amys
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/12/06
Loc: Groton, CT
|
New iOptron heavy duty GEM
#3052121 - 04/19/09 07:42 AM Attachment (223 downloads)
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I was at NEAF yesterday and saw this new iOptron heavy duty GEM. It's supposed to be available in about 3 months.
|
rmollise
Postmaster
Reged: 07/06/07
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: amys]
#3052237 - 04/19/09 09:10 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
I was at NEAF yesterday and saw this new iOptron heavy duty GEM. It's supposed to be available in about 3 months.
I saw it on video durin' Tom's walk-about and was impressed by its looks.
|
Gord
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/06/04
Loc: Toronto, ON, Canada
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: rmollise]
#3052352 - 04/19/09 10:20 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I saw that too!
My feeling is it looks like a scaled down cross between an ME and an AP-900/1200. I could dream otherwise, but I'm sure it won't be even remotely close to the same quality class though.
I like the way the alt forks are setup with the central pivot point and locks above and below. Nice looking c/w setup too. I think I heard them say around 25lbs capacity?
Very nice looking at any rate!
-Gord
|
codemonkey
super member
Reged: 09/16/08
Loc: Lafayette, CO
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Gord]
#3052431 - 04/19/09 11:18 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
nice, looks interesting. Any word on price?
|
rmollise
Postmaster
Reged: 07/06/07
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Gord]
#3052454 - 04/19/09 11:31 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
I saw that too!
My feeling is it looks like a scaled down cross between an ME and an AP-900/1200. I could dream otherwise, but I'm sure it won't be even remotely close to the same quality class though.
I like the way the alt forks are setup with the central pivot point and locks above and below. Nice looking c/w setup too. I think I heard them say around 25lbs capacity?
Very nice looking at any rate!
-Gord
What surprised me? Tom said "25 pounds payload" I believe...looked a little heftier than that to moi.
It might not be close to those mounts in payload, but there is no reason it cannot be high in quality.
|
Ricky
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/09/03
Loc: Nor Cal
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: rmollise]
#3052475 - 04/19/09 11:43 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
That mount looks SWEEEEEET! Anyone have an idea what the cost is?
|
rob cos.
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/11/04
Loc: New England
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Ricky]
#3053107 - 04/19/09 05:50 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
It was $500 at Neaf.
|
joelwhicker
sage
Reged: 07/24/08
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: rob cos.]
#3053154 - 04/19/09 06:22 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Is this the same that has been on OPT's website for about a month as a preorder? There it says the capacity is 35 lbs., and looks like a CG-5.
http://www.optcorp.com/ProductList.aspx?uid=105-439-278
|
amys
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/12/06
Loc: Groton, CT
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: rob cos.]
#3053159 - 04/19/09 06:25 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
This is the new, not previously seen heavy-duty GEM, not their other GEM. It will cost much more than $500. I was told by one iOptron dealer that it will cost 20% less than the comparable A-P mount. A 25-payload limit doesn't make any sense to me. I think it probably was carrying more than that yesterday. This is a BIG, heavy mount.
|
amys
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/12/06
Loc: Groton, CT
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: amys]
#3053197 - 04/19/09 06:40 PM Attachment (130 downloads)
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Just a follow-up. The iOptron SmartStar GEM supposedly carries a 35lb payload and looks comparable to a CG-5. This one is much larger. Another photo might give you a better perspective:
|
EspacioProfundo
Vendor-Espacio Profundo
Reged: 02/16/07
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: amys]
#3053232 - 04/19/09 06:59 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
It's rated at 65 lbs, and 5 arc/s pec.
|
amys
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/12/06
Loc: Groton, CT
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: EspacioProfundo]
#3053287 - 04/19/09 07:18 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
That makes more sense.
|
RAKing
Postmaster
Reged: 12/28/07
Loc: West of the D.C. Nebula
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: amys]
#3053315 - 04/19/09 07:32 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I thought it was an AP900 when I first saw it - that's me in the photo for scale.
We pushed Steve Forbes for more info, but he would not tell us the price. This mount was a big secret until Friday night in Suffern, NY. 
BTW - did anyone mention those are also iOptron scopes mounted on it? One Mak; one refractor - I have zero info on these.
