Meade LX-90 8"

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Meade LX-90 8"
Near-perfect images, STURDY!! fork arms, good motor drive. The goto accuracy leaves a little to be desired, but accurate time/date/location makes it work fine. Tracking accuracy is fine, autostar very smart. Highly reccomended!

Overall Rating: 10
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Meade LX-90 8"
The Meade 8" SCT optics are excellent and the tripod is rock solid. The scope is about 10 lbs lighter than a Meade LX200 and about $600 easier on the wallet.

The whole assembly looks terrific and is easy to operate with the autostar controller. Compared to the Meade LX200 mount the LX90 mount lacks the same degree of manual control and stability. The LX90 does not lock down as tightly as the LX200 and lacks the fine manual adjustment knobs. I have "nudged" the scope when locked down (screwing up the alignment) and have found it "quite tricky /sticky" to make fine adjustments when pushing the scope around manually like a dob. Another feature I miss is the bubble for leveling the scope built into the LX200 mount.

The LX90 is slick, computerized, easy to use and transport but the mount lacks the solid "craftsmanlike" feel of the LX200 (that extra $600). The price is right but the jury is still out as to the acuracy of the new LX90 mount and autostar combination - CCD /photography? For that reason I'll give it a 10 for the OTA, 10 for the tripod, and an 8 on the mount. An overall 9.

Overall Rating: 9
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Meade LX-90 8"
I'm very happy with my LX-90 for the following reasons:

1.) GoTo is very smooth and accurate. Keypad menus are intuitive.

2.) Tripod/fork mount is rock solid, even on my wood deck.

3.) Optics seem OK to me, though I'm no expert. More experienced users have told me they are fine.

4.) The scope can be manually slewed, so dead batteries won't end the viewing session.

Things I don't like:

1.) Focuser is too stiff

2.) No place to hang the keypad (get out the Velcro)

This is an excellent package. The GoTo system is a pleasure to use and significantly changes (for the better) my observing experience. Though no lightweight, the LX-90 is far more portable than my Celestron C102, a lighter scope but very awkward to move. I recommend the LX-90 without reservation. It delivers more value per dollar than the Celestron Nextstar 8.
Rob Mackie

Overall Rating: 9
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Meade LX-90 8"
Can the previous reviewers please provide their complete email addresses so I can correspond w/ you to get further impressions of the Meade LX90. I am seriously considering purchase of the LX90 but would like more data from personal impressions before going forward w/ the purchase.

Thanks & Regards,
cching@globespan.net

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Meade LX-90 8"
This is a response to the last request, I don't own a LX90 but would be very wary of it. If you are buying a scope for the GOTO then I could recommend it but it is not cut out for astrophotography. Meade even make that plain in the specs. I think the choice should be an LX200 if you are thinking of serious astrophotography. Most personal comments here seem to relate to the GOTO. I own an LX10 and have no trouble finding anything in the sky.

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Meade LX-90 8"
I purchased an LX90 several weeks ago, my third scope. I've also owned an etx90 and a Meade ten inch dob. I'm VERY pleased with the LX! The mount is like a rock, pointing/finding is dead center in the eyepiece, even when using a shorter focal length ep. Tracking is excellent. While it's clear that the LX200 operates to tighter design parameters, the LX90 is simply a great scope for 600 dollars less. If you're serious about astrophotography, particularly using film, you'd be well advised to go with the 200. For any other application, the LX90 is a great scope at a great price. I'm also in a 200 member LX90 users groups (lx90@egroups.com, go to www.egroups.com and search on lx90 to join us) and member comments have been very favorable. There seem to be a few bad diagonals going out, as that is the most common problem upon reciept of a new scope (which is NOT to say that it's common, it's just the most common of rare complaints) The other issue is autostar related. A few scopes have been shipped with 'bad' autostars. Meade's support has been excellent in all cases. Typically they immediately ship a replacement, sometimes telling users to send in the bad one, sometimes telling them to keep them.

