iOptron CEM60 - do people like it? - Forums

Topic starter

Oct 25, 2020

Hi all,

I'm looking to upgrade my mount and I have my eye on the iOptron CEM60 with encoders. Coincidentally or not I've seen some outstanding pictures presented here using this mount. The heaviest scope I'm likely to use it for is an 8" Newt with a typical equipment load (cameras, guide scope, etc).

So what are peoples' experiences? Would you recommend to a beginner/intermediate photographer? I'm also interested specifically in how easy auto-guiding is with this mount. I've not been able to get my EQ6 to work for auto-guiding (despite it being otherwise flawless) - I hope that the iOptron will simply work.

Thanks all!
NMC.

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Darren (DMach)

Oct 26, 2020 · Edited: Oct 26, 2020

Hi NMC,

I could really only comment from a planetary imaging perspective and, given you're looking at getting encoders and talk about auto guiding, I assume you're think deep space.

I did play around with some basic DSO imaging using my 6" SCT and the CEM60 was able to track very accurately without much effort. (I don't have encoders btw). But then it should be able to handle that weight easily lol.

Main thing I would say about the CEM60 is that you get value for money features-wise. But there are some trade-offs inevitably, e.g. build quality/materials (paint flaking off, some areas of rust). To be fair though, this was more true off the tri-pier than the mount itself.

EDIT: for my primary use (planetary imaging) the C11 is right on the weight limit for this mount I would say … quite sensitive to even gentle gusts if wind.

Darren

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wsg

Oct 26, 2020

NMC. I have a CEM60 that has been fully set up on a Tri-pier and now a permanent pier, for a total slightly over 3 years. It is the non EC model. I have had occasional unguided subs close to 3 minutes with near perfect stars and never an issue with tracking. The mount has some quirks related to setting the time of day and daylight savings time, and also parking vs"zero position"confusion, but these are first time set issues that are easy to solve and understand. My heaviest payload is around 30 pounds and is no problem in the slightest for the CEM60.

Scott
https://www.astrobin.com/5ci7t3/C/?nc=user

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Benjamin Csizi

Oct 26, 2020

Hi NMC,

The CEM60 was my first mount that I used for astrophotography and I really like it. Autoguiding works fine with my setup, and even unguided subs are manageable up to 3min, like Scott said, if you have good polar alignment. I also really like the possibility to remove the polar scope and replace it with the iOptron iPolar inside of the mount. Although I cannot compare it to any other mounts, I would recommend it to anyone starting out with AP!

Benjamin

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NeedMoreCoffee

Topic starter

Oct 27, 2020

Thanks all for your thoughts!

Darren, yes deep space. For the foreseeable future I expect to be using nothing larger than my 8" Newtonian so hopefully from the weight perspective the CEM60 should be fine. That's interesting what you said about paint peeling off! I did not expect that. Don't think that's happened on any part of the EQ6. Still, not serious if that's the only problem.

Scott - good to hear all of that!

Benjamin - yes I heard the iPolar is nice to have too. Thanks for that reminder.

Cheers,
NMC.

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jamesastro

Oct 29, 2020

I use my CEM60 with a Skywatcher 200p so essentially identical and it is a joy to use although it is like a giant seeing monitor! On good nights mine will guide down < 0.5" RMS but on others it will be >1"; where I live it tends to average out around 0.6". It comes with a published PE curve so you know what you are getting, and when I run the PHD guiding assistant it informs me the backlash is too small to be measured which is also nice.

Through-mount cabling is also a massive upgrade over the EQ6/HEQ5 class of mounts. This does lead me onto my biggest gripe with the cem60, namely its built in usb2 hub. I wish iOptron had issued an upgrade which included usb3 but it looks like they did this with the cem70 instead.

Why are you looking at the CEM60 when the CEM70 is now the current model?

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NeedMoreCoffee

Topic starter

Oct 30, 2020

James - that is very interesting information. Thank you.

I was looking at the CEM60 because I didn't know the CEM70 existed!

I've now discovered there is a version of the CEM70 that comes with its own guide scope. Extremely convenient. There must be a catch somewhere. If not, this looks like the perfect mount for me.

Thanks again

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