JimW
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/31/04
Posts: 696
Loc: Mansfield, Texas
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 Hi, this is my first post to the "Mounts" forum.
Yesterday I ordered a DiscMounts DM-6 for my soon to arrive Stellarvue SV-90T. Yes, I know that it's a lot of mount for that scope; but I plan to add a larger apo next year. I figured if I plan ahead now, I won't be as weight limited in my choice of scope next year.
My research into the DM-6 resulted in no surprises - it is a beautiful top of the line alt-az mount (see Tom T's report on CN). The bonus in this transaction was getting the opportunity to talk with Tom Peters of DiscMounts - what a great guy! He's one of those people I'd love to meet at a star party and spend the night observing and talking astronomy.
We really are fortunate that our hobby has a group of talented, dedicated and genuinely friendly folks who deliver some of the best equipment available.
I can't wait to get my mount! I'll be sure to post my impressions once it arrives and the obligatory clouds clear.
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Jim Walsh
18" Obsession UC #1 AN/SC
SV90T (Stardust Blue)
DM-6 mount (on order)
PST
Leupold Wind River 8x42
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Tom D.
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/29/04
Posts: 1609
Loc: Boca Raton, FL
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Congratulations, Jim  That mount will give you lots of headroom when you decide to go to a bigger scope. They don't get any better than Tom P. and the mounts he makes.
Tom
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Orion ShortTube 80 (f/5.0)
Stellarvue SV105 (TMB/LZOS f/6.2)
DiscMounts DM-4/Sky Commander XP4
"Aerodynamics are for people who cannot build engines"......Enzo Ferrari
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CarolG
sage
Reged: 10/16/06
Posts: 495
Loc: Oklahoma
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Congratulations on your purchase of a wonderful mount. I have the DM4 with Tom's wood tripod. It is quality through and through. After using my DM4 for awhile, I decided that I wanted the handle to move the scope. I ordered the bent handle, but when I got it, it would not work with the TV85. I emailed Tom, and after several emails from him, he came up with the idea to flip the saddle plate over and mount the scope that way. It worked. He did not give up and was really trying to help me out. I knew then that if I ever had a problem, he would be there to help. He really does want his customers to be completely satisfied. You made a wise choice. Did you get the Sky Commander too? I know you will have many enjoyable nights using the DM6. Let us know how it works for you!!
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Carol
NS11 XLT on a Scopebuggy
TV85 w/FeatherTouch/DM4/SC
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JimW
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/31/04
Posts: 696
Loc: Mansfield, Texas
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Thank you Tom and Carol!
Yes, I did order the Sky Commander; should be a big help. Because I am 6'2", I took Tom Trusock's advice (he's also 6'2") and ordered the tall tripod. If I need more height, I can always order the mount extender later.
I discussed things with Tom Peters and selected the standard color ash legs and the eyepiece tray, but decided to wait on the handle to see how the scope feels. Then I'll decide on straight, curved, or no handle at all.
Yes, I'll be sure to post my thoughts when I get everything out under clear skies. I expect that with delivery times, that will be in about two weeks, weather permitting.
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Jim Walsh
18" Obsession UC #1 AN/SC
SV90T (Stardust Blue)
DM-6 mount (on order)
PST
Leupold Wind River 8x42
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Ed Kessler
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/17/06
Posts: 749
Loc: Millersburg, PA
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Jim,
I use a DM-6 with my NP127 and a Celestron 9.25 SCT. It handles both with ease. The orthogonal precision of the DM-6 is superb and my "push-tos" with the digital setting circles are always spot on. One of the best astronomy purchases I have ever made. I'm certain you will love it.
Clear Skies,
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Ed Kessler
sic itur ad astra (Just to look profound!)
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SteveC
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/15/06
Posts: 1191
Loc: The Garden State
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Hi Jim,
I have my 7" Mak on the DM6, I think you will enjoy the mount.
I never understood the use for a handle, unless you have a very tiny itsy bitsy telescope.
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SteveC
TEC 140
Intes Micro 715 deluxe
WO Zenithstar 80 FD
SolarMax 40
Losmandy G-11 w/Gemini, DM-6 w/Sky Commander on SV wood tripod, Vixen Skypod
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JimW
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/31/04
Posts: 696
Loc: Mansfield, Texas
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Ed,
Thank you for your encouraging user report. You struck a nerve with me when you mentioned the NP127 with the DM-6, as that is my leading contender for a larger scope!
