what do you know and think about the LXD55 tripod and mounts?

[h0ughy]

OK,

fishing for a bit of information from those with knowledge on this site. So that means I should get quite a few answers then :rofl: :P Basically all I would be doing is useing a camera on it, a PST and sometime in the future putting a 120 or 105 scope on it? :D

[slice of heaven]

More details houghy ,
Why the Meade,whats your budget, and what do you expect it to do.

[h0ughy]

Slice,

I want to take some basic/advanced astro photo's with my camera mounted, mount my PST to take images, with the autostar, setup and track comets for photography etc. Track and take phtotos of the ISS and Hubble while it is still up there and have some setup a little more portable than the 12" SCT. Maybe later put a little 120 or 150mm refractor on it or a 8" sct when the 12 is putin an observatory.

[seeker372011]

from what I have heard the LXD 55 was -even by Meade's standards-one of the most troublesome of mounts

there were some satisfied customers but a significant proportion have experienced problems

the LX 75 was an attempt-not all that successful from all accounts- to overcome the issues

I was planning to buy a LX 55 or 75 and after reading what people had to say at Cloudy nights and at the yahoo forums decided to stay away

having said all that Astro Opticals (Sydney) do a "tune up" on this mount and were willing to add an extra 12 months to the normal 12 months warranty-may still be willing to do that

[slice of heaven]

Seeker has summed up the Meade mount very well from what I've read.
Dont skimp on the mount houghy ,find the best you can for your budget.

We're all expecting Hubble class pics from you ,you know :D

[Exfso]

I got a LXD55 mount and it is absolute rubbish, the only way to get these usable is by doing what is called a hypertune, basically rebuild it with better parts. This is the main reason I bought the Losmandy G11 as there is no way I was going to try and put a tak or for that matter the heavy SN10 on the LXD55 bag of bones. They can be made to work ok by doing the hypertune, but is it really worth it?? There is a yahoo group specifically related to this mount, and they have been able to get them to work ok but after major modifications. Out of the case they are hopeless. I believe the LXD75 is better, but it would need to be.

[h0ughy]

The history of the "conversation" with astro optical. I Did think of getting the LXD75 with an autostar, that would cost me about $1364.00 and that would be the very limit of the budget I have at the moment. the $910.00 did look attractive to me, because then I could get that nice 20mm Nagler advertised on IIS :D . I have read the CG5GT report in S&T and they said there that the PE isnt great for photo work. I was hoping the meade package would be better. the best price for that is $1399 from Andrews.

___________________________________ ___________

Hello David

This mount comes with a 12 month Meade factory warranty plus an additional 12 month warranty with the accu-track upgrade.

The internet is fraught with a list of problems for every telescope and mount on the market regardless of price.

The accu-track upgrade overcomes all of the issues early users of this mount encountered and improves accuracy by about 30%.

The new current LXD75 mount (released for export February this year) is essentially the same mount in a different colour with a different tripod. We continue to do the accu-track upgrade to this mount.

Best Regards

Warren





astro@aapt.net.au
www.astro-optical.com.au


----- Original Message -----
From: David Hough
To: Astro Optical Supplies
Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2005 12:38 PM
Subject: RE: GPDX EQUATORIAL MOUNT price

The offer sounds good,
but I am dealing with information from others people that are telling me that the mount is fraught with problems and that the mount is not very stable. Can you explain to me exactly what has been modified on the mount and what problems I may encounter in the future? They say the mount has been discontinued for some time and that even though this is the last new mount available it may not be the best buy! I don't really want to waste money if this is a dud as I do wish to keep it for a long time!
David Hough



-----Original Message-----
From: Astro Optical Supplies [SMTP:astro@aapt.net.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 13 July 2005 4:24 PM
To: David Hough
Subject: Re: GPDX EQUATORIAL MOUNT price

Hello again David,
The price I have given you represents a 30% discount on the original price, we do not have any room for any additional price cut.
However as this is the last one & I would like to see it go to a good home I can offer (a) Free Delivery, or (b) a Free 8" dovetail attachment bar.
Call me to order or for more information.

Best regards, Warren
astro@aapt.net.au
www.astro-optical.com.au


----- Original Message -----
From: David Hough <mailto:DHOUGH@ncc.nsw.gov.au>
To: Astro Optical Supplies <mailto:astro@aapt.net.au>
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2005 2:18 PM
Subject: RE: GPDX EQUATORIAL MOUNT price

Ok since this is your last one what is the best possible deal you can give me! Note I am serious!
David Hough

-----Original Message-----
From: Astro Optical Supplies [SMTP:astro@aapt.net.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 13 July 2005 1:59 PM
To: David Hough
Subject: Re: GPDX EQUATORIAL MOUNT price

David, RE: Lxd55 mount. The price is for the complete unit which includes the Autostar, tripod, polarscope & counterweight.
It does not include the Dovetail Bar (camera or telescope attachment plate) which is $45:00 for an 8" bar or $55:00 for 13" bar.

Best regards, Warren
astro@aapt.net.au
www.astro-optical.com.au


----- Original Message -----
From: David Hough <mailto:DHOUGH@ncc.nsw.gov.au>
To: Astro Optical Supplies <mailto:astro@aapt.net.au>
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2005 1:38 PM
Subject: RE: GPDX EQUATORIAL MOUNT price

Does that include the autostar controller with the mount?
David Hough
Infrastructure Project Officer

-----Original Message-----
From: Astro Optical Supplies [SMTP:astro@aapt.net.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 13 July 2005 1:32 PM
To: David Hough
Subject: Re: GPDX EQUATORIAL MOUNT price

Hello David,
The prices given are for the manual mount. Tracking motors are $185:00 each, Dual axis controller is $345:00

Regarding the Meade LXD55 mount @ $1500:00 we discussed by phone. I was unaware at the time that the price included a Bauer 80 Telescope.
The price of the mount complete without Telescope is $875:00
Sorry for the confusion

Best regards, Warren
astro@aapt.net.au
www.astro-optical.com.au

[[1ponders]]

the Meade PE is about the same as the AS&T advertise celestion h0ughy http://astro.neutral.org/eq/autoguide.html

Also check out this site for improving the mount (about halfway down the page) http://www.ayton.id.au/gary/Science/Astronomy/Ast_Photography_DSO.htm

[h0ughy]

is that for the LXD55 Mr Ponders? With the updgraded AUtostar they told me it has the latest firmware and can do PEC and 3 star alignment. For the money is it Value?

[[1ponders]]

the top link is for the LX55. the bottom link is for astrophotography in general with a link to mount modifications and supercharging.

I've only used an LX75 once and not for astrophotography, so I can't comment on the 55's suitablilty. Just a firm believer in more knowledge, less regrets :)

Mind you after using that 75 and having the Losmandy to compare with right next to it I know which one I'm glad I got :D

[h0ughy]

My problem Paul Is that I havn't a lot of money to play with and I do want a light setup that i can take with me around the place that does give me the flexibility for using the PST, my camera and lens, and a small scope in the future that is computer guided. But I don't want to be too cheap and nasty :D

[seeker372011]

Houghy

notwithstanding Alan Dwyers review of the Celestron CG5 in AS&T, I -and a number of other users -have found that the CG5 can be used for long exposure astrophotography and can also be autoguided. Check out the yahoo group for more on this mount.

The biggest advantage-payload to mount weight ratio. for what it can carry it is relatively light.

Its no Losmandy though!

[Astroman]

How about a barn door tracker :P