Ioptron Gem 28

[Astroscot2]

Looks to be a nice portable mount 

 

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/equatorial-astronomy-mounts/ioptron-gem28-german-equatorial-goto-mount.html

[gilesco]

On 11/12/2020 at 20:21, Astroscot2 said:

Looks to be a nice portable mount 

 

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/equatorial-astronomy-mounts/ioptron-gem28-german-equatorial-goto-mount.html

I amazed how quietly this has become available... Would have expected a bit more of a fanfare...

[Astroscot2]

Agreed, would be nice to see some additional images of it. A nice alternative to the heavy HEQ5 if it performs as well.

[Nikolas74]

Sometimes I see the letters EC next to a model... What does it mean? 

[knobby]

Encoders, helps to keep the tracking more precise.

[gilesco]

18 minutes ago, knobby said:

Encoders, helps to keep the tracking more precise.

From what I have heard, the EC models don't really pay for themselves in a performance sense until moving to the 50lbs+ range.

[knobby]

2 hours ago, gilesco said:

From what I have heard, the EC models don't really pay for themselves in a performance sense until moving to the 50lbs+ range.

Totally agree, just answering the question ... What does the EC stand for.

[maflu]

Maybe it means Error Correction since the EC model has a real time permanent periodic error correction.  It's not real time on the non-EC model.

 

EDIT:  No I think it means encoder because there's one on the RA axis.

Edited December 28, 2020 by maflu

[david_taurus83]

Id steer clear of iOptron EC versions as they had issues with the CEM60 and 120 versions when it came to guiding. Unless you don't want to guide of course.

[maflu]

But I thought the EC on the RA axis was supposed to get rid of autoguiding...