Telescope-Equatorial Mounts-iOptron GEM28 German Equatorial Mount with AccuAlign and 1.5″ Tripod

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1. W Y. Verified Buyer – 2 November 2021

   Portability is VERY important to me because I shoot from different locations. I was already comfortable with iOptron’s systems and controls as I have been a long time user of the iOptron SmartEQ Pro 3200 so I thought the GEM28 would be an easy transition and meet my needs perfectly. I’ve had a chance to use the GEM28 mount 4 times now for 5 to 8 h

   ours each time. It’s still lightweight but rated at more than twice the payload of my SmartEQ. The motors are smooth and quiet and track very well. My guiding is better than it’s ever been with a total error of 0.6” to 1.0” being typical (my SmartEQ is usually 1.7” – 2.2”). I was a little concerned that the larger motors would add more drain to my battery but that has not proven to be the case. My OTA setup is still very light – weighing only around 8 pounds. For this reason, I also bought the 4.4 pound (2Kg) counterweight as the 10-pound weight that comes with the GEM28 is much too heavy for my gear. The 1.5” tripod is surprisingly sturdy (much better than the SmartEQ). Even so I always keep it in the lowest position. I’ve had only 1 night with wind but it was no problem. However, I suspect a heavier OTA would be more of a challenge. I made two modifications to the mount: (1) I added a Velcro strip to the front to hold the hand controller and (2) I replaced the azimuth adjusting screws for ones with a larger head (found them on eBay) so it’s easier to polar align. I have not used the AccuALign polar scope because I use the automated alignment procedure in the ASIair Pro. So far, I’m very pleased with the purchase and I can recommend this unit.
   Tim Y.
   Hampton, GA
   U.S.A.