Tech Hiker
member
Reged: 07/29/09
Posts: 32
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Quote:
Shame they won't be making any more CGE's.
Seriously? They aren't making any more CGEs?
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Tom
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ZMass
sage
Reged: 11/07/07
Posts: 294
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Apparently Celestron stopped production in Jan 09. It was replaced by the CGE-Pro, which is actually a heavier class mount. I'm hoping we see a CGEM-Pro or something to replace the CGE - although I'll probably have to pull the trigger on something well before that happens.
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-Zeke Mass
Encinitas, CA
6" Custom Newt on CG5
CCD Labs Q285M (Qhy2 Pro)
ST-80 guide-scope with DSI Pro
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Steve Fisher
"Curmudgeon in Training"
Reged: 08/12/06
Posts: 1916
Loc: Utah
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I think we have been down this road elsewhere. Last I heard from the Celestron reps at RTMC in May was the CGE "classic" will probably continue.
Now going back to the OP's latest request if the CGE is the low end of the current possibilities that leaves a huge gap to the next mount, doesn't it.
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Steve
8" f/12 D&G Achromat Refractor Delivered 08/27/09
6" D&G f/12 Achromat Refractor
66mm f/6.1 William Optics Petzval
6" f/8 Celestron Starhopper
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"Never try to teach a pig to sing, It wastes your time and it annoys the pig". (Robert Heinlein)
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mclewis1
Thread Killer
Reged: 02/25/06
Posts: 4476
Loc: New Brunswick, Canada
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Quote:
Back on topic - Does anyone have a total weight for the CGE?
I found:
CGEM - 75lbs - max payload 40lb
CGE - ? lbs - max payload 65lb
CGE Pro - 154 lbs - max payload 90lb
Is the CGE as heavy as the CGE Pro? For me 154lbs is not portable.
CGE - EQ head - 42lbs, tripod and electronics pier - 41.5lbs, cw bar - 5lbs, cw - 25lbs. So in line with the specs above the CGE would be 113.5lbs.
If you're only carrying 25lbs of equipment and you need portability (breaking it down to transport to and from a dark site) then I'd seriously consider the CGEM. When setup and balanced well and autoguided it should provide sufficient tracking smoothness and accuracy. If your observing/imaging is in your backyard then maybe consider wheels for the heavier CGE (Scopebuggy for example), that will make it much easier on your back.
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Mark
C11, C6, APM/TMB115, and AT80ED - Tandem mount CGE and CG-5A, WO EZ-Touch and AT Voyager
25x100s and 8x56s, T-Mount Light, Mark 1 eyeballs - Modded 350D, DSI-P, SPC900, Mallincam
Just because you can doesn't necessarily mean that you should
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Steve Fisher
"Curmudgeon in Training"
Reged: 08/12/06
Posts: 1916
Loc: Utah
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Quote:
If you're only carrying 25lbs of equipment and you need portability (breaking it down to transport to and from a dark site) then I'd seriously consider the CGEM. When setup and balanced well and autoguided it should provide sufficient tracking smoothness and accuracy. If your observing/imaging is in your backyard then maybe consider wheels for the heavier CGE (Scopebuggy for example), that will make it much easier on your back.
I would agree 100% with Mark. With a 25 pound load a CGEM or Atlas is the correct choice. IMHO. If you get up in the 35-40 pound range, I would start to reconsider.
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Steve
8" f/12 D&G Achromat Refractor Delivered 08/27/09
6" D&G f/12 Achromat Refractor
66mm f/6.1 William Optics Petzval
6" f/8 Celestron Starhopper
----------------------
"Never try to teach a pig to sing, It wastes your time and it annoys the pig". (Robert Heinlein)
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DaemonGPF
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 4040
Loc: New Mexico
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That would leave a big gap if they discontinued the CGE. It seems to be such a popular mount.
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-Josh
http://cleardarksky.com/c/AlbuqNMkey.html
My AP Gallery
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DNTash
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/02/07
Posts: 801
Loc: India
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This is a great OP and thread -- I've read it twice -- speaking as one interested in starting up as a newbie in dslr AP, with a desire for reasonable portability, and a carry weight in the 25-pound range. Just about every question I had in my mind has been discussed, and most of the mounts discussed are those I am considering as well. I have learned a lot here.
It is clear to me that the more robust the mount the better, in the comparisons that have been made here -- and then, as the OP notes, it becomes another story. If I may, and I don't mean to take it back a notch in terms of the greater desire for a more robust mount (which would be mine as well), but I have a question relevant to the last few posts.
