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Product Reviews
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United StatesI am extremely satisfied with the CEM40EC. The tracking has been excellent although I haven’t stretched the mount, since I was using only a 60mm scope. Still I was getting 3 minutes unguided with perfectly round stars. The IPolar makes polar alignment a breeze. I have been doing 3 star goto alignments because that is so simple and fast by using the grid on the live view of my Canon T7i and that is placing everything dead center when I slew to it. Again, I am very pleased with this mount, so much so that I will upgrade my scope to a 100mm soon.
United StatesI've had the CEM25EC for about two years and been happy with it's performance. This, however, is better in every way. The construction just seems more solid and professional, and the details of the way it works is smarter. For example, the alt-az adjustments are easier and more secure. The power cable doesn't block the DEC housing. The hand controller has more functions and buttons, and the display gives more info. Nice to plug a USB cable directly into the mount rather than into the hand controller like on the CEM25EC. This model came with the iPolar and it's fantastic. Easy to get a good polar alignment and my initial go-to slews have been far more accurate than the older mount. A one-star alignment is all I've needed to get close enough for plate-solving. The cable management isn't quite what I'd hoped--how do you get cables down that little hole without risking one of the very thin, unprotected wires in there? But the USB port and 12v port are handy and does reduce my cable count a little. The motors are slightly louder than the CEM25EC but still quiet by astro mount standards. The LiteRoc mount is easily as sturdy as the 2-inch mount I used with the lighter CEM25EC--though the clamps are awkward to use and required re-installing to give enough clearance to tighten fully. I bought this mount not so much because the older iOptron wasn't doing a good job but rather to take advantage of the newer technology. I'm not disappointed. It's better in every way. I highly recommend it. BTW I also highly recommend the iOptron MiniPier if your OTA is long. Mine measures about 22 inches from the center of the saddle back to the wires hanging off the ASI2600 on the back of a TeleVue np101is. The old mount liked to bang it into a tripod leg (full-tilt RA before DEC movement) and though I haven't given this one a chance to try it, the extra 6-7 inches is a real stress reliever.
United StatesI am still evaluating but the mount appears well-made. I especially like the RA and DEC locking mechanism. iPolar is clever and convenient. The iPolar software as posted by the manufacturer seems to trigger Microsoft virus detection software, requiring that I disable some virus protection features on my computer. The Cable management system is a nice try but iOptron only provided for one USB cable to come through the CMS. Another one is needed for the guider.