TheSkySearchers

I'm planning of buying a CEM120 for my Orion Optics VX12.
Is there something I should know about it, that might make it a bad choise?
I'm going to use it for visual at first, but I think it's good enough for some first steps in AP later?

It is a wonderful mount. I've yet to see a complaint about it. Also, it is not owned by many people on these forums so our sample size is pretty small. None the less, it should work very well for you. I own the CEM 60 and am very impressed with what I got for the money.

BTW, I moved your post over to the iOptron mounts forum.

Cheers,
JT

JayTee wrote: ↑Tue Oct 20, 2020 10:55 pm BTW, I moved your post over to the iOptron mounts forum.

Oops... thanks.

I see 3 CEM120s, from $4K to $7K at OPT. The adjectives are in the encoder quality. What the heck? Give me a break, for that difference I would get $12 stepper motors and an OnStep controller, $50 altogether. I would like to know what is wrong with the low end one if people pay $3K extra for the best model. Anyway for visual this is overkill but not for AP. For AP your capacity is half the listed one, about 27 kg. The CEM mounts have a good reputation, I don't have one because I wanted to buy an American product, otherwise I would have a CEM60.

The tube weights only 14 kg, but it's physically quite big. But I it's enough for me if it works in mild wind.
Now that I managed to raise my credit card limit, I'm able to order. The wire transfer standard differencies made wire transfer impossible. Believe me I tried...

I own the regular non EC cem120 for around two and a half years now, it's been a great workhorse for astrophotography. I've read about more complaints from the ec versions than the non EC.

Does anyone know what's going on at iOptron?
First they said on their web page that CEM120 would be available "late October". Now it says "late November".
Well, they didn't mention the year, but if they meant this year, I guess it couldn't get much "later in November" than it already is.
I ordered one 23.10.

Covid is messing with everyone's manufacturing schedule. I'm assuming that's what's causing the delay. It's certainly caused the delay in getting my tri-pier tripod for my CEM60.

Cheers,
JT

this mount has been specially designed for ap.
his weight load is 115 pounds.
sufficient for a variety of equipment.

messier 111 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 2:14 am this mount has been specially designed for ap.
his weight load is 115 pounds.
sufficient for a variety of equipment.

Yep. I've been having this funny feeling that later on, I might get involved with AP. CEM70 is not enough for 300 mm / 1200 mm F/4 tube, and I've been let to understand that even CEM120 is enough barely. Not just because of the weight, but also the size.

Aha, they've updated... "Availability:: Available in January 2021".
Long wait.