shadowdoc31
member
Reged: 11/27/08
Posts: 28
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Greetings--
I had posted a couple of questions about mounts
about a month ago, and wanted to give some followup
as to my decision and results.
After viewing info on this forum, as well as elsewhere
on the web, I ended up buying the Takahashi EM-200 Temma2
mount. I've had the chance to use it almost every night
for the past week, and so far it's working great:
- one of the final selling points before purchase was the
integrated polar alignment scope, and this works just
as advertised. Really straightforward once you get
it set for your location (longitude).
- I don't have quantitative #'s, but periodic error
seems to be very, very small. Also, smooth and
regular (easy to guide out).
- Interface with the SBIG SG-4 autoguider is seamless
(no PC required) and I've gone out to 2 hrs with no
visible streaking.
- I had initially been concerned about the wood tripod legs
that Takahashi offers, supposing that something more
modern (e.g., carbon fiber) would be preferable.
However, the wood offers great vibraation damping; and
considering the overall mount weight, any additional
mass from the legs is pretty much irrelevant in terms
of portability.
I'll try to post updates as I gain more experience but
so far things are great.
Ronald Waters
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Ricky
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/09/03
Posts: 2362
Loc: Nor Cal
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You've got yourself a really nice mount....thanks for the report!
--------------------
Regards Ricky
_______________
ADM Mount w/SiTech GoTo
WO ZS66
Orion Autoguider
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Tim C
sage
Reged: 11/11/07
Posts: 272
Loc: Marietta, GA
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Gotta love that polar scope. Ive had my em200 about six months and i don't bother to check with drift alignment anymore. PE is 7 arc sec peak to peak on mine.
--------------------
Tim
Some average astrophotos: http://TCardin.zenfolio.com/p355986048
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johnnyha
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/12/06
Posts: 1138
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And don't be afraid to use it without Temma for those shorter sessions, makes for a super simple tracking setup.
--------------------
Johnny
Spicewood, TX
Sherman Oaks, CA
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shadowdoc31
member
Reged: 11/27/08
Posts: 28
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I still haven't started using the "Go-to" capabilities
(with a PC and the supplied software); is this worthwhile
to spend time learning?
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Ricky
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/09/03
Posts: 2362
Loc: Nor Cal
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Im not too familiar w/Pegasus software but the Tak mount works great w/The Sky5 or 6.
--------------------
Regards Ricky
_______________
ADM Mount w/SiTech GoTo
WO ZS66
Orion Autoguider
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gnowellsct
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/24/09
Posts: 733
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Quote:
Greetings--
- I had initially been concerned about the wood tripod legs
that Takahashi offers, supposing that something more
modern (e.g., carbon fiber) would be preferable.
However, the wood offers great vibraation damping; and
considering the overall mount weight, any additional
mass from the legs is pretty much irrelevant in terms
of portability.
Ronald Waters
The Taks are certainly one of the upper tier mounts available in the U.S. I guess what makes me leery of them is that when issues develop you have essentially the resources at TNR otherwise it's back to Japan. In terms of price and quality the Asto-Physics options are as good or better I think.
Everyone loves the polar scope.
In terms of periodic error and smooth tracking the wildcard in the usual upper tier is the G11 with Ovision. I used to think of the G11 as the bottom of the top options but for the extra $500 I think it's one of the top options, I just don't know where I'd put it.
I'm not surprised you like the wood tripod legs. The lower cost mounts have conditioned people in weird ways. Almost everyone has figured out that extruded aluminum sucks, but the upper end aluminum options on piers and tripods (AP, ATS, PWT, Losmandy) are all very different beasts. Then there's stainless steel which has become the material of choice at the low end but also such options as the Meade giant field tripod.
And then there's wood. Let me tell you once you've been on a good wood tripod all this stuff about vibration damping pads etc. looks pretty silly. Wood has excellent characteristics.
I'm very fond of the Berlebach wood tripod for the G11 and my Vixen Super Polaris also has wood legs. The Vixen OEM legs are excellent but I have some made by an amateur that are also great, and taller.
Wood is not just a great material for damping, it has the additional virtue of not being as hard to use in the cold. So it remains a very good tripod choice.
I prefer the Berlebach to the G11 default tripod because it is a little easier to set up and easier to use in the cold. But the G11 default is extremely solid.
