Anyone ever hear of, or had experience with The Meade starfinder Dobs? Especially the 12"?
Meade Starfinder Dobs
Started by csa/montana, 04/09/2006 10:44PM
Posted 04/09/2006 10:44PM
Opening Post
Posted 04/09/2006 11:30PM
#1
carol anderson said:
Anyone ever hear of, or had experience with The Meade starfinder Dobs? Especially the 12"?
Our club has an 8" and a club member has a 10" Starfinder Dob. Both of these scopes are completely closed at the bottom, and have a heavy steel weight inside the back of the tube. With dropping temperatures, they never cool down properly. (The gentleman with the 10" opened up the back and moved the weight.)
I'd check and see if the 12" has a closed back.
Clear skies, Alan
Posted 04/10/2006 12:39AM
#2
Carol:
I think compared to todays Asian DOBs, they are pretty crude, "A work in Progess" seems to best describe them.
They do have Pyrex Optics with mixed reviews, some say they are quite good as rule, some say otherwise...
A good example of the design is the 2 inch Upgraded focuser.. the MOdel 77. It is your basic plastic focuser. Compared to the Crayford that the GSO Dobs come with, it is pathetic. The upgraded finder was a 6x30.... The mount needs work. These were DOBs from 90's and the new ones, including the Lightbridges seem to be uch superior.
If the price is right and you are looking for a project or if someone has reworked the scope, then it could be nice. Weight though would still be an issue...
jon
I think compared to todays Asian DOBs, they are pretty crude, "A work in Progess" seems to best describe them.
They do have Pyrex Optics with mixed reviews, some say they are quite good as rule, some say otherwise...
A good example of the design is the 2 inch Upgraded focuser.. the MOdel 77. It is your basic plastic focuser. Compared to the Crayford that the GSO Dobs come with, it is pathetic. The upgraded finder was a 6x30.... The mount needs work. These were DOBs from 90's and the new ones, including the Lightbridges seem to be uch superior.
If the price is right and you are looking for a project or if someone has reworked the scope, then it could be nice. Weight though would still be an issue...
jon
Funding Member
