KinchAstro
  • Home Page
  • Progress through the years
    • 2023 Images >
      • Messier 101 (2023)
      • SH2-278
      • Soul Nebula (2023)
      • NGC 1491 (Fossil Footprint) 2023
      • IC 443 (Jellyfish Nebula) 2023
    • 2022 Images >
      • Andromeda Galaxy (2022)
      • SH2-173
      • Bat Nebula in Eastern Veil
      • SH2-124
      • NGC 7380 Wizard (2022)
      • SH2-132 (2022)
      • Cygnus Butterfly
      • SH2-140 & SH2-145
      • SNR G082.2+05.3
      • Just one area of Gas & Dust in Cygnus
      • Propeller Nebula (2022)
      • Around NGC 6914
      • SH2-115 & Abell 71 Wide Field
      • IC 4685
      • M20 - Trifid Nebula
      • SH2-101 (2022)
      • WR 134 in Cygnus
      • M 17 (2022)
      • M5 Star Cluster
      • Cederblad 51
      • Cone Nebula to NGC 2259
      • NGC 2353 (Stars & Stuff)
      • SH2-232 (2022)
      • IC 410 (Tadpoles) - 2022
    • 2021 Images >
      • SH2-224 (2021)
      • NGC 2174 (2021)
      • SH2-284 (2021)
      • Cocoon Nebula
      • SH2-261
      • Heart Nebula 2021
      • LBN 437 (SH2-126)
      • IC 1848 - Soul Nebula
      • SNR G082.2+05.3
      • SH2-135
      • LDN 909 & DWB 111
      • IC 5068
      • SH2-119
      • North of Sadr (Cygnus)
      • The Blue Horse Head Nebula
      • Messier 3 (2021)
      • Pink Moon Apr.2021
      • NGC 1499 (California Nebula)
      • MW2 (Dust Angel)
      • IC 2177 (Seagull) 2021
      • Abell 31 (2021)
      • SH2-308 Dolphin Nebula
      • M78
      • Jones Emberson 1 (2021)
      • HFG1 & Abell 6
      • SH2-282
    • 2020 Images >
      • Abell 21 (2020) Madusa Nebula
      • SH2-200
      • M33 (2020)
      • SH2-112
      • SH2-132 (2020)
      • IC 1805 - Heart Nebula
      • SH2-155 - Cave Nebula
      • SH2-114 - The Flying Dragon
      • SH2-115
      • Abell 85 (CTB-1)
      • LDN1235 - Shark Nebula
      • IC 1396 with Elephant Trunk Nebula
      • IC 1311
      • Crescent toward Sadr
      • SH2-54 & NGC 6604
      • IC 1318 Sadr Region
      • IC4592 - Blue Horsehead
      • Rho Ophiuchi
      • NGC 2259
      • Horsehead & Flame
      • IC 2177
      • SH2-232
      • SH2-284
      • SH2-280 or LBN 973
      • Rosette Nebula
    • 2019 Images >
      • Veil Nebula
      • NGC 7822 (2019)
      • Lobster Claw & Bubble
      • Tulip Nebula & NGC 6871
      • Earth's Moon
      • Propeller Nebula
      • NGC 7129 & NGC 7142
      • NGC 7023 - Iris Nebula
      • M108 & M97
      • M13 Globular Cluster
      • HCG 44
      • M81 & M82
      • M5 Star Cluster
      • M3 Star Cluster
      • NGC 4565
      • M 101 Galaxy (2019)
      • Abell 33
      • M1 Crab Nebula
      • IC 410 Tadpoles
      • Jellyfish Nebula
    • 2018 Images >
      • Simeis 147
      • North America & Pelican
      • NGC 7635 Bubble Nebula
      • NGC 7822 (2018)
      • NGC 281 Pacman Nebula
      • Soap Bubble & Crescent Nebula
      • NGC 2327 Seagull Nebula HaSHO
      • NGC 2327 Seagull Nebula Ha
      • NGC 2359 Thor's Helmet
      • Jones Emberson 1
    • 2017 Images >
      • M31 Andromeda Galaxy
      • NGC 7293 Helix Nebula
      • NGC 2174 Monkey Head Nebula
      • M16 Eagle Nebula
      • NGC 6820 & NGC 6823
      • Abell 21 (2017) Medusa Nebula
      • Sh2-290
      • NGC 2264 NB Colour
      • NGC 2264
      • IC 2118 Witch Head Nebula
      • M42 Orion Nebula
    • 2016 Images >
      • Cederblad 214
      • NGC 1491
      • IC 1795 The Fishhead Nebula
      • Bubble Nebula (2016)
      • NGC 7380 Wizard Nebula
      • Pickering's Triangle
      • Caldwell 33
      • Eastern Veil Nebula (Caldwell 33) - Ha
      • SH2-132
      • SH2-155 The Cave Nebula
      • Cave Nebula (Ha)
      • NGC7000 & IC5070
      • Cygnus Wall
      • M13
      • Pelican Nebula
      • M 101 Galaxy (2016)
      • M3 - Star Cluster
      • IC 2177 - Seagull Nebula
      • A few Planetary Nebulae
      • Waxing Moon
      • Rosette Nebula - HSHO
      • Rosette Nebula - Ha
      • Earth's Moon
      • Horse Head & Flame Nebulae
      • NGC 2359
    • 2015 Images >
      • Tadpoles - Crop
      • IC 405 & IC 410
      • IC410 Tadpole Nebula Full
      • IC410 Tadpole Nebula
      • Soul Nebula
      • Dumbbell Nebula
      • M33 Triangulum Galaxy
      • NGC 281 PacMan Nebula
      • Melotte 15 (Heart of the Heart Nebula)
      • Heart Nebula
      • NGC 7822 (2015)
      • Propeller Nebula
      • Pickering's Triangle
      • Omega Nebula
      • Elephant's Trunk Nebula
      • M108 & M97
      • IC 2177
      • Cone & Christmas Tree
      • Monkey Head Nebula
      • Bubble Nebula & M52 (Open Cluster)
      • The Rosette
      • Jellyfish Nebula
    • 2014 Images >
      • Crab Nebula (2014)
      • The Horsehead & Flame
      • The Rosette Nebula
      • Thor's Helmet
      • Leo Triplet
      • Sombrero Galaxy
      • Pinwheel Galaxy
      • Eagle Nebula
      • Lagoon Nebula
      • Pelican Nebula
      • Veil Nebula
      • Great Orion Nebula
    • 2013 Images
    • ....and before!
  • Putting in the Observatory
    • Observatory
    • Foundation Area
    • Foundation 1
    • Foundation 2
    • Building the Pier
    • Pier Completed
    • All wired up.
    • Ready for a nights work!
    • Observatory arrives
    • Neatly packed on the pallet
    • Construction underway
    • Ready to bolt the base to the concrete
    • Dome ready to go on.
    • Ready for side panel
    • Side panel fitted.
    • A look inside.
    • Solar Panel Power
    • Observatory 2
  • My Astro Imaging Gear
    • List of Hardware & Software
    • Connection Diagram - Electrical
    • Connection Diagrams - Hardware
    • Equatorial Mounts >
      • Takahashi EM 400 Temma 2
      • Takahashi EM200 Temma 2
    • Telescopes >
      • Takahashi FSQ130ED
      • Tak FSQ 106 ED
      • Tak FS 60 CB
      • Meade LX200R
    • Cameras >
      • QSI 6120i
      • QHY 5 II
      • Atik 460 EX
    • Other Equipment >
      • Filter Wheel & Filters
      • Other Gear
  • Information & Links
  • On a more personal note...