Again, a great scope with excellent optics, very serviceable operation, and a great price point for such a full featured scope.

Overall Rating: 10
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Meade LX-90 8"
I'm new to astronomy, so have nothing to compare to the LX-90. However, in reading many comments in user's groups from experienced amateurs, their impressions match mine. This is an excellent piece of equipment - it would certainly be the 'scope of a lifetime' for anyone who would not own multiple scopes. The GOTO is excellent - stars AND PLANETS are in the field of view every time at 240x (of course the accuracy is dependent on the care taken during the alignment procedure). I have left Jupiter in the center of the FOV and gone in the house to wait for scope cooldown. An hour later I go back and it hasn't budged - tracking is EXCELLENT. The optics are great on the stars and planets - I haven't seen much in the faint nebulas and galaxies due to light pollution (San Antonio). Hope to visit clear dark skies this weekend. The mount is very stable (Much more than Meade's ETX-90 and ETX-125EC) - if you have the means, I highly recommend the upgrade. Tripod is the same as the LX-200 - massive and heavy! Can run off 8 C-size batteries mounted INSIDE the mount - very convenient. Started using mine almost 1 month ago, and still on the same set of batteries (at least 10 nights of observation for at least 2 hours).

My only minor complaint is the front dust cover, which can fall off when it's cold - I'm told Meade sends felt pads upon request to provide more friction to correct that.

The scope even looks awesome! And the fact that the Autostar controller's program is upgradeable (you can build your own programming cable or buy one) from Meade's Web site makes it more desirable than a Nexstar or even an LX-200 (which will probably be updated within a year or 2).

I may only be a newbie, but I have to give this scope a 9 (only God is perfect)!

Overall Rating: 9
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Meade LX-90 8"
What a scope! After you train the drive, its was near perfect.Much better than the Nex8 I took back after using this scope. Much more features, better mount, Pretty. The knock back against the Lx90 compared to the Nex8 however is the stiffer focuser. This causing more "shacking" then I think there should be. I was planning the buy a Motofocuser prior and I hope this will make the scope more of a joy. I have a Discovery 8" Eq which is also good, however harder on my back, however if u have no limitations, then either scope is excellent.

Overall Rating: 9
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Meade LX-90 8"
I had a NexStar 8, but wasn't very happy with it. But I'm very happy with my LX90!

The LX90 is very stable, tracks perfectly, slews smoothly. I find Goto accuracy is pretty good if you get version 2.1eK Autostar software. So far, I've just done short exposure photgraphy with good results. I think the LX90 should work fine for long exposure too, but it's too soon to say for sure.

The only drawbacks compared to the NS8 I can think of are the LX90 weighs 20 lbs more (with tripod) and I don't like the finder on the LX90. No right angle viewer, and I actually prefer a red dot finder for a Goto scope. So I bought a $25 red dot finder and dumped the standard one.

Overall Rating: 10
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Meade LX-90 8"
Everything everyone else said here is true, with one or two exceptions. The scope is FINE for astrophotography!! I've seen incredible shots with the LX10, which people consider a less capable scope than the LX90. The LX90's tracking is near-perfect. The only thing is that there's no wedge adapter at the time of this review (yet, it should be out soon). I've done some shorter unguided (30 seconds or so) shots with mine in altaz and the tracking was perfect, and it was very stable. I was using a relatively heavy camera body, and it was a bit windy. Yes, the LX200 is the way to go if you're really just gonna do astrophoto after astrophoto, but I have NO doubt in my mind that lx200 quality photos can be taken on the lx90. If you have any questions feel free to contact me at mlott@mindspring.com

Overall Rating: 10
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Meade LX-90 8"
Can u please e-mail me and tell me what u think of the LX90?

