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Takahashi EM Who?

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#1 Bomber Bob

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Posted 07 April 2019 - 07:47 AM

As Chuck suggested, here's a thread to discuss the Takahashi EM series EQ mounts.

 

Got an EM mount, or looking for one?   Ask your questions, and/or post your opinions here.

 

My old EM-1 carries every scope I have save the 6" frac and Tinsley Cass:

 

Dakin 4 - Restore S03.jpg


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#2 rolo

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Posted 07 April 2019 - 08:05 AM

I would recommend all classic Takahashi mounts for a bigger variety of models....


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#3 CHASLX200

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Posted 07 April 2019 - 08:26 AM

Give me the non GO-TO gray mounts anyday of the week   Would die for a gray NJP160.


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#4 starman876

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Posted 07 April 2019 - 08:31 AM

I have the EM 10 and 11. I always thought the EM1 and EM2 were carried a lighter payload.  I see Rolo corrected that thought.  Must be the EM1 and 2 were earlier mounts.  The EM10 and 11 sell for a lot more money.   I have seen EM11 mounts over $2000


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#5 rolo

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Posted 07 April 2019 - 08:40 AM

I have the EM 10 and 11. I always thought the EM1 and EM2 were carried a lighter payload.  I see Rolo corrected that thought.  Must be the EM1 and 2 were earlier mounts.  The EM10 and 11 sell for a lot more money.   I have seen EM11 mounts over $2000

I think it may be because of the electronics and Temma capability...



#6 starman876

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Posted 07 April 2019 - 08:46 AM

I think it may be because of the electronics and Temma capability...

You are most likely correct.     I love the Tak tripods on these smaller mounts.  I even made an adapter so the EM200 tripod will hold the EM 10 and 11.  Talk about rock steady. 


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#7 Esso2112

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Posted 07 April 2019 - 09:43 AM

The EM mounts are wonderful. Simplicity and fabulous mechanics. The difference between the Temma and the non-Goto mounts is just that, otherwise they are basically the same. My favorite was the NJP, but kept an EM400 because of capacity. I still have the EM400 and an EM-11. The EM-11 carries all my classics easily except the Unitron 4”. Way to long. 


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#8 Bomber Bob

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Posted 07 April 2019 - 10:31 AM

From rolo's post on the ~ Ads thread -->  https://www.cloudyni...-4#entry9274091

 

EM1 Load Capacity 8 kg / 17.6 lbs

 

EM2/EM10 & EM11 Load Capacity 9 kg / 19.8 lbs

 

All are +/- 10" Accuracy.


Edited by Bomber Bob, 07 April 2019 - 10:32 AM.

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#9 rolo

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Posted 07 April 2019 - 12:41 PM

The EM mounts are wonderful. Simplicity and fabulous mechanics. The difference between the Temma and the non-Goto mounts is just that, otherwise they are basically the same. My favorite was the NJP, but kept an EM400 because of capacity. I still have the EM400 and an EM-11. The EM-11 carries all my classics easily except the Unitron 4”. Way to long. 

 

Give me the non GO-TO gray mounts anyday of the week   Would die for a gray NJP160.

The NJP is a beast with +/- 4" and a 70lb Payload...I believe this one was 1998 or 99 model.One of the best mounts I've ever owned.

Attached Thumbnails

  • 830871-1.jpg

Edited by rolo, 07 April 2019 - 12:42 PM.

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#10 mfalls

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Posted 07 April 2019 - 01:07 PM

Give me the non GO-TO gray mounts anyday of the week   Would die for a gray NJP160.

Takahashi 160 NJP mount posted for sale on Astromart yesterday. Looks more green than gray to me.



#11 CHASLX200

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Posted 07 April 2019 - 02:46 PM

The NJP is a beast with +/- 4" and a 70lb Payload...I believe this one was 1998 or 99 model.One of the best mounts I've ever owned.

I almost bought one on AM. But seller found a local buyer.  So i went with the AP800 and it has a BT Tech plate holder on the saddle.


Edited by CHASLX200, 07 April 2019 - 02:47 PM.


#12 CHASLX200

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Posted 07 April 2019 - 02:47 PM

Takahashi 160 NJP mount posted for sale on Astromart yesterday. Looks more green than gray to me.

I must have missed it.



#13 tim53

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Posted 07 April 2019 - 03:08 PM

I never thought I'd own anything Takahashi, because they're so pricey.  But several years back, I decided I needed one seriously accurate mount for astrophotography, and found a deal on a 2000 NJP Temma PC (pre temma 2).  Same seller also had a mint - at the time - EM-10, that he'd only used 4 times.  I ended up buying both mounts for about $6K.  He also had a Mewlon 250 that he wanted to sell, but that would have broken my bank at the time, so I didn't.  Wish I had, though.

