Meade DS-70 Telescope

by Meade

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 13 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004SPCE
• Item model number: DS-70
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,685 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1999

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

With its relatively large 70mm aperture, yet affordable price, Meade's DS-70 refracting telescope makes a perfect instrument for the serious beginner. It features a multicoated, achromatic two-element objective lens and precise, smooth altitude and azimuth movements for easy object location. It includes Meade's StarNavigator software, which displays more than 10,000 celestial objects for help in locating galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, stars, and planets. It also includes a full-length adjustable aluminum tripod.

The DS-70 exhibits Meade's fine attention to detail and quality, from the precision-polished crown and flint optical glass components and contrast-increasing multicoatings, to oversize bearings on both telescope axes that facilitate great precision in tracking. It offers a resolving power of 1.6 arcseconds, a limiting visual magnitude of 11.3, a 250x maximum practical visual power, and a 5mm by 24mm viewfinder.

The DS-70 is built to be fully compatible with Meade's dual-motor electronic controller and Autostar computer controller, for easy location and tracking of celestial objects.

Product Description

Item number 30254-45, Grading is cover/record: VG using Goldmine standards. 196?-7? Please see seller profile for abbreviation descriptions.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

172 of 179 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice little beginner's scope, June 16, 2000

By 

Michael J Edelman (Huntington Woods, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Meade DS-70 Telescope (Electronics)

This is a decent little scope, with good optics and a reasonably stable mount- as long as you use it sitting down, with the legs unextended. For $200, it's a good entry level choice.

I wouldn't say the same about the optional computer-aided pointing system, though. Adding a $149 accessory to a $200 scope is a poor way to allocate funds on a budget. For $350, you'd be far better off buying a 6" or 8" "dobsonian-type" reflecting telescope from Meade or another vendor. You'd have much more light gathering ability, and a much more stable platform. Instead of buying a computer, buy instead a copy of "Turn Left at Orion", a wonderful book that will show you how to star hop around the night sky and find scores of delightful objects to view.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Beginner/Intermediate Telescope, October 16, 2001

By 

"jamesaaa" (Ottawa, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meade DS-70 Telescope (Electronics)

After going through two very disappointing experiences with department store telescopes over the years, I decided to move up to something more capable. Yes, it cost more, but this telescope, especially when equipped with the optional 495 Autostar computer, is far more capable than others I tried. It is easy to setup out of the box and comes with an excellent tripod. The Autostar computer is easy to use and assists in finding all of the major planets, stars and other interesting items without numerous star charts to refer to. The optics are very good for a telescope of this price, but you do have to focus a lot after changing eyepieces. Views of the moon are simply incredible, views of Venus, Mars and Saturn very good. Highly recommended if this is all you can afford - as a first scope you wont be disappointed.

51 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mike, good scope, April 13, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Meade DS-70 Telescope (Electronics)

This a good entry level scope. I got it for my 11th birthday. Here is what you can see with this scope: Mercury: Looking hard, you can see its phases. Venus: You can easily see its everchanging phases. Moon: Hundreds of craters. Mars: During oppisition you can easily see Syrtis Major. (Dark spot) and looking closely, might be able to see a polar cap. You'll pick up more detail the more you look. Jupiter: You can see three bands.(Can't see great red spot)You can also see its four moons. Saturn: Rings are easy at High power. No bands resolved. You can see bright moon Titan. No Cassini Division. (maybe) Uranus, Neptune, Pluto: Can see small disks. Pluto invisible. If you expect flashy visuals, why do you think they sent a billion dollar probe to get great images. This telescope is only good for the bright deep sky objects. I only recommend Autostar if you have no time and only want to see photos. I think you get more pride if you find it yourself than a computer. This is a pretty good beginners telescope.