Celestron EdgeHD vs Meade LX-200-ACF

[chrisc (Chris)]

Hi everyone,

Next stupid question:

Are the optical properties of the Celestron Edge SCT scopes and Meade's LX-200-ACF series essentially the same, in terms of reduction of coma / flat field, etc.?

How significant is the difference between a lower-end SCT, say a Celestron C8, and one of the above instruments?

(Looking to buy an 8" SCT with focal length reducer to toss on a HEQ5-Pro for both visual and imaging duties)

LX-200-ACF 8" locally for $2,100
C8 locally for $1,500

Worth the $600 difference?

Cheers,
Chris

[DavidTrap (David)]

You can't use a meade focal reducer on the ACF scopes. There may be an Astrophysics one that works, but the details are difficult to work out.

DT

[mch62 (Mark)]

Celestrons are HyperStar compatable so you can image at 400mm F2
http://www.hyperstarimaging.com/index.php

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by chrisc

Are the optical properties of the Celestron Edge SCT scopes and Meade's LX-200-ACF series essentially the same, in terms of reduction of coma / flat field, etc.?

How significant is the difference between a lower-end SCT, say a Celestron C8, and one of the above instruments?

Celestron have both spherical primary and secondary. They have a fair bit of coma. The HD range has the same optics but an added doublet inside the baffle tube to correct the field.

So when you remove the secondary you can use the same hyperstar as the non HD range.

The Meade has an hyperbolic secondary from what I hear to deal with coma. I never used or looked into one but I hear they're very good. I don't know if there is an hyperstar available for the Meade SCTs.

Celestron have good optics regardless of the aperture, whether you look at a C8 or C14.

[chrisc (Chris)]

Thanks for the feedback, guys.

BinTel reckon they have a Meade FL reducer to fit the LX-200-ACF for $169. And the OTA itself for $2,100, but without a finderscope.

Or I can bundle a C8 OTA, with finderscope, plus green laser & bracket, plus FL reducer for $1,300 AUD delivered. But without warranty, as it would be coming from the USA.

Andrews Comms has the C8 OTA with finderscope, but without FL reducer or laser, for $1,500.

Tempted to go the overseas C8 option.

Cheers,
Chris

[mch62 (Mark)]

You can buy an EDGE HD 8 OTA in the States for $1300 US or the cheapest here in Oz $3000 Au.
The Ozzy $ must have taken a tumble again

[chrisc (Chris)]

Actually the AUD is at about 92.4 US cents at the moment, which isn't too bad.

The difference in price stems from a combination of import duty imposed by the government, which the retailers have to pay, and the fact that the relatively very small market out here (20 million Aussies versus something like 300 million Americans) which "forces" them to grossly inflate prices in order to make stocking the items a viable proposition in the first place.

This tends to mean that for "specialty" items that 95% of the population don't buy, e.g. telescopes, x-country ski gear, etc., local prices will typically be between 50% and 100% higher than the price in the US or UK.

American retailers have contractual obligations to Celestron, Meade, etc., to NOT sell directly to overseas customers for this very reason... in order to protect the retailers out here. And while one can get around that (having the American retailer ship to a US address, and then having the item forwarded on to Australia) Celestron in particular accommodate that in their warranty restrictions... if one buys Celestron equipment in this way, it is expressly NOT covered by the usual warranty.

I am keen to support local businesses, however when the price difference approaches 100% for an item that is already costing >$1,000, I'm afraid self-interest wins out.

Chris