Takahashi EM 200
Takahashi EM 400

Both the mounts that I bought are Japanese. Not the cheapest of mounts but when I went looking at gear initially, these were always rated so highly. (I was well aware that the mount is perhaps the most important single piece of equipment in astrophotography). I was drawn to the Takahashi EM 200 by exactly the same forces that drew me to the Takahashi FSQ 106 scope; the imagers, whose work I admired at the time, seemed to be using them. Could I afford to go out and buy one - because I had seen nice pictures on the internet?  No way. Did I want to buy cheaper; same answer, no way. So I waited until I saw what I wanted second hand and in fact bought the EM200 Temma 2 from Portugal months after I knew I would actually buy one.

After about a year and a half, further weight was being loaded on the mount and although it still handled it admirably, I thought about upgrading. A natural progression I suppose. Always wanting bigger and better maybe! But having made several enquiries (over quite a long period - as these items do not show up too often), I eventually bought an EM 400 Temma 2 mount, second hand, from the U.K. At this stage I was very happy to stick with Takahashi - just wanted the bigger payload capacity of the bigger mount. I was planning ahead (and still am) - thinking of heavier scope and more equipment on top of the mount. In early 2017, I replaced the 2nd hand EM400 Temma 2 with a new EM400 Temma 2M.

One thing about these Takahashi mounts is that they are so smooth. They just seem to get on with the job - no fuss. If I had to give a bonus point, it would be for the polar scope (especially the bigger one on the EM400). Polar alignment in seconds once one gets used to it. I have done drift alignment with this mount and then went back to do it with the polar alignment scope again - it's just so good.

As it stands, I never did sell the EM200. Ideas of using it as a  'Grab & Go' mount still float about in my head.

Click on the links below for further info and photographs of the mounts.                            