 

My next Tak purchase was this FC-76 on the P2 mount that I bought from a pawn shop in Rialto 7 years ago.  This scope is from 1982.  Not only is it NOT the dark green gray we often see from the mid 80s or so, it's an odd textured metallic blue-gray, mount and telescope parts.  This pic was taking right after I got it.  It needs more counterweighting than it came with.  It's also not clock driven, so I usually put the OTA on one of the other mounts (usually the EM-1, but sometimes a SP with gotonova kit added):

 

post-6788-14073887261732_thumb.jpg

post-6788-14073887262387_thumb.jpg


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#14 tim53

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Posted 07 April 2019 - 03:26 PM

After the FC-76 and P2, I found a deal on an EM-500 non goto mount.  Had to pick it up in Colorado while on vacation.  Took it and the NJP to Milford for some astrophotography, and foolishly plugged the 24-volt power supply from the NJP into the EM-500, which chased the smoke out of the electronics.  Texas Nautical wanted $4500 to convert it to Temma 2, so I spent about 1/6th that on a Sidereal Technology kit and easily adapted it to the EM-500.  It worked amazingly well, and the motors were very quiet even when slewing.  But I wanted to put it back to original, if I could.  I sent the circuit board off to Dave Groski, and he found a replacement IC for just a few dollars.  So I put it back to original and it's worked swimmingly ever since.  It has encoders on the shafts, separate from the drive electronics, and a digital setting circle readout box that needs a new battery (but worked when I used it after I got the thing).

 

post-6788-14072849151448_thumb.jpg

 

post-6788-14072849152078_thumb.jpg


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#15 tim53

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Posted 07 April 2019 - 03:33 PM

And the most recent Tak purchase, the epsilon 130 on the EM-1 mount from 1985 - so it's got that beautiful dark green-gray paint and olive knobs on the rings.  This mount is so easy to set up and polar align.  Of course, the epsilon 130 is an f/3.3 system, so stars are pretty small and PE might be hard to detect over short exposures.  I do sometimes get stars trailing, but usually when I've gone too long without changing the batteries.  Oh, forgot.  It runs on 4 d-cell batteries for about a week of mostly all-nighters:  

 

post-6788-1407419709812_thumb.jpg


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#16 photoracer18

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Posted 10 April 2019 - 02:45 PM

I almost bought one on AM. But seller found a local buyer.  So i went with the AP800 and it has a BT Tech plate holder on the saddle.

While I had my AP800 I used a 12" Casady plateholder.



#17 photoracer18

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Posted 10 April 2019 - 02:50 PM

I had a Tak EM-200 Temma 2 for awhile. That was during the time Hands On Optics was dealing in Takahashis. I once sold a TOA-130A and an NJP to go with it. Used an HP iPAQ as a controller. Worked so well I did the same on my EM-200. Only sold it when I needed more capacity.
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#18 CHASLX200

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Posted 10 April 2019 - 05:47 PM

While I had my AP800 I used a 12" Casady plateholder.

I think i will make my own plate for the Newts and use whatever dovetail holder works best for the fracts.



#19 chancy

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Posted 11 April 2019 - 12:57 AM

I started with the em200 temma2m as it seemed simpler to operate than others, and I eventually got an Em11 as a traveling mount. Excellent workhorses that just do their job once setup and allows me to focus on the imaging or viewing!


Edited by chancy, 11 April 2019 - 01:04 AM.

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#20 Defenderslideguitar

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Posted 11 April 2019 - 07:08 PM

I have the EM-10  and it rides well on the Tak tripod. I like everything about it. The older Tak FC-100 completes the package  and it is fine.

 

When I got the FS-128 of my dreams    I was told by the folks in Takitis that it is possible to use the 128 on that EM-10  if  I were to get the em-200 legs and hub.   I had a line on that tripod locally but the seller decide to hang onto it.

 

Still planning the right mount for the 128 but taking my time  as I do not want to undermount anything much less the sweet 128.........of course  the EM-200 would work well.......Saw some really nice  EM mounts at Neaf

 

At Neaf    Scott Losmandy  said that the GM-8 could work for the 128 but the GM-11 is only an extra 10 pounds and it would be better    so he would go with the GM-11  cant argue with that.....

 

below see the FC-100 on the EM-10     see the inventory tag on the EM-10 close up

Attached Thumbnails

  • TALFC-100IMG_1034 (1).jpg
  • em10close upFullSizeRender (45).jpg

Edited by Defenderslideguitar, 11 April 2019 - 07:12 PM.

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#21 Terra Nova

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Posted 12 April 2019 - 09:04 AM

That’s a beautiful setup Barry! I bet it’s a joy to use too!

#22 Defenderslideguitar

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Posted 12 April 2019 - 02:54 PM

Thanks  Terra    indeed it is........


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#23 agmoonsolns

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Posted 13 April 2019 - 01:29 AM

Does anyone know how much weight the old EM-90S can hold? I have been using the FC-100DL with it and it's amazing. It's between the EM-10 and the EM-200 in size. 



#24 PJ Anway

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Posted 14 April 2019 - 09:01 PM

FC76 on an EM100

 

 

 

FC-76_small.jpg

 

 

EM100_label.jpg

 

 

 


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#25 agmoonsolns

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Posted 14 April 2019 - 09:08 PM

The counterweights are gorgeous, who makes/sells them?




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