iOptron CEM120 Unboxing and Custom Pier Mounting
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- In this video we unbox and mount the iOptron CEM120 on a custom built pier and mounting plate. I'm planning on expanding my observatory in the spring with another pier and wanted to get at least one observatory class mount. My choice in the end came down to cost vs. performance. The iOptron CEM120 was the obvious choice after the latest round of price increases from Celestron and Skywatcher.
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EdgeHD 8 - bit.ly/333Xv6L
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ZWO ASI174MM Mini Guide Camera - bit.ly/33b4omF
Mount: EQ6-R Pro - bit.ly/38eiuqp
Telescope: William Optics Zenithstar 81 APO - bit.ly/31Tw5jV
Flattener: William Optics 6aiii - bit.ly/3mzM7r5
William Optics Zenithstar 81 APO + Flattener - bit.ly/37VGIXb
Filter Wheel: ZWO EAF - bit.ly/2TFOmwA
Camera: ZWO ASI294MM Pro - bit.ly/37EpM6w
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM Pro - bit.ly/31Yq2dK
Camera Combo ASI1600MM Pro + Filters + Filter Wheel - bit.ly/37TCEXu
Guide Scope: William Optics 50mm guiding scope - bit.ly/2HS11JX
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI120MM Mini - bit.ly/34Io431
QHY PoleMaster - bit.ly/2UQBdl0
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Another iOptron convert! Yes! You'll love it (although you will find quirks!)... And yes... I type this comment without watching the full video. Oops :P
Thanks Martin, not sure I’d say convert lol I’m building another pier for the EQ6 in the Spring hopefully, but honestly with the rise in costs from Skwatcher it was a no brainer to go iOptron.
Just to confirm I've now seen the entire thing. You keep making me jealous Joe! ;-) Nice mount. I am still contemplating how to build my 2nd rig. Have two CEM40's now although one of them is still at the shop. It is repaired, but Covid came to say hi and now I need to wait a bit before I go get it.
@@KopLamp So sorry to hear Martin, please take of yourself my friend!
You know its good when you get 2 boxes well happy for you mate and that beast will slew your edge like its the cardboard tube from your last bog roll 👍
Hahaha! Thanks so much Glenn, really looking forward to working with this!
OMG JOE!!!!!!Keeping up with the Clouders!!! and I thought the EQ8 was a beast!!!...I think you one up'd Glenn.. NICE MOUNT!!!
No way he has one up’d me lmao. Planewave on order
Hahaha 🤣 too funny! I can’t let Glenn have all the fun!
Jason, i think you got us all beat with Alpha Scorpii in your backyard ;)
@@DSOImager I like his Beta Scorpii with the built in swimming pool. Only obsy I've ever seen with a swimming pool attached rofl!
@@JoesAstrophoto Very true.. its almost as impressive as Isaac's doll house obsy.
Congrats on the CEM120 Joe. That is a beast of a mount. I own the CEM70 and I'm really loving it.
Thanks so much! I was gong to go with the CEM70, but decided since I could afford the 120 at the moment I'd better go with that instead as you never know when you may not be able to get that class of mount again. I'm glad to hear you like yours, I'm still waiting to use mine lol
Wow Joe, that's one heck of a big mount. Congratulations on your new purchase 👍🙂
Thanks so much John! Yes, it's massive! Once I mount this in my observatory it will hopefully not have to be removed unless I sell my house or something lol
Grats Joe on the new mount! Can't wait to see the first light! :)
Thanks James! I'm excited to get to use it myself. Looks like maybe tomorrow or Sunday night if the forecast holds.
Great overview. Just bought one of these myself. I’m very impressed, my guiding was less than 0.2 arc secs total without optimisation. Things I like about the mount are the smoothness of the RA and Dec movements allowing very accurate balancing and the through-the-mount cabling which just works.
Thanks Cliff, I'm very happy with mine as well. It's an incredible mount for the price, and I do love the RA and DEC movements. Massive difference from my EQ6R Pro
That is one big mount! I really need to build a permanent pier somewhere on the property :D
Thanks Frosth! I see you have an astro channel. I'll check it out soon!
Nice video Joe.
Cant wait to see that observatory extention. The mount looks a bit of a beast. It seems to have more outputs than the EQ8 R Pro which will bee handy. Cant wait to see more on this.
Cheers for sharing mate.
All the best!
