Its 3.76µm pixels give a pixel scale of only 0.33”/pixel. Its precision achieved by absolute encoders allows you to avoid guiding while maintaining sharp and round stars during long exposures.įor a camera, I used the QHYCCD 268C. For this test, I used the 10Micron GM2000.

Such a long focal length demands a capable mount. I had the chance to try the 12” OTA which has a focal length of 2438mm, making it ideal for small objects but also for close-up pictures of popular larger objects. Once my Eagle, camera, focuser and filter wheel were added, I probably surpassed the 21kg mark, however that weight is still manageable. The weight of the tube on its own is 18.6 kg. Precise focus can be reached by hand but nowadays modern autofocusing solutions have become a must-have feature for serious astrophotography. The focuser includes an 8:1 reduction gear for micrometric focusing, however there isn’t an adapter to connect the focusing knob to a focusing motor, and therefore it is necessary to install a complete robotic unit in order to achieve the maximum focus sharpness. In contrast, most Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes have a much narrower interface between the bar and tube. The tube itself is rock solid, and the dovetail bar connects to the tube using heavy duty curved supports that redistribute the overall weight and reduce flexure. The secondary mirror is large, and the obstruction is higher than the classic Schmidt-Cassegrain, makes this tube less ideal for high-resolution planetary photography but still usable due to its large diameter. Additionally, the focal ratio of f/8 makes this tube feasible for astrophotography as the exposure time is almost halved compared to the classic f/10 Schmidt Cassegrain configuration. This is a crucial point for astrophotography. Standard Schmidt-Cassegrains have a heavily curved focal plane as well as coma, while the Meade ACF design offers a well corrected field for APS-C format and smaller. The LX850 ACF f/8 is a modified Schmidt Cassegrain telescope that features an aspherical secondary mirror which delivers Advanced Coma Free (ACF) performance.

Meade telescope reviews