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On Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 04:50 PM, Luca Fumagalli wrote:

Hello everybody,

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I'm starting again astrophotography after 3 years of stop (kid was born - I needed to sleep) and I'm looking now for a new mount with adequate capacity.

I was originally considering the iOptron CEM70, until I ended up in the Losmandy's page where I "found" the new G11. I have to confess, my heart has been stolen. But I still have to sort out a couple of questions before pulling the trigger.

1) Does anybody had the chance to use both mounts (CEM70 and G11) and can please provide a comparison to me? Specifically I'm looking into tracking performances.

2) Does the G11 have any sort of cable management feature? Like a through the mount cabling? In the Losmandy's page I see only few pictures and I can't tell too much from them.

3) Is the DEC axis equipped with at least 1x DC socket?

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Thank you in advance - Luca

Hi Luca,

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#1??I have used the iOptron CEM60 which is the predecessor to the CEM70, they are basically the same mount but for some reason rated for a fictional higher payload weight.? It should tell you something that I currently own 3 Losmandy mounts and until recently owned 4, all with a purpose.? Based on my experience and others with iOptron I would never buy another iOptron mount.??

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#2? No, wisely Losmandy lacks any cable management that you don't implement on your own.? I have no idea why people think cable management is a must have feature for mounts. There is no cable managed mount or saddle with integral USB ports or hub sold that will remain clean if it is going to be used for imaging.? They lack adequate ports for modern imaging rigs and are not managed.? You should also know that the iOptron mounts with USB ports have a long and unpleasant history of their USB hubs and ports crippling their mounts due to the way iOptron maximized USB chip pins and routed the unprotected cables to their integrated ports. IME it much more flexible and forward looking to buy a managed and powered USB hub and hang it under your OTA. These can also be replaced and upgraded when you outgrow them or comm standards change. With an integrated cable managed mount you are just out of luck and god help you if the hub or cable goes down and you need parts because many use the same USB chips to talk to their mount controller and hand set.?

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#3? No. Losmandy mounts have zero cable integrated management and the same issues apply to DC power ports. See #2.? ? ? ??

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Something you might want to consider is that unlike any other mounts being sold today Losmandy is still selling, supporting and developing their mounts based on the original design first released over 32 years ago. Every Losmandy G11 and GM8 sold can be updated to the current production specs and are capable of guided tracking well below 0.5" PE. My own Losmandy G11G is over 20 years old and was updated by Scott Losmandy at the shop in Burbank several years ago. On a good night the total guided PE is in the range of 0.40"- 0.32" seconds. This is likely better than most people need unless you are imaging beyond 1,600mm fl under perfectly still skies.?

Losmandy mounts are the only mounts that are fully supported even purchased used! I don't know where you are located but find a group of serious imagers and you will find many using Losmandy mounts with great success. Sure there are some bad Losmandy mounts out there, I have fixed them for other people, but they have been poorly maintained and not well understood by the owners and are usually old, used and abused. BUT, they can be brought back to life and up to spec and no other mounts can make that claim.? ? ?

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