meade truss tube dob now available

[h0ughy (David)]

http://www.bintel.com.au/MeadeLightbridge.html

yes guys Bintel has just posted this. Now where is that GS dob????????

here is the meade link http://www.meade.com/lightbridge/

the costs look as though they range from (in US dollars)

STANDARD DELUXE
8" $469 $569
10" $649 $749
12" $949 $1049

I noted that Meade did not mention a 16 inch on the official site!


LIGHTBRIDGE 8", 10" 12" and 16"
Truss Tube Dobsonians
It's not just a big telescope. It's a big telescope that goes anywhere. New LightBridge truss-dobs from Meade take down and set up quickly. So you can take one of these massive windows on the universe out to your favorite dark sky locations with ease. LightBridge dobs give you high quality Meade optics, premium components, and ultra portability - all for about the same price as an ordinary tube dob. So get a LightBridge truss-dob. And prepare to cross the universe..




FEATURES STANDARD DELUXE
Diffraction Limited Optics (BK7 Optical Glass) • •
Meade Optical Coatings • •
2" Crayford-Style machined aluminum focuser with 1.25" adapter • •
Red Dot Finder •
Advanced Red-Dot Finder (includes four reticles) •
Steel RA roller bearings •
24mm Series 4000 Super Plossl Eyepieces •
26MM QX - Wide Angle Eyepiece (70" field-of view) •
Built-in Primary Mirror Cooling Fan • •


• Diffraction Limited Optics (Bk7 optical glass) Meade optics consistently outperform telescopes of similar and larger aperture. Consumers know that “Meade Optics Inside” means that what they see through our telescopes will be views that are detailed, crisp and full of contrast.

• Meade Optical Coatings Aluminum Coatings with magnesium fluoride over coat provides bright images full of detail.

• 2" Crayford-Style Machined Aluminum Focuser With 1.25" Adapter Smooth precise focusing is achieved with this classic design. A unique focus tension knob and focus lock design gives complete control over focus.

• Built-In Primary Mirror Cooling Fan Bring the telescope into thermal equilibrium quickly and efficiently with the battery powered cooling fan. The fan is mounted to the rear of the “vented” primary mirror cell for fast cool down.

• Steel RA Roller Bearings (deluxe model only) Roller bearings make movements smooth and effortless.

• Red Dot Finder (standard model only) Red dot finder makes locating objects quick and easy.

• Advanced Four-Reticle Red Dot Viewfinder (deluxe model only) Four reticles and varying brightness controls allow this deluxe finder to adjust to your observing needs.

• 26mm Series 4000™ Standard Model This is a Premium 4-element 1.25" eyepiece with a stunning 52° Apparent Field of View.

• Super Plössl Eyepiece 26mm QX™ Wide Angle Eyepiece Deluxe model This premium eyepiece has a 2" barrel, and boasts a whopping 70° Apparent Field of View

EASY TO ASSEMBLE


Metal Optical Tube with 2" Focuser Lightweight Aluminium Trusses Metal Optical Tube with Primary Mirror Cell Solid Base
SPECIFICATIONS: 8" STANDARD 10" STANDARD 12" STANDARD 16" STANDARD
Optical Design Newtonian Reflector Newtonian Reflector Newtonian Reflector Newtonian Reflector
Clear Aperture 203mm (8") 254mm (10") 318mm (12") 406mm (16")
Focal Length, Focal Ratio 1016mm f/6 (8")
1270mm f/5 (10") 1524mm f/5 (12") 2030mm f/5 (16")
Primary, Secondary Mirrors Aluminum coated with coated magnesium fluoride over coat. Mounted in adjustable mirror cell. Secondary mirror aluminum coated with magnesium.
Maximum Practical Visual Power 500x 600X 600X 800X
Eyepiece Meade 26mm Super Plossl. Deluxe models are equipped with a Meade 26mm QX Wide Angle Eyepiece
Optical Tube Assembly (OTA) Metal open Truss Design Metal open Truss Design Metal open Truss Design Metal open Truss Design
Materials White with black trim swivel base with Teflon bearings for both altitude and azimuth. Deluxe models are equipped with steel roller bearings for azimuth
Focuser 2" Crayford style focuser
with 1.25" adapter 2" Crayford style focuser
with 1.25" adapter 2" Crayford style focuser
with 1.25" adapter 2" Crayford style focuser
with 1.25" adapter
Cooling Fan Battery Powered Fan Battery Powered Fan Battery Powered Fan Battery Powered Fan
Red Dot Viewfinder Standard Red Dot Viewfinder. Deluxe models are equipped with a deluxe 4-reticle Red Dot ViewFinder

[davidpretorius]

anyone want to buy my 10"???

any prices anywhere????

Originally Posted by davidpretorius

anyone want to buy my 10"???

any prices anywhere????

That pretty easy, just take the US price convert it to AUD then double it for Bintel then add GST.

