An astrophotography mount performance overview.

Brand and Mount Price
[€]
Max
payload
[kg]
Peak2Peak
PE
[arcsecond]
Peak2Peak
with PEC
[arcsecond]
Source of the PE and PEC claims Remarks
Explore Scientific iEXOS-100 PCM-eight 459 5 100 - cloudynights.com/topic/643240-now-available-our-new-explore-scientific-iexos-100-pmc-eight-399/page-7#entry9171012 -
Bosma EM11-A 750 12 - - - test a, b
Sky-Watcher/Synta HEQ5 PRO Orion Sirius EQ-G 1030 13 10 - 15
-
-
6 - 7
-
-
skywatchertelescope.net/swtphotos/ProductsPRO/80ed100edHeq5EQ6Pro.pdf
-
-
iOptron also had this as SmartStar-PR
iOptron MiniTower II 1065 15+4 - - - -
Sky-Watcher/Synta (N)EQ6 PRO
Orion Atlas EQ-G
1250 20 10 - 15
30 - 40
20-125
6 - 7
-
-
skywatchertelescope.net/swtphotos/ProductsPRO/80ed100edHeq5EQ6Pro.pdf
eq-mod.sourceforge.net/docs/eqmod_vs-pec.pdf
demeautis.christophe.free.fr/ep/eq6.htm
-
-
68 86 71 96 56 125 68 57 27 29 20 33
Celestron CGEM 1500 20 60
27
-
10
cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/3190921
veryamateur.co.uk/2010/12/09/further-periodic-error-correction-with-the-cgem/
max payload reported 18-20
iOptron MiniTower Pro 1500 15+4 - - - new. Result from old model.
Sky-Watcher Wave 100i 1609 15 - - - 10 kg without counterweight. Strainwave.
iOptron iEQ30 Pro 1660 14 - - - Permanent PEC
ZWO AM3 1995 8
13
40 - zwoastro.com/product/zwo-am3/ harmonic drive, 13 kg with counterweight
Sky-Watcher Wave 150i 2083 25 - - - 10 kg without counterweight. Strainwave.
iOptron iEQ45 Pro 2100 20 32
15
6
5
rkastro.net/ioptron_ieq45_periodic_error.html
www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/5699059
-
iOptron CEM60 2415 27 - - - Arriving worldwide February 2014
WarpAstron WD-17 2645 13.5 - - - Harmonic direct drive with servo motors
Vixen Sphinx SXD 2700 15 14 - cloudynights.com/ubbarchive/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1700976 15+2*3.7=22kg 'load capacity'
ZWO AM5 2850 13
20
40 - zwoastro.com/product/zwo-am5/ harmonic drive, 20 kg with counterweight
Losmandy GM8 3250 13 13
4
8
-
www.danlessmann.com/LosmandyGM8Review.htm
blog.jpuschnig.com/astrophotography/improving-the-periodic-error-of-a-losmandy-gm8/
Requires Gemini for PPEC
 
Takahashi EM-11 Temma II 3650 10 20 - www.takahashi-europe.com/en/EM-11.specifications.php payload is 9 at tak-eu and 11 at tak-us
Celestron CPC 1100 GPS 3900 20 27 6 cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=3720564 EQ with wedge
Avalon Instruments Linear 4000 25 14 - http://www.avalon-instruments.com/prodotti.asp?cod=AR Toothed pulleys and belts
TTS-160 Panther 4157 24 10
20
- via mail Portable alt-az mount with rotator
LX200 compatible. Standard ST4
Optical encoders
Losmandy G11 4200 27 30
24
15
15
10
9.1
7
4
-
-
-
2
-
2.3
-
-
demeautis.christophe.free.fr/ep/pe.htm
www.astromag.co.uk/pdfs/g-11.pdf
astroshed.com/observatory/g11saga/g11saga.htm
cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=4596205
www.ovision.com/Losmandy_PresentationNS_english.html
ccdware.com/products/pempro/examples.cfm www.astromart.com/articles/article.asp?article_id=663
darkforceastro.de/PemPro.html
Requires Gemini for PPEC
12 after gearbox swap
-
TDM for PEC
Ovision NS worm upgrade
-
Reported 3 - 7
Ovision NS worm upgrade
Skywatcher EQ8 4400 50 7.36 2.67 astrobin.com/300692/ Encoder resolution on the axes: 17624 ticks or 1.226 arc min
HoO/Berlebach LongNeck1 4400 35 14 - shop.hoo-germany.de/product_info.php/language/en/
