C9.25 vs Meade 10"

[Ausrock (Chris)]

What difference would I reasonably expect to find between a late model Celestron 9.25 XLT and a Meade 10" UHTC. The Meade comes complete with fork mount, the C9.25 is OTA only which means additional expense for a mount, etc.

Any advice appreciated.

Cheers.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

I used the 10" Lx 200 for many years - good scope, good performance.
In the end I de-forked and put the OTA on a NEQ6pro...

I now have a C9.25, again on the NEQ6pro mount.
So, if the 10" is a Lx200 series then you will be very happy with it. Bare in mind that there are limitations using it in Alt-Az....then you need the added $$$ for the wedge.
The C9.25 is much lighter, easier to lift and move around and, yes, I'll admit it, comes with less mirror slop than the Meade(s). Not much difference in actual performance compared with the 10".
I sold the 8" Lx, the 10" Lx and now selling the 12" Lx......my wife bought me a C11 (!!!!) - maybe that say's something.
HTH

[BlackWidow (Mardy)]

I own an LX200 on a wedge and love it. I have also owned a Celestron scope but not like what you are looking at. I will never purchase a Meade again as it is very very difficult to get parts ans service support for them. I have not had the same problem with Celestron. It took 12 months via Meade to replace my de-rotator replaced, and 18 months to get a replacement handbox for my meade. Got it last week from OPT in the USA.


A real shame as the LX200 is a nice scope. Just my experience, others I am sure will ofer more Tech advice



Regards
Mardy

[Poita (Peter)]

Is the meade the ACF version or the standard model 10"?

[Ausrock (Chris)]

Thanks for the comments/opinions, I should have responded before. Anyways, I made my decision and took the plunge on a C9.25 SCT OTA which should have touched down in Oz by now after a trip across the Pacific.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Weight , mate the Meade is a nice scope , but real HEAVY! , whereas the Celestron is a light weight with only a slight disadvantage in light gathering , I have friends with both, and they are both awsome scopes and the 9.25 is actually lighter than another mates 8 inch LX90 .
Brian.

Originally Posted by Ausrock

What difference would I reasonably expect to find between a late model Celestron 9.25 XLT and a Meade 10" UHTC. The Meade comes complete with fork mount, the C9.25 is OTA only which means additional expense for a mount, etc.

Any advice appreciated.

Cheers.

[Ausrock (Chris)]

Thanks Brian, the weight difference is something I picked up on and finally influenced me, hence the recently arrived C9.25 OTA is currently sitting in the studio with me while I attempt to find a second hand EQ-6 mount............I think I'll find rocking horse crap first

I've numerous other questions so will start new threads as necessary.

ChrisO

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Chris I am a Kiwi working , and loving it over here , and I keep an eye on the NZ acution site 'Trade Me' , just google it .
open the 'photography and optical' section , then go to ' binoculars and telescopes'
In the telescope section the other night was an EQ6 non goto for NZ $1400 thats about $1100 au , the freight would be about the exchange , I know as I got a Zeiss scope from trade me earlier this year and I had it here in Darwin in 6 days from Tauranga , at only a little over the exchange .
Have a look the kiwi $ is very down at the moment .
Brian.

[Ausrock (Chris)]

Brian, thanks for the tip off, the catch is that a new EQ6Pro GoTo can be purchased for $1500. I was looking at the Orion equivalent s/hand in the US for approx., $900AU but the shipping quote was $540........... It really does pay to do some research before jumping in . I'm currently selling of stuff that I've hung on to for various reasons to finance a >30 year wait to indulge my interest in astronomy and I suspect I'll end up buying new.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Cool Chris , I have an HEQ5 ( admittedly using a WO hard wood HD tripod ) under my 6 inch refractor and it holds it easily , the 9.25 of yours is probably lighter , have you considered one of those ?

Brian.

[Ausrock (Chris)]

Yep, I have considered an HEQ but for very little more $$$ the EQ-6 can be had which has an advertised load rating 5 or 6 kg above the HEQ. Now admittedly, I haven't seen either mount in the flesh so apart from not knowing what the actual physical differences are, I have to rely on what's been written and to a point "read between the lines"

[Poita (Peter)]

You can easily get a 2nd hand EQ6 for the price of the HEQ5, otherwise just pay the extra for the EQ6, much sturdier mount and the few hundred will be forgotten before long, but your satisfaction and future proofing will be remembered far longer.

[DJ N]

Originally Posted by Poita

You can easily get a 2nd hand EQ6 for the price of the HEQ5, otherwise just pay the extra for the EQ6, much sturdier mount and the few hundred will be forgotten before long, but your satisfaction and future proofing will be remembered far longer.

I have to agree. Within a year of purchasing a HEQ5 Pro I had updated to the EQ6 Pro. Not really that much bigger/heavier, but a lot more sturdier!!

Cheers,

Daniel

[traveller (Bo)]

Originally Posted by Ausrock

Brian, thanks for the tip off, the catch is that a new EQ6Pro GoTo can be purchased for $1500. I was looking at the Orion equivalent s/hand in the US for approx., $900AU but the shipping quote was $540............

Hi Chris, which company did you get the quote from? I recently shipped a C8 in a Pelican case and a tripod from US for $335 US. The company I used is IPS Parcel (they use FedEx, which you can track on line).
Cheers,
Bo

[Ausrock (Chris)]

Bo,

I'm not sure of who the seller obtained the quote from, anyways, he has since sold the mount locally in the US so it's not an issue.

Cheers