.com When the original ETX telescope, the ETX-90RA, was introduced in 1996, it quickly created a revolution in amateur astronomy. Here for the first time was an ultraportable and highly versatile telescope system of unprecedented optical resolution and performance. Within a year of its introduction the ETX became the top-selling modern telescope in the world.Manufactured entirely at Meade's Irvine, California, facility, ETX Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes produce optical performance and resolution that equal or exceed any Maksutov optics of similar apertures ever manufactured at any price, past or present. Their optics are so high in contrast, image brightness, and resolution that the ETX-90EC and ETX-125EC often outperform many telescopes of larger apertures. These models build on the original ETX concept to create the most advanced electronically controlled telescopes--including optional automatic go-to-object location with the Autostar computer controller--ever produced in their price range. And yet they don't sacrifice any of the user-friendly features that started the ETX revolution.With twice the light-collecting area of the Meade ETX-90EC, the Meade ETX-125EC permits a much broader range of astronomical study. Jupiter's cloud belts, for example, are observable at a significantly heightened level of detail, with whirls and festoons and the Great Red Spot readily visible as they transit the planet's disc. The Cassini division in Saturn's rings is routinely seen, as are additional features of the planet's surface, even under less than perfect seeing conditions. Microfine lunar detail beyond the reach of smaller telescopes can be resolved in the Meade ETX-125EC. Looking to deep space, the ETX-125EC's larger aperture enables the observation of galaxies and nebulae in much wider extension. The entire Messier listing of 110 objects is now not only visible, but every object additionally takes on a readily discernible structure.The observer who accepts astronomy as a serious field of interest will find the Meade ETX-125EC a deeply satisfying instrument for a lifetime of high-resolution astronomical study. From the Manufacturer When the original ETX telescope was introduced in 1996, it quickly created a revolution in amateur astronomy. Here for the first time was a stunningly beautiful, ultraportable, and highly versatile telescope system of unprecedented optical resolution and performance. Within one year of its introduction the ETX became the largest-selling modern telescope in the world. Meade ETX-90EC, ETX-105EC, and ETX-125EC models build on the original ETX concept to create the most advanced electronically-controlled telescopes including optional automatic GO TO object-location with the Autostar Computer Controller ever produced in their price range. And yet without sacrificing any of the user-friendly features that started the ETX revolution. Optical Systems: Manufactured entirely at the Meade Irvine, California, facility, ETX Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes produce optical performance and resolution that equal or exceed any Maksutov optics of similar apertures ever manufactured at any price, past or present. Optics so high in contrast, image brightness, and resolution that ETX-90EC, ETX-105EC, and ETX-125EC models often out-perform many telescopes of larger apertures. Fork Mounts with Standard-Equipment Dual-Axis Drive System and Electronic Controller: The fork mountings of ETX Maksutov-Cassegrain models include high-torque DC motors on both telescope axes, permitting electronic operation from the standard-equipment plug-in hand controller. Use the pushbutton electronic controller at any of four dual-axis speeds: 8x sidereal for image centering in the main telescope at high power; 32x for image centering at lower powers or for pushbutton object-tracking in the altazimuth mode; 0.75°/second for image centering in the viewfinder or for terrestrial tracking; 5°/second for fast slewing across the sky. The observer can instantly select any of these speeds simply by depressing the SPEED button on the controller. Altazimuth or Equatorial Operation: With the telescope placed in the altazimuth mode on a table, astronomical object-tracking may be accomplished from the directional pushbuttons of the hand controller. Fully automatic astronomical tracking in the altazimuth mode may be accomplished with the optional Autostar Computer Controller. Alternately, any ETX telescope may be mounted in the equatorial orientation, using either an optional Table Tripod or the Deluxe Field Tripod. In