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PlayUgly
member
Reged: 12/22/07
Posts: 34
Loc: Midwest
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I've been considering a GEM for occasional high-mag viewing...Also I'm a bit of a gadget freak and GEMs seem really cool.
I found a used SVP in the classifieds with an RA motor and polar finder. This looks like a good candidate for my refractor and maybe an SCT sometime in the future.
I have no interest in goto or photography. I like planetary and lunar viewing.
Does the SkyView Pro have a good reputation? I would also like to hear opinions from those who prefer GEMs to Alt-Az for visual observing.
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Victor
Stargazer Steve 6" F/8 Dob
Sky-Watcher 100ED f/9
AT Voyager
8mm, 13mm, 21mm Hyperions
Nikon 10x50 Bincular
Zhumell 20X80 Binocular
Jason 50X50 Refractor
(purchased by my grandmother's boyfriend for "2 bits" at a garage sale 30 years ago)
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Adrian Lopez
sage
Reged: 10/22/08
Posts: 268
Loc: Puerto Rico
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The SVP mount should be fine for visual observing with your 7 pound, 100ED refractor. I actually have a 12 pound, 120mm Celestron refractor on an Omni CG-4 mount -- a mount that is very similar to the Sky View Pro -- and it works OK for visual. Some say the SVP is even more stable than the CG-4, but I don't know if that's really true.
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Celestron Omni XLT 120 (f/8.3) Refractor
William Optics 1.25" Dielectric Diagonal
Celestron 4, 6, 9, 15, 25, and 32mm EPs
Nikon Action Extreme 8x40 Binoculars
Canon Digital Rebel XT
RA Sweep Calculator (find objects without GoTo)
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ned_l
sage
Reged: 03/12/07
Posts: 200
Loc: north carolina
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I have one which I use alternately with my 4" refractor and 8" newt. It works well for visual. I have pushed both scopes up to their max magnification, and the mount has never been a problem with keeping everything steady at the eyepiece. I also have an alt-az and I do prefer the GEM most nights. While the alt-az is my grab and go set up, it is not quite as stable (probably due to balancing issues I am trying to correct) and it is a little harder to use since you have to move 2 axis to compensate for the Earth's rotation. For low power viewing with the 4", the alt-az is fine, and very fun. If you are going to higher power, especially for the planets, the GEM is the way to go for me.
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8" Orion Newtonian w/ Sky View Pro mount
Feather Touch focuser
Stellarvue 102 ED
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Jeronimo Cruz
super member
Reged: 09/01/08
Posts: 141
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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I have an original non goto CG-5 that I use with a 5" f/9 refractor. Visually, it's great! Settle down time is about 2 sec. and tracking at high powers is very good.
I would not recommend the mount if you plan on primarily imaging, of course.
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Jeronimo
TeleVue 101 + Gibralter
Celestron NS11 GPS/wedge + Hyperstar
Photon Instruments 127mm + SV F50W2
Lunt Solar Systems LS60DS Ha + Celestron CG-5
Naglers, Panoptics, Radians, Nikon binoviewer
Fujinon 10x70 FMT-SX, 7x42 CD; Canon 15x50IS;
Pentax 7x50 PCF WP, 10x50 PCF WPII, 10x50 DCF SP
Work
20" R/C RCOS on Paramount + Tak FSQ
16" R/C RCOS on Paramount + TEC 140
16" Meade LX200 SCT + TV 76
Ethos, Naglers, Panoptics
Coronado Solarmax 90mm Ha
Coronado Solarmax 70mm Ca
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SteveG
sage
Reged: 09/27/06
Posts: 237
Loc: Seattle, WA
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I have not used a SVP, but I do enjoy EQ mounts on all of my scopes (except the dobs). My old Super Polaris & Great Polaris are my best. These Vixen EQ mounts are a notch above the Chinese imports and can be found used for reasonable prices. I believe they weigh less due to their wooden legs.
I have my 100 ED on a Polaris mount but it is not driven. Total weight tube & mount is 30 lbs.
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WO Megrez 110 ED on SP Mount
10" Meade LightBridge
Orion ED 100 on Polaris Mount
6" f8 Edmonds reflector on GP Mount
4.5" F8 Orion EQ Reflector
Astroscan
Meade 226 2.4" f11.7
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