dscarpa
sage
Reged: 03/15/08
Posts: 254
Loc: San Diego Ca.
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I got a e-mail from iOptron saying the Mini Tower Pro is shipping this week. I'm interested but I will not be one of the first ones to buy one. I really want something like it but with Light Switch type setup. David
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BobH
super member
Reged: 01/03/08
Posts: 143
Loc: PA
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Good Luck 
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"Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise." - Cato the Elder
Meade 8" LX200 GPS
ETX 125 PE
Tasco 50mm x 600mm
StellarVue 115ST on MiniTower
Orion Astroview 100
Celestron 8x42 Outland LX
'03 Harley FXDL (oops, wrong forum)
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macular hole
super member
Reged: 08/12/09
Posts: 146
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They are in the US, but not yet available. Should be in one more week per Ioptron.
Will a standard vixen dovetail rail and rings work well with the minitowers?
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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1541
Loc: New Hampshire
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The Mini Tower accespts the standard Vixen dovetail.
Steve
--------------------
Stephen Forbes - President
Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC
61 Valhalla Farm Road
Hillsboro, NH 03244
Web: http://TrapeziumTelescopes.com
Email: Stephen.Forbes@TrapeziumTelescopes.com
Phone: 1.603.325.0619
6" f/15 Jaegers refractor on GOTO GEM
5.1" f/8 Burgess on CG-5 w/ iOptron GOTONOVA
102mm f/7 refractor on iOptron Mini Tower
1975 Celestron Orange Tube C8 on Equatorial Mini Tower
1978 RV-6 on iOptron Mini Tower
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jimandlaura26
super member
Reged: 11/19/03
Posts: 152
Loc: Northern VA
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Steve,
How do the mechanical guts of the new Mini-Tower Pro stack up against the tune-up service you offer for the Mini-Tower?
Thanks,
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Jim M.
Northern VA (NOVAC member)
Stellarvue 80ED & Stellarvue M-1 alt/az mount
Stellarvue 80S & Celestron ASGT GEM
Stellarvue 102A & Discmounts DM-6 alt/az mount
Celestron C8-XLT & Celestron CGEM
Coronado PST
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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1541
Loc: New Hampshire
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We have yet to see a production unit so we haven't the information to make a comparison.
Steve
--------------------
Stephen Forbes - President
Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC
61 Valhalla Farm Road
Hillsboro, NH 03244
Web: http://TrapeziumTelescopes.com
Email: Stephen.Forbes@TrapeziumTelescopes.com
Phone: 1.603.325.0619
6" f/15 Jaegers refractor on GOTO GEM
5.1" f/8 Burgess on CG-5 w/ iOptron GOTONOVA
102mm f/7 refractor on iOptron Mini Tower
1975 Celestron Orange Tube C8 on Equatorial Mini Tower
1978 RV-6 on iOptron Mini Tower
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macular hole
super member
Reged: 08/12/09
Posts: 146
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In Stock, shipping out tomorrow, Friday the 13th.
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Bob Moore
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/07/06
Posts: 822
Loc: New York
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Hi everyone, I’m looking forward to the new MT Pro, I have a MT and love it and will continue to use at every opportunity for my lighter scopes. I have done a lot of research an the MT Pro including a lot of data mining, talking to iOptron’s tech. support people and here are the facts as I know them.
MiniTower Pro is a major upgrade over MiniTower in terms of mechanics and capabilities.
The internal structure has be redesigned with the following improvements:
1. The central axel is much bigger, stronger than the one in MiniTower.
2. New high-precision bearings. New high quality lubricant.
3. A new optical encoder with 6 times more resolution.
4. A major update in tripod. This is a whole new animal. The new tripod has 2 inch stainless steel legs and it is much taller than MiniTower tripod, I’m 6’3” and from what I can tell if you put a 107mm or 127mm scope one the MT Pro and look at Vega you will not have to be laying on the ground
5. Those structural improvements give MiniTower Pro a much bigger payload (33 lbs+10 lbs) and smoother tracking.
I WANT MY Mini Tower Pro NOWWWWWWWWW!!
Bob
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A scope or two
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EdTheEdge
super member
Reged: 04/10/09
Posts: 133
Loc: Lomita, CA
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Quote:
In Stock, shipping out tomorrow, Friday the 13th.
A new product shipping out on Friday the 13th?!? Yikes! 
Quote:
Hi everyone, I’m looking forward to the new MT Pro, I have a MT and love it and will continue to use at every opportunity for my lighter scopes. I have done a lot of research an the MT Pro including a lot of data mining, talking to iOptron’s tech. support people and here are the facts as I know them.
MiniTower Pro is a major upgrade over MiniTower in terms of mechanics and capabilities.
The internal structure has be redesigned with the following improvements:
1. The central axel is much bigger, stronger than the one in MiniTower.
2. New high-precision bearings. New high quality lubricant.
3. A new optical encoder with 6 times more resolution.
4. A major update in tripod. This is a whole new animal. The new tripod has 2 inch stainless steel legs and it is much taller than MiniTower tripod, I’m 6’3” and from what I can tell if you put a 107mm or 127mm scope one the MT Pro and look at Vega you will not have to be laying on the ground
5. Those structural improvements give MiniTower Pro a much bigger payload (33 lbs+10 lbs) and smoother tracking.
I WANT MY Mini Tower Pro NOWWWWWWWWW!!
