Re: [Utah-astronomy] Atlas or CGEM?
Thanks David and Rob! The CGEM I'm looking at has the same weight rating as the Atlas, 40 lbs. I plan on using the mount for imaging with APOs and generally apertures less than 8" when used visually (short Newt), so I shouldn't be close to the design limit. I did like the pier extension for the Atlas and I don't see a similar accessory for the CGEM, very handy for refractors. Supposedly some of the issues on the Atlas have been addressed in the newer model but I can't say for sure.
I actually have the newer model, and everything I listed was still an issue. They are affordable though, and with very little effort you can hyper-tune them into nice mounts. There are quite a few online guides for hyper-tuning and adjusting the atlas. I think I've totally disassembled mine about 5 times now. I could do it blind folded lol. David Chuck Hards wrote:
Thanks David and Rob!
The CGEM I'm looking at has the same weight rating as the Atlas, 40 lbs. I plan on using the mount for imaging with APOs and generally apertures less than 8" when used visually (short Newt), so I shouldn't be close to the design limit. I did like the pier extension for the Atlas and I don't see a similar accessory for the CGEM, very handy for refractors.
Supposedly some of the issues on the Atlas have been addressed in the newer model but I can't say for sure. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Is there an Atlas user's group website, David? Someplace that itemizes the fixes and upgrades that you could post to save me the searches? I'm not against a few tweaks, but for fourteen hundred bucks, it would be nice to have something that works as advertised right out of the box. I wouldn't be surprised if the Celestron and Atlas mounts both came out of the same Chinese factory. On Thu, Apr 29, 2010 at 12:16 PM, David Rankin <David@rankinstudio.com>wrote:
I actually have the newer model, and everything I listed was still an issue. They are affordable though, and with very little effort you can hyper-tune them into nice mounts.
There are quite a few online guides for hyper-tuning and adjusting the atlas. I think I've totally disassembled mine about 5 times now. I could do it blind folded lol.
There is a EQ6 group. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/EQ6/ A lot of guys there have and use it and know A LOT about it. I know how you feel. The Atlas is a good mount right out of the box if your not going to push its weight limits. It can handle small APO's like a champ. Here is some info on the EQMOD - this is one good reason to get the Atlas. http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/ http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/EQMOD/ And here is the actual eqmod adapter. http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/products_eq.htm I didn't start doing mods to my atlas until I got a 10" ota and it wasn't doing good at tracking. IF you do get the atlas. I highly recommend the wide saddle: http://www.telescope.com/control/accessories/mount-and-tripod-accessories/wi... and they just released a losmandy style dovetail to go with it: http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=mount_accessories/~pca... I got dovetail from ADMaccessories.com The little vixen style dovetails cant handle any weight. Hope that all will help! David Chuck Hards wrote:
Is there an Atlas user's group website, David? Someplace that itemizes the fixes and upgrades that you could post to save me the searches?
I'm not against a few tweaks, but for fourteen hundred bucks, it would be nice to have something that works as advertised right out of the box.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Celestron and Atlas mounts both came out of the same Chinese factory.
On Thu, Apr 29, 2010 at 12:16 PM, David Rankin <David@rankinstudio.com>wrote:
I actually have the newer model, and everything I listed was still an issue. They are affordable though, and with very little effort you can hyper-tune them into nice mounts.
There are quite a few online guides for hyper-tuning and adjusting the atlas. I think I've totally disassembled mine about 5 times now. I could do it blind folded lol.
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Thanks, good info. I'll dive into all those links on the weekend. The most common setup I plan is to use my 80mm and 100mm ED scopes together on the mount. One for imaging and the other as a guidescope, switching as needed, depending on target. But I also have assorted small Newts, as well as a couple of 5" achromatic refractors that would be nice to mount on there, too. I don't see ever really approaching the 40 lb. limit, honestly. On Thu, Apr 29, 2010 at 12:40 PM, David Rankin <David@rankinstudio.com>wrote:
There is a EQ6 group.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/EQ6/
A lot of guys there have and use it and know A LOT about it.
I know how you feel. The Atlas is a good mount right out of the box if your not going to push its weight limits. It can handle small APO's like a champ.
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Chuck Hards -
David Rankin