Ron
|
Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: RAKing]
#3053350 - 04/19/09 07:52 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
65lbs - I mispoke, sorry guys. It is a sweet looking mount! Looks lightyears above the cube.
|
amys
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/12/06
Loc: Groton, CT
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Tom Trusock]
#3053354 - 04/19/09 07:56 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
There's no info about it on the website yet.
|
Nocturnal
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/14/05
Loc: CT, USA
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: amys]
#3053627 - 04/19/09 10:07 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I was quite impressed with the fit an finish of that mount. It will not be cheap but it will be less money than the alternatives. Together with the CGE-Pro it looks like we're finally getting a few more options in the mid-range for mounts.
I recommended that they also sell it without the pier (which looked really good by the way) but with an adapter to facilitate a permanent mounting. The mount will ship with a case to allow it to be transported easily. That's nice but I'd be more interested in a no-frills model that's optimized for an observatory setting.
The hand controller wasn't powered so I couldn't look at it but I'm sure it's similar to the Cube ones. Nice large screen. Personally I don't care about the controller but it's a necessity of course. I'm more interested in adapting EQMOD to drive this mount  Maybe I should contact them about that.
|
LLEEGE
True Blue
Reged: 03/03/05
Loc: Cloud-chester,NY
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Nocturnal]
#3053745 - 04/19/09 11:02 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
It looks impressive. I was a bit concerned with the amount of play in the RA bearing when lifting on the CW shaft. Maybe <5ach sec with some adjustment, but I doubt it "out of the box".
|
Nocturnal
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/14/05
Loc: CT, USA
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: LLEEGE]
#3053792 - 04/19/09 11:22 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
That brings up another important point. The mount should be easily serviceable. While it would be ideal to have a mount that's perfect right out of the box you have to be realistic and assume it's maybe 90% there initially and that it declines a bit after the first few months of use which will allow components to settle. You should then be able to reduce play in the various components and adjust gear alignment where needed. I should have asked if they could show the gearing. That would have been educational. I just put my Atlas back together after replacing the bearings so I know the value of maintainability
|
Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Loc: New Hampshire
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Nocturnal]
#3053947 - 04/20/09 01:39 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
My understanding is that mount will handle a 75 pound load, has an RS-232 port, USB port, GPS interface, has the center of gravity directly over the pier at all times, has huge gears, shaft encoders AND motor encoders, travel cases and will actually be available instead of having to wait for years. I am told that the mount will sell for under $8500.00!! Pre-orders will be accepted in about three months. iOptron has pulled out all of the stops on this mount! Guess what will be my next love affair?
The OTAs are the 150mm MAK that I used last week and the 127 Triplet that I hope to test very soon. The MAK is fantastic! It smoked my 1975 C8 with no effort at all! Saturn looked like a picture from Cassini, M13 was breathtaking and the Ring Nebula was just shy of revealing the Central Star.
CS
|
Nocturnal
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/14/05
Loc: CT, USA
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Telescopeman54]
#3054342 - 04/20/09 09:29 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
The CGE Pro is $5000. For this new mount to make a dent it'll have to come in quite a bit below that price point unless it's significantly better in terms of PE.
|
LLEEGE
True Blue
Reged: 03/03/05
Loc: Cloud-chester,NY
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Nocturnal]
#3054407 - 04/20/09 09:54 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
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.
|
WadeH237
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/24/07
Loc: Snohomish, WA
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Nocturnal]
#3054470 - 04/20/09 10:23 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
If this is $8500 with a 75lb capacity, why would one ever choose it instead of an AP900?
|
jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Loc: NE Ohio
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: WadeH237]
#3054523 - 04/20/09 10:45 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
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?
|
Gord
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/06/04
Loc: Toronto, ON, Canada
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: jrcrilly]
#3054562 - 04/20/09 11:07 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
$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
|
Ricky
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/09/03
Loc: Nor Cal
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Gord]
#3054582 - 04/20/09 11:14 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
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.
|
antilles72
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/06/07
Loc: Rhode Island
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Ricky]
#3054600 - 04/20/09 11:22 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Steve did say under $8500. Wish we knew how far under. Anyways, always good to see new contenders.
|
vegasMike
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/24/04
Loc: Las Vegas
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: antilles72]
#3054868 - 04/20/09 01:04 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
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
|
jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Loc: NE Ohio
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: vegasMike]
#3054874 - 04/20/09 01:07 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
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.
|
Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Loc: New Hampshire
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Nocturnal]
#3054882 - 04/20/09 01:08 PM Attachment (85 downloads)
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Ooops. I should have typed 65 pounds.