So often I hear the NP 127 referred to as a great astrophotography scope; but I am very interested in your opinion of it as a visual instrument. I'd be most appreciative of anything you would care to share.
Thanks!
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Jim Walsh
18" Obsession UC #1 AN/SC
SV90T (Stardust Blue)
DM-6 mount (on order)
PST
Leupold Wind River 8x42
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JimW
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/31/04
Posts: 696
Loc: Mansfield, Texas
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Steve,
Although the SV90T is not a long scope, my plan is just to grab it by the diagonal and move it that way. I spent many years hand guiding dobs, so I agree with you that the handle may be unnecessary.
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Jim Walsh
18" Obsession UC #1 AN/SC
SV90T (Stardust Blue)
DM-6 mount (on order)
PST
Leupold Wind River 8x42
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Ed Kessler
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/17/06
Posts: 749
Loc: Millersburg, PA
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Hi Jim,
I have an NP127is. It is a great astrophotography scope. 
However, I have only to this point taken photos of the planets (webcam) and the Moon (DSLR/Powermate) with it. I do have plans for guided AP in the near future. That's one of the reasons I bought the NP127 -- it's versatility.
Visually, the NP127is is great. I used a TAK FS-102 for years and more recently a TMB 130SS for a while. In comparison, the NP127is is definitely a step above both.
Contrast is superb and the color correction of the Petzval system is remarkable. Stars are pinpoints across the entire FOV. Lunar shadows are jet black and I can routinely resolve several craters on the floor of Plato.
Eyepieces that I use for planetary/lunar viewing are a 2mm-4mm Nagler Zoom, a set of TV plossls, and a set of Brandons with a 2.4x Dakin barlow.
I quite often use my 13mm Ethos for viewing the Moon and medium-to-small DSOs. Widefield views are gorgeous with a 22mm Nagler and a 35mm Pan.
What I like most is that I can be viewing the Veil, North American Nebula or the Andromeda Galaxy within a 3.6° FOV at one moment (35mm Pan) and then be looking at Jupiter a moment later at 220x with the Nagler Zoom.
Probably, a side by side comparison with a high end, longer focal length APO, viewing the planets at high powers on a night of perfect seeing would reveal a slight edge to the longer focal length instrument, but it would be very close.
My DM-6/NP127 setup is as close as I'm going to get to my "dream setup," but the NP127is rides nicely on my GM-8 as well.
Let me know what you finally decide to buy.
Clear Skies,
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Ed Kessler
sic itur ad astra (Just to look profound!)
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Ed Kessler
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/17/06
Posts: 749
Loc: Millersburg, PA
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Quote:
Hi Jim,
I have my 7" Mak on the DM6, I think you will enjoy the mount.
I never understood the use for a handle, unless you have a very tiny itsy bitsy telescope.
I don't have a handle on my DM-6, but there have be a few times that I wished I had one. That is especially true when I'm using my 9.25" SCT. The handle could help me move the scope more precisely. I would call the handle a luxury not a necessity.
Jim, I try not to use the diagonal as a "handle" but generally grab the scope with two hands, one placed on the tube and the other placed on the focuser housing.
Clear Skies,
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Ed Kessler
sic itur ad astra (Just to look profound!)
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JimW
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/31/04
Posts: 696
Loc: Mansfield, Texas
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Ed,
Wow! The NP127 sounds just like what I'm looking for. I will be sure to let you know once I make the jump. I expect that will be in the spring.
Not grabbing the diagonal sounds like very good advice - thanks.
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Jim Walsh
18" Obsession UC #1 AN/SC
SV90T (Stardust Blue)
DM-6 mount (on order)
PST
Leupold Wind River 8x42
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jimandlaura26
super member
Reged: 11/19/03
Posts: 125
Loc: Northern VA
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Hey Jim... you're going to have a lot of fun with the DM-6. I own unit #25... I worked with Tom to design the longer tripod legs, which together with his new tripod extension, do a great job of keeping you off the ground with long focal length refractors pointed near zenith. In the beginning I had a SV Nighthawk, SV 80/9-D, and a Celestron C8 Reflector.... which you can see in his photo gallery. At present I have the scopes noted below, which all work very well with the DM-6. The tray is a good feature, as a place for EP's and batteries, etc. I also have the Discmounts Starbeam finder bracket installed... but I use it to attach a laser pointer as my finder (attached to one of Howie Glatter's brackets). The Sky Commander in conjunction with the finely toleranced and orthogonal alt-az bearings make for very accurate slews to targets (especially considering you only use 2 alignment stars)... e.g., last night I was putting objects in the field of view at 178X (5 mm Radian) in my SV-102A.
