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Meade LightBridge 12" f/5 Truss Tube Dobsonian Deluxe Telescope # 1205-05-03
| Brand | Meade |
| Part Number | 1205-05-03 |
| Availability | available |
| Share |
Product Info
Manufacturer Description
New Improved Version - Now with new anti-reflection coatings on trusses and castings, and dual speed Crayford focuser.
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 can take one of these massive windows on the universe out to your favorite dark sky locations with ease. LightBridge dobs give you high quality Meade optics, premium components, and ultra portability - all for about the same price as an ordinary tube dob. So get a LightBridge truss-dob. And prepare to cross the universe.
Diffraction Limited Optics
The 12" LightBridge Truss-Tube Dobsonian features a superior Meade quality multi-coated, diffraction limited 12" primary mirror, focal length 1524mm (f/5). Meade optics consistently outperform telescopes of similar and larger aperture. Consumers know that Meade Optics Inside means that what they see through our telescopes will be views that are detailed, crisp and full of contrast.
Meade Optical Coatings Aluminum Coatings
Coatings with magnesium fluoride over coat provides bright images full of detail.
Metal Optical Tube with Primary Mirror Cell
The optics of this style of telescope are only as good as their mounting, which is why Meade engineers gave the LightBridge primary mirror a top of the line, fully adjustable, high strength but light weight aluminum stress free floating multi-point cell with built in cooling fan.
2" Crayford-Style 10:1 Dual Speed Machined Aluminum Focuser With 1.25" Adapter
Smooth precise focusing is achieved with this classic design. A unique focus tension knob and focus lock design gives complete control over focus.
Built-In Primary Mirror Cooling Fan
Bring the telescope into thermal equilibrium quickly and efficiently with the battery powered cooling fan. The included battery pack for the fan takes 8 (user supplied) AA batteries and is used to speed the cool down process of the primary mirror, improving image quality. The fan is mounted to the rear of the vented primary mirror cell for fast cool down.
Solid OTA Mount
The sturdy laminated finish wooden Dobsonian mount includes premium features such as roller bearings on the azimuth (side to side) axis and large diameter aluminum altitude (vertical axis) bearings with a hand adjustable variable tension brake for smooth and stable movement.
Steel RA Roller Bearings
Laminated base with roller bearings on the azimuth axis that make movements smooth and effortless.
Lightweight Aluminum Trusses
The open truss design of the LightBridge Dobsonians means portability of the telescope is dramatically improved over a solid tube design. Taking only moments to set up and take apart for travel, the extremely rigid truss frame design ensures a no-compromises view through the telescope. Hand driven Dobsonian style telescopes by their nature need good mounts with smooth and stable movement to be enjoyable, and here again the LightBridge excels.
Advanced Four-Reticle Red Dot Viewfinder
Four reticles and varying brightness controls allow this deluxe finder to adjust to your observing needs.
26mm Meade QX Wide Angle 2" Eyepiece Deluxe Model
This premium eyepiece has a 2" barrel, and boasts a whopping 70° Apparent Field of View.
AutoStar suite software also included.
Product carries full one year Meade factory limited warranty (within US/Canada only).
Reviews
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doug76 New Member
- Skill Level
- Unknown
- Time with Product
- Unknown
- User Notes:
- Review by baileydoug76 of USA.
May 22, 2009Lightbridge, light bucket
Pros:Impressive visually,Very good optics
Cons:Balance problems,White painted surfaces,Weak prim mirror springs
Comments:I bought mine 4 months after they became available. Everything fit together well, and I had no problems with the assembly. Mine is the deluxe version, which is now the only version Meade sells. As is, I had no trouble with balance or motion, and the telescope was a very smooth operator. Upon adding an optical finder and a Telrad unity finder, the scope exhibited extreme nose heaviness, to the degree that I had to add counterweights. My version came out before Meade added the altitude tensioner. I found the supplied QX 26mm eyepiece to be useless in this scope, as the image was very soft everywhere except in the center of field. Even though the truss tubes are metallic finish, they are not shiny in the least, and don't effect the view much, if any, although I painted mine flat black anyway. The optics are the strong point of this rig, and are much better than you might expect at this price point. The primary mirror springs should be replaced to insure reliable collimation.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? YesThis review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com
AstroGuy1 New Member
- Skill Level
- Unknown
- Time with Product
- Unknown
- User Notes:
- Review by rlgilli of Missouri.
Nov 19, 2008Meade Lightbridge 12"
Pros:Transports very well,Has very good optics
Cons:Needs modifications,Might need a shroud
Comments:I had to make a few modifications. Like flocking everything on the inside the scope. You have to add extra weight to the bottom. It seems to be a little top heavy. I couldn't get a regular 12" to fit in my car. I can transport it ok and when I put it back together the optics are still in line.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? YesThis review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com
Aug 6, 2008Lightbridge 12"
Pros:Excellent optics
Cons:Poor mechanical design
Comments:I have owned this scope for 1 1/2 years. I have found the optics to be excellent, but the mechanical design poor. The lower part of the tube hit the the azimuth tension knob. Balance was a major issue, with major amounts of weight needed to be added on the lower tube opposite the eyepiece. This is difficult because of the rocker box. The unit power red reticle finder was overly bright and generally very hard to use at some altitudes. The altitude bearing wheels are very short and tend to get gouged. I had no problems with the collimation screws and springs, but most people have replaced them. The Meade shroud is poorly designed and collapses into the light path.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? YesJan 29, 2008Lightbridge, light bucket
Pros:Very good optics made by Guan Sheng. Impressive visually, to look through AND at.
Cons:Balance problems, white painted surfaces inside tubes, weak primary mirror springs.
Comments:I bought mine 4 months after they became available. Everything fit together well, and I had no problems with the assembly. Mine is the deluxe version, which is now the only version Meade sells. As is, I had no trouble with balance or motion, and the telescope was a very smooth operator. Upon adding an optical finder and a Telrad unity finder, the scope exhibited extreme nose heaviness, to the degree that I had to add counterweights. My version came out before Meade added the altitude tensioner. I found the supplied QX 26mm eyepiece to be useless in this scope, as the image was very soft everywhere except in the center of field. Even though the truss tubes are metallic finish, they are not shiny in the least, and don't effect the view much, if any, although I painted mine flat black anyway. The optics are the strong point of this rig, and are much better than you might expect at this price point. The primary mirror springs should be replaced to insure reliable collimation.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? YesApr 8, 2007Meade Lightbridge 12"
Pros:Transports very well and has very good optics.
Cons:Had to do a lot of modifications and bought a shroud for about $60.00
Comments:I had to make a few modifications. Like flocking everything on the inside the scope. You have to add extra weight to the bottom. It seems to be a little top heavy. I couldn't get a regular 12" to fit in my car. I can transport it ok and when I put it back together the optics are still in line.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? YesSort bySpecifications
Telescope Aperture 12" (304.80mm) Manufacturer Meade Telescope Aperture 10.1in - 12in Telescope Series Meade LightBridge
