating: No Vote
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Meade ETX-125EC
Poorly executed design

Overall Rating: 3
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39623

Meade ETX-125EC
This review is for the combination of the ETX-125-EC with Autostar 497 controller, which most everybody seems to get. This scope system has a some flaws and is sure to disappoint someone who expects the perfect scope. However, barring any of the disasters that have been reported by some(like uncontrolled slewing or optical alignment problems), this scope can hit a nerve that will launch, or in my case revive, a serious interest in amateur astro. Just playing with such a complex piece of equipment can be worthwhile. The scope's base is structurally weak, the view highly obstructed by the secondary miror (meaning that details won't be as contrasted as if it were less obstruction). The GoTo is poor but managable, in most cases. The gears have backlash leading to some difficult alignment/tracking problems at high power. The 497 controller has excellent features. My scope was in good collimation and star tests revealed no problems, once the scope cools to outside temp, which can take over two hours depending on the inside-outside temperature difference, 70F to 40F will take two hours. The views of the planets are wonderful but some Messier objects (like M74) are very difficult under 5.6 mag limiting skies. However, I did step through the Virgo Messier group in about 30 minutes and got them all The ETX-125/497 has many "bells-and-whistles" for the price and the optics are very good to great, but not excellent. Just having a scope of this aperature and f.l. (15) that can track in Alt/Azi or Eq and with wide range of dual correction speed controls is delightful, which except for the Alt/Azi tracking does not require the Autostar 497. I could go on, both + and -, but in summary, I'm going to keep the scope and buy larger aperature Newtonian EQ with clock drive and no computer.

Overall Rating: 7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Meade ETX-125EC
Great Portable scope. Its a little bigger than the 90 mm spotting scopes but smaller than any of the other 5" models when you consider that it can be put into polar alignment with the tabletop legs.

Optics on this scope are great. I've seen 5 of them and all were in perfect collimation

The mount is stable enough for visual use.

I really appreciate the performance of the ETX125EC on the planets. Views can be magnificent on nights of good seeing.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39626

Meade ETX-125EC
This scope, in a word, is a piece of crap. Yes the optics are good. Good not great. The mount is flimsy at best. The drive is unreliable and noisy. It takes 2 hours for the tube to reach thermal stabilization. The Autostar is a lesson in frustration. "Close" only counts in horseshoes and handgrenades.
The only thing worse than the performance of this scope was Meade customer service. I had 4 of these scopes and they all failed. Meade never returned my calls once or even updated me by e-mail. After 6 months of that abuse, I gave up and got a refund. Never, ever, Meade, again!!

Overall Rating: 2
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39627

Meade ETX-125EC
I found the optics and collimation of this scope to be excellent. I found the fork mount is quite stable for its intended visual use. The Autostar does require a learning curve but I have had no problems with random slewing. It places the intended GOTO object in the field of view of a 26mm Plossl about 85% of the time. It does require a long cool down time but this can be expected given its Mak design. It is an oustanding value in portability, optics, GOTO, and price.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Meade ETX-125EC
The Autostar accessory is almost worthless. The manual is extremely difficult to read and follow. If you follow all the instructions to a 'T' you might be able to get one or two objects in the field of view, before you have to start the alignment process all over again

Overall Rating: No Vote
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Meade ETX-125EC
When evalulating this scope it is one must consider the intended audience....the first time buyer with little or no experience. For the intended market this scope is as good as it gets. The optics are quite good...the mount could be better...ok a lot better. The Autostar controller is a God send to those lacking a basic understanding of astrological proceedures and terminology. The cool thing about this scope is that it teaches astronomy while you have fun exploring. The entire ETX line has single handedly grown the hobby and created an excited new following. I have witnessed the Buzz of people when my friend sets up his ETX-125 in the street.."it's sooo cute", "let me see". When the GOTO function skews into position (or close) jaws drop. Many are bitten...few are cured! For me I'll keep my little Televue 85 thanks...but for the masses the ETX rules!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39635

Meade ETX-125EC
Well collimated optics - great star tests. The mount is not a prodessional mount but serves it's purpose and once aligned, will find almost everything. I think that the main problem for beginners is the documentation. The manuals, in a word, are POOR. They don't give simple enough explanations for many beginners, thus some of the comments that are seen here. With a serious rewrite, and some carefull explanations for beginners, I think many people would like this scope a lot better. It does have great optics and is a great when you consider what you get.

Rob Moore

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Meade ETX-125EC
As a novice at best, I found the features of the ETX 125 EC very appealing. Though I don't claim to be an expert on optics, I found them to be very good. The motor is noisy and cool down time is long but I found that the scope was mostly what it was advertised to be. The autostar is great for beginners like myself. My first time out was thrilling. I also love the portability of it. There are two major drawbacks. The first is the instruction manual. I found it difficult to follow and vague concerning the steps needed to take when setting up the scope. This is particularly true of setting it up in polar alignment. It stated that it could be done and to put the scope in the home position but did not tell how to do it. The second is the tri-pod. For $175 it could be alot me substantial. It especially feels barely adequate when in polar alignment. All in all though a great telescope. I am glad I invested in it.
Mark H.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39637

Meade ETX-125EC
The better scope I have seen for his value.
Idal as fist steep as robotic telescope .
I´learning a lot with it !!
Contrast, time constant, you know .Thy are not surprises at all. What did you tinck you can get under U$1K ?

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39638

Meade ETX-125EC
Stars are good with Orion Lanthanum eye pieces. The mount has a lot of backlash, especially in right ascension. Deluxe field tripod is good for visual and is easy to use. It would be nice if altitude adustment screw would work all the way to the zenith. Need easy way to adjust balance when using a camera on scope.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39639

Meade ETX-125EC
I choose this ETX 125 for portability and interesting price.
It is not easy to focus at high magnification. Motors are noisy and I noticed vibration on picture when motors run. This telescope is excellent for Moon and planets observation.

valery.lekhanhvan@windriver.com

Overall Rating: 7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39641

Meade ETX-125EC
The scope itself performs well on brightness test, but the base mount, motors,the motor drive and the computer program are of very poor quality.

Overall Rating: 1
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Meade ETX-125EC
This scope is not good as some might think at first thought. It has many drawbacks and most of all the noisy motor and very difficult to follow instructions.
At the same time, this scope can serve as a learning tool for anyone who wants to know a little about astronomy, and a waste of time for anyone who has nothing better to do. Considering its price, i think it does not worth it. Save your money!

Overall Rating: No Vote
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Meade ETX-125EC
This is really poorly built. The computer control handbook is not complete nor well written. Much trouble with defective hrizontal(RA)lock.It will not hold tight and ,as a result, the motors will not engage effectively.

Overall Rating: 1
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39644

Meade ETX-125EC
Outstanding optics, decent mount, but difficult to focus. Great first scope for my wife.

Overall Rating: 3
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39645

Meade ETX-125EC
Same issue with RA lock & backlash, shaky mount and goto is in field of view 50% of the time. I returned one to the Dicovery Channel store because goto was so bad, but the replacement was just as bad. But this is my first scope and I've enjoyed using it despite these problems. I took it to Mexico and Bora Bora in its hard case as checked baggage - no issues. I don't use the autostar anymore because it's too frustrating.

Overall Rating: 7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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