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Hi
I got Meade ETX-105 for about 3 years now and I’m quite happy with it. I use it for astrophotography with frame integrating camera with maximum exposure time 2.56 sec. Then I stack the images. For this short exposure period scope tracking is satisfactory. Go To accuracy is good if the scope is set up properly and excellent if connected to computer and used with software like SkyMap. Manual supplied with the scope is poor and doesn’t explain set up procedure very well. But once you get used to it scope is easy to set up and operate.
Advantage:
Reasonably portable.
Easy to operate
Good optics
Long focus travel. 5 different cameras I used with it all reached focus. Did not try it with DSLR. I haven’t got one
Good Go To
Reasonable tracking for short exposure
Good for shorter focal length lenses in piggy back style. I use it with 50 and 125mm
No collimating required
Not expensive.
Disadvantages:
If camera is mounted in prime focus position maximum usable altitude is about 45 degrees before camera hits the mount.
If camera is mounted in eyepiece position, finder scope is difficult to use.
It takes while before the scope cools down.
Large gears backlash, fiddly to adjust to acceptable level.
F14 is quite slow for dim objects.
If used with focal reducer at prime focus, I get bad reflection from bright stars. (Mogg reducer)
It suits me as inexpensive take anywhere scope. Your requirement may be different. If you can, try one before you buy it.
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