Which to buy? CGE Pro or Paramount ME...

terrynz (Terence) · #1 21-12-2009, 10:47 AM

Folks,

I have a conundrum. Wanting to get the best mount possible and having the required premission units from my better half, I've put the deposit on a Paramount ME mount.

I'm now trhinking.... hey the CGE Pro is getting good reviews and for the money I'm about to spend, maybe the CGE PRO EdgeHD-14 combo is the way to go.

I currently use a CGE1100XLT and the only fault has been the cables. My gut feeling is spend the money, get the Paramount ME - al my worries sorted. But I keeping thinking there'll be change from the CGEProEdgeHD-1400 combo for other equipement.

So any thoughts or recommendations would be greatly welcome. Yes I can get most of my deposit back.

cheers
Terry

gbeal · #2 21-12-2009, 11:07 AM

No contest, even from a severe tightwad like me, and bearing in mind I have had neither mounts.
Don't waver from your present course, stick with the PME.
Gary

lhansen (Lars) · #3 21-12-2009, 11:47 AM

I agree with Gary

The PME is in a class of its own IMHO

I've heard it said (somewhere) that at least 60% of your budget should be spent on the mount.

Regards

Lars

Doomsayer · #4 21-12-2009, 01:15 PM

No doubt there'll be more people pipe in re the PME - Lars is correct.
I know there is a another NZ forum member near Auckland - Jason - he might even be able to show you one in action. They can take a big scope - a number have 20" Ritcheys on them - that's around a 4m focal length and are capable of tracking unguided for a significant time with such a focal length. Its ability to 'home' is another significant feature. The mount ceases to be an issue in the imaging equation with the PME and is in my opinion worth every penny.

The main disadantages of the PME (ignoring cost) are the meridian flip and complete reliance on a PC for all operation, unlike its man established competitor, the AP1200.

guy

terrynz (Terence) · #5 21-12-2009, 02:18 PM

Yeah, i guess this is just buyers remorse setting in, thinking I could do more with less. Or an I'm just kidding myself?

With careful use, how long would the PME last carrying a a 16" CDK with rich field refractor, camera's, cables and filterwheels?

Terry

multiweb (Marc) · #6 21-12-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrynz

Yeah, i guess this is just buyers remorse setting in, thinking I could do more with less. Or an I'm just kidding myself?

With careful use, how long would the PME last carrying a a 16" CDK with rich field refractor, camera's, cables and filterwheels?

Terry

Sounds like santa's sleigh is not going to make it off the ground.

TrevorW · #7 21-12-2009, 06:16 PM

If you've got the money buy the best

the other possibilities are

Chronos Mount
AP

would only consider buying the Celestron pro mount if it was about the cost of a G11

Paul Haese · #8 23-12-2009, 11:01 AM

No contest PME. The Celestron mount is fine but no comparison between the two mount.

If you are going to spend 13,000 on a mount but don't want to spend the sort of money needed on the PME, then Tak make good mounts too.

If I was going to do it all again I would buy a PME first and foremost.

terrynz (Terence) · #9 23-12-2009, 12:45 PM

Yes, I think I'll stick this out and stop worrying about this purchase. I know to issues had with the CGE, G11 and EQ6 and everytime they do something odd I think... I should have just brought a AP1200 or PME.

PME it is then.

netwolf · #10 23-12-2009, 03:27 PM

PME, as others have said if you can afford it thats the best. I also like the AP1200 very much as it provides for standalone field use when required.

And plus I would never advise anyone to pay the local absurd pricing for Celestron due to there distributor.

Ken · #11 23-12-2009, 04:43 PM

Terry might as well consider the Losmandy Titan for $8999 from Bintel as well.
Clear skies Ken

Zaps · #12 23-12-2009, 04:47 PM

There's the ASA direct drive mounts too, although they aren't exactly "budget priced". Extremely nice equipment.

AlexN · #13 23-12-2009, 04:49 PM

PME out of those two.. If spending that kind of money I'd go for the AP1200GTO... Plain and simple, Unless you're looking for something robotic that you can leave in an observatory and log into via the internet, the PME is probably overkill.. The AP1200 is cheaper, more portable, will handle damn near the same load and the quality/precision is reportedly very similar...

