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6" Refractor on GM8 ?
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Stephen at lthuedk@... is using the same setup to do photography, you
can see his pictures at: <> if the link gets chopped off then you must reassemble it, its one looong link. In any case its one excellent picture..I would email him and ask for his advice regarding the mount and guiding setup. I would suggest you use a Minus-Violet filter to reduce blue star bloating. The 6"f8 ota is not heavy, but it is long...probably you would need a G11 in windy conditions. I have owned both mounts and they are excellent. "James Grigar" <pt19@...> wrote: I have a 6" Skywatcher, I think about purchase a GM8 system. will GM8Herm Astropics |
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Ray Porter
I went through the same decision making process a couple of months ago.
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Scott Losmandy said that the GM8 would handle the 6" refractor without any problem but recommended the G-11 saddle plate for extra stability. My decision was made for me when a fellow club member offered me a used G-11 at an outstanding price. I'm using my CR150 on the G-11 now but with the GM8 tripod for added portability. ================================================ Ray Porter Applications Analyst Programmer Administrative Information Services, UNC-CH Phone: 966-5878 email: ray_porter@... dragon@... Home Page: "Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup." ----- Original Message -----
From: "James Grigar" <pt19@...> To: <Losmandy_users@...> Sent: Monday, September 11, 2000 1:01 PM Subject: [Losmandy_users] 6" Refractor on GM8 ?
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Jeffrey D. Gortatowsky
I bought an AP130 EDT f/8 on a GM8 that used the G11 dovetail plate. The
mount is barely adequate for that setup. Breezy conditions made it shake pretty good and rap test settling times were in the 5 second range. That's makes focusing a challenge as well. I have the same OTA on an AP400 and it's more stable. However I also have a G11 and it's the cat's meow for the OTA. It's not the weight that's the problem. It's the torque produced by a refractor's length. You'll be MUCH better off (IMHO of course) in the long run with a G11. It's more versatile in that you can mount all manner of scopes on it in the future. Clear skies, Jeff |
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Rockett Crawford
"Jeffrey D. Gortatowsky" wrote:
I use an MN61 6 inch Mak-Newt on a G-11 and I have the same problem with the tube being long. I've found, however, that if I carefully balance the tube in whatever orientation it's going to be used, then the mount tracks just fine. Rockett Crawford ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Capella's Observatory (CCD Imaging) |
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Paul Sterngold
As the other posters have pointed out, the GM8 is really a tad undersized
for this OTA. It's not just the weight, it's also the long tube, which increases the moment as well as creates a wind sail. I have used my C9.25 on my GM8 mount and it's barely adequate for visual use. Focusing at high power is a challenge. Now you know why S&T found the mount that the CR150 comes on woefully inadequate! Paul Sterngold --- James Grigar <pt19@...> wrote: I have a 6" Skywatcher, I think about purchase a GM8 system. will GM8 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere! |
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Ray Porter
Actually the mount that comes with is okay. I've had mine apart when I
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re-greased it and it is very well made. I found none of the metal burrs and shavings Jeff DeTray talks about polishing away on his CG-5 overhaul page. All I had to do was remove the glue-like lubricant and my CG-5 started working very well indeed. IMHO, the later model CG-5 is probably closer to the Vixen GP Deluxe rather than the GP. Even so the mount is still probably marginal with the long refractor. The extruded aluminum tripod that comes with this mount is another matter all together. It's useless for anything much heavier than a short-tube 80 refractor and it is totally ludicrous with the long f8/150. Of course, now that I have a G-11, the whole CG-5 debate is irrelevant for me. ================================================ Ray Porter Applications Analyst Programmer Administrative Information Services, UNC-CH Phone: 966-5878 email: ray_porter@... dragon@... Home Page: "Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup."
