Mesu 300 Officially Announced

[steppenwolf]

I make no secret of the fact that I am a fan of the Mesu 200 Equatorial Mount and have to admit that I am in awe of the new Mesu 300 that Lucas Mesu has been beavering away at but it has now been officially announced so I thought a heads up here would be appropriate!

Here it is alongside the Mesu 200 (on the right)

[Mr Spock]

Oh my... that's a big one.

[triton1]

Huge difference in size even bigger in price about €12500. In my dreams for the pros only methinks

[triton1]

Payload States 350kg that,s huge!

[steppenwolf]

'Tis a big mount for sure with a huge payload - University and research observatories will be its natural habitat but some lucky 'amateurs' will end up with them as well, I have no doubt.

[DaveS]

If it is 12,500 Euro then that's no worse than the GM2000 or ASA DDM85 standard, or other top-end mounts.

Although I could technically afford it, I couldn't justify one, at least not yet, and certainly not under London skies. Maybe if / when I retire to somewhere dark in the country.....

[kirkster501]

Did the HST sit on that before being launched?

I aspire to the Mesu 200 if my bonus comes in this year.

[laser_jock99]

Luxury indeed.

[bingevader]

Each to their own!

I'm sure it's a fantastic, precision instrument, but don't you think it's rather ugly? 

[mcolbert]

as much as I appreciate the mount, it does remind me of a comment recently on CN regarding the perceived changes to amateur astronomy.  IIRC it was stated that there is more high end equipment available now and with the associated prices it is only the well heeled amateur who could afford them.  That added to an apparent diminishing interest by people of the younger generation (in astronomy) suggests that our interest / hobby will become the province of the 'educated' committed semi-pro.  The comment was supported by various examples I shan't go into here, but it is interesting to sometimes consider the state of play as it were.

Back on topic  it would be interesting to see a comparative review between this mount and the 10 Micron and the ASA.

Thanks Steve.

michael 

[steppenwolf]

Although I sympathise with your comments to some extent, Michael, I rather feel that the Mesu 300 is not going to be found in many amateur observatories. Luckily, fantastic images can be captured with considerably cheaper equipment so I think astrophotography has a healthy future that can be enjoyed by people of all abilities and income.

[steppenwolf]

but don't you think it's rather ugly? 

Ben!!! I'm sending you some soap, please chew it it :grin:

[mcolbert]

Although I sympathise with your comments to some extent, Michael, I rather feel that the Mesu 300 is not going to be found in many amateur observatories. Luckily, fantastic images can be captured with considerably cheaper equipment so I think astrophotography has a healthy future that can be enjoyed by people of all abilities and income.

good to read Steve!

michael

[JamesF]

Each to their own!

I'm sure it's a fantastic, precision instrument, but don't you think it's rather ugly? 

The pier looks like it was sawn off the rear of a V2, but I have no problem with the actual mount.  I think it's quite elegant in its own functional way.

James

[Stargazer33]

Although I sympathise with your comments to some extent, Michael, I rather feel that the Mesu 300 is not going to be found in many amateur observatories. Luckily, fantastic images can be captured with considerably cheaper equipment so I think astrophotography has a healthy future that can be enjoyed by people of all abilities and income.

I agree, especially when you see what some members are producing just by holding their smart phones up to the eyepiece. As long as newcomers to the hobby don't think that they will never achieve anything astrophotography wise unless they spend silly amounts of zeros on equipment then it should be well supported in the future.