Bob
I want one too. I was thinking that I might go the GTO EQ way but the more I think about it the more I think I want one of these.
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Scopes:
Celestron SP-C6 F/5
Orion ST80 F/5
Orion 90mm F/10.1
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Mount:
Vixen Super Polaris
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Eyepieces:
Orion 25mm Sirius Plössl
Orion 15mm Expanse
Orion 10mm Ultrascopic
Orion 7.5mm HightLight Plössl
GSO 2X Barlow
Lumicon ND25
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Torrance,CA
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johnnyha
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/12/06
Posts: 1108
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I await Steve's verdict, I wonder if he can add some magic to this Pro version? I almost got one last year, now I am getting concerned on the higher price however, and it's getting heftier... there are some pretty competitive mounts at this price point, it becomes quite a thinker. Hmmmm.
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Johnny
Spicewood, TX
Sherman Oaks, CA
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Scott Rose
sage
Reged: 04/20/08
Posts: 260
Loc: beachwood ohio
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steve, are you planning on testing out the new mount anytime soon.
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EdTheEdge
super member
Reged: 04/10/09
Posts: 133
Loc: Lomita, CA
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Anyone order one yet? I'm getting an itchy trigger finger!
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Scopes:
Celestron SP-C6 F/5
Orion ST80 F/5
Orion 90mm F/10.1
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Mount:
Vixen Super Polaris
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Eyepieces:
Orion 25mm Sirius Plössl
Orion 15mm Expanse
Orion 10mm Ultrascopic
Orion 7.5mm HightLight Plössl
GSO 2X Barlow
Lumicon ND25
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Torrance,CA
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Covey32
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 921
Loc: Georgia
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Quote:
Anyone order one yet? I'm getting an itchy trigger finger!
I plan on waiting until I see some comments from the peanut gallery before investing in a new product from Ioptron.
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Hank
12.5" Mag1 Portaball
Orion 120mm F5 Refractor
Skywatcher 120ED F7.5 Refractor
1982 Celestron C8 Orange tube
Celestron ED80 Refractor with Lunt 50mm HA
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Scott Rose
sage
Reged: 04/20/08
Posts: 260
Loc: beachwood ohio
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did anyone order this mount yet
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macular hole
super member
Reged: 08/12/09
Posts: 146
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In hand and assembled, sans OTA.
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Scott Rose
sage
Reged: 04/20/08
Posts: 260
Loc: beachwood ohio
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tell us more
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macular hole
super member
Reged: 08/12/09
Posts: 146
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Not much to tell. The OTA is not available yet, so I can't test it out. Might be able to hook up the Leica APO 77. haven't checked.
It came packed in two double boxes. One large box for tripod and one small box for mount. Mount is in a nice aluminum case. Looks identical to regular Minitower, but says Minitower Pro on front. No directions included. Have to download directions from Ioptron site. Sans directions, I had it up and running in about ten minutes. Pretty quiet motors. Very unobtrusive.
Tripod is beefy, but no match for Berlebach Planet. More later
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macular hole
super member
Reged: 08/12/09
Posts: 146
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Something new that was not mentioned in the literature it seems, is the slide out counterweight arm. I thought it was missing, but in the pro model, the counterweight arm slides in and out from inside the unit. In the standard model, the counterweight arm has to be screwed on, according to the directions I downloaded from the Ioptron site last night.
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EdTheEdge
super member
Reged: 04/10/09
Posts: 133
Loc: Lomita, CA
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Can't wait for a review!
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Scopes:
Celestron SP-C6 F/5
Orion ST80 F/5
Orion 90mm F/10.1
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Mount:
Vixen Super Polaris
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Eyepieces:
Orion 25mm Sirius Plössl
Orion 15mm Expanse
Orion 10mm Ultrascopic
Orion 7.5mm HightLight Plössl
GSO 2X Barlow
Lumicon ND25
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Torrance,CA
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macular hole
super member
Reged: 08/12/09
Posts: 146
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New 2 inch Stainless Tripod dimensions-
Height to top plate-legs fully retracted 32"
Height to top plate-legs fully extended 54 3/4"
Height to middle of mount dovetail clamp-legs extended 64"
Height to middle of mount dovetail clamp-legs retracted 41 1/4"
Width of legs at base-fully retracted-25"
Width of legs at base-fully extended-40 1/2"
Width of triangular shaped top plate-7 1/2"
The top plate has two sets of drilled and tapped mounting holes. The mount uses the inner holes, leaving three peripheral holes open. Not sure what these three open holes are for? Possibly a future height extension??
It includes the three new black, star shaped and brass leveling screws.
The tripod feet are cast metal, and are drilled and tapped with a 1/2 inch diam by one inch long stainless rod that screws in and has a rubber tip. These screw on and off. I suppose someone could make an accesory set of 3 long spikes for use in dirt or soil.
It did not come with an accesory tray.
Each leg extension is held in place by one screw in clamp.
Overall, the look of it is in good proportion to the mount. Ioptron has a picture of the top of the tripod now on the website.
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