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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-CA link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Having been down this road not so long ago, my advice is based on how many times I said to myself \u201cI wish I would have....\u201d after choosing the less expensive option. I would have saved myself many $K if I would have made a 1-time purchase instead of continually upgrading to the next step.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>You did NOT scrimp on the telescope. The Stellarvue is a fine APO telescope and if you do want to venture into astrophotography, your Stellarvue is a superb astrophotography telescope for beginners and pros alike. When you are ready to try your hand at imaging the mount will become even more important than the telescope and the camera. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Based on that, I am going to add a 3<sup>rd</sup> mount to your list of options: Sywatcher EQ6 Pro. The same mount is also sold as an Orion EQ-G. Except for paint colour and brand name they are identical. The design of this mount has been around for quite a few years and remains the all-time best \u201cbang for the buck\u201d mount ever sold. It is almost identical to the Celestron CGEM except for motor and software. The EQ6 mount has a HUGE pool of people who can give your advice and there are tons of free software applications that help you get the most out of your mount.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I have seen several CG5 mounts in action and was not impressed. The CGEM has been around for 2 years but the EQ6 has a much longer track record and except for software has remained unchanged for an impressively long time. The only reason that you would ever want to upgrade from an EQ6 is if you plan to go to a much bigger telescope that weighs more than 40 pounds.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>My 2 cents worth!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> Gary Bennett<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> astronomers-bounces@hamiltonrasc.ca [mailto:astronomers-bounces@hamiltonrasc.ca] <b>On Behalf Of </b>David MacMillan<br><b>Sent:</b> June-17-12 6:38 PM<br><b>To:</b> astronomers@hamiltonrasc.ca<br><b>Subject:</b> RASC Hamilton Pondering Celestron CG5 Mount - Any Tips / Suggestions ?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>I purchased my Stellarvue 110ED refractor with that company\u2019s heavy duty surveyor trip and M2 alt-az mount. This setup is quite portable, however unless you know the skies like the back of your hand (or better !!) it presents some challenges in some circumstances:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>at recent Binbrook Conservation Area cub-scout event, I was going \u201cnudge-nudge\u201d about every 2nd or 3rd little person to make sure all got a reasonably centred view of the moon (used a 24mm / 68 degree AFOV eyepiece on this F7 OTA) <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>I had a \u201cGalileo moment\u201d that night, seeing my first Messier object, but all credit due to Gary Colwell and his rather impressive Takahashi set-up !!<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>In order to provide go-to / equatorial tracking for my OTA, Stellarvue recommends two of Celestron\u2019s mounts: CG5 or CGEM. There are substantial differences between these mounts:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>CG5 - more portable / cheaper <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>CGEM - much heavier & more stable / handles more payload / better tracking / ~ double the cost of a CG5<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>If you look at reviews on both of these mounts, you\u2019ll find the good, the bad and the ugly. From what I can piece together, quality control for the CG5 might be a bit more hit / miss, and you might need to do some serious tune up to what comes \u201cout of the box\u201d.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>I should add that I\u2019m not yet into astrophotography (but never say never!!) and would be doing observing only for the next 2 \u2013 3 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Thoughts ??<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>-David MacMillan<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Milton<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>