g__day
05-11-2006, 12:23 PM
I was wondering how people have chosen and walked a path of increasingly capable mounts, what they have learnt, where they are heading next, how they allocate their budget amongst mounts vs OTAs or CCDs etc and what functions or features they most value in a mount?
I'll start with my journey.
Scope 1 - a simple 6" Newt on an eq3 mount, served as an entree
Scope 2 - a five inch MAK on an eq3-2, later added motor drives
bought a CG5 goto mount and moved the MAK to it, moved all of this onto solid wood pier - bit unsturdy, then migrated it to a heavy duty steel pier - super solid
Scope 3 - a 80MM Megrez refractor piggy-backed on the MAK on the CG5
Scope 4 - a C9.25 with the Meg all on the CG5 on the steel pier.
Now I'm happy with this scope walk, but I see the end of my journey may be a C14 and/or a large APO - before or when I retire in a decade or so. So the next step in my plans is a better mount that could eventually handle a C14. This puts me at the top of the mid-range gear (CGE or G11), or the bottom of the high-end range (a Tak or better (financial shudder)). Unfortunately I doubt even the Vixen Atlux could handle my end scope well, so I must think a NJP or EM400, a Titan, a AP 900 GTO or a MI 250 if I wish to buy just one mount platform to support where I think today my OTA journey will end. Otherwise I could two step it to a much less capable or expensive mount, eventually sell it and move to a higher calibre mount only when I really need it.
Decisions, decisions - if I ever get the wealth to do it!
Have others thought this through and worked out what they'd like to be able to do? It seems if you want to go into the aperature arms race - beyond 10" and you're headed for major expense on your mount - especially if astro photography is your goal.
If you had to buy better than a G11 / CGE - what would you get and why (say below a Paramount ME - cause I doubt I'll ever afford that dream without a lottery win)! Secondly would you move directly to your end mount, or two step it by first getting a mount that can handle a C9.25 + 80mm ED for astrophotography, then sell all that when if you could afford a 5" APO and/or a C14 SCT?
Most interested in peoples thoughts!
I'll start with my journey.
Scope 1 - a simple 6" Newt on an eq3 mount, served as an entree
Scope 2 - a five inch MAK on an eq3-2, later added motor drives
bought a CG5 goto mount and moved the MAK to it, moved all of this onto solid wood pier - bit unsturdy, then migrated it to a heavy duty steel pier - super solid
Scope 3 - a 80MM Megrez refractor piggy-backed on the MAK on the CG5
Scope 4 - a C9.25 with the Meg all on the CG5 on the steel pier.
Now I'm happy with this scope walk, but I see the end of my journey may be a C14 and/or a large APO - before or when I retire in a decade or so. So the next step in my plans is a better mount that could eventually handle a C14. This puts me at the top of the mid-range gear (CGE or G11), or the bottom of the high-end range (a Tak or better (financial shudder)). Unfortunately I doubt even the Vixen Atlux could handle my end scope well, so I must think a NJP or EM400, a Titan, a AP 900 GTO or a MI 250 if I wish to buy just one mount platform to support where I think today my OTA journey will end. Otherwise I could two step it to a much less capable or expensive mount, eventually sell it and move to a higher calibre mount only when I really need it.
Decisions, decisions - if I ever get the wealth to do it!
Have others thought this through and worked out what they'd like to be able to do? It seems if you want to go into the aperature arms race - beyond 10" and you're headed for major expense on your mount - especially if astro photography is your goal.
If you had to buy better than a G11 / CGE - what would you get and why (say below a Paramount ME - cause I doubt I'll ever afford that dream without a lottery win)! Secondly would you move directly to your end mount, or two step it by first getting a mount that can handle a C9.25 + 80mm ED for astrophotography, then sell all that when if you could afford a 5" APO and/or a C14 SCT?
Most interested in peoples thoughts!