Alexei Volkov
The Meade Infinity Telescope is an entry-level telescope that offers a good balance between performance and price. While some of its parts are made of plastic, such as the focuser tube, finder, and dew shield, it still provides good views of celestial objects. However, it's important to note that Meade, the manufacturer, has faced criticism for its misleading advertising, poor customer service, and lack of spare parts. Upgrading or replacing parts can improve the telescope's functionality and extend its life, and companies like High Point Scientific offer various Meade replacement parts and upgrades.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic Parts | The Meade Infinity Telescope has some plastic parts, including the red dot finder, focuser tube, and dew shield. The focuser is mostly made of plastic, and the telescope may also have plastic knobs and hand controllers. |
| Replacement Parts | Meade telescopes can benefit from occasional upgrades or replacement parts to maintain optimal performance. High Point Scientific offers various Meade replacement parts and upgrades, including knobs, azimuth locks, and hand controllers. |
| Performance | Despite some plastic parts, the Meade Infinity Telescope provides good views and is considered a decent option for its price point. It offers clear views of the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and more. |
| Comparisons | The Meade Infinity Telescope compares favorably to other options in its price range, such as the Orion 80mm and Celestron scopes. However, it may have some cheapened parts due to its low price. |
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What You'll Learn
Meade Infinity 70AZ plastic parts
The Meade Infinity 70AZ telescope has several plastic parts. The focuser on the Infinity 70AZ is a standard 1.25” rack and pinion unit, mostly made out of plastic. The plastic focuser is acceptable, if subpar, even by the standards of typical cheap rack-and-pinion focusers. The Infinity 70AZ also has a plastic red dot finder, which is decent in quality and more than adequate for aiming a 70mm telescope.
The Meade Infinity 70 AZ’s mount’s design has been around on inexpensive refractors since the 1950s but is highly variable in how well it’s actually executed. Tension on both axes can be adjusted with two large plastic hand knobs that increase the friction on the bearings. The mount is a simple double-fork altazimuth design with a metal rod to assist in fluid altitude motion. While not the most aesthetically pleasing and lacking slow-motion controls, the long tube of the Infinity 70 makes it surprisingly tolerable to simply push the tube to move the scope.
The Meade Infinity 70 is one of the few acceptable refractors in its price range. However, its capabilities do not match those of larger reflectors. The telescope provides acceptable views of the Moon and planets, but is less capable than a 100mm reflector. Its mount and tripod are fairly subpar. The inside of the telescope is not painted well, and it is not baffled well to block unwanted light, so glare can be a problem.
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Meade Infinity 80 plastic parts
The Meade Infinity 80 is a refracting telescope that comes with three eyepieces and a 2x Barlow. The Barlow is uncoated and has a weird murky film on it, which is very minor compared to the massive chromatic aberration it adds to the image. The Barlow is considered to be of very cheap quality. The three eyepieces are also considered to be of inferior quality, but they perform better than expected.
The Meade Infinity 80 is said to have a lot of plastic parts. The focuser, for example, is made of plastic. The dew shield is also believed to be made of plastic, although some sources claim it is made of metal. The Meade Infinity 80's low price inevitably leads to some cheapened parts.
The Meade Infinity 70AZ, another telescope in the Meade Infinity line, also has plastic parts. The focuser on the Infinity 70AZ is a standard 1.25” rack and pinion unit, mostly made out of plastic. The red dot finder on the Infinity 70AZ is also made of plastic.
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Meade Infinity telescopes with plastic parts
The Meade Infinity series of telescopes are entry-level astronomical instruments designed for novice stargazers. While the telescopes offer good value for money, some of their parts are made of plastic.
The Meade Infinity 70AZ telescope, for example, has a plastic red dot finder that helps aim the telescope. The focuser on the Infinity 70AZ is also made mostly of plastic. While the plastic construction may be acceptable for the telescope's low price point, it contributes to a subpar performance compared to more expensive models. The mount's design, for instance, has been described as aesthetically lacking and unstable. However, users have found simple DIY solutions to improve stability, such as adding a sandbag or filling the legs with spray foam.
The larger Meade Infinity 80 model also appears to have plastic parts. The focuser tube seems to be made of aluminum, while the focuser itself is either made of very hard plastic or aluminum. The 80 model comes with three eyepieces and a 2x Barlow lens, which some users have described as feeling cheap but performing adequately.
Meade telescopes, in general, are known to have occasional mechanical issues and require replacement parts. The company has been criticized for its lack of available spare parts and poor customer service. However, third-party retailers like High Point Scientific offer various Meade replacement parts and upgrades to improve telescope performance and extend the instrument's life.
