Pros: Fantastic light gathering capability without putting too big a dent in your pocketbook.
Cons: Some balance issues with larger eyepieces at low altitude.
The Bottom Line: An excellent 'scope for the money. Competent optics coupled with the huge 12" aperture and telescope portability make this one a winner.
neilvickers's Full Review: Meade LightBridge 12 in. Deluxe (600 x 304.8mm) Te...
The Meade Lightbridge 12" truss tube Dobsonian attempts to give the amateur astronomer the awesome light-gathering capabilities of a 12" plus aperture scope without the weight and portability penalties of a standard Sonotube 'scope, and for the most part it succeeds.
The scope itself breaks down into three easily transportable parts, the base, the lower optical tube assembly containing the 12" mirror, and the upper optical tube assembly holding the secondary mirror, focuser and finder. The total weight for the 'scope is in the order of 80lbs assembled, although separately the components are a more manageable 33lbs for the base and 47lbs for the OTA components. Disassembled, the 'scope will easily fit into the back of a small car.
Optically the scope is a competent performer. The Crayford style focuser allows smoothe and sharp focusing, and can have its performance enhanced by replacing the stock grease with a higher quality Lithium based grease. The optics provide stunning images of planetary and deep sky objects even from light polluted suburban skys. The supplied Meade Series 4000 26mm QX Plössl is an average wide-field eyepiece. On the plus side it offers stunning 70 degree FoV images, but the field is definitely not flat and coma towards the edges is significant. You'll want to get some higher quality eyepieces to get the most from this 'scope.
The Lightbridge Deluxe mount is very smooth to operate. Azimuth motion is silky smooth due to the turntable being set on a ballbearing race. Azimuth tension is controlled via a tension knob set in the center of the round base. The altitude bearings are polished Aluminium mounts which rest in felt lined semi-circular cutouts in the base unit. Altitude settings are held due to the balance of the OTA and the friction between the altitude bearings and the felt lined recesses. This is one of the biggest weaknesses of the 'scope - if you use a larger eyepiece, a Barlow, or a shroud/light shield then you're not going to be able to hold your altitude setting at lower elevations. The 'scope will slowly dip down to the horizon due to the extra weight on the upper OTA. For these situations you'll need to add extra balancing weights to the bottom of the OTA in order to offset the added weight at the top of the tube. For larger eyepieces this 'scope could really have used an altitude brake.
The finder is a simple on axis red dot view finder, although the Deluxe package does allow you to switch between four styles of 'dot' as well as vary the brightness. If you upgrade the finder to something like a Rigel or Telrad then bear in mind that you're more than likely going to have to address balance issues again.
All in all, I find the Meade Lightbridge 12 in. Deluxe to be excellent value for money and a great entry point to the world of large aperture telescopes. I highly recommend trying one out at a local star party - you'll be hooked.
@@ It's not just a big telescope. It's a big telescope that goes anywhere. New LightBridge truss-dobs from Meade take down and set up quickly. So you ...More at Adorama
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