info/p501_Montierung-parallaktisch-HoOLN1.html
photographic payload
add FS2 or similar
Avalon Instruments M-uno 4600 25 14 - http://www.avalon-instruments.com/prodotti.asp?cod=M1 Toothed pulleys and belts
Fornax 51 4600 40 14
8
1
-
fornaxmounts.com/
licha.de/astro_review_fornax_50_mount.php
FS2 ready. TDM for PEC
Geoptik GK300 5000 30 10 - geoptik.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=110_111&product_id=158 may be unavailable
Takahashi EM-200 Temma II 5550 18 10
20
- www.takahashi-europe.com/en/EM-200.php
demeautis.christophe.free.fr/ep/pe.htm
-
Celestron CGE Pro 5700 40 18
16
-
-
www.celestron.com/c3/product.php?CatID=16&ProdID=549
cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=2579
-
Vixen Atlux 5900 23 16 4 www.vixenoptics.com/mounts/atlux.htm 23+3.5+7=34kg 'load weight'
Intes-Micro Alter D6 GOTO 5950 40 10
12
30
-
-
9
www.brayimaging.co.uk/Astro/mounts.html
astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=321510
astro-foren.de/showthread.php?t=7353
AWR goto
Mesu-Optics Mesu-Mount 200 6000 100 4
< 1
2
N/A mesu-optics.nl/mount200_en.html
stargazerslounge.com/discussions-mounts/169884-what-facts-3.html
cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/Number/4932459
Friction drive. Argo Navis goto, image
Alternative controller: SiTech II
Bellincioni Omega 6200 25 10
5.5
-
-
bellincioni.com/Equatorial_mounts_/Omega_mount/omega_mount.html
forum.astrofili.org/viewtopic.php?p=279753#p279753
price of H.Q. A model
AOK WAM 8000 6300 75 10 - aokswiss.ch/d/mont/wam/wam_8000/tabelle.html -
Meade LX850 6525 40 16
7
6
3
www.lx-850.com/?p=193
cloudynights.com/topic/419811-meade-lx850-silence/page-8
astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=838455
comes with StarLock autoguider
E.Alt 5-ADN 6650 50 2 - www.observatory.org/install.htm -
Fornax 100 7000 90 16 1 fornaxmounts.com/products_mounts.html FS2 ready. TDM for PEC
Astro-Physics Mach1GTO 7300 20 7 - www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/mounts/mach1gto/mach1gto -
MAM-20 7500 25 - - - FS2 goto
E.Alt 6-ADN 7650 70 2 - same as Alt5 and Alt7 -
10 micron GM1000HPS 7700 25 1 - www.10micron.eu/files/HPS/Scheda tecnica GM1000HPS en.pdf -
Axis Instruments F20a 7850 25 10
14
- axisinstruments.com/francais/produits/montures/monture-equatoriale-f20a.htm
demeautis.christophe.free.fr/ep/f20a.htm
-
Bellincioni Alpha 8000 50 8 - bellincioni.com/Equatorial_mounts_/Alpha_mount/alpha_mount.html price of H.Q. A model
Iott Precision IPI262 8500 45 - - - -
MAM-50 8500 50 - - - FS2 goto
Sideres 85 9000 100 6 - sideres.de/?page_id=2 -
Takahashi EM-400 Temma II 9000 38 10 - www.takahashi-europe.com/en/EM-400.php -
Losmandy Titan 9000 45 10
8
16
7.5
-
2
-
1.5
www.losmandy.com/hgm-titan.html
www.company7.com/losmandy/titan.html
demeautis.christophe.free.fr/ep/pe.htm
ccdware.com/products/pempro/examples.cfm
-
TS Optics WS240GT 9000 70 10 - teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p2507 White Swan. FS2 goto. photos
AOK LM 300 9000 100 10 - aokswiss.ch/d/mont/lm/lm-300/tabelle.html -
E.Alt 7-ADN 9000 100 2 - www.baader-planetarium.de/referenzen/knerr_ad7_periode.gif -
Anssen technologies Ellesa 9200 85 10 - astro-electronic.de/ellesa.htm add FS2
APM-GE 70 9300 100 6 - apm-telescopes.de/apm-ge-70_proinfo_18542.html FS2 goto
Fornax 150/100 9800 100 12 1 fornaxmounts.com/products_mounts.html FS2 ready. TDM for PEC
Vixen Gaiax 9850 44 5 - www.vixenoptics.com/mounts/gaiax.html 3*9.5=28.5kg counterweights