this latter case the telescope tracks celestial objects automatically at the sidereal rate. Cordless Field Operation: The drive base of each telescope accepts eight (user-supplied) AA-batteries that power the telescope for more than 40 hours of normal usage, negating any requirement for an external power source in the field. Alternately, the telescope may be powered from an automobile cigarette lighter plug, using the optional #607 Power Cord. Flip-Mirror System: Flip the internal, optical-flat mirror "up" for observing in the standard 90° position; flip the mirror "down" for terrestrial observing with the optional #932 45° Erecting Prism or for photography with the optional #64 T-Adapter. Materials and Coatings: ETX optical systems include a Maksutov meniscus corrector lens of Grade-A BK7 optical glass. This lens is individually hand-figured by a Meade master optician to achieve an optical null in combination with the Pyrex primary mirror. High transmission magnesium fluoride (MgF2) coatings on both sides of the correcting lens, as well as aluminum/silicon monoxide coatings on the primary and secondary mirrors, are provided as standard equipment. Standard Equipment: Meade ETX Astro Telescopes are supplied as complete instruments. Standard equipment includes a premium-grade Meade Series 4000 Super Pl?sl 26mm eyepiece for 48X with the ETX-90EC, 57X with the ETX-105EC, or 73X with the ETX-125EC. The 8 x 21mm viewfinder of the ETX-90EC incorporates an internal roof prism that results in an erect-image orientation, facilitating the quick location and field-centering of both terrestrial and astronomical objects. ETX-105EC and ETX-125EC models are supplied with an 8 x 25mm right-angle viewfinder for comfortable object-sighting with the larger instruments. Optional Accessories: Over 20 optionally available eyepieces permit magnification ranges of from 31X to over 300X with the ETX-90EC, from 37X to over 400X with the ETX-105EC, or from 48X to over 450X with the ETX-125EC. Meade Super Pl?sls are excellent eyepieces with any ETX model, or use a Meade Super Wide 13.8mm, 18mm, or 24.5mm ocular for spectacular moderate-power, wide-angle observing. The #126 2x Barlow Lens, a special short-focus Barlow ideally suited to ETX systems, doubles the power of any eyepiece. For terrestrial photography or astrophotography of the Moon and planets, the #64 T-Adapter threads to the telescope's rear cell and, with the appropriate T-mount, accepts any 35mm camera with removable lens. ETX-125EC Astro Telescope: With twice the light-collecting area of the ETX-90EC, the ETX-125EC permits a much broader range of astronomical study. Jupiter's cloud belts, for example, are observable at a significantly heightened level of detail, with whirls and festoons and the Great Red Spot readily visible as they transit the planet's disc; the Cassini division in Saturn's rings is routinely seen, as are additional features of the planet's surface, even under less than perfect seeing conditions; microfine lunar detail beyond the reach of smaller telescopes can be resolved in the ETX-125EC. In deep-space the ETX-125EC's larger aperture enables the observation of galaxies and nebulae in much wider extension and permits the resolution of celestial objects as faint as magnitude 12.5. The entire Messier listing of 110 objects is now not only visible, but, in addition, every object takes on a readily discernible structure. The observer who accepts astronomy as a serious field of interest will find the Meade ETX-125EC a deeply satisfying instrument for a lifetime of high-resolution astronomical study.
C**M
take good care of it
If you have one of these, take good care of it. It is a telescope that will rough it with you into the field. I took mine to Mataguay Scout Reservation in Santa Ysabel, CA. I sent it out to Telescope Warehouse in Arizona for some tricky repairs, and while I and the optical engineer there have a rocky relationship...he fixed the optics and got them calibrated to factory-new status.If you have one of these, get a Meade hardcase for it. If you want to get the most out of it, get a Stella wifi bridge and the appropriate adapter, because that will turn your smartphone into an Autostar system with aspirations of becoming JPL.This sucker is robust, with enough light-gathering area for the hobbyist. Plus, it's light enough to move and precise enough to see some deep sky objects.Oh, and if this package doesn't include an Autostar or Autostar II, get one and read the manual...once you align the scope it will find whatever you want, as long as it's over the horizon.
L**.
