New Mount for Astrophotography ~ 9-12Kgs of Instruments Payload - Forums

Topic starter

Sep 16, 2021 · Edited: Sep 17, 2021

Good afternoon to all,

I'm planning an upgrade on my EQ5 mod mount on which her's maximum payload equipment of 13Kgs. She's an entry mount but with modifications on the gears, grease and GoTo system.
My currently optical setup all mounted, weights around 9kgs, but with cameras, cables, motor focus and filter wheels, OAG, I think it can go up to 12kgs.
One of my imaging telescopes on that setup works with focal lenghs from 2032mm for planetary, down to 1280mm and with hypserstar 400mm, beside the guidescopes and a small refractor of 300mm, etc.

My question is: I'm thinking in an upgrade of the mount who I can do imaging confortably without too many flaws on the tracking. I would like to do for examples at least 1280mm in galaxies without complaning in the stars / tracking. This is to be a permanent setup on the observatory that I'm building.

I'm thinking about two or three mounts for this. The Avalon Instruments Linear Fast Reverse WiFi with a payload of around 25kgs (I love this mount btw) but is pricey, the iOptron CEM 70G with a maximum payload of 31kgs and the resoneable price (I love the lightweigt head and the GoTo accuracy system, besides of the compatibility in drivers etc.), the classing Software Bisque Paramount MyT with a payload of 23kgs (even more pricey than the Avalon, but I love the self guiding system) or a Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro which goes in maximum payload of 20kgs.

If you have other ideias of mounts who can fufill the specifications above, fire it up. I must warn that money can be an issue above the 3000 euros, but maybe doable. Oh, and my observatory is build with a dome rotary roof using a concrete pier with all the connections for power, video, ethernet and USB connections, besides the ST4 doors etc, for been done and operated in the lower floor by the computers.

Clear skys to all,

Cesar

Mina B.

Sep 16, 2021 · Edited: Sep 16, 2021

Why not a CEM120 then if it‘s installed on a permanent pier in an observatory? Cheaper than the two premium mounts, amazing payload capacity and better than EQ6/CEM70.

Or check out a Losmandy G11G, might fit your profile as well and maybe you can snatch a good deal used.

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Observatório Astrográfico do Boqueirão

Topic starter

Sep 16, 2021

I'll check the CEM120

The Losmandy, they are great in terms of mechanic, but from what I've heard, they are a little outdated in the GoTo department. But I'll definitly check the CEM120

Thank you

Scott Badger

Sep 17, 2021

I'm in the same boat (currently have a CGEM) and had pretty much narrowed it down to the 120. Not sure I'll ever need that kind of payload, but my home site is a bit windy and when I have the dew shield on my C9.25, it's like a frick'n spinnaker! Even if you sneeze in its direction…. Anyhow, I thought the 120 would help with that but I'm not quite ready for a permanent pier, and backorder issues for anything that would work otherwise, so I called Ioptron to see what they thought would work. The gentleman I spoke with actually talked me out of the 120, saying that it really wants to be a permanent setup, but also that there wasn't much advantage over the 70 other than payload capacity and the 70 would be just as wind resistant, so if I didn't need the payload, go with the 70. I also asked about the EC versions, but his opinion was that unless I wanted to image without auto-guiding, the encoders weren't worth the extra cost.

Took me a bit to get through to someone on the phone, but very impressed with the straight forward answers I got. He probably could have sold me a higher priced mount, and one they had in stock, right then, but talked me into a lower priced one that I'll wait a bit to order because it's currently out of stock everywhere (rather than wait, decided to nurse the CGEM along a bit longer and replace my DSLR with a 268M instead

).

Cheers,
Scott

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Sean van Drogen

Sep 17, 2021

Have been contemplating between the 70 and 120 myself. From reading the various reviews and so on the 70(g) version is not worth the additional spend compared to the regular 70. If i recall correctly the 120 offers most of those additional options on the G as standard. Have landed on the 120 myself as soon as i have the opportunity to start on my permanent observatory which is at least a year out, which given supply times is fine. I also like the idea of having a lot of load capacity to spare for whatever next big scope i might want to put on it in the future.

Michel Makhlouta

Sep 17, 2021

I upgraded to the Linear from a CGEM DX. I have been using the Avalon Linear mount for over a year now, closer to two. It's rated for 20KG for astrophotography, so you might do well with the m-zero? 20KG for AP is 20KG here, some people have pushed it further even.

I got it with the t-pod 110 and I have used it with the Esprit 120, as well as EHD 8". It's a beautiful mount, it works and does its job, I haven't had any issues with it, it just works.

Now you have two things to consider. First, the mount is simple, no bells and whistles like cable management, it's a mount, it works, and they kept it as simple as it could have been. And if you're using a long refractor, you might want to either get a tri-pier from somewhere or the pier extension they sell to avoid bumps between your scope and the tripod.

it has two weaknesses by design. It's a bit sensitive to wind and borderline useless unless you're imaging with a widefield telescope (i.e. my 80mm refractor), and you must guide, it's not optional with this mount design.

The reason I went with it is because it is marketed as zero maintenance. I live in a place where there aren't any local stores, and any issues with it or maintenance is required, I am on my own, which I am not very good at. Plus, it's light, and zero backlash.

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Observatório Astrográfico do Boqueirão

Topic starter

Sep 18, 2021

Great input guys.. honest

I might consider the iOptron 120. But I think a payload like the CEM70 is more than enough. Sean and Michel. Thank you for helping the inputs on the Avalon regarding the wind (I live in a windy area - Azores), guiding and the diferences on the CEM70 and CEM70G. I though initially the CEM70 for the price, but the Wifi option of the G caught my eye. But if you say so, I believe you.

Btw.. there's any calculations that we can do regarding the maximum payload for Visual and Astrophotography what we can do, having the mount maximum payload and the setup weight?

Thank you all,

Regards

Cesar

Stjepan Prugovečki

Sep 18, 2021

I do have CEM70G , most of the time mounted on a pier, but I take it with me occasionally.
I have SW Esprit 120 and SCT EDGE HD 8". With dew shield out and photo gear Esprit gets quite long. Anyway both telescopes are just a piece of a cake for this mount from the payload perspective. Even with very conservative point of view 20kg for photo is not too much for this mount. (32kg max) . With my setup guiding is always below 0.65 " (RMS) , it is just chasing the wind or seeing. it is almost always windy where I am (at least 2-3 m/s) .
I like the cable management with USB and 12V power hubs , as well as "auto home search" routine , resulting with excellent go to positioning .
G version has built in autoguider 30mm. Although it could get handy , with minimum or no flexture, it is a bit clumsy to focus . I tried refractor with 660 mm FL. It does work , but would not go with much larger FL . All in all, it is handy , could serve the purpose, but perhaps not worth the price difference between G and non G version.
WiFi is nice and it works well, but be aware that just mount itself communicates via WiFi.
Autoguider (G version) and iPolar polar alignment camera require wired ( USB) connection.
As the mount has hub with 3 USB ports , would have been nice if everything that is connected to those ports ( i.e. camera, focuser, filter wheel) is reachable via WiFi, but is unfortunately not. So at least one USB cable is needed (unless you use Asiair or Stellarmate or something similar) .
Polar aligment with iPolar is quick and easy, however it is not as accurate as for example Sharpcap polar alignment routine, so I do final polar alignment with Sharpcap ( it gets down to less than 1' easily )
All in all , I can recommend CEM70. Whether G or not, it is a personal choice, whether you want easy, no hassle guider or really accurate and precise one or both (as in my case) .
Good luck with your choice and clear sky !

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