its mount buying time

[spearo (Frank)]

With the dollar as it is, i reckon it is time to start looking for a good mount to upgrade from my G11 (which I'll keep cuz i love it).

But what to get for my C14 and secondary scope for narrow band imaging?

The Titan is a strong contender.

I had a look at Mike's suggestion a while back re the MI1200 but production seems stopped and I hate the thought of waiting after i've made a decision (Lord knows how long THAT is gonna take).

Is the Titan the best buy in performance/capacity and price ?

Is the mythical "mini ME" ever going to materialize and for how much? (in all likelihood knowing my luck, it will be announced to the world at a super cheap price the minute I place my order for something else...)

The Tak is so tempting with the great peak to peak native performance but just too dear i think for my pockets...Same for the ME, beautiful but too dear).

Oohhhhh
Anyone out there know what I should consider? I hate it when people put these types of posts up but here I am doing the same....

This dollar parity is a curse i tells ya, its making me think of spending money I dont have

Its a curse !

frank

[Terry B]

An old list and review of various mounts is here
http://translate.google.com/translate?client=tmpg&hl=en&u=http% 3A%2F%2Fdemeautis.christophe.free.f r%2F&langpair=fr|en
Scroll down and click on the link "The database mounts"

Look at some of the bigger mounts like the Axis ones
http://www.axisinstruments.com/franc...uatoriales.htm

,gemini and obviously the Tak ones.
For these big mounts there are more choices than just the US ones.

[spearo (Frank)]

thanks Terry
frank

[rally]

Frank,

The Paramount MX (mini ME) is still not available and there is still not even an availability date
The GFC will likely pass you by before they release it

I checked the forum and a question was posted last month and they said when there is any news they will post it - so there isnt even any news !

The Tak mounts are mechanically accurate but software wise they are still quite primitive.
OK for visual use and basic astrophotography.

No Home position or absolute positioning system - so completely useless for remote operation and therefore there is no PEC (periodic eror correction) possible with them.
All but the most recent models requires you to manually hold down a hand control button on startup to get them rotating correctrly for the Southern hemisphere.

Why not try for a second hand P-ME or get one of the GT1100 units (predecessor to P-ME) advertised on Astromart lately - a few have popped up.

Cheers

Rally

[Gerald Sargent]

Dear Frank,
Look at Astrophysics mounts, there is nothing better and their
PE leaves the Tak's for dead, mine will do 10 minute unguided
images forever once aligned, PE correctionis are programmed into
each unit's hand controller individually by the maker so that can
not be a propblem, I use a Mach1 which is very portable as also is
the AP900 which is a bigger beast, regards Gerald.

[spearo (Frank)]

Gerald, Rally,

Thanks for the quick input.
cheers
frank

[pmrid (Peter)]

I recall seeing news of a new EQ7 with capaicuty and performance specs well above the EQ6 range. If cost is still important, this may be worth considering.
Peter.

[DavidTrap (David)]

I too am extremely pleased with the performance of my Astro-Physics Mount. On the limited number of occasions that I've had it out imaging (blast this La Nina!), I don't think I've actually thrown away an image because of poor tracking (imaging at 600mm, autoguided with SSAG). The AP900 is probably more what you're after if you're wanting to image with a C-14.

DT
Obviously, there is no "home" position, so if you're after a remote setup you're probably looking at a PME.

[marki]

AP are taking direct orders for their 3600 GTO "el Capitan" mount if any one needs a "conservative" 300lbs load capacity excluding counter weights. Add the high precision encoder to your order and get 0.5arcsecs peak to peak tracking accuracy without PEC !!!! It would cost $19900 US ($20080 AU) which is a bit but not as much as the crane you will have to buy to put it together or move it around .

Mark

[gregbradley]

There is a Paramount GTS for sale on Astromart for US$7000 or so.

That would be hard to beat.

You probably could upgrade the electronics later on to the MKs4000 system if there was some advantage for doing.

I personally would go AP900 also in that price range. Probably the best of the mounts in its class. Anything AP is going to be awesome.
I like my Tak NJP but would have to agree with Rally that there are better out there. The Paramount ME does make the Tak seem backward.

Greg.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Frank,

When it's time to buy, put an order in for two. I'll make you a couple of more prints in exchange. : P

H

[spearo (Frank)]

Thanks everyone
I agree AP seems fantastic but i'm not one of these "patient" types...i've come to admit this about myself...

I cant bear the thought of putting my name on a notification list and hope that in a few years time i might get the gear i wanted back in the days when I was really keen on it... I'm sure its "worth the wait" in terms of product but at this point I'm a bit more impatient given the dollar value.

And the pennies are limited these days for a variety of reasons so I have to be careful. I'll be ready to commit to a purchase in a few weeks time so I'm giving myself lots of time to ponder and mull over the good advice you all provide.

Thanks for taking the time

cheers
frank

[gregbradley]

I'd check with AP as I thought those days of waiting lists for AP mounts were over. That is still the case with their scopes but not their mounts.

Greg.

[DavidTrap (David)]

"900GTO German Equatorial Mount
These mounts are now well into production with delivery expected later this Fall. Sign up on our Online Product Notification Request Form, if you would like to order this mount. We will begin our notification process soon."

From the AP website today - seems to me, they could be shipping these later this year... They increased their production capacity, right at the time the backside fell out of the US economy, so the demand vs supply inequity is somewhat more equal. Now if only they could do the same for their refractors - wait list for those is around 10yrs...

DT

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Gerald Sargent

Dear Frank,
Look at Astrophysics mounts, there is nothing better and their
PE leaves the Tak's for dead, mine will do 10 minute unguided
images forever once aligned, PE correctionis are programmed into
each unit's hand controller individually by the maker so that can
not be a propblem, I use a Mach1 which is very portable as also is
the AP900 which is a bigger beast, regards Gerald.

Oh yeah!?...how about 10min unguided without PEC

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...31590/original

I agree though, the AP mounts are superb

Mike

[terrynz (Terence)]

Just get all the bleeding over and done in one hit.

If you want it for a remote setup spend the money on a Paramount ME. you will not regret it. if going semi-portable get the AP900 Either way, money well spent if you have it to spend.


Lastly if you can't get 10mins unguided out of a PME or AP900 there is something wrong with you... not the mount.

ok it could be the mount, but most likely not.

[terrynz (Terence)]

Originally Posted by Gerald Sargent

Dear Frank,
Look at Astrophysics mounts, there is nothing better and their
PE leaves the Tak's for dead, mine will do 10 minute unguided
images forever once aligned, PE correctionis are programmed into
each unit's hand controller individually by the maker so that can
not be a propblem, I use a Mach1 which is very portable as also is
the AP900 which is a bigger beast, regards Gerald.

No bias here right?

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Oh yeah!?...how about 10min unguided without PEC

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...31590/original

I agree though, the AP mounts are superb

Mike

hehehe........