Features:
- Includes AutoStar controller and deluxe field tripod
- 4-inch aperture
- Electronic controller for slew speeds and built-in clock drive
- Maksutov meniscus corrector lens of Grade-A BK7 optical glass
- Includes a Meade Series 4000 Super Plvssl 26 millimeter eyepiece for 48 times magnification
Description:
The ETX105EC is the newest model in Meade's popular ETX series. Independent reviewers have consistently praised the ETX Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes for their excellent optics but questioned some of the ergonomic features, especially the finder scope. The optics fully live up to the hype, and the ergonomic problems can generally be surmounted with the right eyepiece. How good are the optics? In a word, superb. On one of those rare winter nights with perfect viewing conditions, the included Autostar computer's guided tour of "tonight's best" showed me one beautiful view after another. The Double Cluster in Perseus showed off the subtle colors of its red, yellow, and blue-white stars. The faint glow of NGC 2158 was plainly visible just west of colorful star cluster M35. With a magnification of 150X, the Cassini division in Saturn's rings was obvious all the way around Saturn, as were cloud bands and the dark polar region on the planet itself. When I boosted the power to 200X, the stars in the heart of M42, Orion's trapezium, were a beautiful sight. I saw little diffraction rings around the four brighter stars, and the fifth star "E" was glimmering on the edge of visibility. The model 884 tripod is a big improvement over the model 883 that was designed for the original ETX90. I especially like the spring loaded captive mounting screws that pop into place when you get the base lined up with the mounting holes. The tripod comfortably handled the ETX105 in the straight up Alt/Az position. It's probably a little light though if you want to use an equatorial alignment for photography. The Autostar controller delivered excellent pointing accuracy. My usual set up routine starts with centering Polaris in the scope, then leveling the optical tube. This automatically sets the telescope's 'home position' within one degree of true North and level. After a careful setup the other night, the 'easy align' routine put the first alignment star, Rigel, inside the field of view. And the second star, Procyon, was just outside the edge of the field. Easy as pie. (Nightwatch by Terence Dickinson will introduce you to these brighter stars by name.) Even without precise alignment to North, the alignment stars were close enough that I had no trouble with the setup. The guided tour still placed every object but Saturn in the low power field of view, and Saturn was just outside the field. Now about those ergonomics. The finder scope is a problem because it is so close to the eyepiece that my nose gets in the way when I use eyepieces smaller then the included 26mm Super Plossl. If you're inclined to peer through the eyepiece with your left eye, it may not be an issue. I'm right eye dominant, so I can't use smaller eyepieces for higher magnification. I got around this problem by using my Celestron Ultima 2X barlow to raise the eyepiece for high power viewing. The Ultima barlow introduces a little extra reflection on bright objects, but the views are still fabulous. If I were to spring for just one more good eyepiece to go with this telescope I'd try an Orion 10.5mm Lanthanum. About 150X seems to be a sweet spot with this scope, a magnification that offers great views of the planets without the diffraction rings around stars becoming very noticeable. The other well known ergonomic issue is the small and hard to reach focus knob. Meade would be happy to sell you a #1244 Electric Focuser. I found a third party Flex Focus adapter worked just fine. --Jeff Phillips Pros: - Superb optics
- Autostar computer
- Small and portable
Cons: - The finder is too close to the eyepiece
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