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Chase McNiss
I have a friend in my astronomy club who has a CR150 and and AP130
f8, which he mounts on his GM8. The scopes are OK for visual usage. I would prefer the G11 myself for any scope that size., The GM8 works, but if you have a low tolerance for shaky mounts go with something bigger. Overall I would recommend the G11 for anything over a 4" F8 Refractor. You will have a lot more flexability for any future scope purchases and once you mount your scope on something rock solid, you will wonder how you ever put up with anything else. I have a 6" SkyWatcher, but I built my own Alt-Az mount for it and use it exclusively for deep sky and public skywatches, keeping the magnification under 150X in most cases. Clear skies, Chase -- In Losmandy_users@..., "James Grigar" <pt19@m...> wrote: I have a 6" Skywatcher, I think about purchase a GM8 system. willGM8 handle this scope well? the OTA weight 20 lbs. Plan to use CCDShould I get the G11 instead of GM8? Any Comment welcome . |
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The Gray Wizard
I keep hearing this. I already have a G11. Use it with my C11 SCT. I was
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thinking about picking up the CR150 mounted on a CG5 hoping for a more portable scope. The consensus, however seems to be that the OTA is too much for that mount. Mounting it on my G11 kills any hope of portability however. David David E. Bell The Gray Wizard dbell@... www.graywizard.net "Wisdom begins in wonder." - Socrates -----Original Message-----
From: Chase McNiss [mailto:cmcniss@...] Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2000 3:22 PM To: Losmandy_users@... Subject: [Losmandy_users] Re: 6" Refractor on GM8 ? My Groups | Losmandy_users Main Page | Start a new group! I have a friend in my astronomy club who has a CR150 and and AP130 f8, which he mounts on his GM8. The scopes are OK for visual usage. I would prefer the G11 myself for any scope that size., The GM8 works, but if you have a low tolerance for shaky mounts go with something bigger. Overall I would recommend the G11 for anything over a 4" F8 Refractor. You will have a lot more flexability for any future scope purchases and once you mount your scope on something rock solid, you will wonder how you ever put up with anything else. I have a 6" SkyWatcher, but I built my own Alt-Az mount for it and use it exclusively for deep sky and public skywatches, keeping the magnification under 150X in most cases. Clear skies, Chase -- In Losmandy_users@..., "James Grigar" <pt19@m...> wrote: I have a 6" Skywatcher, I think about purchase a GM8 system. willGM8 handle this scope well? the OTA weight 20 lbs. Plan to use CCDShould I get the G11 instead of GM8? Any Comment welcome . To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Losmandy_users-unsubscribe@... |
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Ray Porter
Actually the CG-5 is okay if you disassemble and re-grease the mount and
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replace the silly aluminum legs with wooden ones. A thump to the OTA will dampen out in a second or so (as opposed to 6 seconds or more with the aluminum legs). The mount itself (at least the late model ones) is pretty decent and is roughly equivalent to the Vixen Great Polaris Deluxe. I'm currently using my CR150 on a G-11 with the GM8 tripod which gives me excellent stability with a fairly portable configuration. I'm still debating whether to keep my CG-5 for an even more portable mount or to sell it and just take the G-11 and GM8 tripod everywhere I go. Heck, even the little polar alignment scope for the CG-5 works remarkably well once you figure out that the directions for calibrating and aligning it are missing some key parts. ;-) The Chinese made motors also track very well. ================================================ Ray Porter Applications Analyst Programmer Administrative Information Services, UNC-CH Phone: 966-5878 email: ray_porter@... dragon@... Home Page: "Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup." ----- Original Message -----
From: "The Gray Wizard" <dbell@...> To: <Losmandy_users@...> Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2000 3:49 PM Subject: RE: [Losmandy_users] Re: 6" Refractor on GM8 ? I keep hearing this. I already have a G11. Use it with my C11 SCT. Iwas thinking about picking up the CR150 mounted on a CG5 hoping for a moremuch for that mount. Mounting it on my G11 kills any hope of portability |
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Donald J. D'Egidio
David,
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I have the 150 and EQ4(CG5) just for the portability issue. All I did was to replace the aluminum tripod legs with homemade wooden legs and the scope is just fine. With the lower prices I would say go ahead and get one. I did install the dual axis drive. Don ----- Original Message -----
From: "The Gray Wizard" <dbell@...> To: <Losmandy_users@...> Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2000 15:49 Subject: RE: [Losmandy_users] Re: 6" Refractor on GM8 ? I keep hearing this. I already have a G11. Use it with my C11 SCT. I was |
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