Posts Made By: Don Joski

First of all, the beginning and end of the LXD650 review were rushed and done way too late at night. The review ended differently than I had desired but I couldn't do anything about it. Never finish a review at 3am. I feel I may have been a factor in somebody's decision to go with this mount and I need to set the record straight on my mount anyway.

I have but a simple desire that I've yet to satisfy. I would like to take one simple 30 second unguided exposure. Is that too much to ask for from this mount? The answer, so apparent to me now, is yes. I've just spent 6 hours outside with the mount. Thank God it was 50 degrees today in Green Bay so tonight was pretty nice, at least I didn't freeze. I've attempted the 30 second unguided exposure many a time and tonight is my limit. I can't be doing something wrong this many times. The night started out good - the alignment star was in finder fov. I proceeded throughout the night, about 12x, to do the precise polar alignment. Alignment star was in the small field of view of a crappy 8mm celestron plossl, dead center. Polaris was dead center by night's end as well. The goto was very dead on so I brought out the dslr, expecting or hoping to get at least a 30 second unguided exposure. To make my long story less long, it never happened. I've attached the best image I got from the evening. It's a 30 second image of Arcturus, cropped at 100%. Most of the images did have a bit of a trail. Also, the camera I use, XT, is pretty light. Balance wasn't an issue though I did remove the finder once to see if it helped. I figure with the TV camera adapter attached and the focus out 3/4 of the way that it had to be fairly equivilant to a 2" WO diagonal & 20mm swa ep, snuggly fit to ota.

In the past I've had way too many freeze ups. Often in declination the motor would get stuck. I took apart the top plates of the mount and tried to remove the grease with q-tips (I could only get q-tips in, only 1 plate was removed) and replaced with lithium grease. I think it actually helped as it only got stuck once. BTW, it got stuck in the summer as well so it's not the cold that's the problem, though I know it doesn't help.

Tell me wise and experienced astronomers - am I expecting too much from a mount? Is 30 seconds of unguided imaging crazy? I recall taking a some decent film photos with a Los GM8 unguided for nearly 1 whole minute. Another thing that irked me (notice I'm avoiding a swear word or two) is the manual says the precise polar alignment steps are necessary in order to take long exposure photos of 10 minutes or more! Who are they kidding? I can't even get in 30 f'ing seconds.

I'd appreciate it if somebody would let me know if they do think this sounds like a lemon. I'm not a complete idiot though I did believe I was incompentent enough for the last two months to think the inability to take one stinking 30 second photo was or is entirely my fault. For some reason now I'm not buying it. I think this mount sucks.

Yep. I still have the web page of my dream mount saved. A Parallax Instruments Series 125. Do you think I could get 30 seconds unguided with this mount? I do.

Lastly, I don't have a problem with the 102ed. I rather like the f/9 refractor. I'm following this up with a photo of Saturn taken with it, the XT and a 9.6 swa. Fortunately I think it was only a 1 sec exposure so it worked.

Peace.

I'm looking to purchase my last telescope for many years and have decided to finance one. Tec's are priced a little less but it sells without rings, finder and case unlike the Stellarvue. I think the advantage to the tec is the aperature at 140mm's. I can't seem to find the aperature for the SV5. It says 5" but not the millimeter size. Does that mean the width is 130mm or 125mm? It will be mounted to a G11. A mount question too, if you were buying your "dream" setup, would you get goto? It would add an extra k. I have plenty of time to figure this out. I won't purchase until next spring but it's fun to start investigating.

I plan to use it for visual use and for photography. The other telescopes I'm considering are TOA130, Borg 125, Tak FSQ106, WO110, Vixen 115ed and NP101. My top two choices are the TEC and Stellarvue. Advantage to the cheaper mounts is I could get a better autoguider and guide scope. I like the idea of an f/4 Borg but don't know much about their performance.

If you have some input, I appreciate it.

Don

I may purchase a new 114ed & Sphinx mount for $4500 including shipping. The setup includes 2 eps, flip mirror, 2" focuser w/ 1.25" adapter, sphinx mount, hal tripod, and half pillar. I intend to use this for astrophotography. I was going to spend more than this but this package sounds good to me.

