The best for visual : LX200R or LX90LNT

[jonathank]

Hey,
1 more message.
I am hesitating between the LX 200R 8" and the LX 90 8''.
My main interest is for visual (maybe astrophotography will interest me later) so which 1 is the best?
Any idea?
Thankssssssssssssssss
And if you get 1 to sell, you can contact me.

[Ric]

Hi Jonathan, personally I find the LX200R a great scope for both visual and photography usage. I am very pleased with mine in all respects, when I use it visually under good seeing conditions it gives very crisp clear views.
While I am no expert in this field I find that the UHTC really does enhance the view.
Sorry I cant comment on the LX 90 as I haven't used one.

Cheers

[stephenmcnelley]

Well, they are both f10, the 200 an RC and the 90 an SCT, I dont own one but i do like the lx200 from personal experience, but at an extra 2K or so over the 90 for the UHTC? its a hip pocket decision.
Bloody nice one too.
For visual i prefer newts.

[Omaroo]

I gather that you have decided against a 12".

[Gama]

Come on guys, its like comparing a Lamborghini Diablo with a toyota Camry !.

Dont even think about the LX90 over the LX200R.
The LX90 has its ability, but the optics of the LX200R is much more superior.
Spot sizes are up to 10 times smaller than the LX90 over its imaging area, has a flatter field and much less coma. The LX200R is a aplanatic SCT and is the latest design for Meade, although the design has been around for many many many years.

[acropolite]

I have the LX90, given the choice, I would buy neither, but would by the 200R OTA only and mount it on an EQ6 (or even HEQ5 for the 8 inch) or similar.

[astropolak]

I would agree, the LX200R is superior by substantial margin. I had LX90 8" and now poses 10"LX200R. I would recommend you looking for second hand LX90 8" or if you have the cash consider 10" LX200R, the 8" LX200r looks over engineered with its huge fork arms holding rather small looking OTA...
I am also under impression that the Meade SCT 10" optics are better than 8" for some reason...(other than the aperture of course)
Joe

[casstony]

Since you are mainly interested in visual, I vote for the used LX90 for reasons of price and portability. Otherwise, a 10" dob with or without argo navis. I have both of these and I still haven't decided which one I like the most. (my dob is not computerised). The fast set-up, freedom from gadgets and extra brightness is nice on the dob - not having a computer between you and the stars lets you get closer to them in a way. Being able to find anything in a flash and tracking with the LX90 is nice but I tend to look at specific objects and miss the stuff in between them. I say buy two scopes :)

[iceman]

My 10" dob has given me far greater visual pleasure than any 8" or 10" LX90 or LX200 I've looked through.

[stephenmcnelley]

Ditto completely.

[casstony]

Never seems to take long for the dob crowd to start white-anting a SCT thread :)

[Omaroo]

Arrr... not to worry - they're just newts! :P

[stephenmcnelley]

Aw, c'mon, if we had no choice we would love and cherish the new age new fangled scopes, hee hee... better than nothing..

Nah, we like sct's too, no doubt about it.

[LX200]

LX200R 8" + a ED Refractor on top :thumbsup:
Best of both worlds

[jonathank]

Thanx mates for all these messages.
It is very interesting to read you and is much helpful in my choice as I posted a new thread 2 days ago for a LX wanted.

:thumbsup: You can continue to send your advices.

[ving]

dont think of it as dobs, think of it as newts. visually i like newts too. I have to admit tho that after looking thru a 8" celestron sct recently i could be almost convinced... almost. visually my 8" newt was better but the size of the OTA is alot bigger.
thats all it came down to.

[Bassnut]

Hi Johnathon

I have an LX90 and LX200R 12" OTA on a G11, the LX200R is the go for serious imaging, but purely for visual, going by what I saw at the IIS star party, for the money, a big dob would be best. If you want goto (I wouldnt do without it ;-), and maybe imaging in the future, then an LX90 would be the best compromise for both at a reasonable price. BTW, I cant tell the diff bettween the "R" and SCT visually.

Im looking to sell my LX90 (non LNT, its usefullnes is questionable;-)), wedge and fancy wooden box for $1500 and im in sydney, so email me if your interested, you can see the LX90 under "old observatory" here.

http://fredsastro.googlepages.com/home

Cheers
Fred

[Bassnut]

Oh, and Ill throw in a homemade electric focuser (automatic with some softwares) and 3.3 and 6.3FRs (Meade). It also has the Peterson dry clutch mod.

Fred

[Ric]

Hi LX200 and welcome to the group, I love the sound of your setup and the ED refractor is similar to the setup I'm aiming for eventually.

Cheers

[g__day]

Also remember the LX200 has a far superior mount to the LX90!

[nightsky]

G'Day Fred,
Wow what a great setup, half your luck :P and a great web page to boot,and terrific photos,seems you got it made :)
Cheers
P.S. Would have loved to buy your "old" observatory ;)

[Bassnut]

Hi Ric

Thanks, I might mention tho, I prefer narrowfield, so the ED80 doesnt get much use although it is an excellent imaging scope. I use an ST80 for guiding on my latest set up due to its lightness (differential flexure is a minor issue) cheapness and very wide field (I NEVER am short of a guide star) modern guiding algorithisms render the usual FL rules between guide and main OTA mute.

I hardly bother with the SBIG internal guide, as its use with narrowband filters is difficult to say the least ;-).

And to G____day, yes the LX200 has a far superior mount, at a price ;-). Essential for imaging (for that, mount is critical), but for visual, not an issue. I have imaged/guided successfully with the LX90, a good comprimise for starter imaging and mainly visual.

Money is always the mitigating factor of cause.

Fred

[Bassnut]

Thanks Night Sky, well its still here if you want it, for nix!, but youd have to collect it ;-).

The site is a freebie via Google , really easy to do, drag and drop, all done though yr brouser, no programming, no apps to download, nothing to save, no money to pay, all done at google, took 10mins to set up. You need to sign up to a free Gmail account in the same name, who cares, never use it hehe.

Fred

[g__day]

Hey Fred - you're in North Ryde too!

Tony at the local Hardware store at Cox's Rd said he had a customer named Fred who was into Astronomy - perhaps its you? I asked Tony to introduce us a while ago. Drop a pm some time I'd love to see your gear cause your astro images seem excellent!

Matthew