Anyhow good luck to you with your Tak it's a great mount. If you have fine points to discuss you should joint the Yahoo Tak group:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/UncensoredTakGroup/?yguid=131956019
Greg N
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"Aperture will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no aperture."
featuring selected astrojunk:
bunch o' widefield eyepieces
bunch o' narrowfield eyepieces
couple o' Barlows
couple o' scopes
couple o' mounts
couple o' tripods
and a pier 'n' stuff
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Eddy
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/30/04
Posts: 1351
Loc: Aix-en-Provence, France
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Hi,
Congrats with your new mount. I have the same one and I never regret buying it. I upgraded it with the ADM saddle and plates.
I mainly use it for astrophotography and, although I used once Pegassus, I prefer using StarryNight together with Chuck's ASCOM driver.
Everything works like a charm.
--------------------
Cheers,
Eddy
C8 XLT, W.O. ZS80-FD 10th anniv. ed. with MoonLite D/S focuser, Tak TSA102N with FeatherTouch
Tak EM-200 Temma II, Vixen PortaMount
SXV-H9, SXV guider
SBIG CFW-10 SA filter wheel, Astromik Type2 LRGB and Astronomik 6nm H-α, 13nm SII, 13nm OIII
Taurus Mini Tracker OAG
http://www.astrophotogallery.org/showgallery.php?cat=580
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johnnyha
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/12/06
Posts: 1138
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Quote:
I still haven't started using the "Go-to" capabilities
(with a PC and the supplied software); is this worthwhile
to spend time learning?
Oh absolutely, you'll get the hang of it after a few sessions. And the first time I saw mine do a meridian flip let me tell you, I got all tingly inside. 
--------------------
Johnny
Spicewood, TX
Sherman Oaks, CA
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shadowdoc31
member
Reged: 11/27/08
Posts: 28
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- Thanks for the detailed replies.
- I definitely looked at some of the Astro-physics
mounts, particularly since they've gotten their wait
times down. One question (irrelevant to me now, for
the time being anyway) was their polar alignment
routine. Seems like this should be a fundamental part
of a high-end mount (or any equatorial mount, for that
matter)
- While on the wood tripod legs-- has anyone varnished
theirs, to give the mount a bit more "spiffy" look?
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johnnyha
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/12/06
Posts: 1138
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I actually love the flat natural dark look of the legs. I rub then down with a little linseed oil occasionally.
--------------------
Johnny
Spicewood, TX
Sherman Oaks, CA
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EddWen
sage
Reged: 04/26/08
Posts: 367
Loc: Here or There
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Quote:
- Thanks for the detailed replies.
- I definitely looked at some of the Astro-physics
mounts, particularly since they've gotten their wait
times down. One question (irrelevant to me now, for
the time being anyway) was their polar alignment
routine. Seems like this should be a fundamental part
of a high-end mount (or any equatorial mount, for that
matter)
As you say, it is irrevelant now, but for the record, the A-P keypad has 4 different polar alignment routines, not counting the polar alignment scope. Check the website for the A-P 900 manual.
Good luck,
--------------------
Edd Weninger
-----------------
**** Lightshield Observatory SoCal ****
Nexstar 11 GPS Questar 3.5
A-P 900 A-P Traveler
**** Blackdog Observatory Arizona ****
A-P 155EDF A-P 1200GTO Coronado SolarMax 90
Orion ED80 Baader Mk V bino-viewer
CGE STV Canon 18x50IS
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shadowdoc31
member
Reged: 11/27/08
Posts: 28
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Thanks for your input-- clearly the Astro-Physics
mounts are superb instruments.
I looked over the 900GTO manual on the Astro-physics
site:
http://www.astro-physics.com/tech_support/mounts/900-GTOCP3-2009-8-11-web.pdf
...from what I can tell, the mount ships with a polar
alignment site hole, and the polar scope is an optional
accessory.
In my current situation, I don't have a pier or similar
fixed object to set up on, and I have to polar align from
scratch every time; for this reason, I thought the
integrated polar scope in the Takahashi mounts would work
best for me.
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shadowdoc31
member
Reged: 11/27/08
Posts: 28
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I tried using Starry Night with the Temma system over
the weekend but got an error ("Type Mismatch" if I
recall correctly).
I may just buy "TheSky v6"; per their web site, it
provides direct support for Takahashi/Temma; can anyone
verify this?
Thanks again!
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Tim C
sage
Reged: 11/11/07
Posts: 272
Loc: Marietta, GA
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SN will work, I've used it but I prefer voyager 4.5 (runs better on my netbook). Your error sounds like maybe the wrong com port was selected.
--------------------
Tim
Some average astrophotos: http://TCardin.zenfolio.com/p355986048
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