Here are more pictures.
Steve
|
Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Loc: New Hampshire
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Telescopeman54]
#3054905 - 04/20/09 01:18 PM Attachment (84 downloads)
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
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
|
Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Loc: New Hampshire
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Telescopeman54]
#3054911 - 04/20/09 01:20 PM Attachment (79 downloads)
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
One more for the road!
Steve
|
vegasMike
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/24/04
Loc: Las Vegas
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Telescopeman54]
#3054958 - 04/20/09 01:36 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
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
|
Strgazr27
Reged: 10/04/04
Loc: StonyHill Observatory
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Telescopeman54]
#3054965 - 04/20/09 01:39 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
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.
|
amys
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/12/06
Loc: Groton, CT
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: vegasMike]
#3054967 - 04/20/09 01:41 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Steve:
Your photos are much better than mine! It was great to see you again.
|
Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Loc: New Hampshire
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: amys]
#3055205 - 04/20/09 03:24 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
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
|
jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan
Reged: 02/28/06
Loc: Petaluma, CA
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Nocturnal]
#3055297 - 04/20/09 04:08 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
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
|
Strgazr27
Reged: 10/04/04
Loc: StonyHill Observatory
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: jrbarnett]
#3055322 - 04/20/09 04:19 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
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
|
Fred1
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/19/07
Loc: Somewhere in the Orion Spur
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Strgazr27]
#3055407 - 04/20/09 05:00 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
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.
|
Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Loc: New Hampshire
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Fred1]
#3055471 - 04/20/09 05:31 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
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
|
SkyscraperJim
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/29/07
Loc: Providence, RI
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Telescopeman54]
#3055505 - 04/20/09 05:45 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
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.
|
rmollise
Postmaster
Reged: 07/06/07
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: WadeH237]
#3055524 - 04/20/09 05:56 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
If this is $8500 with a 75lb capacity, why would one ever choose it instead of an AP900?
Don' axe me...this could be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but in this price range I would have to REALLY be convinced that it is a better investment than the _proven_ 900. I've not used one of the company's alt-az mounts...they may be great...but it's quite a jump from what they are doin' to this. OTOH, I am more than willin' to be convinced. Looks sharp in the pix.
|
Darren Bly
sage
Reged: 07/24/06
Loc: Bakersfield, Ca
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Telescopeman54]
#3055915 - 04/20/09 08:40 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
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
When a salesmen tells me under $8500 they mean 8499.95. I sure I'm not the only one. 
|
Moggi1964
Vendor - Astro Laugh
Reged: 11/07/05
Loc: Madison. NJ. USA
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Darren Bly]
#3056009 - 04/20/09 09:28 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
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
When a salesmen tells me under $8500 they mean 8499.95. I sure I'm not the only one.
..plus tax
|
jouster
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/27/05
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: amys]
#3058528 - 04/21/09 11:19 PM Attachment (98 downloads)
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I was interested too. It's a good-looking mount. However, let me agree with those who said that anything close to $8500 would mean no sale for most. Kevin Iott, with whom I chatted for a while, will - for $8800 - sell you a 393 mount head that will hold 200lbs and turn it with 11.5 inch worm gears. He had one there, holding a big PlaneWave with ease.
So hopefully "under $8500" means "substantially under $8500."
|
gatorengineer
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/28/05
Loc: Hellertown, PA
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: jouster]
#3059263 - 04/22/09 10:45 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
The more I see in this hobby, the less I understand.....
I can't grasp putting a Meade 12"+ or C14 on an $8500 mount. Those are the only Commercial tubes from a weight standpoint that need a 65 lb class mount. The folks with high end Gear Name Brand RC's, and the 150 and larger refractors arent going to "save 20%" on a made in China mount.
IMHO which seems to be wrong much more often than not, for this mount to have any commercial success it needs to be PRICE 20-40% UNDER a CGE. If the PEC is as good as claimed, then it would command a slight premium to a CGE AFTER it has proven reliability and performance.....
