Telescope Reviews: New iOptron heavy duty GEM

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LLEEGE
True Blue

Reged: 03/03/05

Loc: Cloud-chester,NY

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: Nocturnal]
#3054407 - 04/20/09 09:54 AM

I don't think they will sell many at $8500. The price point would be too close to an AP900 after the needed accessories. (pier/CW's and a saddle) Don't get me wrong, it's a nice looking mount, but it isn't in the AP/MI250/EM400 league.
IF an AP and Paramount had a child, it would look like the iOptron.

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WadeH237
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/24/07

Loc: Snohomish, WA

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: Nocturnal]
#3054470 - 04/20/09 10:23 AM

If this is $8500 with a 75lb capacity, why would one ever choose it instead of an AP900?

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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more

Reged: 04/30/03

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: WadeH237]
#3054523 - 04/20/09 10:45 AM

Quote:

If this is $8500 with a 75lb capacity, why would one ever choose it instead of an AP900?

Or an NJP or a Titan or an MI-250?

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Gord
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/06/04

Loc: Toronto, ON, Canada

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: jrcrilly]
#3054562 - 04/20/09 11:07 AM

$8500?!?!! Yowzers! I was thinking more like half of that.

Realistically as good as it could be, I really can't see it being better than those other top-shelf offerings. And those are a established, with $8500 being even kind of expensive among them. For an unknown?

Still a nice looking piece of gear.

-Gord

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Ricky
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/09/03

Loc: Nor Cal

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: Gord]
#3054582 - 04/20/09 11:14 AM

The price point is too high. Like many have said for that kind of money im getting an AP or equivalent. We need to see mounts w/40lb-70lb capacities that sit in the $4k-$5k range like the CGE Pro.

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antilles72
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 03/06/07

Loc: Rhode Island

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: Ricky]
#3054600 - 04/20/09 11:22 AM

Steve did say under $8500. Wish we knew how far under. Anyways, always good to see new contenders.

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vegasMike
professor emeritus

Reged: 05/24/04

Loc: Las Vegas

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: antilles72]
#3054868 - 04/20/09 01:04 PM

there are two prices on the thread right now. $500 and $8500, two weight classes on this thread #30 and #70.

just fyi for anyone keeping score

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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more

Reged: 04/30/03

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: vegasMike]
#3054874 - 04/20/09 01:07 PM

Quote:

there are two prices on the thread right now. $500 and $8500, two weight classes on this thread #30 and #70.

just fyi for anyone keeping score

The two higher figures came from the dealer, though. I suspect they are the more reliable set.

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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.

Reged: 08/17/07

Loc: New Hampshire

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: Nocturnal]
#3054882 - 04/20/09 01:08 PM Attachment (85 downloads)

Ooops. I should have typed 65 pounds.

Here are more pictures.

Steve

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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.

Reged: 08/17/07

Loc: New Hampshire

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: Telescopeman54]
#3054905 - 04/20/09 01:18 PM Attachment (84 downloads)

Let's learn how to read kids! I typed UNDER, that's U-N-D-E-R, UNDER $8500.00!! I'm not certain just how far UNDER it will be, but, if I were to take a guess that is G-U-E-S-S, kiddies, I would look for a price in the area of $7K. Sorry to be a bit on the flipant side. I'm just really tired from NEAF and have not had NEARLY enough coffee, yet! LOL Also, I don't want this thread to get too serious at this point. We need to just have some fun and enjoy ourselves. As soon as I have ANYTHING that I can post with certainty I will do so.

Here's another picture to enjoy.

Steve

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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.

Reged: 08/17/07

Loc: New Hampshire

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: Telescopeman54]
#3054911 - 04/20/09 01:20 PM Attachment (79 downloads)

One more for the road!

Steve

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vegasMike
professor emeritus

Reged: 05/24/04

Loc: Las Vegas

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: Telescopeman54]
#3054958 - 04/20/09 01:36 PM

Quote:

We need to just have some fun and enjoy ourselves.

Here's another picture to enjoy.

Steve

WOW, not I'm having fun. That is a SAXY mount.

Thanks for the photos, hope you get some Caffeine

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Strgazr27

Reged: 10/04/04

Loc: StonyHill Observatory

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: Telescopeman54]
#3054965 - 04/20/09 01:39 PM

Looks real pretty but it needs to be WAAAAY under $7500 for it to offer a solution IMO. Does under $5500 seem possible? I ask as this mount is in a league with VERY stiff competition. Any idea who is making the gear sets? Are the SS CW's standard or for show at NEAF? Is anybody testing these out? Would like to see a Pempro from one. If they can bring this in NEar the $5K mark than they may just have a winner if they can keep QC up and back up the performance numbers they are posting.

