The LX200-ACF Telescope from Meade
brings to market a sophisticated catadioptric optical design favored by
research facilities worldwide, but at a price that many enthusiasts can
afford. Most professional applications are either this style of
telescope or a gargantuan apochromatic refractor. Meade's 12" LX200-ACF
with UHTC multicoatings provides a serious deep space aperture, and is a
big scope with a huge chunk of glass at the front-while a single person
can set it up, it is a task best handled by a pair. If you're used to
8" Schmidt-Cassegrains and their performance, this LX200-ACF 12" scope
will be a shocking step up in every optical parameter. Go after the
faint fuzzies and see what you can see.
Although this premium 12"
catadioptric scope's robust twin-fork altazimuth mount is meant for
delightful observing first and foremost, it is easily adapted to
extended astrophotography by using either Meade's Deep Sky Imager (which eliminates field rotation via software), Field De-Rotator, or #07008 Equatorial Wedge.
Power for the LX200 12" is supplied by 8 "C" batteries, but via
optional accessories you can also adapt the scope to operate from an AC
wall unit or from DC power via the #607 Cigarette Lighter Adapter (the #607 can also operate in the field off of a Celestron Power Tank instead of from a vehicle's cigarette lighter port).
For 2009, Meade has refined the delivery of the LX200-ACF models to
meet the demands of the marketplace. They now no longer includes the
#07080 electric focuser as standard equipment, and use a Series 4000
Super Plössl eyepiece instead of the Series 5000 version.