LX90

From: Chris Olsson (olsson@globalnet.co.uk)
Date: Tue Aug 21 2001 - 02:05:38 PDT

  • Next message: Randy John: "ISS in a telescope"

    In an earlier thread, Paul Gabriel asked:
    >is anyone using a Meade 8" LX90?
    
    A colleague of mine has recently purchased one, so I asked him what his opinion
    of it is.
    
    He acquired it as a replacement for his 10" f6.3 LX200 which was destroyed and
    for which he received rather little compensation from his insurers.  For
    domestic peace, he chose not to spend the amount it would have cost him to
    replace the 10" with a 12", as he first contempleted, but he is in fact quite
    pleased with some aspects of the 8" LX90.
    
    He only recently bought the thing and, living at a high Latitude, he has only
    just begun to use it.  As he puts it, "Up here Astronomical dusk doesn't start
    until half-past August"!
    
    What  he li,kes most about the LX90 is that it is extremely quick to set up and
    start observing with.  He lives in a mountainous area which has very unreliable
    weather, so he has to be prepared to take advantage of brief gaps between rain
    and snow showers. The 8" being considerably easier to lift and shift than the
    10", he doesn't bother to de-rig it from the tripod between observing
    sessions.  He simply takes the whole assembly out into the garden, switches on,
    does the rapid align, and starts observing within well under a minute.  The
    other thing which he loves about the LX90 is the self-contained powersupply. 
    He no longer has to worry about setting up power cables, together with the
    associated tripping hazard, etc.
    
    There are a few things which he dislikes, especially when trying to track
    satellites.  He had modified the motor drive system on his LX200 to make it go
    faster and, until the warranty period on his new 'scope expires, he will delay
    upgrading the rather slow motor system on the LX90.  He says that it is not
    much good at keeping up with what he calls the "fast movers" and for that
    reason he is looking forward to modifying the motor system.  Bear in mind that
    he is not only comparing it to the LX200 which is faster anyway, but he is also
    comparing it to his modified LX200 which was very fast indeed.
    
    He has not replaced his Pictor CCD, so he has not yet run into the problem, but
    he says that the forks on the LX90 are smaller than the LX200 and that he
    reckons that the bulk of a focal reducer and a camera on the "blunt" end will
    preclude the use of the 'scope for high altitude angles.  Of course he could
    get around this limitation by using an equatorial mount, but as yet he has not
    purchased any extras for his new 'scope.
    
    His only optical gripe is that he would have preferred an f6.3 to the f10 which
    he bought.  Otherwise, the LX90 is optically identical to the LX200, but
    cheaper to buy and easier to use.
    
    All in all, his verdict is that he is pleased with the LX90.  He says it is
    good value for money and is a worthy successor to his old LX200.
    
    
    Cheers,       Chris Olsson
    
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