Telescope Reviews: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one!

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phanf4
super member

Reged: 07/31/07

Loc: Over there in Chattanooga

CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one!
#2963016 - 03/04/09 11:23 AM

Some sites state that they are "in stock". Does anyone have one? Looking for your thoughts and first report on this mount

Hope I did not miss a thread about this.

Post Extras:

Steve Fisher

Reged: 08/12/06

Loc: Utah

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: phanf4]
#2963254 - 03/04/09 01:13 PM

Phanf4:

Member since 07 and your 3rd post? Welcome!

I'm waiting not only for the first reports but maybe for the first resale by an early adopter.

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Phil Cowell
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 05/24/07

Loc: Southern Tier NY

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: Steve Fisher]
#2963260 - 03/04/09 01:15 PM

I'm hoping mine will be here in the next week.
Phil

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LLEEGE
True Blue

Reged: 03/03/05

Loc: Cloud-chester,NY

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: Phil Cowell]
#2963334 - 03/04/09 01:49 PM

Quote:

I'm hoping mine will be here in the next week.
Phil

Let me know when it does, Phil. I'd love to drive down and check it out.

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phanf4
super member

Reged: 07/31/07

Loc: Over there in Chattanooga

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: Phil Cowell]
#2963360 - 03/04/09 02:02 PM

I guess the real reason I am asking is that I am considering either the CGE pro or an AP Mach 1. Is the Mach 1 worth ~1800 more? (Considering extras needed for the Mach 1: Saddle plate, Peir, powersupply etc)
AP would be the main interest long term and I really only want to buy just one!

Tom

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LLEEGE
True Blue

Reged: 03/03/05

Loc: Cloud-chester,NY

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: phanf4]
#2963402 - 03/04/09 02:18 PM

That would depend on how the CGEpro is rated for capacity. The Mach1 in rated for 45lbs in photographic terms. The CGEPro is listed at 90 but I don't know if that is a visual or photo rating. If I were to choose between the two, I would wait for some real world reviews before deciding. And it would still be a difficult choice.
Both would handle your C8 without a sweat for either purpose. If you plan to primarily use it for visual, the CGEPro might be a better option..

Post Extras:

Phil Cowell
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 05/24/07

Loc: Southern Tier NY

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#2963602 - 03/04/09 04:06 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I'm hoping mine will be here in the next week.
Phil

Let me know when it does, Phil. I'd love to drive down and check it out.

Will do, your welcome to see what you think.

Phil

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Alph
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/23/06

Loc: Melmac

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: phanf4]
#2966371 - 03/05/09 08:50 PM

Quote:

I am considering either the CGE pro or an AP Mach 1. Is the Mach 1 worth ~1800 more?

The G11 will handle the C8 with ease and you definitely don't need the CGE Pro.

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gordianknot
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/04/05

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: phanf4]
#2966398 - 03/05/09 09:11 PM

I suspect that the Mach 1 has lower error and is more accurate but the CGE Pro has a higher capacity. Having never seen an error curve for a CGE Pro however, that's just speculation.

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phanf4
super member

Reged: 07/31/07

Loc: Over there in Chattanooga

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: Alph]
#2966400 - 03/05/09 09:11 PM

I was looking to the future. My plans include multiple scopes on side by side saddle. C8 and a TV127is with camera setup. Would a CGE do for this?

Tom

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jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan

Reged: 02/28/06

Loc: Petaluma, CA

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: phanf4]
#2966593 - 03/05/09 10:56 PM

The only downside I see for the CGE Pro is the weight. It is porky, porky, porky.

The mount head alone is 75#. That's quite an armload to put on and take off the tripod solo in the dark. It's a heavy mount for its rated capacity. Conversely the Mach 1 GTO is a light mount for its rated capacity.

I'm very curious about this mount, but more for a permanent installation with an 8" or 10" long focus achromat.

Regards,

Jim

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Steve Fisher

Reged: 08/12/06

Loc: Utah

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: jrbarnett]
#2966677 - 03/05/09 11:50 PM

Jim:

Permanent mount should be great! I'm hoping I can make a pier extension and see how it handles a 8" f/12 as a "grab and go".

Mine should be a magnet for people at star parties and outreach.

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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.

Reged: 08/17/07

Loc: New Hampshire

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: Steve Fisher]
#2966716 - 03/06/09 12:11 AM

I just saw one at the WSP. It is a MONSTER!! It is very well built and very attractive. However, it's a bit pricey for my budget. Still, if I had the funds...

