Meade ETX 125

[andyroo]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a second had one of these telescopes. They are being phased out by Meade for some reason, I think you can still get them online from some stores.

Willing to pay a fair price, don't mind too much if it is damaged cosmetically, as long as function wise it is all ok. I live in rural NSW (Leeton 2705) so the closer you are to me the better, but I wouldn't mind driving a few hours (melb or canberra or even Syd) to get it to make sure it was sent ok.

Also the only accessories I would need is eyepieces if it needs them ( noob) and also a T mount for DSLR or whatever, but if there is any others let me know. Either PM or in the thread.

Thanks, Andrew

[MikeyB]

Hi, Andy.

The ETX 125 is a great little observational scope - very sharp and the goto is a joy to use if it's working properly. That said, the aperture is limited, so everything is a bit dim and if you have thoughts of astrophotography, an ETX is not a good place to start. The mount will struggle with the extra weight and the long focal length and alt-az mount will be tough to deal with. Only short exposures are possible - I'd suggest you seek further advice before making a decision.

Also, be aware that ETX's have been around for about 15 years - many are getting old and tired now. They were a miracle in their day and the optics can be excellent, but check carefully how one that you choose is working now, as spares will be extinct soon.

Hope this helps you, even if it isn't what you wanted to hear!

[andyroo]

Hi,

Ok thanks for the tip, and yeah I would be hoping to use my DSLR quite a bit. I've also been looking at the celestron nexstar 6SE or 4SE.

http://www.celestron.com/astronomy/telescopes/celestron-nexstar-6se.html

or

http://www.celestron.com/astronomy/telescopes/celestron-nexstar-4se.html

The 4SE is WAY cheaper in AUS, it's a shame because for the same price as a 4se I could get a 6SE in america.

I'm open to any suggestions/recommendations for diff brands/types of telescopes. I just really want the auto "go to" feature, plus the best for using with a DSLR up to around say $1500?