I'm interested in looking at the 16" though but if it cost the same price can get
a mirror grinded here by one of Oz's pro's then may will probably reconsider.

Already by looking at the photo's it looks like the struts will be the first thing
to replaced. They just dont look all that ridged to me. All in all they do look good.

regards,CS

Just a thought! I wonder how many bugs they managed to put into this one hehehe....

[iceman (Mike)]

hmm that looks really nice..

Competition for the GS versions! The 12" looks like it might be around $2-2.5k, given the price conversions etc. Not cheap compared to under $1k for the tube version from GSO.

Will be interesting to see how the GS ones compare, if they ever do come out.

[dhumpie]

They look great and they may be the first GS or Synta dob prototypes to hit the market paving the way for the 16" later (or should I say earlier next year). More reason for me to wait until I have more upgrade cash My take on it is let the first batch come out and let some other people do the troubleshooting. Then when the dust settles get the scope

But they do look cool nevertheless....

Darren

Originally Posted by iceman

hmm that looks really nice..

Competition for the GS versions! The 12" looks like it might be around $2-2.5k, given the price conversions etc. Not cheap compared to under $1k for the tube version from GSO.

Will be interesting to see how the GS ones compare, if they ever do come out.

You see those Celestron 12" dobs going for 2k, funny I never have seen one
in the field. But hey I've only ever been to 2 star parties. I think it would be
a no brainer going for the 12" GSO.

I wonder if the 16" version possibly has a GSO mirror.

regards,CS

Sorry for the off post, But I did notice Bintel offering Astronimiks 1.25" filters
for $129.00 each in NOV AS&T, that must be a typo!! I know they're showing
the cheaper EUHC for <200mm aperture scopes. But they seem to have
replicated the price on the rest. If it isn't a mistake now is the time to get a
few if you want excellent quality filters

regards,CS

[netwolf]

I thought that a closed tube would be better to combat light pollution.

Regards

[iceman (Mike)]

You can put a light shroud around them to combat stray light.

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by iceman

hmm that looks really nice..

Competition for the GS versions! The 12" looks like it might be around $2-2.5k, given the price conversions etc. Not cheap compared to under $1k for the tube version from GSO.

Will be interesting to see how the GS ones compare, if they ever do come out.

Well Mike, you would have to deduce that they (GS) will come out, and that to head them off from dominating the market with a cheap fold down dob, meade have "invented" there own. Now the interesting bit is if they have gotten GS to manufacture the components and meade assemble in the US. Maybe this is how GS can come up with there own version of this truss design and without breaking copyright market them. I hope that they are cheaper in cost but comparable in quality

[dhumpie]

Wasn't the 12" GS dob mirror american made? I always though they were...I know that the smaller ones (6", 8", 10") are all taiwanese made.

Darren

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by netwolf

I thought that a closed tube would be better to combat light pollution.

Regards

The only light that matters is the light that can reach the eyepiece.

If light is reflected off the primary at some oblique angle that wont make it to the eyepiece who cares? There are some considerations like light comming in from underneath the secondary cage and illuminating the inside and light scatter from dirt on the primary.
Other reasons for having a shroud is keeping dew and dust off the primary, and preventing thermals from body heat entering the light path.

[xstream (John)]

The 16" would certainly be worth thinking about as an alternative to building my own, depending on the mirror.

[h0ughy (David)]

OK, some more goss.

I just spoke with Mike from Bintel. All advice and information gained by twisting Mike's arm until he gave up his secrets are purely speculative as the information Broke yesterday as news. Yes Meade are looking at a 16" but when they will come out with the goods ia anyones guess. The other sizes would be due to hit our shores early next year. Now for the oh no bit, there must have been a deal between GS and Meade, where by Meade have exclusive rights to the design, so that means there will not be a GS version anytime soon. So with respects to my other thread on the 16" GS, that may answer the question of its impending arrival.

It seems to have been the Meade all along???

Now save your pennies Ladies and gentlemen, and wait for day to draw near.........

That fits with what I have known all along is that GS were making these truss dob
for a US firm. Maybe it's a lil harder than first thought to mass produce a 16" mirror.
Or maybe they needed to redisign the box to take a 16" and found it wasn't cost
effective... who knows


regards,CS

[Starkler (Geoff)]

I wonder if Lee Andrews knows anymore about this?
C'mon Ken, get on the phone to your mate

Yeah!!! Ken!

See if Lee will source the 16" mirrors, hell I'll have a go at building one.

regards,CS

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by Starkler

I wonder if Lee Andrews knows anymore about this?
C'mon Ken, get on the phone to your mate

I sent lee the link to this thread!!!!

Originally Posted by h0ughy

OK, some more goss.

I just spoke with Mike from Bintel. All advice and information gained by twisting Mike's arm until he gave up his secrets are purely speculative as the information Broke yesterday as news.

Now save your pennies Ladies and gentlemen, and wait for day to draw near.........

Did you manage to twist his arm enough to get rough pricing in AUD$?

regards,CS