Congratulations and keep us posted...
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Jim M.
Northern VA (NOVAC member)
Stellarvue 80ED
Stellarvue 80S & SV-1 alt/az mount
Stellarvue 102A & Discmounts DM-6 alt/az mount
Celestron C8-XLT & ASGT GEM
Coronado PST
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SteveC
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/15/06
Posts: 1191
Loc: The Garden State
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Quote:
Steve,
Although the SV90T is not a long scope, my plan is just to grab it by the diagonal and move it that way. I spent many years hand guiding dobs, so I agree with you that the handle may be unnecessary.
Way to go! Grab life by the diagonal, I always say!
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SteveC
TEC 140
Intes Micro 715 deluxe
WO Zenithstar 80 FD
SolarMax 40
Losmandy G-11 w/Gemini, DM-6 w/Sky Commander on SV wood tripod, Vixen Skypod
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JimW
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/31/04
Posts: 696
Loc: Mansfield, Texas
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Steve,
Gotta be careful, those diagonals can be sensitive.
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Jim Walsh
18" Obsession UC #1 AN/SC
SV90T (Stardust Blue)
DM-6 mount (on order)
PST
Leupold Wind River 8x42
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tak130
member
Reged: 05/20/08
Posts: 22
Loc: Athens, Greece
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Congratulations Jim,
I also own DM-6 bought last July (see fotos in Tom's gallery) so i believe i am from the newest owners of this exceptional mount. My first impressions are that this is a mount for a life!!
I mount on it my TOA-130 and i remembered again the reason which i start astronomy!!!
I also own the handle and i believe it is usefull because if you like a lot of friction as i do, then it is easier to move the scope with the handle.
Gongrats again
Antonis
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Tak Toa 130F
Tak Tsa 102S
Meade lx12"gps
Televue 60
St-2000xcm Sbig
EQ6 pro
DM-6
Celestron 20x80
Vixen 9/22-50 zoom
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JimW
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/31/04
Posts: 696
Loc: Mansfield, Texas
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Thank you Antonis!
My Stellarvue SV90T arrived Saturday afternoon and it has been cloudy ever since. The DM-6 arrives Tuesday, so I am very eager to receive it and get my new scope mounted. Hopefully, the skies will clear later this week - it is raining as I type this.
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Jim Walsh
18" Obsession UC #1 AN/SC
SV90T (Stardust Blue)
DM-6 mount (on order)
PST
Leupold Wind River 8x42
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Tom D.
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/29/04
Posts: 1609
Loc: Boca Raton, FL
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Post a pic when it's all put together.
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Orion ShortTube 80 (f/5.0)
Stellarvue SV105 (TMB/LZOS f/6.2)
DiscMounts DM-4/Sky Commander XP4
"Aerodynamics are for people who cannot build engines"......Enzo Ferrari
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JimW
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/31/04
Posts: 696
Loc: Mansfield, Texas
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Tom,
Will do! It is likely to be the weekend before I get the opportunity to do so, though.
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Jim Walsh
18" Obsession UC #1 AN/SC
SV90T (Stardust Blue)
DM-6 mount (on order)
PST
Leupold Wind River 8x42
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insinu8
sage
Reged: 01/22/08
Posts: 359
Loc: Sunnyvale, CA
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Jim,
Congrats on the new mount. I look forward to hearing your impressions of it as I have one on the way also.
Pics please!
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Christopher
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AT66ED
ED80
120ST (Moonlit)
NP127is
TMB 130SS
MN55 (Moonlit)
150MCT
TEC160ED (DOB: 11.06.08)
SN8
MN86
C9.25 (Moonlit)
XT10 Dob
Obsession 18"UC
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JimW
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/31/04
Posts: 696
Loc: Mansfield, Texas
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Christopher,
I see that we also both have the Obsession 18" UC. A quality refractor and a big dob make for the best of both worlds!
I'll be sure to post shots once I get it mounted this weekend - rain or shine!
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Jim Walsh
18" Obsession UC #1 AN/SC
SV90T (Stardust Blue)
DM-6 mount (on order)
PST
Leupold Wind River 8x42
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