It's more or less half a G8. It just has the RA motor. The Dec motor is extra.
A quick 60 sec image at 50mm with really rough polar align (yeah, south is around there somewhere and a digital level says something near the right inclination) and almost in focus has round stars.
I was worried about my tripod - it's a 055CXPRO3. It's light and strong, and does a good job of damping vibrations but I think I might feel better with something heftier.
how you going for balance there. looks a bit on one side. does the tripod want to topple?
David, it does seem a bit one sided, so I pointed one of the tripod legs south, just like you should do with any GEM. The tripod legs have two extension sections and even with only the top one extended it was quite stable. I will see if the 804RC2 head is easier to adjust than the ball head on it today.
The camera is on a short dovetail to allow dec balance and the camera mount slides along the rail to balance RA.
These were taken with my 16-50mm at 50mm, f3.2, 45 sec ISO400 (DSC00381s) and 500mm Samyang Cat (very hard to focus, might have to get the Sony one - ~$1450 ouch), f6.3, 58 secs, ISO800 (DSC00393s), both with pretty poor polar align. No processing other than resize. Hate the Sydney light pollution.
I think it was about 3 weeks. Most of that was for Scott to make them. There was no stock at HGM or here.
I got an email from Peter that they arrived Friday, EFTPOS'd the same day (which probably would not appear in ATS' account until Monday), no-one was home to accept delivery Wednesday, picked up from the P/O Thursday.
No complaints. Except from SWMBO about more astro toys.
Humayun - I missed out on this batch after having my order in for several weeks. I've cancelled it because all I can get is a commitment to now try and supply another one before the eclipse - maybe. Pity. Vixen Polarie - here I come. I want some time with any unit well before it comes to have to use it to capture a rare event.
Humayun - I missed out on this batch after having my order in for several weeks. I've cancelled it because all I can get is a commitment to now try and supply another one before the eclipse - maybe. Pity. Vixen Polarie - here I come. I want some time with any unit well before it comes to have to use it to capture a rare event.
Chris, I first asked about getting one in about March. The answer then was none available and no date on Losmandy making any. Remember astro gear is a sideline, so they get made when there is a lull in movie gear production. I asked again every couple of months, until I was told probably mid Sep, so getting the invoice last week was a nice surprise.
Cheers Andrew. I really appreciate my Losmandy gear. It's beautifully built, is rock-solid, well finished and absolutely reliable. I just wish that Scott would recognise its value to users and produce it with a little more interest. It's almost as though he's asking us to believe that he sits there on the lathe himself. If the astro gear manufacture has to wait until the HGM gear is done, get another damned CNC! LOL
Anyway - A Vixen Polarie has been ordered and will arrive Monday/Tuesday. It's not what I wanted but I can't physically left my G-11 any more. I need to get out into the field and photograph, otherwise I may as well just give the sport away.
It's not what I wanted but I can't physically left my G-11 any more. I need to get out into the field and photograph, otherwise I may as well just give the sport away.
I'm also tired of lugging the G11 around. I got a polarie a month ago after talking to Alex Cherney. I used it a couple of times already and it's perfect. I considered the Losmandy alternative but it's still a mount and too heavy. The polarie fits in your pocket and it's set up in 1mn or so. I'm taking it to the eclipse with me as I'll be flying in.
I'm also tired of lugging the G11 around. I got a polarie a month ago after talking to Alex Cherney. I used it a couple of times already and it's perfect. I considered the Losmandy alternative but it's still a mount and too heavy. The polarie fits in your pocket and it's set up in 1mn or so. I'm taking it to the eclipse with me as I'll be flying in.
Brilliant Marc - that's just what I wanted to hear. Good decision then. I spoke to Mike this morning as well, and he's very happy with his too. It has a 3.5kg payload limit, and my OM-D plus Tak FS60-C with camera angle adjuster and flattener/reducer weighs in at 2.7kg. Perfect. With lenses - less than half that - around 1.1kg with grip.
Sorry to divert your thread Andrew - it wasn't the intention.
Brilliant Marc - that's just what I wanted to hear. Good decision then. I spoke to Mike this morning as well, and he's very happy with his too. It has a 3.5kg payload limit, and my OM-D plus Tak FS60-C with camera angle adjuster and flattener/reducer weighs in at 2.7kg. Perfect. With lenses - less than half that - around 1.1kg with grip.
Sorry to divert your thread Andrew - it wasn't the intention.
well i have all three now - each has a place and use Astrotrac, polarie and the Starlapse
well i have all three now - each has a place and use Astrotrac, polarie and the Starlapse
So what different places do they have David? All I want is to spin a camera around for a few minutes - or to keep an object in basic view for a couple of hours. What specific feature of each isn't available from the others?
So what different places do they have David? All I want is to spin a camera around for a few minutes - or to keep an object in basic view for a couple of hours. What specific feature of each isn't available from the others?
load , capacity and rotation - you guessed it. as too portability and flexibility for different needs.
Just curious, as I will be seeing Scott in a couple of weeks. Would starlapse owners and would be owners be interested in a Losmandy tripod dedicated to starlapse heads? How much would you pay? Or is the current use of a photo tripod enough?
BTW Scott did not want to make the product. I hassled him for years, but given his very clever implementation and subsequent popularity of the end product I'm very pleased he capitulated
.