Thanks so much Ben! I can't wait to see the obsy expansion either lol
Congratulations Joe! I'm looking forward to see that mount in action. I have the EQ6-R but some day I will upgrade to an observatory class mount, not sure which yet. Clear skies!
Thanks Erik! I still love my EQ6 too. I’m excited to have them both running later in the Spring.
Congrats on the mount. I'll be watching this series eagerly as not many do deep dives or in depths on these. Clear skies and i hope all is well.👍👍
Thanks Zimsanz, I’ve noticed that and plan to make some.
@@JoesAstrophoto Any way you could include in your series about this mount why you went with this mount vs the EQ8-R Pro?
@@STOMP1E Sure, that’s actually a pretty good idea, although I’m sure everyone will have some mixed opinions, but I’d be happy to share mine.
@@JoesAstrophoto Yeah, i was talking to Logan from LogansAstro and he had his reasons for getting the 120. Its always good to hear everyones reasons. This helps the next person making the difficult choice slightly easier.
Holy Cow Joe. That is a monster! Congrats and good luck running two mounts! - Cheers Kurt
Thanks Kurt! I have a feeling it's going to be rough going at first with two of them.
@@JoesAstrophoto You can handle it. I don't have much iOptron stuff but what I do I like. My iOptron SkyGuider Pro is 3 years old and still going strong, in fact I just upgraded the base (to the William Optics base) and purchased the iOptron tripod as I plan on making a portable system for traveling. We some family in Santa Fe some we may be taking a trip in the summer.
@@AstroQuest1 I love the Santa Fe area, it's about 3 hours away from me and I visit the plaza there every two or three years, lot's of fun and beautiful!
Awesome! So excited for you Joe!!!
Thanks so much Andy! I'm pretty excited lol
Beautiful hefty mount Joe, enjoy it!!
Thanks so much Luke!
Wow, that's a beast. Surprised you didn't move to the CEM70...maybe you've got future plans for something really big! Round those corners a bit on that new steel plate! I really like all the connections on the saddle.
Thanks psuaero! It’s insanely big in person, but happy I went with an observatory class mount so that maybe one day soon I can mount an observatory class telescope. I do need to grind those corners and prime and paint the plate still. I was just so excited to get it mounted and try it out lol
@@JoesAstrophoto Yes, paint it too... I didn't think to even mention that. Good luck and can't want to hear how the guiding compares to the EQ6R-Pro. Congrats!!
Congratulations on the new mount Joe, just picked up the CEM70....absolutely love everything about it, especially the guiding! iOptron commander software is also great.
Thanks recusant! I'm really excited to get this going! Possibly Sunday night if the forecast stays true!
@@JoesAstrophoto New gear = lots of new clouds, we know how that story goes!
Wow, awesome new mount Joe - that really is a beast and looking forward to see the cabling / outcome - congrats though I feel a mount this size means the world will now be in cloud for the next 4-6 weeks! 😁
Thanks so much AV! You’re right, snowing since it arrived lol
Those corners on that steel plate looks awefully pointy. Might have wanted to round them off a bit. Nice mount!
Thanks BV, absolutely on my list, but after I get to play with the mount some hehehe
Awesome mount Joe!
Thanks so much Dave!
Looks beautiful, and very solid with your mounting. Congrats, you are going to be a happy camper...should last you a lifetime.
Thanks so much Greg! I'm hoping it's the last mount I ever have to buy unless I get crazy and have 3 rigs going at some point which I highly doubt.
You’re going to love it!
Thank you! I’m excited about it already!
Congrats, it's really a monster mount! 👍
Thanks so much Njunx! I was checking out your channel, but I don't know the language unfortunately.
@@JoesAstrophoto haha, yeah thanks mate, it's Indonesian( bahasa indonesia) 😀
Wow Joe! - Huge congratulations mate, that's a beauty of a mount man! I can't wait to see how you get on with it, also the future is looking very cool for you with the extended obsy plans! 🙂
Congratulations again man, really happy for you!
Thanks Luke! I’m looking forward to it to be sure!
Holy Moly Joe, that is a super-duper mount! That will put you several steps higher in your astrophotography ventures. Am I jealous? You bet I am! BTW, I heard you grunting while you were placing it on the pier. I can't wait to see the results.
Thanks so much Pat! It's pretty heavy, definitely not a portable mount, not for me anyway lol
Congrats On your New Mount Joe!! Wow, That's A Pretty observatory class Mount!! Looking forward to see more Vid!
