Tak EM400 Mount Upgrade Suggestions ???

[issdaol]

Hi All,

I'm considering upgrading my Tak EM400 mount to a more suitable mount for my OTA.

Any comments and suggestions are welcome :-)

Here is a pic of my current setup:

[Atmos]

If you undo the clutches, is the scope heavy enough?

[Kunama]

That looks like a 6x30 Finderscope ....

[Atmos]

You could always get an AP3600 or an ASA DDM160?

[codemonkey]

With that kind of weight there's probably not too much shy of a Mesu 200 that'll handle the weight sufficiently well.

[thebonz]

A nice Vixen GP would match the OTA .

[Slawomir]

According to Takahashi, EM 400 has a loading capacity of 35 kg.
Given that Mewlon 300 weighs 26 kg (the heaviest of your listed telescopes) and that you are probably very familiar with Takahashi mounts, a natural step would be EM 500, with a maximum loading capacity of 45 kg.
Because I like my Mach1 very much, I would personally go for the 1100 GTO (50 kg capacity). Another popular option would be MX+ (45 kg capacity). You can also get absolute encoders installed on the 1100 GTO. I'm not sure if SB offers encoders for their MX+ at this time.

[LewisM]

Nothing short of something crafted by a master hermit Japanese grand-master in dairy grade stainless steel Phil.

Has the scope got the ultra-premium exotic Lanthanum tetrafluoride objective? Seeing that's a depleted uranium isotope, it's quite heavy per cubic centimetre, so a more robust mount is required. If the OTA is Ferrari epoxy bonded uber-sublime sonotube, then add another 25kg.

Those optics are sublime in those Unitron PD's - easily a Strehl of 2 (yes, they defy physics). the finder alone has a poly-strehl of 0.99999,

[issdaol]

It was from the a Disciple of the Grand Master in Melbourne I think .....Kermit

Yes it is Definitely a PD version .......

Hmmm interesting Strehl ........defying physics like a TARDIS there......must be because its handcrafted .....

[issdaol]

All good suggestions ......they might just handle the mass :lol:

[LewisM]

Hmmm. I think it needs to be called the Retardis. The Anti-Tardis if you will. The Master's Tardis, aka the Bater.

[Slawomir]

I thought you were asking a genuine question...:shrug:

[beren]

To keep the Tak flavour and overcome the undermounting {:P} consider the beastly EM-2000 :). Going by the pier and background tripods you must be tall Phil

[Kunama]

That EM-2000 is very tempting !!!

I'll let Phil answer the ? about his stature :D (but just between you and me, the pier was made tall due to the obsy walls being quite high and the need to gain views of lower objects, and Phil has a nice ladder ;) )

[issdaol]

He He the Unitron PD would look even more PDish on that beast !! :lol:

I could easily imagine a Mewlon 300 and TOA150 side by side on that one though !!!

[issdaol]

He he sorry :whistle: :ashamed:

But they were good suggestions anyway.......I'm shying away from any SB mounts though....

Every time I read about someone getting a new one I hear about owners needing to do their own worm replacements and other guiding teething issues......for a supposedly tier 1 premium mount and spending that type of money that's a very poor effort on SB's behalf !!

[Slawomir]

No worries Phil, you got me this time! :lol:

Whether true or not, the reasons you mentioned stopped me from buying MYT and I got Mach1 instead. Not looking back and very happy with my choice.

[Kunama]

Nice choice on the Mach1 and on the CFF !!!!! beaut combo you have there :thumbsup:

[LewisM]

Yes, a perefect combo Suavi.

Phil, come on, admit it...the pier was made for a 9 ft tall Finnish grand master.

[LewisM]

BTW Suavi, the scope is my Unitron 60... if it weighs 1kg it's lucky :)

[Slawomir]

Plastic lens then? ;) :rofl:

[LewisM]

Ice :D