Thanks for all the input guys. Now that I have decided on the 9.25 OTA I am trying to decide on the GPS model or the Advanced Series GT. Have never used a German style mount before. I have only owned a fork mount. I am sure everyone has an opinon as to which they would choose. Also I noticed the 9.25 GPS does not accept the Fastar is this something that I would regret later? Yes these are newbie questions but where else can one get enough info to make an intelligent decision.
C 9.25 Mount???
Started by dsmall, 08/02/2003 11:32PM
Posted 08/02/2003 11:32PM
Opening Post
Posted 08/03/2003 12:18AM
#1
For visual use the Nexstar GPS version will be much quicker and easier to set up, though the lightest component will be heavier than either GEM version. It should also be much more stable than the ASC GEM. There's no track record for the ASC as an imaging platform - that OTA might stress it enough to prevent long exposures, in which case the Nexstar version will look better yet.
John
John
Posted 08/03/2003 01:13AM
#2
Derek,
I have been considering a C9.25 as well. With a GEM, you might consider either the Losmandy GM8 or G11. The GM8 is more portable and would be ok for visual use, but the G11 is more beefy.
There may be a Fastar version of the C9.25 coming out soon. There is a thread on the C9.25 Yahoo group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/C9-25/
I have been considering a C9.25 as well. With a GEM, you might consider either the Losmandy GM8 or G11. The GM8 is more portable and would be ok for visual use, but the G11 is more beefy.
There may be a Fastar version of the C9.25 coming out soon. There is a thread on the C9.25 Yahoo group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/C9-25/
Posted 08/03/2003 06:38PM
#3
I'm not 100% sure, but let's call it 99% sure (I haven't seen one in person), that if you DO decide to put in a fastar, it is done by REPLACING the secondary mirror with the fastar unit. That means, your scope is no longer a visual scope but more like a camera lens only. If you have some means of looking at the image like a computer screen, then you can see what's going on but plan on having yet another scope with yet another set of similar decisions to go though if you want to do stargazing...while the other scope is imaging.
In my opinion (you asked for it), you can play with imaging with piggy backing a camera on either scope you are considering, or mounting a digital camera up to the eyepiece and play with stacking etc...like the image of the day (8/3/03) in the left hand menu bar today. And have a great visual scope (just put photography to the side for now or get your feet wet with either scope).
You will not do any publishable photography with this set up. For that kind of photography, it's all about the mount...and we're talking about $2000 at least JUST FOR THE MOUNT. Whether Celestron CGE or Losmandy G-11, the scope almost doesn't matter after that
just stick a camera by itself and a telephoto lens on a tracking mount like that and you'll be worlds better than fastar on a lower end mount.
So go visual and have fun. For visual use and ease of setup and alignment, of the 2 scopes you mentioned, probably the Nexstar is easier. GEMs are a little complicated to figure out for beginners, nor is it rocket science. However as others have said, the 9.25 will probably be a little shakey on the 'advanced' series mount, wheras it is solid on the Nexstar mount. I think you would save money on the advanced though at first, but if you get picky about vibrations and settling and wind and such, you will start tinkering with it and probably want to upgrade it, making it possibly more expensive than the nexstar in the long run, which you will probably just plain be happy with as is.
Even more 2 cents for you.
Tom.
In my opinion (you asked for it), you can play with imaging with piggy backing a camera on either scope you are considering, or mounting a digital camera up to the eyepiece and play with stacking etc...like the image of the day (8/3/03) in the left hand menu bar today. And have a great visual scope (just put photography to the side for now or get your feet wet with either scope).
You will not do any publishable photography with this set up. For that kind of photography, it's all about the mount...and we're talking about $2000 at least JUST FOR THE MOUNT. Whether Celestron CGE or Losmandy G-11, the scope almost doesn't matter after that
just stick a camera by itself and a telephoto lens on a tracking mount like that and you'll be worlds better than fastar on a lower end mount.So go visual and have fun. For visual use and ease of setup and alignment, of the 2 scopes you mentioned, probably the Nexstar is easier. GEMs are a little complicated to figure out for beginners, nor is it rocket science. However as others have said, the 9.25 will probably be a little shakey on the 'advanced' series mount, wheras it is solid on the Nexstar mount. I think you would save money on the advanced though at first, but if you get picky about vibrations and settling and wind and such, you will start tinkering with it and probably want to upgrade it, making it possibly more expensive than the nexstar in the long run, which you will probably just plain be happy with as is.
Even more 2 cents for you.
Tom.
