For over 50 years, Meade Instruments has been a leading innovator in the telescope and optics industry. Founded in 1972, Meade specializes in manufacturing high-quality telescopes, spotting scopes, and binoculars for both hobbyists and professionals.
For over 50 years, Meade Instruments has been a leading innovator in the telescope and optics industry. The company was founded in 1972 by John Diebel, an avid amateur astronomer who started handmaking telescopes in his California garage. Demand for his high-quality scopes led John to mass produce affordable, user-friendly telescopes and launch the Meade brand.
Throughout its history, Meade has revolutionized amateur astronomy with groundbreaking products like the Schmidt-Cassegrain and Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope designs. They strive to make advanced optics and ease-of-use features accessible to all. Today, Meade offers an extensive catalog of over 100 telescopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, and accessories suited for everyone from beginners to expert astrophotographers.
Meade prides itself on using only the finest materials and components, including high-density optical glass, durable alloy housings, and premium coatings. Their telescopes provide stunning celestial views night after night, year after year. Meade has a well-earned reputation for quality, innovation, and performance across all product lines.
In addition to making industry-leading optics, Meade focuses heavily on customer experience. Their products are engineered for intuitive use right out of the box. Meade provides helpful resources and how-to guides for beginners while also catering to seasoned astronomers. Their US-based customer service teams happily assist with any questions or issues.
Today, Meade Instruments continues sharing the wonders of the cosmos from their headquarters in Irvine, California. For over 50 years, their telescopes have encouraged generations worldwide to observe, ponder, and explore the universe. Meade’s exceptional optics and friendly guidance empower people to uncover the mysteries of space.
f/10 Advanced Coma-Free Optics: Building from a classic RC design, Meade has created a new design with the same coma-free pinpoint star images and flatter field that discerning astrophotographers and most professional observatories have come to expect from classic Ritchey Chretien optics.
See detailed planets, galaxies and more in different ranges with its 70 mm (2.75-inch) aperture and f/10 focal length. Transform your observing experience and use the StarPro AZ refractors to view wildlife or beautiful landscapes. Stay in control with it’s newly designed single-arm and alt-azimuth mount with slow-motion control cables on both axes.
For over 50 years, Meade has been pushing boundaries in the optics industry. They strive to utilize the latest technologies and finest materials to maximize light transmission and image clarity. Meade was one of the first brands to make high-end telescopic features like extra-low dispersion glass and exotic coatings affordable for amateur astronomers. Their commitment to quality has earned Meade a reputation for stellar performance across product lines.
Meade telescopes are engineered for simplicity and ease of use. Models like the beginner Infinity series have intuitive controls perfect for families and kids just entering the hobby. Even Meade's high-end telescopes have computerized tracking and navigation that make finding celestial objects effortless. Their designs cater to all levels, allowing anyone to master Meade scopes quickly.
Many Meade telescopes are specially optimized for astrophotography. Features like ultra-stable mounts, high magnification capacity, and excellent optics maximize performance for capturing jaw-dropping images of nebulae, galaxies, and other deep space phenomena. Serious astrophotographers will appreciate Meade's research-grade quality.
Meade uses only the finest materials like aircraft-grade alloys to ensure durability. Their telescopes can withstand years of heavy use. Precise construction standards and quality control testing ensure Meade products will work flawlessly over decades of service. You're making a lifelong investment with Meade.
Meade listens closely to feedback from thousands of customers to improve products and support. Their US-based service teams are happy to answer questions and quickly resolve any issues. Meade stands behind their telescopes with strong warranties and repair programs too.
Despite premium quality and features, Meade telescopes are very competitively priced. There are high-value options for every budget. Meade's affordable scopes helped popularize astronomy as a mass-market hobby. Today their products deliver professional quality that serious astronomers demand at accessible costs.
As an amateur astronomer for over 20 years, I've gone through my fair share of telescopes. When it came time to upgrade from my aging refractor, I decided to give Meade a try after reading rave reviews about their Schmidt-Cassegrain models. I purchased a Meade ETX-90 and have been absolutely thrilled with this scope! The optics are crystal clear with minimal aberrations around the edges. Tracking celestial objects is a breeze with the built-in computer system. After a quick alignment, I can just select whatever I want to view from the hand controller and it slews right to it. The mount is very sturdy and smooth. I've had no issues photographing nebulae and galaxies with long exposure times. Customer service was also excellent - very responsive to emails and happy to help explain features. The ETX-90 strikes a perfect balance of power, portability, and ease of use. I wish I had upgraded to Meade sooner! Five stars without hesitation.
