Paramount MX portability ?

[cventer]

Anyone with a Paramount mx commet on thier portability ?

How much heavier/cumbersome are they to set up than say a G-11 ?

Is it something you could set up and leave for a few nights then break down ?

I currently have an MI-250 and G-11 (both sensational mounts) but would like to be able to carry more weight.

Also whats the lead time right now on ordering an MX ?

[higginsdj]

Ask the guys at BINTEL - they are selling them now.

Cheers

[Paul Haese]

The mount is yet to be released. I don't think they are even shipping them in the States yet. So that sort of information is going to be hard to get.

Check out the Software Bisque site for info on the mounts' capacity and lead times.

[pmrid]

The MX mount (without weights) weighs 53 Lbs, I believe. The G11 weights 36. The MX has an instrument capacity of 90 Lbs and the G11 60lbs.
That should tell you how they compare in broad terms.
Peter

[renormalised]

That's about right, Peter. It's certainly a transportable mount, but it's hardly light. If you have any problems, physically, with lifting heavy weights, then this mount would be better off on a pier.

Actually, it's that good looking, it'd make a great piece of industrial/technological sculpture!!!!:):)

[cventer]

Thanks gents.

Weight sounds manageable. Looks like it may be time to put the mi-250 up for sale. I love that mount. Will be hard to part with.

From enquiries this morning looks like mx not expected in au till November. I hate waiting that long for anything..... But sounds like it will be worth the wait.

[CDKPhil]

I have ordered the Bisque tripod with mine. Portability seems good, keep in mind you will need a laptop and a 48v power supply.

cheers
phil

[cventer]

Forgot about the 48v power supply. What's your plan for that? MX details say it includes a 48v power supply that accepts 110 to 240v input.

I pulled the pin and sent Peter a deposit for my MX this morning. Now the long wait.

My plan is to mount it on my portable pier so will need an adaptor. Anyone got a link to a plan for an adaptor?

Bisque tripod looks good but seems overpriced for what it is.

[CDKPhil]

I was thinking of using a sine wave inverter but there is an Australian company called Hummingbird Electronics that might be able to do a isolated 12v to 48v DC/DC converter.
The Tripod looks like a Rob Miller design, but I am not sure about that.
Cost from Bintel was just under $2500 considering the mount cost 10k it is well worth it for a field portable setup. The micro levels will make it much easier and quicker to adjust.

Cheers
Phil

[RickS]

Rob Miller told me the MX tripod was currently his but that Bisque were working on their own. I just received one of Rob's tripods for my AP900 and it is a lovely piece of work!

Cheers,
Rick.

[pmrid]

This is what I have done for mine. (I ordered early and OPTR still say 2nd quarter delivery - time running out on them but they insist).
Also, there are various PHD files on the Bisque site. Here's one that is the basis of the plate I had made.
Peter

[cventer]

Thanks. That PDF file has Large counter sunk holes in middle. Are they not needed? Seems like the mx just connect via the 4 holes in each corner.

Also what is the projecting tab on one side of your plate for ?

[avandonk]

Chris below is a drawing of their pier. The large hole/s are for cables as they can be run internally.

There is also a nifty 3D drawing to play with. You will need to download a viewer. Below is a couple of crops from this. The tab is not needed on the pier top plate. You need to register on their site for these.

Bert

[avandonk]

I removed the RA gear cover. The RA gear is in green.

Bert

[pmrid]

The holes in the centre are for PME compatibility I believe - apart from the one that is dead-centre.
Peter

[rally]

Those countersunk holes are so you can attach it to other things like piers without the head of the bolts sticking out !

The hole pattern most likely matches existing SB pier designs

[pmrid]

Here's the PME baseplate to pier adapter. Note the holes.
Peter

[cventer]

Thanks gents. Most helpful.

Now to find someone to make me one.

[frolinmod]

In the attached picture, the holes marked in:

ORANGE are the hole pattern used for the prior GT-1100 and GT-1100S mounts. These can be used to bolt the adapter plate to a pier that originally had a GT-1100 or GT-1100S on it.

BLUE are for mounting the adapter plate to a concrete pier with three mounting bolts.

The four knobs don't actually come with the adapter plate. Those are the four Paramount ME mounting bolts used to mount a Paramount ME to the adapter plate. They're screwed into the Paramount ME mounting holes.

The center hole is not used for anything in particular that I'm aware of.

BTW, the plate is actually black anodized or at least the one I have here is.