LXD75 SN 10" - suggest new mount

[sacredblack]

Hi all,

Well it's that time of year when I move out to the cold and last week I swore to replace the mount that came with the LXD75 SN10.

I think most people who know this scope will agree that the mount supplied with the SN10 is way too small. So what are my options ? The Losmandy's look nice but which one ? Taking into account that the scope weighs in at 14kg plus all the extras camera, future guide scope and camera ...

The Losmandy GM-8 has a 30lbs (13.5kg) instrument and 60lbs (27kg) total weight capacity. I'd presume it would be a bad idea to have a 30lbs (13.5kg) tube on this mount ? The LXD75 SN10" weighs in at 30lbs. So it's the G-11 at minimum. That a good $3500 :sadeyes:

Would anyone like to swap an SN10 with an SN8 :(

Any other mount and tripod suggestions ?

Cheers all,

Steve R.

[bmitchell82]

get a tak em400. thats only 7k :D hehehe

If you are serious about taking images then the outlay is needed. if you just want to snap off a few photos now and then, meh :) stick it out! The best optics in the world cant track stars within a hair of their lives!

[Exfso]

Steve, I used to own a SN10 and have to admit the mounts that come with them are to say the least, inadequate. I ended up purchasing a Losmandy G11 and it was fine after that. Incidentally I dont live all that far from you in Aberfoyle Park. Paul Haese lives in Blackwood as well.

[marki]

Brenden I would love to know where you have found a EM400 for 7K, current list price is 12K and I have not seen any second handers around the place.

Mark

[Exfso]

And the G11 is a lot less than the EM400, from memory about $5000 with the Gemini added.

[bmitchell82]

my bad :D thats the EM200 :D for 7k. :D still the EM400 is one hell of a piece of equipment!

[sacredblack]

Mmm. I think I've come to that point where I decide where my interests lay.

$5000 for a mount is a lot to make this scope work well for astrophotography. For me at least.

My current aims may change to do more wide field work. So I might focus on buying a small scope (Orion ShortTube 80) for alignment and mount that next to my DSLR with a fast lens. At least it's a small outlay for the moment. Hopefully the LXD75 mount can manage that :(

This is the best immediate future I can see for photo based work. Leave the SN10 for observing for the time being.

Thanks all for the help.

Exfso - What's you light pollution like or do you travel out to view ?

- Steve R.