Posts Tagged 'mount'
April 22 2024, Stefan Taube
The Skywatcher brand has been offering small mounts for travelling and photography with camera lenses for years under the name Star Adventurer.
The technology and design of these successful models can be found again in a new mount that has a load capacity of 10 kilograms and can therefore also carry somewhat larger optics: Skywatcher mount EQ-AL55i Pro SynScan GoTo WiFi
This versatile mount is equipped with an adjustable counterweight bar. This allows use at all latitudes from 0° to 90° and avoids the problems that arise with many mounts outside our mid-latitudes. It is an ideal travelling mount!
The EQ-AL55i is fully controlled with a smartphone via the built-in Wi-Fi module and the free SynScan Pro app. This app is available for iOS and Android.
You can find more information about this mount here in the shop.
Tags: Skywatcher, Mount
Posted in New Products
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April 19 2024, Stefan Taube
Innovative manufacturers have been offering astronomical mounts with a special drive design for a few years now. You can find these in the shop under the Harmonic / Strainwave link.
These mounts are equipped with a so-called strain wave gear. It is also known under the protected brand name Harmonic Drive.
The advantages are:
- High load capacity with low dead weight
- High torsional rigidity: no counterweights required
- Relatively inexpensive, as industry standard
- No swivelling error (“backlash”)
- Very high reduction ratio
- Compact dimensions
- Maintenance-free and backlash-free in the long term
The strain wave gear is used for the axes of industrial robots, among other things. It is therefore a standard and does not need to be specially developed and built for astronomical mounts.
Although the periodic gearbox error is also high for strain wave gears, the error typical of worm shafts, which occurs when the direction of rotation changes (“backlash”), is eliminated. This means that the strain wave gear reacts immediately to the control impulses, so that the periodic error can be compensated very well by autoguiding.
For large mounts, such as the Skywatcher EQ-8, the mounts from 10Micron or the CGX-L from Celestron, a worm shaft is still the first choice, because optics with a long focal length require a very low periodic gear error and a counterweight cannot be dispensed with for heavy optics, even with a strain wave gear. In addition, the advantages of strain wave gears in terms of compactness, weight and price are lost as soon as a mount with a high load capacity is required.
There is therefore an ideal range of load capacity in which mounts with a strain wave gear can play to their strengths. The requirements for mobile astrophotography with small to medium-sized optics fall within this range. The harmonic mounts from brands like iOptron, PegasusAstro, RainbowAstro and ZWO are designed precisely for these requirements.
You can find all mounts with strain wave gear under the Harmonic / Strainwave link in the shop.
Typical strain wave gear to industry standard
Tags: Rainbow Astro, iOptron, Mount, PegasusAstro, Montierung, ZWO
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January 25 2024, Stefan Taube
With the SX2WL model, the Japanese manufacturer Vixen is launching a new mount in the Sphinx series.
The SX2WL is the first Sphinx mount to be equipped with a Wireless Unit. It generates a local WLAN so that the mount can be controlled via a smartphone, using the free STAR BOOK Wireless App. This App offers all the functionalities of the previous STARBOOK TEN with manual controls simply via your smartphone. This significantly reduces the power consumption of the mount!
The SX2WL is ideal for mobile astrophotography: It can carry up to 12 kilograms, but weights only 7 kilograms. Due to the design of the Sphinx mounts the motors act as counterweights and only a light additional counterweight is required.
Like all Sphinx mounts, the SX2WL also impresses with its high quality standards Made In Japan!
You can find more information and the current price here in the shop.
Tags: Montierung, Vixen, Mount, Mounts
Posted in New Products
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November 24 2023, Anita Maier
Are you looking for a good bargain for Christmas? Then take advantage of our Black Weekend sales. Among these special offers there is something for every astronomer and every budget. Prices apply from Friday 24th until Monday 27th November 2023.
Top Deals of Black Weekend!
Omegon Binocular Hunter 10×42
Save 70 Euros now!
Omegon wide-field binoculars for star field observing 2.1×42
Save 40 Euros now!
