Observatory Mount (Which One to Get?)

[chartram]

Hello,

My wife and I are building on land under Bortle 3 skies, and my plan is to build a fully remote observatory on the property. That said- Looking for user experiences with the following three observatory-grade mounts:

1. SB Paramount Myt
2. Skywatcher EQ8-R(h) Pro
3. iOptron CEM120 (EC)

I'd like to keep the budget at <$9k.

I have buddies with Myt's and they love them once dialed in. But at the same time they have said that getting tech support for SB mounts is not the easiest experience.

The EQ8-Rh Pro is high on the list due to the Renishaw encoder, and plus I can still use all the same software (EQMOD etc) that I am familiar with, but I do not know anyone with personal experience using the mount. Same goes for the CEM120. Although I do not know exactly which encoder it has, I do know that it is a very capable instrument. I've watched dozens of videos highlighting pros and cons of each, but in the end it has gotten me no closer to a decision. Any experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Mike

[OzEclipse]

Hi Mike,
Lucky you! I have no experience with any of those mounts but one of our members had a great deal of trouble with a CEM120. Sadly, we believe he may have succumbed to lung cancer. He told us he was going for treatment for some quite big lung tumours, then never posted again. However if you search TSS for "CEM120" his posts about issues with the CEM120 from 2022 should come up. Username was "Turboscrew"

Good luck

Joe

[chartram]

Hi Mike,
Lucky you! I have no experience with any of those mounts but one of our members had a great deal of trouble with a CEM120. Sadly, we believe he may have succumbed to lung cancer. He told us he was going for treatment for some quite big lung tumours, then never posted again. However if you search TSS for "CEM120" his posts about issues with the CEM120 from 2022 should come up. Username was "Turboscrew"

Good luck

Joe

Thank you, Joe. That is sad. There was a gentleman on an astronomy social media page I moderate that always gave great insight. After not hearing from him for a while, a quick search revealed that he had passed away. Not sure how he died, but it definitely gave us pause.

At this point, I think I am leaning more toward the EQ8-Rh Pro or the MyT. I had also looked at the Astrophysics mounts, but do not want to wait a year, plus the $11k price tag does not get the buyer an imaging-ready setup. By the time you purchase everything needed for first light, you’re out at least $15k. I’d like something that comes ready to go right out of the box. And let’s face it, I’m just a regular guy with a family to feed

[SkyHiker]

AFAIK on TSS we have only had one CEM120 user who had major problems. I don't know if his location near the polar circle added to it, or the fact that this was his first mount and first AP experience. But one sample is not enough for a balanced opinion. Searching online, I found quite a few positive reviews as well, some are very positive. If I had to get another mount the CEM60/70/120 would be high on my list especially the ones with encoders.

[chartram]

AFAIK on TSS we have only had one CEM120 user who had major problems. I don't know if his location near the polar circle added to it, or the fact that this was his first mount and first AP experience. But one sample is not enough for a balanced opinion. Searching online, I found quite a few positive reviews as well, some are very positive. If I had to get another mount the CEM60/70/120 would be high on my list especially the ones with encoders.

I have also seen many positive reviews of the CEM120. That’s the rub- each of those mounts seems to have their strengths and quirks. It’s a really difficult choice because I KNOW they are all good mounts. But without getting to test each one, or see each in person, it’s tough to figure out which would serve my particular needs as well as stand the test of time.

[chartram]

So just to close the loop, I have decided that I will get the MyT.