I wouldn't buy the CGE Pro over something like the Losmandy Titan, or the Mountain Instruments MI-250... Again, similar price to the CGE Pro, but both HIGH quality mounts, not flashy toys with over the top price tags..

Bassnut (Fred) · #14 23-12-2009, 07:08 PM

Also, thing is about the PME, there is huge software support for it, many apps have dedicated drivers (thru The Sky). You dont see them come up S/H much, because theres no upgrade to anything else (non pro)!. It also has thru-the-mount wiring, I dont know if the AP1200 has that, big bonus. Both the PME and AP1200 are probably too heavy for regular portable use, and anyway as far as standalone use goes, a lappie in the field is no extra burdon after lugging a mount like that. The PME has a Joystick contoller too, so at a pinch that could be used to slew around without a PC.

AlexN · #15 23-12-2009, 07:33 PM

The AP1200 has through the mount cabling Fred.. The only reason I say that the AP1200 is more portable is that it spilts into two halves, the RA and Dec assembly. Each of these halves are less than 25kgs (from memory) so easily handled by most able bodied people...

You dont see many pro/semi pro imagers using anything other than the PME or AP mounts...

As for the ASA DDM mounts, I think I'd wait until I see real world performance before comparing it to an AP or PME... On paper, they look the goods, but until there are some real world results (read : Unguided 10min exposures with a decent load on them) I think the PME and AP mounts are the top mounts to consider.

Bassnut (Fred) · #16 23-12-2009, 07:58 PM

Well, Rob Greaves sold his PME and bought an AP1200 because it was more portable, so there you go.

Going by the drama with ASA tubes, and the way they handled problems, I wouldnt go within a bulls roar of an ASA mount untill it had some serious positive user feedback.

netwolf · #17 23-12-2009, 08:02 PM

The Paramount total weight is listed as 29.5kg.

The AP details are

Quote:

Equatorial head: 81 lbs. (36.7 kg), Dec axis is 31 lbs. (14.1kg), RA axis is 50 lbs. (22.7kg)
Counterweight shaft: 14 lbs. (6.4kg)

AlexN · #18 23-12-2009, 08:05 PM

Indeed Fred.. Real world results from end users are required on any big ticket item I think... If we hadn't seen a million beautiful shots from the PME or the AP mounts we wouldn't sing their praises.. There are plenty of fine examples of 10min unguided images from the PME at moderate (sub 1500mm) focal lengths.. That right there is reason enough to consider them a serious serious bit of equipment.. As yet I've seen nothing but a short video of an ASA mount slewing about at a ridiculous rate and the product spec sheet... Neither of which would encourage me to touch the mount with a 10ft pole... And as you say, their customer support regarding some of the issues with the newtonian astrograph scopes was very poor, even somewhat non-existent... Whilst some people are getting tremendous results from the scopes, as it is with so many products... One negative report weighs in heavier than 10 good ones...

Bassnut (Fred) · #19 23-12-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by netwolf

The Paramount total weight is listed as 29.5kg.

The AP details are

I lugged mine up a hill to the OBS, .......... once, wouldnt want to do that more than.......once

. I might have risked lifting it on to the pier by myself, but didnt, and glad I didnt. Lugging is bad enough, lifting onto a tripod regularly?, nah, youd need Mike Sidonio as a best mate

AlexN · #20 23-12-2009, 08:32 PM

The AP1200 is 56kgs in total (including the CW shaft) The RA assembly is 14kgs, the DEC assembly is 36kgs and the CW shaft is 6kgs.. It is a big boy alright, but with a 140lb (63kg) load capacity, its a heavy hitter too..

The best part - There is no longer an AP1200GTO wait list... Direct order! Order - And you shall receive.

I got an E-mail a few months back as I was on the list, however my name came up about 2 years before I had expected, and clearly, 2 years before you're expecting the e-mail, you dont have the cash lying about...

Still wondering what the best course of action is... AP900/AP1200.. similar price, vast difference in load capacity, but am I ever going to NEED the AP1200's capacity.. Ummm... Ahh... What to do what to do...