[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Hi all

I'm trying to research, the best I'm able, any salient points that will let me decide between purchasing a new Takahashi EM-200 Temma2 or Losmandy GM-11 with Gemini. Arrgghh!


I can import an EM-200T2 from Asia for AU$5,073 landed in Sydney via 3-day courier. From America it'd be $5,975 + shipping!

I can buy a (if they're ever in stock!) GM-11 Gemini locally in Australia for $5,495 including the tripod.

The major difference is that the EM-200 does not come with a tripod for that price - that's quite a bit extra. I'd like to say that I'll be building a pier in my back yard soon, so a tripod won't matter. All except for the fact that it will - if I decide to go tripping around with it in the car.

The scopes will be either a Tak FSQ106 or TSA102 alongside a Tak FS60-C which I already have - side-mounted on a plate, along with my DSLR and a webcam for guiding. The imaging and guiding duties will be swapped between the two scopes depending on the duty at hand. Total weight will be in the vicinity of 12kg - easily within the weight limits of both mounts.

How hard? Very! Is there any advice I can purloin from the gallery? I'd rather stay with gear all from a single manufacturer - for the sake of compatibility and consistency - but maybe the G-11 (which I've used before and quite enjoyed - thanks Zane) will do the job just as well?