'New' Celestron CGEM DX mount

[E621Keith]

It looks like Celestron beefed up the CGEM and gave it CGE Pro's tripod. Now it has a 50lb rating and will be sold with a C14. Anyway, may be this is Synta's answer to their own upcoming EQ7 (not the EQ8).

CGEM DX Mount & Tripod (item #91528) / New Products / Products / Celestron.com

CGEM DX 1400 HD Computerized Telescope (item #11004) / CGEM DX Series Computerized Telescopes / Telescopes / Products / Celestron.com

If the 60lb rated CGE had problem with C14, what chance does this CGEM-DX have? Can a tripod upgrade raise the carrying capacity by 20%?

I spoke to Astronomia today and they said they will try to get one in for Astrofest. RRP is expected to be somewhere between £1.6-2K although no actual pricing have been given yet. It's a shame I can't go this year, oh well ...

[E621Keith]

Just read the spec again. It appeared the head is exactly the same as the regular CGEM, same weight and same 'Precision machined 40 mm diameter steel Polar shafts supported by multiple tapered roller bearings and ball bearings'

That is one very expensive tripod upgrade if the rrp is really £2k.

[shaunster]

I was thinking that, are they really charging an extra 1k for a tripod??

[FLO]

Essentially the new Celestron CGEM DX is the regular Celestron CGEM mounted on the Celestron CGE PRO's tripod. It also has a new power board that enables the motors to draw more current, giving it a higher payload. It will almost certainly be on the David Hinds (Celestron's UK importer/distributor) stand at next month's Astrofest.

HTH,

Steve

[MartinB]

Do people actually buy this sort of set up?

[FLO]

They won't become available here in the UK til later this year. The original Celestron CGEM does sell but not in the same quantities as the more affordable, but lower spec, Skywatcher NEQ6 PRO.

[mobi]

They won't become available here in the UK til later this year. The original Celestron CGEM does sell but not in the same quantities as the more affordable, but lower spec, Skywatcher NEQ6 PRO.

How is the Skywatcher NEQ6 a lower spec than the original Celestron CGEM Mount? Do you mean just the weight carrying capacity?

Or do you mean the CGEM has better PEC and gears etc? The NEQ6 has all the same connectors for auto guiding the mount etc.

[ollypenrice]

When it comes to humping a C14 the weight is no more than a quarter of the problem. The real issue is finding a mount that can track well enough for a focal length like that. It can be done when you have about 10k to spend. What happened to the Trade Descriptions Act and 'fitness for purpose?'

Olly