SingAstro

its not really a debate..

elwaine (who started that thread) is a former AP900 owner. and he's happy with his iEQ45. that says a lot.

G11 - time tested mount. It has been used extensively by actual working astrophotographers (Jon kolb, Chris Cook, etc) and once tuned well, u can do 1500mm or lesser f.l. imaging with it effectively. Mine has a peak to peak Corrected PE of about 8-10arc-sec.

IEQ45 - value for money but so far as far as working astrophotographers using it effectively - none. Had an experience with one where the motor controls were totally not responsive. Note that one mustn't tighten the DEC four screws overly tight otherwise it will guide properly. There appears to be DEC issues as well and perfect balance of your mounted equipment is ill-advised, off balance a bit.

Atlas - effective and affordable mount. Check out Ivan Eder pictures taken with this mount. Also very popular in Oz. Needs tinkering and fine-tuning but will work well eventually for the money put in.

SXD - no experience. But looks like no notable imagers using it.

Conclusion: noticed that my comments value a lot of ensuring that respectable imagers use them effectively, and happily. This train of thought is practical since we will need a mount that is reliable and dependable. Nice looking mounts mean little, soon the beginner will realize. What is impt is a usable workhorse that provides predictable auto guiding behavior and easy to use/set up. Feel free to see my g11 in action in Punggai. Low usd now makes mount purchases timely if u have set your mind one.

Agreed that the G11 is a safe choice. However at this time the Gemini 2 computer is not available, so a purchase now would be a GoTo-less mount, then add the Gemini 2 a few months down the road for $1500 USD.

Which, as I've mentioned, is the price of an Atlas..

That said, the G11 is probably the least troublesome 20kg-rated mount under $5000. Of course it's way more expensive than the Chinese Trio.. if you don't mind used, G11's seem to go for around $1500 USD on the mart. And GM-8's for $1000. That makes them more attractive.

So.. if you have more time than money, go for an Atlas (or CGEM -- I've seen lots of good images in the CelestronCGEM yahoo group). Atlas probably safer, it uses a stepper drive which is more reliable and less troublesome than the CGEM servos (note: the GoTo-less G11 also uses steppers, dead-simple and reliable).

If you have more money than time but still want to stay under $5000, G11.

If you have lots of money, one of the Taks (EM200, EM400, or NJP) or the AP Mach1 will provide years of trouble-free service with no necessity to tweak.

for a start (into imaging), you might like to consider getting a rich-field refractor, and then u could start off with a smaller and manageable mount...the refractor doesn't need to be very good and colour-free, it is more to "soak in" the process of prime-focus imaging, before one embarks on >1000mm f.l. imaging, which can be daunting at first..

Since Punggai and my egg stars, I've gotten the flattener, learned how to drift-align, gotten a Canon DSLR, and replaced my DIY Meade motors on the GP with the MT-1/DD-1.

It should be more than enough for my 336mm focal length. Can't wait to go to Punggai again! but I heard the early-March new moon trip is already full?

yup.... latest update 53 people!

last heard still have a few slots available. can check directly with carole lol

10 chalets all fully booked for our people....some of us will be sleeping at the main building...the rest will be about 5 to one chalet, maybe even 6.... but it's gonna be a riot...8" refractor, solar scopes, etc...

Ok getting off topic..

Through my fumbling around on TripAdvisor I found this place called Loola Adventure Resort on Bintan Island.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review ... _Riau.html

http://www.loola.net/LooLa-new/index.html

It's on the far side of the island (not the one where Bintan Lagoon Resort is) and is quite dark. There is no electricity (they have a generator that they run at night only), no cellular phone coverage, and so on.

The Loola folks will pick you up from the Tanjung Pinang ferry terminal and take you back there as well.

The rate is 90 SGD per night twin-sharing, plus the ferry fare which I believe is 70 SGD round-trip. I wanted to go during CNY but one thing after another came up and my wife and I ended up staying home...

for a start (into imaging), you might like to consider getting a rich-field refractor, and then u could start off with a smaller and manageable mount...the refractor doesn't need to be very good and colour-free, it is more to "soak in" the process of prime-focus imaging, before one embarks on >1000mm f.l. imaging, which can be daunting at first..

Yes start small, like anything there is always a learning curve, small short fl refractor will have a fair chance of success. I am still shooting with small scope till now....lol...