Thanks DSH, I’m really excited to get it into action!
Congratulations sir! Nice mount!
Thanks so much Nestor!
Congrats on the new mount Joe. Once you get all the kinks sorted out I’m sure you are going really enjoy using this mount. I’ve had mine for about a year now and couldn’t be happier with it (although i wish they would make the tightening knobs more finger friendly - those things are painful to tighten.)
Thanks so much Logan, and thanks for putting up with me and all my questions rofl! I really do appreciate it! The knobs so far, to me anyway, are about the same or easier than the EQ6 on pain level in the cold. I’m starting to think it’s a requirement that eq mounts have knobs that hurt your hands lol
Great mount! I just bought a CEM120 myself. I got the Tri Pier 360 with it. Still waiting for the dovetail plate to mount my scope so I haven't tried it under the stars yet.
Thanks and congrats to you as well! I’m still waiting to try mine properly as well.
Joe,
Congrats on the new mount. Perhaps some videos on multi camera/scopes simultaneously on it and then some on combining the subs in Pixinsight!
I have an idea, too....when the second pier is completed, a c14 for visual plus Hyperstar (which I know will be expensive...hence I am joining your channel), so you can do f10/F7/and f2.
Thanks! Those are great ideas, I love them! Wait till I tell my wife, I’m sure she’ll be excited to let me get some extra gear in the name of TH-cam science! Rofl!
Very nice Joe , enjoy it
Thanks Steve, I appreciate it my friend!
That mount looks crazy awesome Joe! Curious to know what issues you had and how you fixed them. Welcome to the iOptron club brother!
Thanks Isaac! I'm gong to cover them all in my next video on it for sure.
Good luck with the CEM120, Joe. I was considering one until I read all the problems other folks were have with USB problems, and oscillation issues. I decided to go for the 10 Micron GM-1000 instead.
Thanks Tom, I was looking at the 10 Micron, AP, and SB mounts, but they were all a little out of my budget range. I was reading some of the same issues you mentioned and they seemed to plague the 120 with encoders, so I opted for the 120 without them. Also because of cost as well. I’ll keep everyone updated as I go though and definitely won’t be sugar coating any issues I run into. Hopefully, all goes well.
@@JoesAstrophoto I hope all goes well with it. Its a great looking mount. Clear skies!
Enjoy the new toy friend
Thanks Chad! I was just checking out your channel and subbed. I’ll be watching some of your videos later today hopefully. Looks great!
@@JoesAstrophoto thanks joe. It’s my second channel. Rc channel is a lot bigger lol but been into Astro for years and figured why not since I love all the editing and that.
Congrats Joe that thing really is a beast, the connectivity on the back looks brilliant, so nice to have all these inputs. That's looks so beefy you could probably run two scopes on it!! Have fun.
Thanks Ollie, I’m pretty excited to start using it!
Awesome video and congratulations on the new mount! Looking forward to the new images you aquire. Also, thanks for taking the time to show the details of how you set things up. I hope to have a pier soon so this was helpful. Clear Skies!!
Thanks Jason, it's a real game changer with a permanent mount man!
Those screws though on the saddle, i wished they were compression pads rather than 3 screws digging into your optical tube Losmandy plate
Holy Cow Joe! That is awesome! I'm in desperate need of a new mount myself and have been looking at the GEM45 and the EQ6R. I love to go with something bigger so I'd have room to grow but I've been blowing my budget left and right. I'm really excited for you (and I'm not gonna lie, a little jealous.) Clear Skies my friend.
Thanks so much Bruce! I still love my EQ6R and will still be using it on the tripod until I make a second pier. I need a couple more things to get a second rig going.
Looks awesome Joe, congrats! Can’t wait to see your results! I’ve found balancing much more difficult with my CEM60, I hope you can get it sorted!
Thanks Russell! It does seem very sensitive, but I think it’s a good thing. Just need some clear skies, looks like a couple more days to wait.
@@JoesAstrophoto yes definitely a good thing, it made me realize just how unbalanced my old set up was! I hope you get some clear skies soon 🤞
You might want to round those corners off your metal plate or put some duct tape on them. I’m guessing they’re sharp! Congrats on the upgrade! I own an ieq45pro and haven’t had any issues in 7 years.
Thanks Keith! That's definitely on my list of things to do as well as prime and paint it. I just had to get it on and make sure everything fit. I'll run it for a few weeks and then tear it all apart and fix up the plate when I'm not as excited hahaha.