Omegon Nightstar 20+40×100 Doublet binoculars with interchangeable eyepieces
Save 300 Euros now!
Omegon Telescope N 150/750 EQ-3
Save 70 Euros now!
Meade Telescope AC 90/900 Polaris EQ
Save 200 Euros now!
Skywatcher Telescope N 200/1000 Explorer 200P EQ5
Save 150 Euros now!
The sale is for a limited time only and while supplies last, for each article!
Seize the opportunity to save and order your Christmas presents this weekend!
Tags: telescope, Telescope Accessories, Mount, eyepieces, Astrophotography, black friday, Globe, Poster, tripod, Filter, Microscopy
Posted in Sale|Sale
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November 9 2023, Jan Ströher
From 1st to 30th November (inclusive) we are offering iOptron’s GEM45 mount in our clearance sale for amazing prices. This mount is available in four different versions: GEM45G GoTo LiteRoc, GEM45 GoTo LiteRoc with carry case, GEM45-EC GoTo LiteRoc and, the basic version, the GEM45 GoTo LiteRoc.
The iOptron GEM45 is the next generation equatorial mount ! Due to its functionality and technology, it is a first-class, medium-sized mount.
iOptron GEM45 with LiteRoc tripod
The GEM45 is not just a pretty face…
The mount has a compact design and an extremely good weight-to-load ratio – the 7 kilogram mount can precisely and securely carry a load of up to 20 kilograms! With its built-in electronic polarscope (iPolar) correctly aligning the mount (polar alignment) is child’s play – even if the Pole Star is not visible. Thanks to their large clamping levers, the gears can also be easily loosened or tightened even when wearing gloves. Internal cable management prevents tangled cables or cables being torn out. The universal self-centring mounting saddle takes both Losmandy-style and Vixen-style dovetail rails. The mount uses a reliable stepper motor drive system with low energy consumption and a database of over 212,000 objects. The integrated GPS, as well as the large hand controls with optional WiFi, provide additional comfort.
You can only secure this excellent mount, providing you with decades of fun and reliability, at this amazing price during our clearance sale!
This offer is only valid on qualifying items from 01/11/2023 to 30/11/2023 and as long as stocks last!
Tags: iOptron, Mount, Astrophotography, equatorial, accessories
Posted in Sale
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October 1 2023, Jan Ströher
iOptron’s sophisticated and mechanically excellent centre-balanced equatorial mounts (CEM) provide a very precise foundation for (mobile) astrophotography and observation. We are now offering you a special promotion with attractive prices on models in the CEM26 series from iOptron from 01 to 31 October. The CEM26 is the lightest and most compact model in the range. They are very transportable but can still carry up to 12kg payload. As with the larger CEM mounts, the CEM26 features the perfect relationship between weight and payload. The key to this optimised ratio is the centre-balanced equatorial mount (CEM) design developed by iOptron, which directs the combined mount and payload weight to the centre of the tripod to create a natural centre of gravity. Building on the product expertise gained from previous CEM models, the CEM26 has additional features to ensure maximum convenience during use. It also includes an integrated Wi-Fi system, as well as permanent periodic error correction (PEC).
CEM26 from iOptron
In terms of functionality, the CEM26 delivers precise pointing and highly accurate tracking of selected objects, setting new standards for compact, medium-sized equatorial GoTo mounts. Equipped with the latest Go2Nova® technology, it is one of the most powerful and accurate GoTo mounts on the market today!
Secure your preferred version of the CEM26 as part of our autumn promotion – choose from three models: all are available for immediate delivery from stock!
CEM26 in a carrying case
This promotion is valid on the selected models from 01 to 31 October or as long as stocks last!
Tags: Mount, Astrophotography, Sale, equatorial, CEM, iOptron
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September 1 2023, Jan Ströher
The summer is coming to an end and in most places the holiday season is also almost over… but there are still reasons for us to look forward to the coming autumn, astronomically speaking. Firstly because it gets dark earlier, which means we have longer nights for our hobby, and secondly because the GEM28 mounts from iOptron are available at affordable prices in our special September promotion – and the full range is available from stock! The GEM28 is perfect for mobile astrophotography. It can carry up to 13kg, but its compact design and low weight means that it can be taken almost anywhere. Compared to iOptron’s centre-balanced CEM mounts, the GEM series is a classic equatorial mount featuring the latest technology and a slim design. The GEM28 has been on the market for around two years, and enjoys great popularity among both astrophotographers and visual observers who are looking for a very good EQ5-class mount.
