Hi All, I'm about to get my first telescope as a gift and I narrowed it down to two models due to budget and I'm having trouble deciding which of the two to get,. It's either the Meade ETX-125 AT or the Celestron NexStar 5 SE. Both have equal aperture (125mm), However the Meade is a Mak-Cass and the Celestron is a Schmidt-Cass. Any thoughts on which is a better quality scope, better brand reputation, better optics or customer support? Thanks in advance for you qualified input!

Due to compromises in its design, a Schmidt-Cassegrain has somewhat inferior optical performance compared to a Maksutov-Cassegrain.  However, the Celestron SCT has a faster f/ratio, f/10 versus f/15 for the Meade MCT, so it will provide a larger true field of view with a given eyepiece. 

Meade has been undergoing quite a bit of financial difficulty in the past couple of years and does not have a very good record when it comes to customer support.  Celestron has been owned by the Chinese company Synta Optical Technology (Synta) since 2005, by the way.

Dave Mitsky

I would choose the Celestron for reliability and customer support.

If you could manage to spend just a wee bit more I would prefer the 6" model.  I have one on an EQ mount and it is a superb performer.

While Synta owns Celestron now the optical tube assemblies of the SCTs are still manufactured and tested in California.  The Meade products are now made in Mexico since late in 2007 and is a reason why they have some difficulties for now as they adapt and train their workforce.  They may get back to where they once were someday but for right now that should be something you should take into account.

L

personally, i wouldnt get either, id spend a few more dollars and get the 6SE

Celestron 6SE is $799 at Opt with free shipping:

http://www.optcorp.com/ProductList.aspx?uid=1-600-602-891

 

The greater light grasp and resolution will be worth it.

L

Have you considered Orion?

 A couple of my fellow club members have had their Celestron telescopes in for repair. Fairly new scopes with drive motors burned out. Both repairs have run months long, at least 3 times being shipped in. One person now has an operating arm, for her 5-inch, but it is someone else's arm. Wrong coordinates, lights burned out etc. etc. Celestron deinies it unfortunately.

 I certainly can't endorse Celestron's customer service at the moment.

 I've no direct experience with Meade other than every ETX I've looked through gave great images. Notes about Meade's troubles are spot on I'm afraid. 

 If it were me and I was doing a first scope on a budget, and wanted something to help me get around the sky I'd opt of one of the Orion Intelliscopes. Several club members have then, none have gone in for repair, and the two I've used will find things in the urban sky!

 Rather than drive motors I think you might be better served by better eyepieces the money you save on the electronics could buy. 

 Good luck and welcome to the hobby.

 Ted

Thanks again everyone for your help! It looks like I'm now leaning towards the Celestron NexStar 6 GoTo SE. Has anyone else experienced trouble with Celestron's drive motors or their factory repair / customer service?

ive used celestron repair and customer service for well over 10 years now, i never had an issue that couldnt get resolved, the 6SE seems like a pretty reliable scope IMO

Hi Tasco-60mm and thanks for your reply. Does that mean that you've had plenty of problems with Celestron scopes as far as the mechanics breaking down in the past 10 years? I'm looking for product quality and reliability. Would you say that the Celestron NexStar 6 is a quality made scope? What manufacturer would you rate as top quality?

I have the Orion 127 Mak-Cass on a SVP mount and like it pretty much. Puts up some nice views. Easy setup and easy to move around.

'top quality' scopes and mounts doesnt fit in the price range your looking at. but no. not many problems, 3 or 4, but id say to say some were due to my own fault, a full 2 year warranty from someone that actually DOES have a repair service is pretty good if you ask me

I have owned my Celestron C-6 on the EQ mount for almost two years now and not had the slightest problem with it.  It did arrive with a horribly cracked corrector plate due to shipping damage but this was swiftly corrected.

Will this telescope last as long as my Cave Newtonian built in 1976.  Doubtful.  But if it can survive a decade with no problem then I will be happy.

L