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GEM advice

Started by jayrickerts, 12/26/2009 08:38PM
Posted 12/26/2009 08:38PM Opening Post
Hello all,
I'd welcome some opinions.
Currently, I piggyback a William Optics 80mm on my NexStar 11 GPS. I'll put the whole beast on the Celestron Heavy Duty wedge and try some DSLR photos thru the refractor. The camera is controlled by Nebulosity, and I use the NS11 as the guide scope (I have very little patience for the tiny margins of error allowed to at f10 or even f6 with a reducer) I autoguide with PHD. It all works fine, but my aching back tells me I need to start thinking about retiring the NS11 to permanent alt az duty, sell the wedge, and find an easier to handle GEM to carry the refractor. Any ideas what to shop for? A go-to option would be nice, but not required. Granted, I'd love to put that little devil on a Paramount ME, but I got laid off last year and funds are tight! Thanks for the wisdom!
Clear Skies!
Posted 12/27/2009 04:15PM #1
Hi Jay,
Well, if you are going to use the WO 80 as the imager I assume you will need a guide scope too?
If you had $2200-2500 then I would suggest a Used Losmandy G-11. It will handle far for weight than you intend to use, but it will also perform well with low PE and has a nice ST-4 guide port which make that part easy. There have been a few for sale here lately. Those without the Gemini Go-To have sold quite cheap and those with Gemini have been low priced too.
The Losmandy GM-8 would also work, though it is lighter and the tripod not as solid as the G-11.
The great thing about the Losmandy, is you can get parts for it if you need them. Many other mounts this is not possible or difficult and you are required to send in the whole mount for the repair, which makes shipping expensive.

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