Advice on LX50 vs LX200

John Roberts

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Aug 13, 1996, 3:00:00 AM8/13/96

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I am considering buying an 8" LX50 w/tripod and Magellan II computer.
Except for the auto slewing, what's the advantage of the LX200 over
the LX50? I could get a couple of extra eyepieces for the difference
in price.

Brad Barton

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Aug 14, 1996, 3:00:00 AM8/14/96

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I've heard that the LX-50 doesn't have PEC. This is a nice feature, but
folks got along fine without it for a long time. Also, the LX-50
doesn't have GOTO capability because the declination drive is not
geared, but rather has a tangent arm drive.

Brad

Herm Perez

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Aug 15, 1996, 3:00:00 AM8/15/96

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Brad Barton <bba...@holli.com> wrote:

>Brad

The PEC part is true, I would say the biggest difference is reliability, I doubt
many LX-200s will be in working order 20 years from now..way too complex.

The LX-200's pointing accuracy may not be achivable with an LX-50, but the
drawback is that the lx200 requires factory alignment of the fork to OTA.

I believe the LX-200 comes with a good 26mm ploss and the LX-50 comes with a
fancy Kellner. Both telescopes have very cheesy plastic finders, nothing I would
be proud to own.

The LX-200 requires 18v dc, the LX-50 runs on 12vdc or batteries.

Herm

Mr. Kevin J. Pilotte

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Aug 31, 1996, 3:00:00 AM8/31/96

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> I am considering buying an 8" LX50 w/tripod and Magellan II computer.

> Except for the auto slewing, what's the advantage of the LX200 over
> the LX50? I could get a couple of extra eyepieces for the difference
> in price.

The major difference would only come into play if you are planning on
using it for photography. The LX200 is not equatorial-mounted, which
means that over time, the image rotate in the field of view making
long exposures impossible. (The tracking is computer controlled.)
The LX50 has a true equatorial mount, so the image remains in the same
orientation in the field of view over time if properly aligned.

I got an LX50 because it was a lot less expensive, but realized that I
made the better choice in that respect after. I say get the LX50 and
the Magellan II if you can afford it later.

- Kevin Pilotte

Robin Casady

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Aug 31, 1996, 3:00:00 AM8/31/96

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An equatorial wedge can be added to an LX200.

I don't believe that the Magellan II has all the features of the LX200.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I am under the impression that the
Magellan II does not have a GO TO command. You have to manually slew the
scope until the coordinates are matched. The object database only
contains 12,218 objects. The LX200 has a database of 64,350 objects. I
don't believe the Magellan can be connected to a personal computer, so
you cannot easily add databases (as a number of LX200ers are interested
in doing).

With the LX50 you save some money over the LX200, but you run the risk
of wishing you had the features as you gain experience.
--
-----------------------
Robin Casady
http://www.casadyg.com
-----------------------

David Steinberg

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Aug 31, 1996, 3:00:00 AM8/31/96

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In article <509d1h$g...@usenetp1.news.prodigy.com>, TLW...@prodigy.com
says...

>
>> I am considering buying an 8" LX50 w/tripod and Magellan II computer.
>
>> Except for the auto slewing, what's the advantage of the LX200 over
>> the LX50? I could get a couple of extra eyepieces for the difference
>> in price.
>

I bought a 10" LX50 with Magellan II and am happy with it.

Another advantage, however, of the LX200 is that it need not be polar
aligned. That is a definite advantage.

David

Chris Marriott

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Sep 1, 1996, 3:00:00 AM9/1/96

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In article <509d1h$g...@usenetp1.news.prodigy.com>, "Mr. Kevin J.
Pilotte" <TLW...@prodigy.com> writes

>The major difference would only come into play if you are planning on
>using it for photography. The LX200 is not equatorial-mounted, which
>means that over time, the image rotate in the field of view making
>long exposures impossible. (The tracking is computer controlled.)
>The LX50 has a true equatorial mount, so the image remains in the same
>orientation in the field of view over time if properly aligned.

The LX-200 can be mounted either alt-az OR equatorially. For most
purposes, the alt-az mount is much more convenient, but if you want to
be astrophotography you just need to use the equatorial "wedge" for the
telescope.

Chris

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