Save the stainless and price it at 2k.......
I forget the name of the WO mount that tried this a few years back.... Looked impressive.....
|
Strgazr27
Reged: 10/04/04
Loc: StonyHill Observatory
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: gatorengineer]
#3059314 - 04/22/09 11:02 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Do you mean the GT-1 from WO? They were fabulous mounts with VERY good PE but they were pricey.
When you speak of weight you need to factor in everything, not just the OTA's. People with this class of mount are probably running heavy ADM or Losmandy hardware, Parallax rings, large focusers and guidescopes, rotators etc. It adds up REAL fast. Your also not paying for the payload but the precision of the mount and how well it tracks. I can build a $500 mount that will carry 500 lbs but it will track like poop. I could spend $5000 and have it carry 65-80 lbs and barely reuire guide corrections.
As for the stainless, I disagree. I live about 1/4 mile from the Long Island sound. A salt water body of water. With the scope being outside permanently, I use stainless as much for it's corrosion resistance as I do how sweet it looks. People need that option. Now they could save the stainless and drop the price point but that counterweight is only about $200 of the cost of that mount. Casady or BT could make the weights aftermarket. They need to save a whole lot more than that.
Edited by Strgazr27 (04/22/09 11:05 AM)
|
Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Loc: New Hampshire
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Strgazr27]
#3062806 - 04/23/09 06:39 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Hmmmmmmmmmm.... Let's see. A very solid and well built mount in the same class of the XXXX for about 20% less and with everything included (except the OTA) and not things such as the pier, saddle plates, etc., being optional? Sounds pretty good to me. I know that as soon as one is available for testing I will have my hands on it and will be going through it with a fine tooth comb. There are some other features that will be present which I cannot mention at this time. If they do come through they will definitely be an interesting surprise. 
Rod, you have GOT to try one of the Mini Towers. I have a sneaky suspicion that you will like it more than you think. 
Darren, I know what you mean. I just need to keep things under my hat until I have solid data. I will say that it will be less than $8499.99, much less.
Everyone can comment and speculate all day long. The main thing is that there is finally an alternative that will be, for many people, reasonably priced when compared to other selections.
There will always be skeptics, which is fine, but, the best way to know for certain is to give it a test drive. How many have purchased a car or truck without first driving it? How many have waited YEARS for a car or truck to be delivered? Or a television, or camera, or stereo, or a refrigerator? Yeah! I thought so! LOL 
iOptron is working very, VERY hard to make certain that this mount is the best that can be for a very fair price. From what I can see I think that they've really done their homework and will make a lot of people very happy.
How about if we all wait until it is here to pass judgment on capabilities, performance, price and value? Until that time arrives, keep speculating and have fun! After all, isn't astronomy and everything that goes with it supposed to be FUN?! 
CS
Steve
Post edited to conform to TOS. Vendors are not allowed to talk about other products. PERIOD
Edited by Don W (04/24/09 07:46 AM)
|
gordianknot
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/04/05
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Telescopeman54]
#3067515 - 04/26/09 04:08 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I'm a little miffed that iOptron is trying to head into the high end mount business. Tak (NJP), MI (MI-250), AP (900GTO), Celestron (CGE Pro), Losmandy (Titan), Vixen (Atlux) and Parallax (HD-150) all have mounts with similar specs between the $5000 and $9000 price points. I can't believe this market is really all that large in either volume or total potential profits. Is a company like iOptron, that has concentrated on the low cost/high volume space, really going to take a substantial piece of the market away from these well established players? I doubt it; it's a little like Bic hypothetically deciding to start competing with MontBlanc in the decorative pens business.
Contrast this market to the much higher volume $1000-$2500 space. There is essentially no competition with the Atlas and CGEM (similar Synta products). It would seem to me that that's the space where a new entrant could make a real killing. There are many people who want a heftier mount than the $700 Cg-5/LXD-75 range but aren't willing to spend $3000. All of them are going to Synta right now!
|
Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Loc: New Hampshire
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: gordianknot]
#3067882 - 04/26/09 10:15 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
You can be miffed as much as you please. Yes, a middle level mount OTHER than the Atlas and CGEM would be most welcome. That is the market that I expected to be attacked. I am pleasantly surprised that they went this direction, but, not miffed. Neither one of us is running the company. It's their company and they can choose the market that best suits their plans. Get over it!
