Re: [APML] Mount for C-14 at a University

[Gene Horr <genehorr@texas.net>]

Tim Povlick wrote:

> Not sure why the poor Losmandy mounts received such a bad rating.
>  There are > many examples on the web of people using these for
> astro work, including me with about 55#s of equipment (shooting at 
> 1200mm focal length, f7.9).  

(1) There is a very large difference in error tolerances between
1200mm FL and 3000mm.

(2) The mounts cut a lot of corners in trying to keep price
down.  Parts like a clutch which are designed to last for the
life of the mount in higher end units need regular replacement
when used heavily in the Losmandy units.

(3) If the new units do not have permanent PEC this can get
to be a paint in a multi-user system especially if students are
using it.  Teaching imaging is hard enough without adding having
to train PEC before imaging each object.

It is less that Losmandy makes a bad mount but more that their
products are not designed for heavy duty multi-user abuse.  
Higher end amateur units like AP & Tak can take an incredible
amount of abuse and still keep working just fine for decades.

Gene Horr
genehorr@texas.net

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