Re: [APML] small AP mount (was: M42 at 300mm on new EQ6 mount)

[DBogan3220@aol.com]

>>Well it seems I opened a can of worms here! :-))

     Yes you did  :-)

>>    2) Money IS an issue, and you have to take into account that European 
>>market is more expensive and offers a poorer selection. Yet, I am striving 
>>to find the best tradeoff: the mount should easily support a 8" SCT with a 
>>guidescope and some additional stuff, my main goal being prime focus work 
>>with exposures up to (but not more than) 1 hour.


         This is going to be a problem a 8 inch sct with a 2000 mm focal length almost screams for a larger mount. Esp for up to 1 hour exposures


    >> Vixen GP-DX: $1850, perhaps still border-line.
>>Takahashi EM-10: $2150. Could be a good option, but I've never even touched 
>>it, so I don't know what it's like.


          The Vixen DX has real good matching worm and gear and will give good perfromance but for the scope you want to use I too would consider it borderline as well.

           The Tak EM-10 might be a better choice the quality is better but it too is a light weight mount again you would be borderline with this guy as well. 

             BTW I would consider 25 lbs to be the max for a Vixen DX or the Tak EM-10

         >>   Losmandy G11: $3100. This is my dream mount, but too expensive and >>perhaps 
>>a little hefty. The best would be finding a G11-class mount at the price of 
>>a GM-8!! :-))


              Its unfortunate that you can't get this mount the USA price of $1850
  the price you quote at $3100 is the list price in this country there is no way you can arm twist to get the price down?  This guy is basically what you want. The GM-8 is  a good choice at least it certainly sounds better than the Syntha mount.

>> Synta EQ-6: $1200. Very heavy,  perhaps mechanically not brilliant, but a 
real bang for the buck, especially compared to the others.


              I just learned that this mount is a spur gear mount and not a worm gear driven mount if that is true you are going to drive yourself crazy trying to guide with this puppy. I would keep my distance from this mount. 

              Based on the above to protect your sanity "I take it you don't have a Auto guider like the ST-4" A spur gear mount also known as the Random periodic error drive you crazy method of guiding. Celestron used to use this kind of drive system for there SCT's years ago. Changing to a byers gear and worm was a turn for the better as far as Celestron is concerned. That is what I have in my Ultima 9.25 SCT

              Well it looks like your going to choose between the GM-8, the Tak EM-10 or the Vixen DX. I have a friend who has a Tak EM-10 mount and likes it very much this I would suggest, are you absolutely certain you cannot get the G11 for a better price. You don't need the goto version the standard G11 is still available.

       Good luck

        Dwight L Bogan