Looking forward to more info.

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amys
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/12/06

Loc: Groton, CT

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: vegasMike]
#3054967 - 04/20/09 01:41 PM

Steve:

Your photos are much better than mine! It was great to see you again.

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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.

Reged: 08/17/07

Loc: New Hampshire

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: amys]
#3055205 - 04/20/09 03:24 PM

Amy:

It was nice to see you again, too. When are we going observing?

Bobby:

I doubt that you will see that kind of pricing for such a high quality item. This ain't no C******** OR a Chevy! LOL

I'm only going to take a wild guess on somthing, that is G-U-E-S-S, GUESS, kiddies. Until someone tells me that I am wrong, which happens a lot, I will GUESS that the pier as well as the cases are part of the package. Yes, the SS CWs do come with it.

Steve

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jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan

Reged: 02/28/06

Loc: Petaluma, CA

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: Nocturnal]
#3055297 - 04/20/09 04:08 PM

Somewhere above the target price was said to be 20% off the "equivalent A-P mount". I'm guessing that would be the AP-900 and 20% off of $8k puts this baby in the really (overly?) expensive category.

Neat looking mount, but to have a chance I'd say you called it right - it will have to match or even undercut the new CGE Pro. I'm looking forward to reviews once this hits the field.

Regards,

Jim

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Strgazr27

Reged: 10/04/04

Loc: StonyHill Observatory

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: jrbarnett]
#3055322 - 04/20/09 04:19 PM

Quote:

Bobby:

I doubt that you will see that kind of pricing for such a high quality item. This ain't no C******** OR a Chevy! LOL

Steve,

I'm assuming you meant Celestron but didn't want to type it. I saw the mount in person and it is pretty but I certainly wouldn't put the finish in the same class as AP or MI to which this mount, even at a G E U S S E D at price point would need to perform at at least the levels they say if not better. The MI will do 85 lbs easily and the 900 90 lbs. PE on those are usually around 3 arc sec or better peak to peak out of the box with completely proven and developed GoTo systems. If the CGE Pro can do under 5 with PEC (And I see no reason why it can't) than that's another contender and it looks to be $2000 cheaper with 25 lbs more payload and a proven GoTo system.

If you could find out some more info I'd really like to see it. I'm a mount freak and I'm just curious. Is there noone Beta testing a mount? the mount on display at NEAF is the only one?

CS's

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Fred1
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/19/07

Loc: Somewhere in the Orion Spur

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: Strgazr27]
#3055407 - 04/20/09 05:00 PM

I spent quite a bit of time speaking slowly to the heavily (I think Chinese)accented gentlemen at the iOtpron booth on Saturday. I won't repeat any of the corrections already made by previous posters but will add as follows: he expected iOptron to have the mount on the website in a month or two with availability maybe in the Fall, and the price was completely up in the air until they can fully evaluate other manufacturers' similarly spec'ed mounts. He said it would come with a case (and he pointed to cases on the floor) for the mount head and another for the pier assembly so that everything can be carried in just 2 cases. He said the mount was still undergoing evaluation and re-design as needed. iOptron's intent is to release the mount to the market when it is done right, so the Fall target date is still speculation. There were a number of onlookers throwing out all kinds of pricing numbers but the iOptron gent just kept shrugging his shoulders.

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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.

Reged: 08/17/07

Loc: New Hampshire

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: Fred1]
#3055471 - 04/20/09 05:31 PM

Fred:

I know to whom you were speaking. He's the chief engineer and designer. He's a wonderful man and SMARRRRRRRRRRRT!!!

They are being very methodical and careful with this mount. It HAS to be darned near perfect the first time it hits the market and they are doing everything that they can to make certain of that.

This is the only one in the US at this time. If I get any further information that I am allowed to discuss I will present it here and on my own web site.

CS

Steve

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SkyscraperJim
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 07/29/07

Loc: Providence, RI

Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM new

[Re: Telescopeman54]
#3055505 - 04/20/09 05:45 PM

I'm also looking forward to this mount. I think this was the most interesting "new" item at NEAF this year. When I first glanced it from a distance I thought it was an AP900, until I saw the square declinaiton assembly. And to those who weren't there, I did get a good close look of this mount, and I would say that it looks and feels like an AP, and this is a prototype! It was all metal parts and a very high grade finish (as I said, very reminiscent of Astro-Physics mounts). In fact, the flimsiest looking component of the entire system was the hand controller (only plastic part). This has certainly changed my impression of iOptron and I can't wait to see how this mount performs.

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