Steve

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DaveJ
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/07/05

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: Telescopeman54]
#2967051 - 03/06/09 08:10 AM

Quote:

I just saw one at the WSP. It is a MONSTER!! It is very well built and very attractive. However, it's a bit pricey for my budget. Still, if I had the funds...

No pictures?????

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Gord
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/06/04

Loc: Toronto, ON, Canada

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: DaveJ]
#2967123 - 03/06/09 09:08 AM

Personally, I don't think a heavy mount is such a bad thing. Yeah, it's could be a bit much to haul around in some cases, but as with everything, it's about trade-offs.

I heard it said once, don't put more weight on it than it weighs itself. From what I have seen, this is pretty good advice. I put together a list of a whole bunch of mounts once based on this criteria and compared it to what they were rated as.

Top mounts tended to stick close to the 1:1, while some did push it to 1:1.5 or even 1:1.75 (like the CGE for example). Then there are the extreme's like the ASGT where it is 1:3. I think 1:1 is a safe estimate for photo work, and in my experience 1:3 can work prefectly well for visual only. But, a lot of that is based on personal taste as well.

So this new CGE Pro could work quite nicely for a visual load of 250+ lbs. At least in theory based on what I've experienced in the past.

Cheers,

-Gord

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Steve Fisher

Reged: 08/12/06

Loc: Utah

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: Telescopeman54]
#2967542 - 03/06/09 12:19 PM

Quote:

I just saw one at the WSP. It is a MONSTER!! It is very well built and very attractive. However, it's a bit pricey for my budget. Still, if I had the funds...

Steve

Steve:

Do you think it is a mount I should consider for my soon to arrive 8" f/12 or am I still looking for an MI or AP?

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Alph
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/23/06

Loc: Melmac

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: Gord]
#2967757 - 03/06/09 01:51 PM

Quote:

Top mounts tended to stick close to the 1:1, while some did push it to 1:1.5 or even 1:1.75 (like the CGE for example).

You got the numbers really wrong.
Paramount ME 150/65 = 2.2
CGE 65/42 = 1.5 (not top mount at all)

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LLEEGE
True Blue

Reged: 03/03/05

Loc: Cloud-chester,NY

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: Gord]
#2967838 - 03/06/09 02:33 PM

Quote:

So this new CGE Pro could work quite nicely for a visual load of 250+ lbs. At least in theory based on what I've experienced in the past.

Cheers,

-Gord

I think that is a bit optimistic. I don't know that I would put that much on an AP1200.

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Gord
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/06/04

Loc: Toronto, ON, Canada

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: Alph]
#2968119 - 03/06/09 04:53 PM

Quote:

You got the numbers really wrong.
Paramount ME 150/65 = 2.2
CGE 65/42 = 1.5 (not top mount at all)

Actually, I never said the CGE was a top mount, but it's certainly proven to be quite a decent one. I believe the ME is actually closer to 70 lbs (68?), and I think it's over-rated slightly at 150.

If you look at the Tak's, the MI (such as the 500 and up), you will see they all stick closer to the 1:1. But, some seem to do fine going higher (like many people's experience with the ME).

250 being optimistic for the CGE pro is I think based on how you are looking at things and what trade-off's are accepted. Is 35 lbs on an AS-GT optimistic? In a lot of ways yes, but they still do it, and in a lot of cases it works ok. I've used worse. Remember, it's a 12 lb mount.

And I think the advice that AP gives always needs to be considered: some tubes are long for their weight and others are heavy for their size. The numbers are just guidelines.

Cheers,

-Gord

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CounterWeight
Postmaster

Reged: 10/05/08

Loc: Cloudyopolis, OR.

Re: CGE Pro Mount ...........who's got one! new

[Re: Gord]
#2968989 - 03/07/09 02:47 AM

If I take all my scopes, and add, maybe a kitchen sink, I'll be over 95 lbs. If I don't add the kitchen sink, I'll be in the 'middle 2/3 of' the rated capacity.

Sure is impressive, but wonder 'who needs one?'. I know i don't, but then I'm just small fry. My fleeting imression is that folks with $20,000 scopes want at least $10,000 mounts... call it the glam factor or what you you will, but I wonder if this mount has the 'cache' to appeal to the high end high weight crowd?

Time will tell...

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