GEM28 GoTo iPolar LiteRoc
You can save a lot of money in September on these GEM28 models:
As always, the following applies to this offer which ends on 30 September: the items included in the offer are available from stock only while stocks last!
(Promotion period 01 to 30 September 2023)
Tags: Goto, iOptron, Mount, Astro Photography, offer
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August 2 2023, Jan Ströher
CEM stands for centre-balanced equatorial mount, that is a mount supported at its centre of gravity, thanks to its design. This means that a lighter counterweight can be used, and it offers an excellent ratio of mount weight to carrying capacity: a CEM with a relatively low own weight can carry a comparatively heavy optic.
We are now offering the CEM40 series of mounts from iOptron at reduced prices for a limited time until 31 August!
The CEM40 mount weighs just 8.2 kilogrammes, but can carry optical instruments and accessories weighing up to 18 kilogrammes. This excellent payload/weight ratio of 2.5 is the reason why the CEM40 is so versatile. You can transport them to the best dark sky observation sites, or mount them on a small column in your garden observatory.
The following models in this series are available in August at a discount:
CEM40 GoTo with LiteRoc tripod and carrying case – 63903
CEM40 GoTo LiteRoc – 62121
CEM40 GoTo with tripod – 61904
CEM40-EC GoTo high precision encoder with LiteRoc tripod – 62122
CEM40-EC GoTo high precision encoder with tripod – 61906
As always, this promotion is on a “first come, first served” basis and only as long as stocks last!
Promotion period: 01 to 31 August 2023.
Tags: Sale, accessories, CEM, iOptron, Mount, Astrophotography
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February 9 2023, Stefan Taube
In the CQ350, Skywatcher has created a heavy mount, which is still suitable for mobile astronomy. Thanks to its load capacity, it sits between the smaller EQ6-R and the larger EQ8-R.
The CQ350 is equally well suited for astrophotography in your own garden as it is for observatories; and thus represents an excellent compromise between mobile and stationary use.
Summary of key features:
- Load capacity up to 35 kilograms
- State-of-the-art computer controls (GoTo) with SynScan V.5 hand control box
- Integrated database containing 42,900 objects
- Toothed belt drive for smooth operation without gear backlash
- Dual dovetail clamp to accommodate all popular telescopes
This quietly operated mount is moved using belt drives with stepper motors in both axes (Encoder resolution: 55,193,600 counts/rev, 0.023 arcseconds). Its quiet operation and high slewing speed makes this mount even appeal to observatories with public guided tours.
The mount comes with counterweights and a tripod. However, the mount can also be purchased without a tripod if you want to use it in a fixed position in an observatory. You can find both versions here in our shop.
Tags: Skywatcher, Mount
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December 5 2022, Stefan Taube
Skywatcher is introducing a new mount from the AZ-GTi series. These altazimuth mounts feature:
- Low weight and compact design
- Motorisation with computer control (GoTo)
- Integrated WLAN to connect to a smartphone or tablet
The new version, the AZ-GTiX WiFi, offers a higher load capacity and two saddle plates for mounting two instruments, for example a telescope and a camera, side-by-side.
The AZ-GTiX mount can be used with any sufficiently-large camera tripod with a 3/8-inch photo thread. Skywatcher also offers the mount in a set with a tripod: AZ-GTiX WiFi with tripod.
The AZ-GTiX mount has a built-in WLAN module so you can control it wirelessly using a smartphone or tablet. All you need to do is install the free SynScan app for iOS or Android. Using its servo motors, the mount slews the telescope to any of the 10,000 celestial objects that you can select via the app.
All mounts in the AZ-GTi series can be found here in our shop.
Tags: Skywatcher, Mount
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