In october of last year, I outlaid what was left of a broken marriage..and purchased a Meade lx90 10".
I had been interested in astronomy from a very young age, and although had owned a number of "telescope shaped devices" had never taken my telescope ownership very seriously.
Things were going to change now!!!.. I owned a MEADE!!! I was so happy, having a desire for Photography as well, I decided to mix the two and get into Astrophotography, this meant, of course, purchasing a wedge and all the other little nicknaks and doowhickies that would allow me to get some nice images.
If I knew then...what I know now... I would have saved myself 12 months of heartache!
(dont worry...this story has a point...and a question.. skip to the bottom if Im boring you..)
Within the first 6 months of purchase, the scope went back to its place of purchase 6 times, we had 3 faulty RA motors, one clutch replacement, and one DEC motor replacement.. not to mention all the visits just to find all the problems as well as countless hours on the internet in yahoo groups and on email back and forth trying to work out if there was something I was doing wrong... there wasnt. As far as I am concerned, I got a lemon. ( at last count.. its been back to be repaired 8 times..each time with LEGITIMATE faults.)
Recently..and after 2 months of not using my scope, ( it wasnt fun anymore, every time I got it out, it had another issue or problem..and I was losing interest at a rate of knots), I decided to buy a NEQ6 to photograph through my ED80, and was plesantly surprised that although the hand controller isnt anywhere near as operatable as the Meade, everything else is absolutely wonderful. I then added a B250 10" ota to my setup..and was so pleased that I could photograph without the pain of the set up of the Meade, without the PEC problems of the Meade, without the innaccurate slewing of the Meade...actually...without the Meade altogether!
(its coming...hold your horses)
So I took my Meade in for its final repair... I swore to myself that I was not going to cart this telescope in for warranty repairs ever again, if it couldnt be fixed, I was done with it.
Well, last night I got it out...set it all up and guess what?... MORE PROBLEMS!!! Ok, some of the SAME problems... but more of them...and I am over it... done... FIN!
I am thinking... I love the optics in the Meade, its a beautiful scope to look through, and I would love to photograph through it. (I am really passionate about the photography side of this hobby)... but this sucker is NEVER going to be able to be set up for astrophotography as it is...
So...
1. should I remove the Meade from its fork assembly, and put it on my EQ6... and thus be able to photograph through it, but sacrifice the ease of viewing through it when it is set up "as intended"?
(this is the way Im leaning... I can sell the wedge easily enough, and can hang on to the fork assembly and maybe one day..when Im old and have forgotten what a terrible experience this was..I could put it back together.)
2. should I sell the whole LX90 and maybe buy a reasonable sized Dob to view through?
3. Gently Lay the LX90 on its side on the ground...and take to it with a sledge hammer?
I am interested to hear your thoughts and opinions on this( especially if you have another option for me to consider)...unless your thoughts are that I should chose my 3rd option...I was only joking.. I wouldnt want to risk damaging a perfectly good sledge hammer!
