For Sale AP600E Mount - Sold

[gbeal]

Hi All,
the dreaded goto has me good and proper, and I am putting up my dream mount for sale.

Astro Physics AP600E GEM. This is a non goto model, but has the genuine AP encoders fitted, so interfaces with the likes of the splendid Argo Navis.
Complete with hand controller, Stainless steel counterweight shaft, and stainless steel counterweight (6 pound??). No tripod, nor saddle.

Mount tracks flawlessly, and I use it regularly for astro photography with either a 4" refractor, or a 10" newtonion. Auto-guiding is easy with either the ToUcam and Rob Beck's Starmate, or the guiding chip in the SBIG camera. Neither scope/camera combo maxes it out.

Ready to go, and priced at AU$5000, plus shipping. Pictures available, if required.
Gary BEAL
Hamilton
g.beal@xtra.co.nz

[Harb]

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:)

[g__day]

Out of interest what load does the AP600E carry?

[Stephan]

Is that an APQ or an AS on the mount?

[gbeal]

Neither, an ED80/840. Ever seen one? Gary.

[gbeal]

Sorry g__day, didn't see your post at first.
I am not sure what the "rated" capacity is, and from internet reading it appears they are conservative, rather than optimistic, but I recall about 15 kilos as being a figure they used.
I used the 10" newt for quite a while when it weighed about 14 kilos, plus the assorted other stuff that you use when imaging, with no problems, whatsoever. I must admit that I felt the G11 I had wasn't as happy with this sort of load, but it managed, whereas the AP seems to be quite happy.

[Stephan]

Never saw one but from the Design of the Zeiss label it must have been a very late model just before the closed the telescope production. I suppose you wouldn't sell it, would you? :whistle:

[gbeal]

There is very little info about on these. They were evidently an ED design made by Zeiss in the mid 90's in an effort to compete with the new wave of ED designs. It is my understanding about a dozen were made, and then the wheels fell of the great Zeiss company. Some lenses were already in cells, and others in tubes, and I suppose they became the property of the new owners, Baader Planetarium.
Anyway, enough ramble, NO, it is not for sale, sorry. It will never be, and my son has already got ideas of owning it. It took ages of negotiating etc to get, plus LOTS of money, and I couldn't sell it, never.
Having said that, I have seen the odd one available, and at astronomical prices, no pun intended. I did know of one for sale recently in Germany (where they seem to wear the "Presto" label), so if you are serious Stephan I can ask around for you.

[Stephan]

My question was not that serious because I knew what your answer would be... I remember the Presto that was for sale a while ago.

About Baader, it is a common misconception that they are the new owners of the Zeiss telescope stuff but they are not.

[gbeal]

Stephan, sorry I took you as being serious, how was I to know?
So if Baader doesn't own the remnants of what was Zeiss, who does?

[Stephan]

If I come along the right offer than I will buy a Zeiss telescope but I won't pay "collectors-prices".

As for the Zeiss stuff... I don't know all the details but what I know is that at the end Zeiss sold the machinery but kept all the designs and rights for the telescopes. Where possible all the remaining parts were put together and sold, other parts were kept for warranty repairs (Baader had the contract for that). He later sold some of that as new telescopes (e.g. an original Zeiss-lens in cell in a Baader made tubes). Some parts were taken home by people who worked their especially stuff for experimental and new designs (APQ100/800) and later sold.

[gbeal]

Sale in progress.

[gbeal]

Now Sold