LXD 75 Questions

I am wondering if anyone can give me their experiences with an LXD 75 mount. I'm looking for a mount for my orion ED80 and to use for some wide field photograpy up to a 200 mm lens (just camera, no scope). I have a friend who bought an LXD 55 and he is contantly adjusting set screws, training the drive, alighning the mount, and then swearing at it, and this is after he "hyper tuned" it. Have the bugs really been worked out? I want a grab and go mount that I can get up and running with as little hassle as possible. I'm experienced with EQ mounts so polar alighnment is not a problem. Any comments are welcome. This question was asked and ignored on the equipment forum.

Thanks,
Jim Moscheck
SE Mich
LX 200 8"
ED 80 on older CG4 mount

Hello Jim!
It might not be that it was ignored, but maybe whoever owns an LXD-75 might not have seen it...

I would personally recommend posting your question to these dedicated LXD-75 groups, which might be able to help you faster...


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LXD-75-Uncensored/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LXD75telescopes/



Clear skies! 8)

My LXD75 works fine. I have had to adjust the backlash once after a couple months of break-in but that's all. The LXD75 addresses a couple major problems with the LXD55. Set screws seem to be better (i.e., they don't come loose). The bearings are far better and the tripod is better.

But I've done only lunar photography and visual. Most folks agree it's a very serviceable entry-level astrophotography mount for equipment up to about 15-20 lbs. Or more depending on your patience.

Hello,

I have been very happy with my LXD75 mount; I purchased mine as part of the 10" SN setup. I was able to hang the 10" with a 80mm short tube refractor, and it worked

Of course, it wasn't an optimal photo setup, which is what I was doing. When I just have my 80mm on there for photography, the mount is rock steady, and goto's have always been on. A little backlash in one axis, cured by training.

Overall, I would not hesitate to get another one, if this one every went belly up.

BTW, I have sold the 10" (great scope, but I wanted to concentrate on wider field astrophotography), and I am planning on having a Burgess 102 achro guiding a William Optics Zenithstar APO....should be just the right load on this good mount!

Keith