Poor Quality - Poor Service UPDATE
Those who rave about the ETX-125 clearly haven't used it much. I have no issue with the optics, however the drive engineering is extremely poor and I stress POOR. I have to ask, what were they thinking?!1. The ETX-125 is too heavy for the cheap plastic drive transmission. It's broken and stripped it's gears several times. After 2 expensive returns for repairs, I replaced the plastic housing with a metal one myself. At the time I needed help from Meade, I was shocked to find they didn't have an email contact.2. The mounting fork is too short. (This one blows my mind.) In the "equatorial" mode, the scope collides with the mount when approaching the horizon. If there's an accessory attached to the rear of the scope, again, you can't raise the tube without a collision with the mount. In both cases, listen for stripping gears.3. The RA (azimuth) lock is plastic as well as the tripod leg locks. All 4 have broken under the stress of being tightened.4. The guidescope eyepiece continually fell off. It seemed to be fastened with grease. I replaced it with a Telrad finder.5. The external power jack lost its resiliency causing a loose power connection. The momentary loss of power causes the electronic control to reboot. Goodbye set-up. NOTE!!! An incorrect polarity of external DC power will burn the internal control board. Yes, BURN it. No safety is provided. No second chance to get it right.6. The Meade computer control interface requires an RS232 connector. More $$$ needed to buy a USB-RS232 adapter. I'm surprised "Windows 3" isn't required. Good luck in configuring it.It would seem that in Meade's zeal to reduce cost, they've jammed cheap inferior components into an otherwise quality optical assembly. What happened to quality control? There should be a "Lemon Law" for more than cars. I'm deeply disappointed in both the quality & service from Meade. There's no way I could honestly recommend the ETX-125. If I had not received this scope as a gift, it would have been returned immediately. At half the price, it's still not worth the frustration.
C**E
Portable but Pricey
This is the size that the ETX should have been when it was introduced. The 125 is a relatvely new member of the ETX lineup, and the one that I would recommend first to those with the money and the desire to buy an "UltraPortable" scope. With its 5 inches of aperture, it is the only ETX scope so far that I would recommend for any sort of serious deep sky (galaxies, star custers, nebulae) viewing. (See my review ot the ETX-90 for an explanation of why aperture is important.)I am the president of a large (300 members) astronomy club in Columbus, Ohio and have looked through thousands of telescopes in my life- including a few Meade ETX-125s. The scope seems to be high quality, very contrasty, with just a touch of softness that makes views through it distinguishable from high end refractors costing many times as much. If you enjoy planetary or lunar viewing, and don't want the hassle and expense of a large refractor, or the "cool down time" of a reflecting scope, then this is the scope for you.The AutoStar GOTO system seems to be the same as the one on the ETX-90, and, as in that scope, seems to do a good job finding objects. (Recommendation: learn the names of the brightest 20 or so stars in the sky. You will need them as guide stars to align the scope with.)NOTE: I have stood next to many first time users of the Meade-ETX (all versions) and watched them fumble in the dark for hours with the system of computerized menus in the GOTO system that comes with this scope. Learn to use it in the daylight or during the full moon and not while you're cutting into your observing time.At its current average asking price, beginning astronomy enthusiasists might ETX-125 might be a bit pricey. At much less, views that are almost as good (if not better, due to greater aperture) can be had through and 6-8 inch Orion or Meade Dobsonian scope. On the other hand, like the ETX-90, the ETX-125 is extremely portable- perfect for travel or quick looks.The 24 millimeter finder is useless for finding anything but guide stars and the planets. It is difficult to align, and is so small that very little can be seen through it.I would recommend getting a dew shield in addition to this scope.
E**S
Beware: Motor breaks and no parts
I got this telescope as a gift in 2003. We enjoyed it a lot. A few years ago we moved to a place that didn't such a great view so we kept itin the box in the garage. We recently pulled it out and unfortunately the motor was not working. I called Meade Instruments tofind where to have it repaired but they don't support that model any more. Discontinued in 2005. I was shocked. You don't buya telescope every day ... why would they not support earlier models? It's still being sold. The Support Rep said the gearswere plastic in that model and are probably stripped. Gee ...great. I won't buy a Meade again that's for sure if they won'tsupport their products. Too bad ... I wish I could give them a better review but I can't trust them now.
Trustpilot
3 weeks ago
1 week ago