Paramount MX 9950 40 7 < 1 www.bisque.com/sc/pages/ParamountMX.aspx
cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/3758101
new, photo
Axis Instruments F40a 10500 50 7 - axisinstruments.com/francais/produits/montures/monture-equatoriale-f40a.htm -
Iott Precision IPI393
PlaneWave Ascension 200HR
10500
18500
90 - - - -
price in $
RG 288 10800 - - - - price excl. goto
10 micron GM 2000 QCI 11750 50 8 - www.10micron.eu/english/gm2000%20QCI_info.htm -
Trassud DF45 11900 50 10 - trassud.fr/monture_df_45.htm -
MAM-100 12400 140 - - - FS2 goto
Mesu-Optics Mesu-Mount 300 12500 350 - N/A - Under Development, Friction drive, SiTech II controller
Bellincioni Beta P 12700 150 6 - bellincioni.com/Equatorial_mounts_/Beta_P_mount/beta_p_mount.html -
Axis Instruments F60a 13500 75 5
5
- axisinstruments.com/francais/produits/montures/monture-equatoriale-f60a.htm
demeautis.christophe.free.fr/ep/f60a.htm
-
APM-GE 200 14400 225 6 - apm-telescopes.de/apm-ge-200_proinfo_84168.html FS2 goto
Astro-Physics 1600GTO 14500 100 5
-
2
-
astro-physics.com/products/mounts/1600gto/1600gto.pdf
www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/5699737
AP reports 0.22 arcsecond peak to peak with additional Renishaw encoders in their PDF
Takahashi EM-500 Temma II 14800 45 7 - www.takahashi-europe.com/en/EM-500.php -
Paramount ME II 15000 109 7 - bisque.com/sc/pages/ParamountMEII.aspx Delivery starts 201302
Trassud ZX7 15400 70 10 - trassud.fr/ZX7%20IMAGE.htm -
RG 360 16500 - - - - price excl. goto
Trassud DF80 16900 80 10 - trassud.fr/monture_df_45.htm -
10 micron GM 4000 QCI 17600 150 6 - www.10micron.eu/english/gm4000QCI_info.htm -
Bellincioni Gamma P 17850 270 5 - bellincioni.com/Equatorial_mounts_/Gamma_P_mount/gamma_p_mount.html -
SkyVision Nova 120G 18850 120 0.3 - skyvision.fr/wordpress/?page_id=2072&lang=en RMS in 10 min
SkyVision Nova 90F 19150 90 0.3 - skyvision.fr/wordpress/?page_id=2072&lang=en RMS in 10 min
Bauer D 100 21700 150 4 - getriebe_sr350_sternwarte_scha_4.html FS2 goto
Meade MAX mount 22000 113 5
6
2
0.6
www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=9170
www.galaxyphoto.com/max.htm
-
MAM-150 22400 150 - - - FS2 goto. Knicksaulenmontierung
APM-GE 300/Knopf K-140 23800 600 5 - apm-telescopes.de/apm-ge-300_proinfo_10389.html FS2 goto
Astelco NTM-500 25900 90 < 1 - astelco.com/products/ntm/ntm.htm Direct drive. video
Astro-Physics 3600GTO
'el Capitan'
28500 136 5
0.5
- www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/mounts/3600gto/3600gto
www.baader-planetarium.de/astro_physics/montierungen.htm
-
Prices below are in other currencies.
iOptron SmartStar-PR $700 15 - - - optional ST-4 convertor
Celestron Advanced VX $800 14 - - - expected march 2013
Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G $2300 20 - - - belt-driven stepper motors
WarpAstron WD-20 $3199 - - - - Harmonic direct drive with servo motors
Orion HDX110 EQ-G $5000 50 6 - telescope.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=103019 expected march 2014. stepper motors
Hobym CRUX 170HD $5300 16 20 - hobym.net/hobym-observatory harmonic drive, optimal loading capacity 8kg
Equinox EI100S/GE1 $5500 34 - - - aka Alpha Sextantis
Astromount £6000 70 5 1 astromount.co.uk/specifications/ finite element calculation gives well over 100kg. Until this max load weight is tested in the sky we are saying 70kg. PEC number mailed by Astromount.
