My wife offered me 5 k ... - AstroGab2024-03-29T11:38:13Zhttp://astrogab.ning.com/forum/topics/my-wife-offered-me-5-k?id=6354305%3ATopic%3A30396&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHi Samiam,
I was reading thro…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-06-22:6354305:Comment:625022011-06-22T22:17:58.928ZKevin Galkahttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/KevinGalka
Hi Samiam,<br />
I was reading through this thread and I agree with people about getting a beefier mount. The difference between the CGEM and the CGEM DX is the tripod, which comes from the CGE Pro, which brings it in line for capacity with the older CGE (45lbs I believe). The capacity of the CGE Pro in 90lbs.<br />
Before you buy the 10" astrograph from Orion ask around about it, it's a rather large scope and I think on a CGEM DX you might be pushing the mount beyond it's limit, which ends up causing a…
Hi Samiam,<br />
I was reading through this thread and I agree with people about getting a beefier mount. The difference between the CGEM and the CGEM DX is the tripod, which comes from the CGE Pro, which brings it in line for capacity with the older CGE (45lbs I believe). The capacity of the CGE Pro in 90lbs.<br />
Before you buy the 10" astrograph from Orion ask around about it, it's a rather large scope and I think on a CGEM DX you might be pushing the mount beyond it's limit, which ends up causing a lot of frustration.<br />
Now don't get me wrong you can photograph with a setup like that, heck I started with a Meade 10" SCT on an LXD75 mount, it was way past the mounts limit but I was able to get some images :) But once I upgraded to a CGE Pro it was a world of difference and the very first image I took with the pro was light years beyond anything I obtained with my old setup.<br />
A DSLR can give you some pretty nice images (even if it's not modified) while a decent CCD starts at around $2K. I currently use a Canon XSi for all my imaging and while I would like to upgrade to a CCD I'm still pleased with what I obtain with the Canon.<br />
As for the optics... you'll end up going through several of those if you end up like most of us in this hobby :) So just start with what you have. On a mount like a CGE Pro (or better) you could take subs (individual images) well over 20 minutes using something like an 80mm scope (or I think you mentioned a 150mm as well).<br />
It may not seem like your getting much by dumping everything on a mount as it's only one piece of equipment, but it's deffinitely worth it in the long run as the mount is the single most important piece of equipment you can own for imaging.<br />
<br />
Kevin ask her what she broketag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-06-02:6354305:Comment:562092011-06-02T17:53:09.966ZBob Blackhttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/BobBlack
ask her what she broke
ask her what she broke Losmandy has it's new Gemini…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-05-30:6354305:Comment:538352011-05-30T22:08:01.872ZDave Lanehttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/DaveLane
Losmandy has it's new Gemini 2 out which will have most of the features people are looking for on a Software Bisque model without the price tag. The Gemini 2 is out and is basically beta at best so problems you may have seen my be related to that. The G11 Gemini 1 was a pretty solid mount. Sold my Celestrons mounts to get a Titan and a G11. Mygemini 2 is on the way but it's going to be 30-60 days before the software is totally ironed out for astrophotograpy.
Losmandy has it's new Gemini 2 out which will have most of the features people are looking for on a Software Bisque model without the price tag. The Gemini 2 is out and is basically beta at best so problems you may have seen my be related to that. The G11 Gemini 1 was a pretty solid mount. Sold my Celestrons mounts to get a Titan and a G11. Mygemini 2 is on the way but it's going to be 30-60 days before the software is totally ironed out for astrophotograpy. I used to have a Losmandy GM-…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-05-30:6354305:Comment:540012011-05-30T20:55:11.118ZGreg Marshallhttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/GregMarshall
I used to have a Losmandy GM-8 and liked it a lot, except for the load capacity. So the G11 was a natural choice for me, but my research into it returned very mixed results, with some people very happy and others very disappointed. The issue is pretty much always how well it tracks and the unhappy users claim that the rate of change in RA motion is too large to overcome by auto-guiding. I have to conclude that these mounts are inconsistent, with some good ones and some bad ones.<br />
<br />
Of course, the…
I used to have a Losmandy GM-8 and liked it a lot, except for the load capacity. So the G11 was a natural choice for me, but my research into it returned very mixed results, with some people very happy and others very disappointed. The issue is pretty much always how well it tracks and the unhappy users claim that the rate of change in RA motion is too large to overcome by auto-guiding. I have to conclude that these mounts are inconsistent, with some good ones and some bad ones.<br />
<br />
Of course, the other thing about Losmandy mounts that most people agree on is that the software and user interface are very outdated. But I heard that an update to the Gemini system was in the works. Do you know if that's true? I love Losmandy's G11 can go…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-05-30:6354305:Comment:535832011-05-30T16:28:36.449ZDave Lanehttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/DaveLane
I love Losmandy's G11 can go to 60 lbs at about $3K with Gemini. Its a high quality mount. Might be able to get used for $2k or so.
I love Losmandy's G11 can go to 60 lbs at about $3K with Gemini. Its a high quality mount. Might be able to get used for $2k or so. I've been wondering about the…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-05-24:6354305:Comment:509152011-05-24T04:22:49.756ZGreg Marshallhttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/GregMarshall
I've been wondering about the motors in the CGE Pro. Have you taken a peek at them?
I've been wondering about the motors in the CGE Pro. Have you taken a peek at them? I got the cge pro. Massive up…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-05-24:6354305:Comment:509072011-05-24T00:24:53.897ZCharles Dunlophttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/CharlesDunlop
I got the cge pro. Massive upgrade over cgem. No issues to report here, works well at about fifty lbs.
I got the cge pro. Massive upgrade over cgem. No issues to report here, works well at about fifty lbs. See my review of the CGEM in…tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-05-24:6354305:Comment:500542011-05-24T00:16:31.343ZGreg Marshallhttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/GregMarshall
See my review of the CGEM in the "Equipment Review" group. CGEM DX uses the exact same motors and very likely the same firmware. CGE Pro also probably has the same firmware issue, but I don't know anything about the motors, beyond that they are servos.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, it is Celestron's service department that is the main reason I wouldn't recommend their products.<br />
<br />
Greg
See my review of the CGEM in the "Equipment Review" group. CGEM DX uses the exact same motors and very likely the same firmware. CGE Pro also probably has the same firmware issue, but I don't know anything about the motors, beyond that they are servos.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, it is Celestron's service department that is the main reason I wouldn't recommend their products.<br />
<br />
Greg ummmmmmm whoa now.tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-05-23:6354305:Comment:507032011-05-23T22:08:02.714ZCharles Dunlophttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/CharlesDunlop
ummmmmmm whoa now.
ummmmmmm whoa now. nothing : (tag:astrogab.ning.com,2011-05-23:6354305:Comment:506122011-05-23T21:15:32.247Zsamiamhttp://astrogab.ning.com/profile/samiam
nothing : (
nothing : (