Style, software, go-to formats, etc., aside, is there much difference in the performance of the CGEM and Atlas in terms of output for AP (e.g., based on things like the size of the gears)? I guess what I'm asking, is which would lend itself toward better photos, or are they about the same, say, for the 25-pound carry? Looks like an either/or answer at the moment.
Thanks,
Dale
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AT 72ED f/6 doublet
TMB 92L f/5.5 triplet
Orion 120ST f/5
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DaemonGPF
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 4040
Loc: New Mexico
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Dale, that is a great question as well.
I've seen both CGEM and Atlas mounts in person, and I have heard feedback from people who own one or the other. But I have not heard a detailed comparison from someone who has experience on both mounts.
I've noticed there are a lot of people who modify their Atlas mounts with new bearings, and other internal parts, Hypertune them, etc. So I'm wondering if the tracking accuracy is really that poor even with the PEC that it's requiring people to modify.
For me personally, I really liked the All-star alignment protocol when I upgraded the firmware in my CG5, it simplified "quick" alignment big time and the CGEM has it by default. I don't think the Atlas has anything like it, and I'm unsure just how accurate the polar finder scope is on the Atlas. Either way drift alignment is the way to go, but for those short sessions with no time for an in-depth drift alignment job, it would be nice to measure and test which one has the better solution.
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-Josh
http://cleardarksky.com/c/AlbuqNMkey.html
My AP Gallery
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DNTash
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/02/07
Posts: 801
Loc: India
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Thanks Josh -- that's helpful perspective -- and I appreciate the feedback, especially since I jumped in late to your discussion. The CGEM seems like it might be the overall better deal between the two of them, and the firmware sounds good from what you indicate. Modification considerations for the Atlas could be easily sway a decision, as well.
Thanks again,
Dale
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AT 72ED f/6 doublet
TMB 92L f/5.5 triplet
Orion 120ST f/5
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LarsZ
super member
Reged: 01/12/08
Posts: 142
Loc: Sweden
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I haven't used the CGEM so I can't comment on that one.
My Atlas has a PE of +- 18, but it is rather smooth, so with an autoguider I have gotten very good results with 13 kg on it and 2350 mm focal length.
There is a program developed by Matthias Garzarolli that can be used with the Atlas and is somewhat similar to the Celestron All Star Polar Align, but with a limited number of stars to choose between. I have used it once for polar aligning but haven't checked the accuracy with drift aligning afterwards.
However I have read a couple of very positive reviews here in Sweden from other users of the program. If you want you can check it out. If I remember correctly it has a 30 day free trial period.
http://www.alignmaster.de/
/Lars
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Rebel XSi, IDAS LPS, CGE 9.25, Orion SSAG, Starblast 4.5
Edited by LarsZ (10/26/09 03:49 PM)
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DNTash
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/02/07
Posts: 801
Loc: India
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Thanks for the useful feedback on your Atlas, Lars. That looks like a useful program for calibrating polar alignment.
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AT 72ED f/6 doublet
TMB 92L f/5.5 triplet
Orion 120ST f/5
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jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan
Reged: 02/28/06
Posts: 5301
Loc: Petaluma, CA
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I suspect that the problem is that the "Made in USA" CGE costs quite a lot to make, resulting in thin margins compared to the CGEM and CGEPro.
If you buy a discounted CGE today from OPT for $2680, you get a full 2-year Celestron warranty. This leads me to believe that there should be spares around for quite awhile.
I "bit" at the discounted price, and have thus far really enjoyed the mount. For visual use only, it's delightfully accurate. With a rough polar alignment, two-star alignment, and 3 calibration stars, the mount puts objects near the center of a 1/2 degree field. I love the full-featured Nexstar firmware too. It's much better than the SynScan firmware used on the Atlas.
It is a bit heavy. You really need to buy an appropriate case for the mount head as the cardboard box won't last that long. It's noisier than an Atlas but quieter than a CG5-GT. It lacks analog setting circles and the side-saddle polar scope is (a) optional and (b) no longer available. Fortunately you really don't need a polar scope for visual-use polar alignment.
If you have a need for the extra capacity, can deal with the extra weight and bulk, and can swallow the extra cost, I think the CGE is a compelling package despite its discontinuance.
Regards,
Jim
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"I do not always observe with low dispersion glass doublets, but when I do, I prefer Televue. Stay focused, my friends!"
- The Most Interesting Astronomer in the Universe
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mclewis1
Thread Killer
Reged: 02/25/06
Posts: 4476
Loc: New Brunswick, Canada
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Danger: Random musing follows ...
I too was very perplexed at the original statements by Celestron and it's dealers about the CGE going away. I really believe that Celestron needs a mount in the class of the CGE at the current price point (sub $3000). I wonder if the reason we haven't heard any definitive statements is due to C looking at moving the manufacturing to China.