iOptron iEQ75-GT $8800 34 0.3 - www.shareastronomy.com/blog_posts/27 new
Adv.Optics Vanguard 2000 £9500 165 - - - FS2 goto
Hobym CRUX 320HD $9900 60 17 - hobym.net/crux-170ge harmonic drive, optimal loading capacity 20kg
Parallax HD150C $10000 72 4 - cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=628 Astro-Physics GTO
Equinox EI100S/GE2 $10275 273 - - - aka Beta Sextantis
OGS HP-75 $10820 59 15 - opticalguidancesystems.com/products.php?p=mounts -
Parallax HD200C $11500 90 4 2 bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/archive/index.php/t-31989.html Astro-Physics GTO
Mathis Instruments MI-500G $11700 90 5 - mathis-instruments.com/wdrive.html Astro-Physics GTO. Also as fork
Vixen AXD $11700 31 - - - -
Chronos HD20 $14000 56 7 - chronosmount.com harmonic drive
AOK Herkules V24 CHF 14900 80 <0.1 - aokswiss.ch/d/mont/ddm/herkules_v24/daten.html Direct Drive
AOK Herkules V48 CHF 24500 140 <0.1 - aokswiss.ch/d/mont/ddm/herkules_v48/daten.html Direct Drive
OGS OGS-75 $15900 59 - 2 opticalguidancesystems.com/products.php?p=mounts -
Mathis Instruments MI-750G $17800 180 5 - mathis-instruments.com/wdrive.html Astro-Physics GTO. Also as fork
Astro Optik K100 DM20k+ 150 - - - FS2 goto. Preis ohne Motoren
Chronos HD32 $20000 113 7 - chronosmount.com harmonic drive
Parallax HD300C $25000 136 - - - Astro-Physics GTO
OGS OGS-100 $27490 90 - 2 opticalguidancesystems.com/products.php?p=mounts -
Mathis Instruments MI-1000G $36400 230 5 - mathis-instruments.com/wdrive.html Astro-Physics GTO. Also as fork
Chronos HD45 $39500 272 7 - chronosmount.com harmonic drive
Chronos HD65 $49500 453 5 - optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=10308&kw=chronos&st=2 harmonic drive
OGS OGS-140 $52880 136 - 2 opticalguidancesystems.com/products.php?p=mounts -
Takahashi EM-2500 Temma II $55000 70 5 - telescopes.net/doc/2500/item/TSM3500 -
Takahashi EM-3500 Temma II $99000 158 5 - opticalguidancesystems.com/takahash.htm -
OGS OGS-190 $120840 204 - 2 opticalguidancesystems.com/products.php?p=mounts -
PlaneWave CDK700 $185000 - 1 - planewaveinstruments.com/index.php?page=1&id0=6&id=0 Direct drive. alt-az. mount+0.7m OTA
iOptron iEQ45-GT - 20 < 1 - ioptron.com/pdf_articles/iEQ45-GT_PE_test_results.pdf with Renishaw Encoder
RM 300 - 30 7 - rm-engineering.it -
RM 500 - 50 7 - rm-engineering.it -
Sky-Watcher/Synta EQ7 - 45 - - - Announced, photo
Kson Milestone Advanced $1300 20 - - - -
Showa NEW20E ¥1155000 33 - - - -
Showa NEW25E - 60 - - - -
Astro-Physics 1100GTO - 50 7 - -
iOptron ZEQ25GT - 12 - - - Available April 2013
TTS-300 Mammoth - 60 10
20
- via mail Portable alt-az mount with rotator
LX200 compatible. Standard ST4
Optical encoders
Mitaka GN-170 - - - - - -
Mitaka GN-27 - - - - - -
Mitaka GN-32 - - - - - -
Mitaka GN-80 - - - - - -
Mitaka GNF-65 - - - - - -
Mitaka GNF-1000 - - - - - -
Fornax 200 - 200 - - - designed and developed for BlackGem and HAT
Xerces ENA - 75 0.5 - Typical tracking accuracy 0.5 arc sec in five minutes No medidian flip.
Xerces TETRA $24000
$34000
150 0.5 - Typical tracking accuracy 0.5 arc sec in five minutes Dual sided, 75 kg each side. No meridian flip.
