Does Meade Make Dobs?

Does anyone know if Meade is still making dobs anymore? They only have the 12.5 and 16" dobs on their site now. I am assuming that the market for smaller dobs has been swallowed up by Orion.

I would like to have a larger aperture (12.5 - 16 dob)but can't afford an obsession or even discovery so I am thinking maybe Meade. Is this a bad idea? Is there another consideration I have overlooked? I would really like some input on this.

Thanks in Advance - Rob E.

They do indeed make 12.5 and 16 inch dobs. The 16" that I looked through was quite good. They are cardboard tube dobs, ovcourse, but they are also a bit cheaper than discovery's cardboard tube dobs of the same size.

Greg

I have the Meade 12.5" Dob and enjoy it quite a bit, but as several others have already noted it's a heavy, bulky, scope - the OTA is about 60" long and 55-60 lbs, while the base is 45-50 lbs. I can carry it and set it up myself, but maneuvering it in tight quarters can be tricky. That being said, it will - just - fit in the back of my Ford Escort station wagon, and I haul it out to dark skies once or twice a month.

The current model comes standard with their 2" focuser (awful) and their 8x50 straight finder (reasonable). If you buy it, your first upgrade will probably be putting a better focuser in place - I installed a JMI DX-3 almost as soon as I got it. I'd also recommend putting on a reflex finder like a Telrad or Rigel Quickfinder - I only use the 8x50 if I can't get close enough with my Telrad, normally when I'm starhopping for dim DSOs.

IMO, the "real" cost of the Meade is ~$150 higher than the list price, though still a bargain compared to the Discovery. I love the optics on mine, and most of the issues I have with the mechanics I'd have with *any* tube Dob in this size range.

I believe someone (?Paul Smith?) suggested going with the Meade while working on a truss; this has a lot to recommend it - one way of looking at it is that you're getting the optics and a finder for a reasonable price, set up so that you can actually use them while you build a truss structure for the optics to live in. The Meade 12.5" and 16" Dobs have always had a reputation for good optics, and I'm certainly happy with mine - properly collimated, mine gives extremely sharp high power views.

If you don't want to build it yourself, another option is to buy the Meade, use it, then buy either a kit or commission a finished truss structure - you'll still end up spending only about as much as you'd have spent on a truss dob to begin with. All thumbs that I am, I will probably end up either buying an Astrosystems Telekit or commissioning some one like Teeter's or NightSky to build me a truss structure.

To summarize - the Meade 12.5" has good optics and a great price but needs a little work. The Discovery PDHQ 12.5" has good optics and good mechanics, but costs a couple of hundred more than the Meade will even after all the upgrades. If you can handle the bulk, either one should make you happy.