In conclusion, while the Meade Infinity telescopes offer a good entry point into the world of astronomy due to their low price, they do contain plastic parts that may affect performance and durability. Users should be prepared to make some modifications or invest in replacement parts to enhance their stargazing experience.
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Meade telescope replacement parts
Meade telescopes are well-designed, but even the best equipment can benefit from occasional upgrades or replacement parts to keep everything working smoothly. High Point Scientific offers various Meade replacement parts and upgrades to improve your telescope's performance. Whether you need a new knob, azimuth locks, or a hand controller, High Point has you covered. The upgrade of the knob and the installation of a new spring can grant more nuanced guidance of the telescope's paths. For the steadfast study of the spectacles overhead, replacing the azimuth fastener is a good choice to guarantee stability when inspecting a heavenly body at length. Essential for ensuring the telescope maintains placement, azimuth locks are particularly important for prolonged focus on a single astronomical presence.
High Point also offers controllers equipped with Meade's advanced AudioStar and AutoStar II technology for those who rely heavily on their telescope's hand controller. These devices are ideal for individuals wishing to traverse the celestial sphere seamlessly. Containing profiles of over thirty thousand astronomical entities, these intuitive controllers permit the effortless location of stars, planets, and deep-sky objects. Furthermore, AudioStar's auditory descriptions enhance enlightening nights by studying the stellar panorama and communicating facets of numerous cosmic figures.
You can also find Meade Telescope Parts and Accessories on eBay. These include eyepieces and lenses, adapters, cases and bags, mirrors and prisms, and mounts.
Additionally, TelescopesPlus offers Meade Telescope Accessories, and their team of telescope experts can provide advice on selecting the right astronomy gear. They can be contacted at [email protected] and will usually respond within 1 business day.
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Meade telescopes: pros and cons
Meade telescopes have been around since 1972 and have become one of the world's foremost manufacturers of telescopes and accessories for amateur astronomers of all levels. The brand has a wide range of products, from research-quality telescopes with advanced optics to affordable, easy-to-use refractors.
Pros
Meade telescopes offer a variety of benefits, including:
- High-quality eyepieces: Meade's flagship Series 4000 eyepieces feature superb magnification, sharpness, and low astigmatism and spherical aberration.
- Affordable options: Meade offers a range of affordable telescopes, such as the Infinity 70, making astronomy more accessible to beginners and amateurs.
- Good magnification: The Infinity 70AZ model provides good magnification for observing the Moon, planets, and double stars. It can also spot some galaxies outside the solar system.
- Innovation: Meade has a history of innovation, often outpacing its competitors with new features and technologies, such as with its LX200 line, the first affordable GoTo telescope for amateurs.
Cons
However, there are also some drawbacks to consider when it comes to Meade telescopes:
- Quality control issues: Particularly in the 1980s and with more recent models, Meade telescopes have been known to have mushy or fuzzy views at high power.
- Poor customer service: Meade has been criticized for its poor customer support, with some customers reporting issues with obtaining spare parts and resolving technical problems.
- Misleading advertising: There have been instances of false or misleading advertising, such as with the RCX line, which was marketed as Ritchey-Chretien telescopes but turned out to be modified Schmidt-Cassegrains.
- Cheapened parts: To keep prices low, some Meade telescopes, like the Infinity 70, may have cheaper components, such as plastic focusers, which can affect performance and durability.
- Glare issues: The Infinity 70 has been reported to have glare issues due to inadequate baffling, which can impact viewing experiences, especially around bright objects.
In conclusion, while Meade telescopes offer a range of benefits, such as affordability and good magnification, they have also faced some criticism for quality control, customer service, and misleading advertising. Potential buyers should carefully consider their specific needs and research the available models to make an informed decision.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Meade Infinity Telescope has some plastic parts. The focuser on the Infinity 70AZ is mostly made out of plastic, and the mount's design includes two large plastic hand knobs. The plastic red dot finder is also made of plastic. While some users have observed that the telescope has some cheapened parts due to its low price, it still provides good views and is a decent option for its price point.
The Meade Infinity 80 model has a focuser made of either very hard plastic or aluminum. The dew shield on the Meade Infinity 80 is also likely made of plastic.
Some users have noted that the plastic focuser/finder in some Meade telescopes can be awful. There have also been reports of mechanical issues and control board failures with certain Meade products, and the company has been criticized for its lack of spare parts and poor customer service.
Yes, you can replace or upgrade the parts in your Meade Infinity Telescope to improve its performance and extend its life. High Point Scientific offers various Meade replacement parts, such as knobs, azimuth locks, and hand controllers equipped with advanced AudioStar and AutoStar II technology.