Glenn: I got this nice EQ8-R. Check it out!
Joe: Hold my beer...
Hahaha Jonny! Too funny! I was actually talking with Glenn about that as well. Honestly though, I got the green light to expand my observatory so I needed another mount and Skywatcher decided to raise prices by 25% in the US, so iOptron it was lol
@@JoesAstrophoto you're going to find a few differences between the way iOptron mounts work vs SW. The biggest will be the "clutches". Your EQ6 had actual clutches that you tightened and/or loosened. The CEM's are either "locked" or "open". Also, there's a function called "Zero Position" with the CEM. When you first setup on the pier and power up the mount, you want to use either the hand controller or the iCommander software to "Search Zero Position". The mount has little sensors in it, so it will always know where to go. This is completely different than how the EQ6 works. Twist and turn the EQ6 to wherever you want and make _that_ the home position.
It'll take some getting used to, but I have faith you'll adapt. Or, that you have enough beer LOL!
@@JonnyBravo0311 It's going to be a lot of fun learning it all, thanks for the insight Jonny!
I wish you that your mount is in order, my best friend is struggling for over 2 years that his CEM 120 is brought in order,
unfortunately we had to repair ourselves to bring it to run.
Thanks Andreas! I had an issue with the mount when I first got it and had to do a little fix on it as well. I’ll cover it in the next video, but iOptron needs better QA so these things don’t leave the manufacturer with issues.
Wow Joe, congratulations on the new mount. Are you planning a larger scope than your 8 " Edge that would need a mount that large. Looking forward to your experiences with it. Good luck!
Thanks Richard! I’m planning on expanding my observatory a few feet and adding another pier. With that I just wanted at least one observatory class mount so in the future I’m not limited on any scope choice. That’s what I keep saying anyway, truth is, just wanted a big mount lol
@@JoesAstrophoto One of the best things about being our age is that we can justify anything (at least to ourselves) by saying this is our forever mount or whatever. Enjoy it.
@@richardmarquardt6246 Thanks, that is one advantage of being men of a certain age lol! The only rough spot is getting the spouse or significant other to go along with it.
It seems like the iOptron is more geared to astroimaging than the EQ6. I wish I had gone with iOptron, but I don't think I could have afforded it anyway. I also didn't think the EQ6 would have been thrown together like it was, with slipping RA and obvious thuds inside the mount when I wiggled it (major backlash).
Thanks Michael, I still love my EQ6 and plan on using every chance I get, but it is a little clunky compared to this mount so far. To be fair though, it used to be 1/3 the price (now 1/2).
Hi Joe - congratulations on the new mount! I've had a CEM60 for 4 years now so I know you are going to love this beast! Now what new massive OTA are you gonna drive with this...?
Thanks so much Dali! I have some ideas, but need to sell my kidney first lol
thats a big mount. Do you feel your other mount wasnt doing what you needed?
Thanks Joe! Not at all! I absolutely love the EQ6 and it’s doing amazingly well. I’m just planning on doing an expansion of my observatory and needed another mount and thought this time I would buy an observatory class mount. I would have stuck with SW, but they increased their prices 25%, so I chose to go a different way.
@@JoesAstrophoto ok bro keep on going lets see what this mount is capable
That mounting plate and pier bolts look kinda thin vs mount size and weight.
I thought the same thing Norman, but that’s what the mount has, M8, and I’m not about to drill holes in my new mount, but I sure do agree with you. I think I would’ve went with at least an M12 if I designed it.
@@JoesAstrophoto Ok. I have M12 in my pier carrying an EQ8. Maybe you can make the plate a bit thicker or use a 30mm aluminium plate to dampen the vibration as the mounting points seem much wider then the 4 bolds in your pier. Otherwise enjoy. Curious how you fare with the new mount
@@screetch82 Thanks Norman, I’ve got some ideas to try if I run into issues for sure. One idea is to place another plate directly below the 120 built-in plate and then use M12 or 1/2” bolts to the other plate. I had and will have again my EQ6 on 3/16” plates with 3/8” bolts and that worked well. This mount is massive in comparison though. I’ll keep everyone updated as I go.
Hi
Where can I get the t-shirt u are wearing?
Thanks
Hi rashmi! My wife bought it for me and if I had to guess, I’d say she bought it on Amazon.