Meade LX-10 8"

Ratings:Top:Astronomy:Equipment Reviews:Telescope Reviews:Meade LX-10 8"

 Info  Votes  Messages  More Stats  Up One Level
Vote
Page 1 of 2 Next

Meade LX-10 8"
Good basic scope. Seems a little light on the fork mount (tends to vibrate easily). Works better with a upgraded eyepiece (Plossl).

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37390

Meade LX-10 8"
bad optics ,bad focus mechanism,big periodic error
you can't have long exposure photography.

Overall Rating: 4
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37391

Meade LX-10 8"
Excellent value for the more than casual observer. The tripod is good, the mount is sturdy. The wedge works fine. The drive system is reliable although not well suited for high level ccd imaging. The OTA is the same as used in the more expensive models.

All in all a good choice for those wanting a reasonably priced instrument for casual viewing. The addition of the magellan 1 gives the novice the ability to begin observing hard to find objects with relative ease.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37393

Meade LX-10 8"
This is a really good scope at a very good price. Be aware that some collimation may be required, but once properly collimated the views are stunning. This scope is allways a favorite at Star Parties.

Mount- A very good comprimise between weight and strength. The entire unit only weighs 49 lbs, but exibits very little vibration, even at high magnifications. Very easy to tote around, allways the first scope setup at Star Parties, and the quickest packed up for return home. Not suitable for advanced photograpy without tedious manual corrections.

OTA- Same as the LX-50, and LX-200. Need I say more?

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37395

Meade LX-10 8"
qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37396

Meade LX-10 8"
Not so hot, you gets what you pays for I guess. OK when seeing is very good, else no more than average. Doesn't track objects in RA very well. On the other hand lightweight and very portable.

Overall Rating: 5
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37397

Meade LX-10 8"
Good scope for the price, mount greatly improved if dry sand is used to fill the hollow tripod legs.

probably the best price point to get the most bang for buck but Celestrons of similar price are equally good. All in all it may not be perfect (what is?) but you won't go far wrong with this scope.

For astrophotography its not much good but I wouldn't expect it to be from a scope that costs the same as a decent CCD setup.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37398

Meade LX-10 8"
Great scope for general observing. Excellent optics (shipped with a super plossl 4000 26 mm)! Reported to be less sturdy than LX50, but mine behaves very well on calm days. However, strong gusts of wind will effect viewing. Astrophotography is probably more demanding than in LX200 or LX50, but possible. The good side of a less massive mount is that it is very portable and easy to set up. Tracking is decent after performing a quick primitive polar alignment. No PEC, so long time exposures need more attention than using a more expensive LX200 (LX 50 has no PEC either). I would get the Deluxe version which has a 8x50 scope and dec motor. Plus you have an option to get the adjustable field tripod for LX50/200.
All in all, a great value for money!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37399

Meade LX-10 8"
For observation this scope is pretty good. The optics are great, same as the LX50 and LX200, but the motor drive only runs at 2x. Don't get this scope without the DEC motor. You really have to manually slew for stuff cuz 2x is barely visible movement. For that matter, spring for the deluxe version of this scope, it comes with the 26mm Plossl eyepiece, the 8x50mm finder, and the dec motor- definitely worth the difference. Also, don't buy the fixed-height tripod they recommend, spring for the variable-height one that they sell with the LX50-- who'se ever heard of a flat surface that needs no adjustment? You'll need to prop something under the legs to adjust the fixed-height tripod making it even less sturdy.

For astrophotography, forget this scope. It has no PEC like the LX50, it has a weak mount, cheaper than the LX50/200, and doesn't even come with DEC motor standard, which you need to do correction on exposures, because, let's face it, you're not gonna get a perfect alignment with a scope like this. I can't believe that Meade has the nerve to mention photography in the ads for this scope.

But all in all, this scope is worth the money, but to be honest, I'd look into one of the newer eq mount 8" SC scopes if you're looking at the LX10.


Overall Rating: 7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37400

Meade LX-10 8"
This was my second scope and is perfect for the serious beginner. The optics are excellent. The mount was a tad on the lightweight side but very reasonable considering the cost. Easy to set up and the beginner can add accessories like a Dec motor and Magellan DSC as he grows into the hobby.

I would suggest moving up to a LX-50 or LX-200 before planning any serious astrophotography.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37401

Meade LX-10 8"
Mount lightweight & fairly sturdy. Portable unit. I have the adjustable tripod, so no problems even under moderately windy conditions. Optics fair to good for visual applications on axis. Of axis tends to bring in quite a bit of asigmatism. Images not very bright, not very contrasty. Newtonians at same magnification far out-perform the SCT for visual apps. The 6x30 finder is inadequate. My particular unit's RA motor is accurate even with rough polar alignment. I find if I can use the scope on a flat, grassy surface, vibrations dempen out in under two seconds, on concrete its an unacceptable 5-6 seconds. Image shift on focuser is TERRIBLE. If you can get a JMI NGF-S motofocus....do it! For deep-sky I recommend using an f/6.3 focal reducer & wide angle eyepieces, otherwise at f/10 you are completely boxed in. If you want to use the scope for photgraphy, forget the LX 10 & get at least the LX 50. By the time you add the adjustable tripod, dec. motor & an acceptable finder to the LX 10, you have almost as much invested as you would have with the LX 50. But no interfaces, and a less strudy mount.