Steve
|
OuterSpaced
sage
Reged: 01/28/07
Loc: Mississippi Gulf Coast
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Telescopeman54]
#3068237 - 04/26/09 12:48 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Wouldn't it be great if they sell the new mount in the 1 to 3k price range. I know I'm definately dreaming, but without hopes and dreams...........oh nevermind.
|
Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Loc: New Hampshire
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: OuterSpaced]
#3068513 - 04/26/09 02:45 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
If only it could be so! The cost of those bronze worm wheels has got to be a major part of the price! I'm just chomping at the bit waiting to get one in my hands. I love to play with new toys and I have very high hopes for the Supreme. Time will tell.
CS
Steve
|
netwolf
super member
Reged: 09/03/05
Loc: NSW, Australia
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Telescopeman54]
#3081141 - 05/02/09 01:55 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I am sure Ioptron think they have a product that can compete with the higher end established mounts. And it is completly up to them to set there price. However it seems to make little sense. What is going to make a customer put thee same money on a unknown whne many established mounts are available on the market at the same or similar price point. Even if the results are amazingly good, it's a hardsell in my humble opinion. What would be better is to provide something in the midrange mounts like the EQ6, CGE Pro etc, establish a baseline for awesome quality with low PE etc, and then later release a higher end mount. This way you build your following of users who will at some point either upgrade or recommend to others.
Just take a simple pole and ask people would you spend 7-8k on an unkown chinese made mount, or would you buy an established brand like Tak, Vixen, AP, MI, Paralax, etc. I think you will find the answer would be loud and clear. A small percentage will of course always go for something diffrent.
Just look at the backlash here on this one thread after the simple speculation of the price yet to be actually set. Makes no sense to me why a company would do that. But then again many other new mounts have come onto the market of late with big price tags like the Iot (i think thats what its called). But that on is made in the US. Made in China still carries with it unfortunately a thinking of not as good quality. Fair or unfair thats how it is.
The many threads about the AT/GSO RC's scopes are a testament to this. The saving grace for the AT/RC was at the near last minute the price for the 8" was dramtically dropped and it generated a lot more interest from customers then. An 8" RC at similar price to 8" from an established vendor would perhaps not have sold as well.
Edited by netwolf (05/02/09 01:57 PM)
|
jouster
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/27/05
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Telescopeman54]
#3100192 - 05/12/09 10:51 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
Darren, I know what you mean. I just need to keep things under my hat until I have solid data. I will say that it will be less than $8499.99, much less.
[...]
iOptron is working very, VERY hard to make certain that this mount is the best that can be for a very fair price. From what I can see I think that they've really done their homework and will make a lot of people very happy.
Steve
Okay, that all sounds good. Let's wait and see. Hopefully the wait won't be too long.
Quote:
I'm a little miffed that iOptron is trying to head into the high end mount business. Tak (NJP), MI (MI-250), AP (900GTO), Celestron (CGE Pro), Losmandy (Titan), Vixen (Atlux) and Parallax (HD-150) all have mounts with similar specs between the $5000 and $9000 price points.
Why is more choice a bad thing?
Quote:
[...] But then again many other new mounts have come onto the market of late with big price tags like the Iot (i think thats what its called).
The smaller Iott, the 262, is $8k with polar scope and pier: a pretty good deal imho*. It looked very impressive at NEAF.
*Looking over my posts, I see that I have been mentioning the Iott a lot. That's because I really want one! Other than admiring them, I should state that I have absolutely no connection to them.
|
Jeff55
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/14/05
Loc: Boston MA
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: jouster]
#3104500 - 05/14/09 11:45 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
This company seems to know its markets well...so I for one think the price will be lower than most expect...I have no prior knowledge whatsoever BUT this group has probably done some market research and my guess is this mount will insert itself into a competitive price group.
|
richard7
Not Quite
Reged: 11/02/07
Loc: Sacramento
|
Re: New iOptron heavy duty GEM
[Re: Jeff55]
#3125242 - 05/24/09 09:20 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Can we go back to the question raised earlier.
How about those scopes sitting on the mount?
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
