Questions on the ETX125 and C8

[Peter W]

Hi there,
This is an ask for those who are observing with an ETX125 or a C8. I have damaged my back recently, so trying to get my large Unitron refractor out for observing has become impossible. I am thinking of purchasing either an ETX125 or an older Celestron C8. What is the ETX like on double stars and planetary compared to a C8? I am guessing the longer F ration would put the ETX a little in front than the C8 though the aperture difference does worry me. I am not interested in photography so it has always been double stars, lunar and planetary for me. Any thoughts folks?
Regards
Peter W

[[1ponders]]

Peter have you thought about a good sized truss dob and put a handle and wheel on each side. You can move it around like a wheel barrow then and still have all the aperture and focal length you desire. ;)

[tnott]

Hi Peter,

I have an ETX 125 as well as my 16" Tridob. The Etx stays on it's tripod and I just pick the whole lot up and take outside at a moments notice to do quick observing at home. I don't think you could do that with a C8.

The optics are very, very sharp and is excellent on the Moon, planets and doubles. I also can see a surprising amount of detail in DSOs too.

Check out Weasner's ETX site:

http://www.weasner.com/etx/menu.html

There are also guides for observing with the scope as well:
http://www.weasner.com/etx/ref_guides/toc.html

Good Luck.

[marki]

I love the optics on my little ETX, very sharp with lots of contrast. Tracking can be a bit suspect at times but they are very light and easy to carry around.

[tnott]

This was the review by Dr. Clay Sherrod that originally convinced me to buy the ETX125 as my first "real" scope.

http://www.weasner.com/etx/guests/guest_125ec_comments.html

BTW-I use a Meade 24.5 SWA(80X), 13mm (145X) and 9mm (210X) T5 Naglers on this scope and they are a fabulous. Even though the ETX is designed for 1&1/4" eyepieces only, I also use a Seibert 2 inch eyepiece adapter and the Seibert 36mm Observatory series eyepiece for wide field views (1.2 degrees true field of view). See review:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=47,342,0,0,1,0


These eyepieces are also used in my F4.9 16" scope - but if you are just using them on the ETX at F15 then the cheaper widefields will work just fine.