Meade LX90-ACF 8-Inch
March 18, 2008
Meade LX90-ACF 8-Inch Telescope Review
General Info
Class: LX-ACF; Advanced Coma-Free
Best Uses: General Astronomy (planets, moon, stars, nebulae & Astrophotography)
Recommended Experience: Casual – Enthusiast (No need to be a Pro, but it’s a bit feature-packed for a complete beginner)
Overall Rating: 9.28/10
Official Review: The Meade LX90-ACF is an excellent telescope. If you are a complete beginner, it might be difficult to get going, but because of its wide range of features, this learning curve can be good for helping you move from beginner to experienced stargazer quickly!
With many options and plenty of room to work with, the Meade LX90 is a great choice for an Astronomy enthusiast, and can be easily used by a family with children interested in stargazing. If you want your children to learn the ropes, this is a great scope to learn on. The great part is that with its advanced features, you won’t have to buy another telescope for a long time!
Pros: Clear, accurate, well-designed scope; Looks cool, comes pre-programmed & ready to view just about anything!
Cons: Somewhat tough to setup; Alignment takes a while; On the heavy-side for its class
Click here to check out the Meade LX90-ACF 8-Inch on Telescopes.com!
Important Details
Usability: 8.0/10 – Though it’s user manual is somewhat unclear, the Meade LX90 is easy to use once it’s setup
Comfortability: 9.2/10 – Fantastic eyepiece & fully-customizable tripod for any height/observing preference
Durability: 8.8/10 – Strong construction; Sturdy tripod & mount
Battery Life: 8.4/10 – Runs on 8 C batteries; Some recommend AC adapter (60hrs estimated)
Backlash: 9.6/10 – Very little to speak of
Warranty: 8.7/10 – 2-year Meade guarantee (Covers most common issues); Extended warranty optional
Storage: 7.8/10 – at 33lbs (52lbs w/ tripod), this scope is fairly easy to store
Accuracy: 8.0/10 – Very accurate once aligned, but alignment can be tough to get used to
Setup: 8.4/10 – Could be difficult for beginners due to unclear manual, but easy to setup physically
Click here to read more reviews on the Meade 8-Inch LX90-ACF!
Tech Specs
Aperture: 203mm
Magnification (Highest Useful): 600x
Focal Length: 2,000mm
Focal Ratio: f/10
Resolution: 0.57 Arc seconds
Slew Speed: RA and Dec: 1x, 2x, 8x, 16x, 64x, 128x sidereal and 1.5°/sec., 3°/sec., 6.5°/sec.
Tracking: 5-arc minutes point precision (sidereal, lunar, or custom-selected from 2000 incremental rates)
Telescope Construction
Optical Design: Advanced Coma-Free (highly recommended)
Viewfinder: 8×50 ‘Red Dot SmartFinder’™
Eyepiece: SP26mm (high-quality & comfortable)
Tube: Aluminum
Mount Design: Double Tine ‘Alt-Azimuth’ Fork
Weight: 33lbs (52lbs total)
Tripod: 19lbs; 30″ to 44″ adjustable height
Power Supply: 8 C batteries (approximately 60hrs of battery life)
Lens Coating: UHTC (Ultra-High Transmission Coatings) – 15% increase in image brightness!
Other Equipment: Remote included
Recommended Accessories: JMI Telescope case for easier portability; 4000-Piece Meade eyepiece & filter set (for added functionality)
Click here to get the Meade LX90-ACF 8-Inch telescope!
Extra Features
GoTo: Yes (Works very well after aligned)
GPS: Yes (Sony)
Computerized: Yes
Alignment: AutoAlign™ (decent, but strange to get used to at first)
Remote: Yes (AutoStar)
Object Database: 30,223 objects pre-programmed to view!
Programming Options: Pre-programmed
Summary: If you are looking for a telescope for under $3,000 and you want to get an incredible deal, you should strongly consider the Meade LX90! With its gorgeous design, its immense line of features, and its high-tech 30,223 pre-programmed object database, you’ll be able to get setup in a few hours and start making good use of those beautiful, clear nights by gazing at some of the most beautiful celestial objects you’ve ever seen!
