|
|
Post by counterweight on Jan 18, 2013 22:26:50 GMT -5
Ok... I have a pier mounted Mach1, and it handles my f/8 160 TEC with aplomb... moving UP in aperture and size and talking visual only.... what do you think? I don't mind a bit of 'settling time' while focusing, but i want to be realistic. Thoughts?
|
|
|
|
Post by Watcher3 on Jan 19, 2013 3:02:38 GMT -5
Well, bigger is always better, but James Ling seems to do fine on a Losmandy G-11. The Mach 1 should be fine.
|
|
|
|
Post by jamesling1000 on Jan 20, 2013 8:21:10 GMT -5
Ok... I have a pier mounted Mach1, and it handles my f/8 160 TEC with aplomb... moving UP in aperture and size and talking visual only.... what do you think? I don't mind a bit of 'settling time' while focusing, but i want to be realistic. Thoughts? Well, bigger is always better, but James Ling seems to do fine on a Losmandy G-11. The Mach 1 should be fine. Yes... For the 8" aperture, the F8.8 version, bare OTA is 45 lbs, and with the mounting rings, dovetail, focuser, finder, diagonal, eye-piece, will be near to 70 lbs, so even the F6 version, at most only cut down by 4 to 5 lbs... R30/35 may be even lighter if it is the slim version.....but cannot be more than 5 lbs off , in my opinion... The G11 losmandy mount is rated around 60 to 65 lbs...still can handle 8" simply it goes on a heavy duty tripod... The best is the celestron Pro mount or losmandy Titan mount that takes up to around 90 lbs capacity. Of course there are many high end with higher capacity mount in the market... And one important point to consider is if going for the F8.8 version, an extension pier is useful, when one view through the eye-piece , with the object directly overhead... Look at the following photo, how high is the scope , being mounted onto the losmandy G11, and I am 5Ft 9 Inches tall. Regards James Ling Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by Mike on Jan 20, 2013 20:40:44 GMT -5
According to the AP web site, the Mach 1 capacity is 45 lbs. You would be right there as far as the limit. It would work especially since you're using a pier. However, I'm never happy with a mount that is right at capacity. In fact, a good practice is to only use 75% of the capacity when observing and 50% when doing astrophotography.
|
|
|
|
Post by Watcher3 on Jan 20, 2013 21:12:25 GMT -5
I think the AP is probably more underrated as far as capacity goes, than most mounts. Most owners and users say that the rated capaciity is the imaging capacity for AP mounts. I think, on a pier, and well balanced it should be more than acceptable.
|
|
|
|
Post by counterweight on Jan 24, 2013 0:39:28 GMT -5
James, thanks for the image, really puts things in perspective!
I've done well with my imaging using the Mach1 at near capacity, my TEC160 (f/8)with the SBIG 8300M and 8 position wheel, with various guidescopes. No problem getting 20 minute and even 30 minute sub exposures. So I'd come down on the side of their capacity being for imaging.
I make no guess about exceeding that with a longer and possibly as heavy or more OTA, even if only for visual use. I guess I will have to see when the time comes, maybe just a personal security thing but i'd prefer something with larger mass and load bearing surfaces?
|
|
|
|
Post by Viktor Z. on Feb 11, 2013 20:03:16 GMT -5
This conversation about the mounts is very interesting. I am also considering the purchase of a larger lens, possibly Istar's 8" f12 r35, the new version. I am kind of inclined to get a high quality mount that I could use for many years. Thinking about the AP900 or AP 1200. Anybody have experience if these mounts could carry an 8" f12 Istar refractor?
Viktor Zsohar
|
|
|
|
Post by kevinbarker on Feb 12, 2013 15:32:11 GMT -5
Viktor
I have seen a 2.3 m long refractor (Zeiss AS150/2250) on an AP 1200, it handled it easily. Possibly the biggest issue is getting the height right.
It is not really portable the AP1200.
It is a monstrous mount. I suspect the AP900 could cope with a 8 f-12 scope depending on the length and mass.
Kevin
|
|
|
|
Post by jamesling1000 on Feb 21, 2013 22:09:08 GMT -5
This conversation about the mounts is very interesting. I am also considering the purchase of a larger lens, possibly Istar's 8" f12 r35, the new version. I am kind of inclined to get a high quality mount that I could use for many years. Thinking about the AP900 or AP 1200. Anybody have experience if these mounts could carry an 8" f12 Istar refractor? Viktor Zsohar Hi Viktor Zsohar.... Unfortunately my 8" ISTAR is only F9, and is 2 ft shorter than the F12..... Anyway this coming weekend, I am going to bring my 8" F9 Istar to my friend's house for a shootout.... And he is having the AP900....So I can test its stability... and at most 2 more Ft is just another 5 or 6 Lbs heavier than my F9.... AP900 is rated between 70 to 75 lbs, and during my last visit to his house, looking at the mount head, is so much massive than my G11..... REgards James Ling |
|
|
|
Post by jamesling1000 on Feb 23, 2013 12:19:23 GMT -5
Hi ALL.... This is the photo taken few hours ago at my friend's roof top...... with my 8" F9 Istar mounted onto his AP900 ...... For anyone who wants to get the 8" F12 version, which is 2FT longer, pls cater for at least one and a half Ft additional distance from the F9 mounting distance... Currently my 8" Istar F9 is around 3.5fT from central distance to the eyepiece position. The AP900 should be able to take the 8" Istar F12, judging from tonight testing using my 8" Istar F9..... Regards James Ling Attachments:
|
|