Should I skip this and look for a better platform? Another factor is I'm starting from scratch as far as ep's, diagonal, filters, etc. I plan to autoguide w/ 66mm ed or borg 45ed. Then again, I'm assuming the Vixen Sphinx now allows autoguiding.

I probably going to get it but spending this much leaves me nervous. I'm tired of mediocre mounts. I'm sure down the road I will upgrade mount to a Tak EM11 or 200 but probably a little more than I want to spend right now.

I'm going in circles. Does it sound like a worthwhile investment?

Thanks!

Also i'm considering a Intes MN66 and a Tak Mewlon 180 w/ P2Z mount. I would have to sell my Televue scope, tripod and accessories. I haven't been able to find a review of the Mewlon 180. I've had two 8" sct's before and not sure how alike this mewlon is. I could also get the Vixen VC200L w/ mount for $2300. I really want a decent planetary, i.e. Mars, type of scope.

I just purchased a "2nd" Orion/Vixen 140 NA Refractor, Vixen 7x50 finder, tube rings, a Williams Optics 2" diagonal and a year old Losmandy GM8 for around $3,500. I have not used it because it hasn't arrived. I sold a TV Genesis recently and I've owned a 10" Meade Lx50. I do like the views of star clusters and binary stars more through the Genesis but the SCT provided for better views of galaxies and planets. I didn't care for the bulk of the LX50. I'm hoping this will be the happy medium, though the NA is not an apo. I know it will handle 400x so planets, deep space should be good. My 2 cents, although it's only worth about 1 cent.

This is probably more weight then you want but less than you may think. The Celestron G8 is light enough at 43lbs (tube and tripod) but big enough to grasp much light at 8". I owned this after an ETX-90ec and the optics were great. It costs only $799 new on astronomics. It sounds big but I could carry it outside with one hand. I only weigh 130lbs and I'm not exactly built. Optics were far better in it than a Meade LX90 and it is much lighter. Tripod definitely required regreasing but worth the 20 minute fix. I just don't see how the 127mm's of any manufacturer will beat it. However, I'm not as experienced as others and I'm sure there will be many more opinions. It's a good question. Cheers.

An LX90/Nexstar 8/etc. might do the trick. You can find them around for $1,000, a Williams Optics 2" diagonal for $100, a couple of ep's for another $100 and a decent 2" barlow for $100. More or less the goto SCT is a quick set-up and gaze. You can always add items as you go along. The f/ratio is decent. Otherwise go for the Atlas EQ10 by Orion. That is a lot of scope and a decent tripod for the money. It will also take a long time to get aperature fever. I've owned 8 scopes in 3 years of astronomy and I missed a 10" LX-50 the most. It wasn't the most portable. I do like my 140mm refractor paired with a GM8 because of portability. Personally I'm looking to add more aperature with a Celestron 9.25 sct if I have the money, otherwise the Orion Skyview 8" reflector ota for under $300. Point is, start with something you want, if you don't like it sell it and start over. Good luck, Don

I've owned the G8 and the optics were very good but I didn't care for the cg5. I like the starbright coatings more than the Meade LX90's but I think you will appreciate being helped in locating things in the sky. The Megellan I can always be upgraded. I'd go with the LX10 because of the mount w/ computer. Good luck.

I'd like to second that statement, though I'm one of those running around trying to make a scope decision. Logically, buy the Skyview Pro 8" eq w/ mount, carry bag, laser pointer, polar finder, single axis drive and vibration pads for $600 then sell the mount and its accessories. I could even add to my four eyepiece collection. It is way cheaper than buying a C9.25 or premium Discovery dob. Of course it is logical to get it and wife will probably not kick my bum, but of course I can't decide. Way to sum it up Paul.

I just camped in the UP last weekend in the northwest part of the state. We had some rain, then it cleared. I took my scope out by the lake (too many trees at campsite). I setup, went to M53 and had the best view I've ever had. Wouldn't you know, within a few minutes I could no longer see it, looked up to cloud cover. Winds picked up and lightning flashed all around. Nothing like holding a 140mm refractor while lightning is flashing. I made it back to the tent and then the hail flew. Good times! The two minutes I had were awesome!