Overall Rating: 6
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37402

Meade LX-10 8"
IF you are looking for a moderate aperture 8" cat, and you do not have a lot of money to drop on a scope, the LX-10 is a great buy. The standard fork and wedge is lighter than the LX50 - 200 fork and wedge and is easier to handle and set up. With the adjustable tripod this is a stable platform for many enjoyable viewing sessions. The optics in the LX-10 I received are excellent. Very good contrast and images are very pleasing. Very good platform for piggy-back photography, but not acceptable for un-attended or long exposure prime focus photography. This is not a bells and whistles scope, but when mated with the adjustable tripod and with the addition of the dec motor, it should provide many years of enjoyable service.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37403

Meade LX-10 8"
This is a great scope for the serious beginner. The optics are excellent. The mount is very sturdy for general use;however,I have not tried it for astrophotogrophy yet. The LX10 is also very portable and easy to set up. I would suggest a soft case for your optics to keep it portable. I have small two door BMW and this makes it easier lay the scope on the back seat, I put the tripod in the trunk. You will need a bigger finder scope and some kind of dew sheild for the LX10,the constant dew on the optics and the little 6x30 finder scope will drive you nuts fast. Sure there are better scopes around, but there is such a huge jump in price to go to the next level of optics larger than an 8"Schmidt,so for the serious beginner it is impossible to beat the LX10.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37404

Meade LX-10 8"
For use as a "big portable" load-and-go it's a fine scope. Get the Adjusible feild tripod, however, and go for the 50mm finder. Or skip the finder and get a good RA finder later (why Meade does not offer a RA finder on this class of scope?)

It's not a LX50 or LX200, but costs a lot less....

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37405

Meade LX-10 8"
I have been very impressed with this scope. For the price of $995, I think it is a good deal. The motor tracking is good and the scope is simple and easy to use. I was never a fan of the fully computerized scopes. Image quality is excellent especially for a SCT.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37406

Meade LX-10 8"
Optics are really good on my LX-10. Brightness is good. Good for planets and deep-sky too. The motor is not so hot. It has some periodic error. The mount is good, but it could be more stable too. However, it's the most afordable 8" SCT in the market.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37407

Meade LX-10 8"
Good scope for observing. Optics are very good but as everyone else has said the tripod/mount/wedge is not the most solid in the world. Lots of vibrations. Even manually focusing causes vibrations that last for a second or two. If you plan to do any serious astrophotography then upgrade to the LX50,LX200 or maybe the new upcoming LX90 (that's my plan). Also I HIGHLY recommend getting the adjustable height tripod. Your back will thank you because looking at anything above about 45 degree off of the horizon puts the eyepiece is a very ackward low position and requires practically laying on the ground.
However,I am pleased with my purchase and they are a good buy. If your really serious about taking pictures (other than piggy-back) then look at a more sturdy model though; if you're not interested in taking photos and you can do w/o tracking then go with a dob (I suggest the Orion XT8).

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37408

Meade LX-10 8"
Had the LX10 for about 8 months now and I am extremely pleased with it.The optics have been excellent on stellar images and focus on planetary views have been stunning with the supplied super plossl eyepiece.The mount is a great balance of rigidity and weight.If you are considering a portable scope this is it, at 49 pounds it is the limit that I would feel happy carrying in and out of the car or from house to garden.If you are after visual observations only, remember this is the same optical assembly as the LX200.I find the mount very stable at over x200 magnification but do agree the an electric focuser would greatly improve matters.With the market saturated with computerized scopes many write off the LX10 for astrophotography when this is simply not the case.There are lots of great photos out there taken with it.Remember 15 years ago the popular astronomy magazines were filled with images taken using scopes with drives less effective than the LX10 and on mounts less rigid.Be aware you must purchase the DEC drive and hand controller together with some form of off axis guider.There seems to be a great disparity between users who find the RA drive very inaccurate and those like me who find it pretty good.This either points to inaccurate polar alignment or Meade quality control in factory calibration.If the latter is the case then I would advise a visit to your local dealer,this goes for the collimation problems experienced by some.(learn to collimate yourself it's not too difficult).Go for the 10x50 finder.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37410

Meade LX-10 8"
It is a good scope for the price. I opted to get the Magellan I and ran into a problem in that the declination encoder shaft was threaded with a course thread, (had to have it re-threaded to fine) and once all was installed found that you are unable to rotate the OTA into the fork assembley! The Magellan system itself works great but when you see all the plastic you have to wonder how long it will last. The price for the Magellan it out of sight, $585 CDN not including taxes.
Fred / Goose Bay NFLD

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37411

Meade LX-10 8"
The LX10 is a good scope for the price. I opted to purchase the Magellan I computer control system and ran into a few problems during installation and after. The declination encoder shaft came with a course thread, (had to rethread to fine) and after all was installed found that you are unable to rotate the OTA into the fork assembley! This of course means the OTA is more vunerable to damage while transporting. The Magellan is mostly plastic so you do wonder how long it will last. It does, however, work great but at the price of $585 CDN not including taxes Meade is putting it out of reach of a lot of amateurs who if they want one will go to other systems such as Orions or do up a system themselves.
Fred / Goose Bay,Newfoundland

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=37412

Page 1 of 2 Next

[Click Here to Login]
Don't have a login? Register!

Checking Your Telescope
Starting out in Amateur Astronomy
 
How to use This Site
Why Register?
[Get rid of the ads!]
Voting Guide