You learn a lot about your customers and a product when you tell them that you are discontinuing it and not offering a direct replacement. Perhaps Celestron is monitoring current sales to see if it makes sense to continue with the CGE. I'll bet Scott Losmandy is sure hoping that they don't.
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Mark
C11, C6, APM/TMB115, and AT80ED - Tandem mount CGE and CG-5A, WO EZ-Touch and AT Voyager
25x100s and 8x56s, T-Mount Light, Mark 1 eyeballs - Modded 350D, DSI-P, SPC900, Mallincam
Just because you can doesn't necessarily mean that you should
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rmollise
Postmaster
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 5323
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Quote:
Danger: Random musing follows ...
I too was very perplexed at the original statements by Celestron and it's dealers about the CGE going away. I really believe that Celestron needs a mount in the class of the CGE at the current price point (sub $3000). I wonder if the reason we haven't heard any definitive statements is due to C looking at moving the manufacturing to China.
Yep...I'd very much like to see Celestron with a replacement mount between the CGEM and the CGE Pro. No doubt it will be from China, but I hope, if such a thing happens, they will cure the mount's main warts, the cables/connectors. 
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Jeff55
sage
Reged: 04/14/05
Posts: 386
Loc: Boston MA
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I load about 34 pounds of gear on my CGEM and it handles that load without a problem. I'm probably at the outer most limit weight-wise BUT it seems it's within the design capabilities of the mount. I use my mount strictly for visual.
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Jeff Kurtz
CGEM With ADM/Criterion Accesories
Celestron C9.25
WO Megrez 90
Denk Binoviewer
Leica 14mm/22mm Eyepieces
Meade 40mm UWA
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David Pavlich
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 9710
Loc: Mandeville, LA USA 30.22 X 90....
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Quote:
Quote:
Danger: Random musing follows ...
I too was very perplexed at the original statements by Celestron and it's dealers about the CGE going away. I really believe that Celestron needs a mount in the class of the CGE at the current price point (sub $3000). I wonder if the reason we haven't heard any definitive statements is due to C looking at moving the manufacturing to China.
Yep...I'd very much like to see Celestron with a replacement mount between the CGEM and the CGE Pro. No doubt it will be from China, but I hope, if such a thing happens, they will cure the mount's main warts, the cables/connectors.
Yes sir! A CGE that comes with proper RA and Dec cables and sockets. Now that would be a dynamite mount. 
David
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Proud Member; PAS NOLA,
"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research..."
A. Einstein
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Mickey
member
Reged: 09/18/09
Posts: 26
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Can someone tell me what's the payload capacity of the CGE?
Not sure how I missed it. Never mind... I found what I needed.
Quote:
Quote:
Back on topic - Does anyone have a total weight for the CGE?
I found:
CGEM - 75lbs - max payload 40lb
CGE - ? lbs - max payload 65lb
CGE Pro - 154 lbs - max payload 90lb
Is the CGE as heavy as the CGE Pro? For me 154lbs is not portable.
CGE - EQ head - 42lbs, tripod and electronics pier - 41.5lbs, cw bar - 5lbs, cw - 25lbs. So in line with the specs above the CGE would be 113.5lbs.
If you're only carrying 25lbs of equipment and you need portability (breaking it down to transport to and from a dark site) then I'd seriously consider the CGEM. When setup and balanced well and autoguided it should provide sufficient tracking smoothness and accuracy. If your observing/imaging is in your backyard then maybe consider wheels for the heavier CGE (Scopebuggy for example), that will make it much easier on your back.
Edited by Mickey (10/30/09 12:01 AM)
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TonyF
member
Reged: 04/24/06
Posts: 21
Loc: .CA
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Steve,
Where did you get your mini-pier extension for the CGE??
TF
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Steve Fisher
"Curmudgeon in Training"
Reged: 08/12/06
Posts: 1916
Loc: Utah
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Quote:
Steve,
Where did you get your mini-pier extension for the CGE??
TF
Wish I could tell you that it was readily available but it was made for a friends CGE in Idaho Falls, Idaho. It ended up about 4" taller than he would have liked for his TEC 160. He was going to send it back and have it cut down.
I got to him just in time. I bought his and he bought a new one.
Should be easy for a good machine shop anywhere. If you need more PM me and I'll try to get the name of the company.
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Steve
8" f/12 D&G Achromat Refractor Delivered 08/27/09
6" D&G f/12 Achromat Refractor
66mm f/6.1 William Optics Petzval
6" f/8 Celestron Starhopper
----------------------
"Never try to teach a pig to sing, It wastes your time and it annoys the pig". (Robert Heinlein)
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