E-mail address jk.seymour@xtra.co.nz

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Meade LX-90 8"
I live in Australia and have just put a deposit down for my LX90. Due to the Aussy dollar, this baby is costing me $3990 to order from the US. I have been reading review after review now for the past 2 months, and the only thing I can say from other people is, the LX90 is better than Nexstar8 (more stable, quieter and more precise tracking, but is not as accurate as the LX200. I hope I have made the right choice.

Chris Michaels
chris@cjmichaels.com

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Meade LX-90 8"
I am an 18-year-old astronomy enthusiast. I have just purchased my third telescope, a Meade LX-90. So far I am very satified with the telescope's performance. The GOTO is awesome and has saved me a lot of time. The tracking is quite accurate and quiet. The optics are certainly of good quality and deliver excellent images. Even from my light polluted site in Chicago, I have observed many deep-sky objects with the help of an Orion SkyGlow Broadband filter. I recommend this telescope to all astronomy enthusiast.

Feel free to contact me at: navidv@juno.com

Overall Rating: 9
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Meade LX-90 8"
Good solid performer, autosatr go to capability seems very reliable, and resolution of deep sky objects ok to good depedent on skies, could always use more aperture. Good solid Mount

Overall Rating: 8
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Meade LX-90 8"
My fourth scope. It's my favourite and ranks up there with the all time easiest to use, quality GOTO telescopes (The ETX90EC & NexStar5 are also good contenders for people looking for more portability).

The PROs are pretty evident. The CONs to watch for are:

Plastic Dust Cover is cheap, falls off in the cold (and sometimes in shipping the origianl scopes). Replace this with a KEndrick Kwick Focus (www.kendrick-ai.com) - unsolicited recommendation or join the petition for a replacement aluminum cover from Meade - send an email to wayne.powell@aerowood.com with your complaint, name & address.

Focuser is stiff compared to the Celestron NexStars (but there are reportedly some fixes).

Be careful upgrading the LX90's firmware, as of v2.2** there have been reports of some problems.

For more information about the LX90, join IMLTUG (The International Meade LX-90 Users Group) at http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/lx90 or watch for the release of www.lx90.com in July, 2001

Wayne Powell
Moderator, IMLTUG
lx90group@home.com

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Meade LX-90 8"
I haven't had ALOT of time to experiment with this scope. I've had it about 1 month. On a star test, the optics are a completely even circle, inside or outside focus. It seems to come out of collimation a bit easier than my older LX6 primier did. The ONLY gripe I have is the centering, but that could very well be me not getting it exactly level, or exactly pointed north when first doing the alignment. Although, even doing it quickly, at least the Autostar DOES put the object within a 26mm view. There is a rubberband-effect that I don't really care for either.

I've heard alot of people complaining about the Autostar updates. I'm still waiting on my cables, so I haven't had a chance to move beyond 2.1Ej yet.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Meade LX-90 8"
I found the Meade LX-90 to be a great telescope for my needs. I like the sturdy feel without breaking your back lugging it around.

I have an obstruction heavy yard planted in a light polluted city but I have been very happy with the clarity and capabilities of the optics. I have not had much luck with the GoTo computer but I imagine this is because everything it wants to align to is behind some tree, roof or cloud. I did find that using a small (USD$1.99) circular level placed on the tripod before mounting the scope helped with the setup and alignment.

I would have given it a 10 but what would I get next? :/

I have just now joined LX90 users group on YahooGroups. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lx90/join

Clear Skies,
gregory gregory@incessant.com

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Meade LX-90 8"
This scope is a con, buy the LX10 and save your money. Its nothing more than a pretend LX200.You have all be duped for god's sake.

Overall Rating: 1
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Meade LX-90 8"
Never used this scope, just trying to offset the rating above. Maybe it's he who has been duped.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
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Meade LX-90 8"
For its intended purpose its a 10..As for the person who rate it a 1...I suspect he wasted his money on an inferior Celestron goto.....and regrets not buying the Lx90...

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
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