RE: [APML] Opinions: GP-DX or GM-8

["Thom Iwancio" <tiwancio@sc.rr.com>]

Alen,
My friends think I am the master of the low cost / high tech solution.
Basically I have a CG-5 (GP wanna-be) with the Mel Bartels goto system
which carries an Orion 8XT f6 OTA that I took from its dob mount.  It
has also been known to  carry a 6x30 finder, Telrad, JMI NGF2" focuser,
80mm f10 SCT guidescope, 2"Lumicon newt off axis guider,pigyyback Pentax
K with 200mm telephoto all at the same time.  This is a lot of weight!.
The point to all this is that I am able to get pretty reasonable results
from a mount known for its notoriously cheap quality while carrying well
over twice the recommended load.

Based on my results I believe the GP-DX would be fine for any of your
proposed combinations.  The key is in fine tuning and balancing
everything very meticulously.  Keep in mind however that my setup is on
a permanent pier and not a tripod.  I think the GM-8 is a much more
accurate mount but the question would be how necessary is the goto?  The
Gemini option would be substantially more than the Sky Sensor.  

I would invite you to take a look at my setup and some recent CCD and
older film images:
http://home.sc.rr.com/thomiwancio/

http://www.minorplanetsearch.com/thomspics.html

Regards,

Thom Iwancio
Elgin, SC
www.machunter.org
 
-----Original Message-----
From: astro-photo-bounces@seds.org [mailto:astro-photo-bounces@seds.org]
On Behalf Of Alen Koebel
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 1:37 PM
To: APML
Subject: [APML] Opinions: GP-DX or GM-8

I hope this is not off-topic. I am planning to buy a
GP-DX with SkySensor 2000-PC for light-duty astro-
photography. Another option for me would be a GM-8
(without the Gemini GoTo). I'm looking for opinions.

Basically, I want something that isn't too big and
daunting to setup just for telephoto lens shots with
a small guide refractor, but on the other hand isn't
too wimpy to handle, say, a C8 with a light-weight 
CCD rig, either in the Fastar focus position or with 
a focal reducer at Cassegrain focus. (I don't think
I'll be doing any film work with the C8.) I am also
considering using it - for film and/or CCD- with 
either a Meade LXD55 6" Schmidt-Newtonian OTA 
(more-or-less equivalent to the older MTS-SN6 model
I have now) or Vixen's ED114SS refractor. (I'm
favoring the 6" S-N because it's a lot cheaper, 
should give good images if its anything like my 
MTS-SN6, and at 13 lbs. weighs only a little bit more
than a C8.) 

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