Discontinued mounts :
Meade LX200-10 (classic) N/A 20 50
45
-
53.3
3 - 10
5
8
12.7
www.mapug-astronomy.net/ragreiner/PECOper.html
lambermont.dyndns.org/astro/tracking-20080908-and-training-result.jpg
lambermont.dyndns.org/astro/P2P-PE-20090918.jpg
ccdware.com/products/pempro/examples.cfm
-
45 and 5 are corrected values by cos(40)
-
-
Celestron CGE 3600 27 30
25
15
-
13
-
5
5
10
1.6
demeautis.christophe.free.fr/ep/cge.htm
cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/Number/2878254
''
imageshack.us/photo/my-images/810/pecx.jpg/
groups.yahoo.com/group/CGE-TelescopesUNCENSORED/files/TDM%20PE%20Graphs/
Measured in 2005
After 2005, smooth 20 arcsec
-
Production discontinued
TDM for PEC
AstroTechniek CP-165 7400 - - - - -
Mountain Instruments MI-250 7500 38 10
4.2
-
1.4
www.mountaininstruments.com/pages/mi250Go-To.html
ccdware.com/products/pempro/examples.cfm
news
Astro-Physics 900GTO 9200 31 7
5.8
4
-
1.6
-
www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/mounts/900gto/900gto
ccdware.com/products/pempro/examples.cfm
-
cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=3428644
discontinued, replaced with 1100GTO 201304
Astro-Physics 1200GTO 11400 63 5
4.2
-
3.8
-
1.3
1.5
< 0.01
www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/mounts/1200gto/1200gto
ccdware.com/products/pempro/examples.cfm
www.danlessmann.com/LosmandyGM8Review.htm
cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=3428644
discontinued, replaced with 1600GTO
Paramount ME €13750 68 7
4
2
1
0.8
< 0.1
www.bisque.com/help/ParamountME/performance_specifications.htm
ccdware.com/products/pempro/examples.cfm
cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=3428644
discontinued 20120925, replaced by ME II, shipping starts 201302
Mesu-Optics Mesu 7500 130 (2x65) 4 N/A astro-imaging.com/Equipment/Mesu_Mount_Engels.pdf Friction drive. Argo Navis goto. photos
Omegon pro Taurus GM 60 9800 60 5 - astroshop.de/parallaktisch-ohne-goto/omegon-pro-taurus-gm-60-montierung/p,19925 incl. FS2
Trassud ZX4 9300 40 10 - trassud.fr/ZX4%20IMAGE.htm demeautis.christophe.free.fr/ep/zx4.htm -
MillenniumMount MM-1 Titan 7500 30 10 3 astro.uni-bonn.de/~mischa/mounts/mm_experiences.html Discontinued
MillenniumMount MM-2 Titan 10000 70 - - - Discontinued
AstroDreamTech Morningcalm 300GE 6650 30 - - - discontinued
AstroDreamTech Morningcalm 500GE 9300 50 - - - discontinued
AstroDreamTech Morningcalm 700GE 13700 70 - - - discontinued
Meade LXD 75 745 12 45 - www.zodiaclight.com/equipment/lxd75.htm -
Celestron CG-5 GT 900 13 80
39
N/A demeautis.christophe.free.fr/ep/cg5.htm
cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=lxd55&Number=2840579
no PEC but does have autoguider port
Meade LX80 900 18 - - - -
Gemini Mountegra 15000 50 4 - www.astronomy.hu/mountegra.htm -
Gemini E.fric 4636 30 < 0.5 N/A geminitelescope.com/Manuals/gtd_efric_tech_sheet.pdf Friction drive. Bring your own controller.
Gemini MOFOD MkII 11300 80 5 - geminitelescope.com/mofod-mkii-fork-friction-mount/ encoder option since 2015
Gemini G42 6700 40 10
5
7
4
3
2
1
-
www.astronomy.hu/g42.htm
ecliptica.org/merchandise/3_6_gemini.htm
www.romastrophoto.altervista.org/g42pec.shtml
cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=3544916
G53F was the new model, now also discontinued.
Gemini G53F 7800 45 - 4 geminitelescope.com/g53f-friction-drive-mount-german-equatorial/ price was incl tripod,cw,pulsar2,tax. Discontinued 2017. E.fric is the new model.
ASA DDM60 7000 25 0.2 - 0.4 N/A www.astrosysteme.at/eng/mount_ddm60.html Direct drive
ASA DDM85 13750 65 well below 1 N/A www.astrosysteme.at/eng/mount_ddm85.html Direct drive
ASA DDM160 28800 300 0.15 N/A www.astrosysteme.at/images/DDM160_TechnicalSpec_E_1001.pdf Direct drive

Notes :

Interesting links :

Price vs. payload graph #1, for prices below 10k€:

mount Price Load graph (as of 20151213)

Price vs. payload graph #2:

mount Price Load graph (as of 20151213)