SCT in a Fork or GEM? Pro's / Con's

I have decided definitvely that I will be upgrading to an 8-11 inch SCT. Looking in the used market and what it will cost to put a nice setup together for good general viewing and later astrophotography.

What are the differneces between buying a SCT OTA with a good tracking mount (HEQ-6) and USED units such as a fork mounted LX200 or CPC series unit.

Both setups appear to everlap in the cost area when pulling all the components together.

PRo's and Con's of either setup?

If you are a visual astronomer, go with the fork. If you plan on imaging, get a decent GEM.

Rolando

Thanks for the reply Rolando.

Why is the GEM better for the imaging?

Thanks

Victor Amadio said:

I have decided definitvely that I will be upgrading to an 8-11 inch SCT. Looking in the used market and what it will cost to put a nice setup together for good general viewing and later astrophotography.

What are the differneces between buying a SCT OTA with a good tracking mount (HEQ-6) and USED units such as a fork mounted LX200 or CPC series unit.

As Roland says, if you're a visual observer, go for the fork. At least if we are talking a go-to fork that can be operated in alt-az fashion. Nothing is more comfortable for visual use than that.

Imaging? Not so much. Pound for pound, my experience is that GEMs deliver the goods better and easier than forks. Not to say that forks can't take pictures and good ones--thousands of folks have taken thousands of shots with forks over the years. But, still, IMHO, things are easier with GEMs. You can also go as far quality-wise as your wallet and needs allow...whether that be the EQ6, a Losmandy, or one of Roland's excellent GEMs.

Remember, too, that unless you want to stick to very short exposures, you will have to put that fork on a wedge for imaging. That adds shakiness IMHO, even if you invest in a sufficient wedge (i.e. something better than what Meade and Celestron sell). Finally, I will never, ever go back to visual observing with a wedge mounted scope. Y-U-C-K! LOL

A GEM can be used with many different scope types. The fork mount can only be used with the type of scope it was designed to carry. Unless you are heavily into terrestrial viewing, the GEM will be by far the most versatile mount. The Atlas mount costs $1200 and rated to carry a 40 pound optical tube, but some people carry more than that if the OTA is short.

You can upgrade a GEM scope outfit by buying only a new OTA. You have to sell the entire fork mounted system and start over with an entire system if you want another type OTA. If you have a good computerized GEM, it is the only mount you need to learn to operate. A GEM can more easily balance added accessories to the scope. A GEM only has problems with terrestrial viewing.

Couple quick comments I did not see directly
addressed so far...

Both have various bugs for imaging. The GEM
will need to stop when the target is near meridian
(the point where it is best viewed),
and move the scope to the east side of the mount,
and then continue. You can generally plan
ahead for this interruption. But when things are
ugly and you are fighting bad seeing, clouds, etc.
its one more interruption you don't need.

Also the eyepiece and finder scopes can
end-up in awkward places on a GEM. If you
plan for comfortable viewing at the zenith,
maybe using a right angle finder, you might
need a step stool to reach the finder when
viewing say the west horizon.

On the other hand (as already stated) the
value of being able to mount different scopes
on a GEM cannot be overstated.

Fork mounts have the obvious problem that imaging
equipment on the back of the scope will hit the
mount when pointing up north. But probably there
is not so much to image up there.

There is also a wider range of GEMs available these
days. Many companies are making them, some to
very high specifications. In the "old days"
there were various fork mount drive upgrades
by Byers, etc., but that is mostly gone away now.
If you need a very accurate mount these days
(low periodic error, etc. for imaging) there are
many more GEM options than forks.

Victor Amadio said:

I have decided definitvely that I will be upgrading to an 8-11 inch SCT. Looking in the used market and what it will cost to put a nice setup together for good general viewing and later astrophotography.

What are the differneces between buying a SCT OTA with a good tracking mount (HEQ-6) and USED units such as a fork mounted LX200 or CPC series unit.

Both setups appear to everlap in the cost area when pulling all the components together.

PRo's and Con's of either setup?