As a science teacher, I wanted to inspire my 5th grade students with hands-on astronomy. After researching beginner telescopes, I decided on the Meade Infinity 60 for my school's astronomy club. Right out of the box, this telescope is intuitive to use while still offering impressive views of the planets and moon. My students loved tracking the lunar craters and identifying Jupiter's cloud bands at our first night sky watching session. I appreciate that the Infinity doesn't require much setup or maintenance. It's durable enough to withstand active use by kids too. As an educator, it can be tough choosing science tools on a tight budget, but Meade delivered everything I wanted at a reasonable price. Using the Infinity 60 has made astronomy fun and accessible for my students. I can't wait to foster their curiosity about space during after-school cosmos adventures with this awesome telescope!
As an avid wildlife watcher and nature photographer, I do a ton of hiking and camping in my home state of Montana. I wanted a quality spotting scope that could handle the wilderness while providing top-notch optics for scoping scenery and animals from afar. After researching different brands, I selected the Meade Wilderness 60mm straight scope and have been very pleased with its performance. Despite miles of trekking, this spotter has held perfect collimation and smooth focus. The fully waterproof/fogproof construction means I never have to worry about the elements. resolution and light transmission match higher-end spotters I've used. Compact and lightweight enough for backpacking but still feels sturdy. For the price, you can't beat the quality. Meade's rugged build and excellent optics have helped me get crystal clear shots of bighorn sheep, eagles, moose, and other wildlife from a safe distance. This spotting scope excels at everything I need in the field!
My 12-year-old daughter developed an interest in astronomy after taking a space science elective in school. I wanted to encourage this new passion, so we purchased a Meade StarPro AZ reflector telescope to use together in our backyard. The computerized GoTo system makes it really fun and easy to find different celestial objects, which is perfect for beginners like us. We've had amazing views of Saturn's rings, Jupiter's moons, star clusters, nebulae and more that have blown us away! I love that this telescope does most of the work locating and tracking objects, but still gives my daughter a hands-on astronomy experience. The instructional DVD and quick start guide made setup and calibration easy even for amateurs. We've had so many magical mother-daughter moments bonding over the starry skies thanks to this incredible Meade telescope. I know it will foster a lifelong love of astronomy for both of us.
As an experienced astrophotographer, I wanted a high-end telescope capable of capturing professional-quality deep space images. After extensively demoing several brands, I splurged on a top-of-the-line Meade 16" LX600-ACF telescope with an Astro-Physics mount. All I can say is WOW. This thing is an absolute beast when it comes to optics and tracking accuracy. Crystal clear resolution even at 2000+mm focal length. Rock-solid stability throughout multi-hour exposure sessions. Mechanics feel incredibly smooth and precise. Makes getting perfectly framed, focused shots on faint objects like galaxies and nebulae effortless compared to my older setup. Features like the automatic mirror cooling fan show Meade's attention to minor details. Customer service was also top-notch when I had a small issue with the hand controller. For serious astrophotographers wanting pro-level performance, the LX600-ACF delivers spectacular results. Just an all-around phenomenal telescope well worth the premium price.
Meade has a diverse telescope lineup covering every need and budget. This includes reflector telescopes like the beginner Infinity series, Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes like the advanced ETX models, Maksutov-Cassegrains like the ultra-portable ETX Observers, and giant Dobsonians like the light-gorging Polaris line. Meade also offers specialized solar telescopes.
With Meade's rugged construction and high-quality components, their telescopes commonly last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. Many Meade owners report using scopes for 20+ years without issue. Meade offers strong warranties and service plans to support longevity as well.
Absolutely! Many Meade telescopes like the Infinity series are designed specifically for beginners and families. Their intuitive controls and computerized tracking make it easy for kids to start stargazing. With proper adult supervision, Meade telescopes provide an ideal introduction to astronomy for children.
Yes, many Meade telescopes have features ideal for astrophotography like ultra-stable mounts and high-end optics to capture breathtaking images of space. Advanced Meade scopes like the LX600 or StarNavigator lines are excellent astrophotography tools, especially for deep sky imaging.
Useful Meade accessories include higher magnification eyepieces, light pollution filters, planetary or moon filters, sturdy cases, anti-vibration pads, dew shields, camera adapters, and more. Meade's website has accessory recommendations for each telescope model based on the desired use.
Consider your experience level, budget, and primary viewing interests. Beginners may want an affordable, portable scope like the ETX 60. Astrophotographers will need a higher-end model like the LX85. Meade has telescopes specially designed for casual stargazing, lunar study, planetary observation, and more.
Meade telescopes are designed primarily for celestial viewing, but many can also be used terrestrially. Lower power eyepieces allow scoping landscapes, birds, wildlife, and more. For the best terrestrial performance, consider Meade's spotting scope models like the ED80.
Over 95% of Meade telescopes are manufactured at their state-of-the-art facilities in Mexico and China. Each telescope meets Meade's rigorous quality control standards and is hand-inspected by their optical staff before shipment.
Yes, Meade telescopes and binoculars come with a limited lifetime warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. If any issues arise, Meade's customer service teams will happily troubleshoot problems and identify solutions.