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...its not the mount, its the history ASA has in supporting product and problems with them generally.
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Well I certainly can't argue that point as I have no knowledge of how ASA may have supported their product in the past, but speaking with ASA product buyers now suggests that ASA are no worse than anybody else.
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...I read some fairly bad reviews early on, many were sent back, dealers deserting them etc.
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I read that story too as it was being posted all over the intarwebz, then I read ASA's very belated response. Putting it charitably, those making the claims weren't entirely forthright. The whole sorry story can be found on the ASA Yahoo! Group, but suffice to say ASA was vindicated.
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No issues Im aware of, just on my own experience anyway. They seem to be alright in 24/7 remote commercial installations too, with next to no trouble, they have plenty of history there. Itll be interesting to see how the ASA mounts go in commercial installations.
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The messages on SB's PME forum tends to surprise newbies, since we've all come to believe the Paramount ME is virtually perfect, when it isn't: nothing is. But of course SB is constantly working on improvements and mods for issues as they arise and do have an excellent reputation in that area.
It appears that there are several DDM mounts in use with universities and govt research outfits, but the websites are always frustratingly light on details. Quite a high percentage of non-Academic DDM owners are using their mounts in remote setups without any problems. Time will tell as more of these mounts get out there in use.
Regarding the anti-ASA sentiment voiced by PME and AP-1200 owners, my guess is that most of them bought their mounts before ASA's DDM models became available, so they no longer have the latest and greatest. Since most (or even all) of those critics have never actually used or seen an ASA DDM mount, they must be basing their criticism upon the complaints of other PME and AP-1200 owners who have never used or seen an ASA DDM mount...
One of the reasons I'm defending these mounts from what I view as mostly baseless criticism is because it's time to move on from gear-based systems, and so I wish to see DDM mounts from any company get a fair shake. If those direct drive mounts fail to shape up, so be it, and I'll bide my time. But it would be disappointing if we were deprived of a better system just because those who have invested financially and emotionally in an inferior type were able to keep it from being accepted.
Anyhoo, out with the old, in with the new!
