[APML] Of Mounts and Men

[Rex Moore <RMoore@fool.com>]

Hi again, everyone. If you'll remember, I asked everyone here their opinions
on the $529.00
Orion SkyView Deluxe 8 EQ Reflector, especially for bare-bones basic prime
focus work. Most of the answers involved the mount: "Not with that mount."

http://www.telescope.com/cgi-bin/OrionTel.storefront/3c94df8403c3534a2719c0a
80a6506d9/Product/View/A319


How, I wondered, could people tell that at a glance, especially since the
mount was described as sturdy (of course). 

I've since purchased Covington's book, and searched through this list's
archives, but I've not yet run across a good description of the *different
types* of German equatorial mounts. For instance, this Celestron G-8N 8"
Reflector looks like a good value for $500:

http://www.adorama.com/details.tpl?cart=1016334412376648&sku=CNG8N&disp_main
-category=Binoculars%20%26%20Telescopes&disp_category=Telescopes&disp_Sub-Ca
tegory=Reflectors


The GEM is described as "CG-5," but how can I tell how good that is for
prime focus work? Is there a good place that lists the different types, and
tells how much weight they can handle?

Thanks,

Rex

--  APML Archives at <http://astro.umsystem.edu/apml/>  ---
             Unsubscribe at <majordomo@seds.org>