Takahashi EM 400 Temma 2                                                              Takahashi EM 200 Temma 2 
Back to Astro Imaging Gear
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  • Home Page
  • Progress through the years
    • 2023 Images >
      • Messier 101 (2023)
      • SH2-278
      • Soul Nebula (2023)
      • NGC 1491 (Fossil Footprint) 2023
      • IC 443 (Jellyfish Nebula) 2023
    • 2022 Images >
      • Andromeda Galaxy (2022)
      • SH2-173
      • Bat Nebula in Eastern Veil
      • SH2-124
      • NGC 7380 Wizard (2022)
      • SH2-132 (2022)
      • Cygnus Butterfly
      • SH2-140 & SH2-145
      • SNR G082.2+05.3
      • Just one area of Gas & Dust in Cygnus
      • Propeller Nebula (2022)
      • Around NGC 6914
      • SH2-115 & Abell 71 Wide Field
      • IC 4685
      • M20 - Trifid Nebula
      • SH2-101 (2022)
      • WR 134 in Cygnus
      • M 17 (2022)
      • M5 Star Cluster
      • Cederblad 51
      • Cone Nebula to NGC 2259
      • NGC 2353 (Stars & Stuff)
      • SH2-232 (2022)
      • IC 410 (Tadpoles) - 2022
    • 2021 Images >
      • SH2-224 (2021)
      • NGC 2174 (2021)
      • SH2-284 (2021)
      • Cocoon Nebula
      • SH2-261
      • Heart Nebula 2021
      • LBN 437 (SH2-126)
      • IC 1848 - Soul Nebula
      • SNR G082.2+05.3
      • SH2-135
      • LDN 909 & DWB 111
      • IC 5068
      • SH2-119
      • North of Sadr (Cygnus)
      • The Blue Horse Head Nebula
      • Messier 3 (2021)
      • Pink Moon Apr.2021
      • NGC 1499 (California Nebula)
      • MW2 (Dust Angel)
      • IC 2177 (Seagull) 2021
      • Abell 31 (2021)
      • SH2-308 Dolphin Nebula
      • M78
      • Jones Emberson 1 (2021)
      • HFG1 & Abell 6
      • SH2-282
    • 2020 Images >
      • Abell 21 (2020) Madusa Nebula
      • SH2-200
      • M33 (2020)
      • SH2-112
      • SH2-132 (2020)
      • IC 1805 - Heart Nebula
      • SH2-155 - Cave Nebula
      • SH2-114 - The Flying Dragon
      • SH2-115
      • Abell 85 (CTB-1)
      • LDN1235 - Shark Nebula
      • IC 1396 with Elephant Trunk Nebula
      • IC 1311
      • Crescent toward Sadr
      • SH2-54 & NGC 6604
      • IC 1318 Sadr Region
      • IC4592 - Blue Horsehead
      • Rho Ophiuchi
      • NGC 2259
      • Horsehead & Flame
      • IC 2177
      • SH2-232
      • SH2-284
      • SH2-280 or LBN 973
      • Rosette Nebula
    • 2019 Images >
      • Veil Nebula
      • NGC 7822 (2019)
      • Lobster Claw & Bubble
      • Tulip Nebula & NGC 6871
      • Earth's Moon
      • Propeller Nebula
      • NGC 7129 & NGC 7142
      • NGC 7023 - Iris Nebula
      • M108 & M97
      • M13 Globular Cluster
      • HCG 44
      • M81 & M82
      • M5 Star Cluster
      • M3 Star Cluster
      • NGC 4565
      • M 101 Galaxy (2019)
      • Abell 33
      • M1 Crab Nebula
      • IC 410 Tadpoles
      • Jellyfish Nebula
    • 2018 Images >
      • Simeis 147
      • North America & Pelican
      • NGC 7635 Bubble Nebula
      • NGC 7822 (2018)
      • NGC 281 Pacman Nebula
      • Soap Bubble & Crescent Nebula
      • NGC 2327 Seagull Nebula HaSHO
      • NGC 2327 Seagull Nebula Ha
      • NGC 2359 Thor's Helmet
      • Jones Emberson 1
    • 2017 Images >
      • M31 Andromeda Galaxy
      • NGC 7293 Helix Nebula
      • NGC 2174 Monkey Head Nebula
      • M16 Eagle Nebula
      • NGC 6820 & NGC 6823
      • Abell 21 (2017) Medusa Nebula
      • Sh2-290
      • NGC 2264 NB Colour
      • NGC 2264
      • IC 2118 Witch Head Nebula
      • M42 Orion Nebula
    • 2016 Images >
      • Cederblad 214
      • NGC 1491
      • IC 1795 The Fishhead Nebula
      • Bubble Nebula (2016)
      • NGC 7380 Wizard Nebula
      • Pickering's Triangle
      • Caldwell 33
      • Eastern Veil Nebula (Caldwell 33) - Ha
      • SH2-132
      • SH2-155 The Cave Nebula
      • Cave Nebula (Ha)
      • NGC7000 & IC5070
      • Cygnus Wall
      • M13
      • Pelican Nebula
      • M 101 Galaxy (2016)
      • M3 - Star Cluster
      • IC 2177 - Seagull Nebula
      • A few Planetary Nebulae
      • Waxing Moon
      • Rosette Nebula - HSHO
      • Rosette Nebula - Ha
      • Earth's Moon
      • Horse Head & Flame Nebulae
      • NGC 2359
    • 2015 Images >
      • Tadpoles - Crop
      • IC 405 & IC 410
      • IC410 Tadpole Nebula Full
      • IC410 Tadpole Nebula
      • Soul Nebula
      • Dumbbell Nebula
      • M33 Triangulum Galaxy
      • NGC 281 PacMan Nebula
      • Melotte 15 (Heart of the Heart Nebula)
      • Heart Nebula
      • NGC 7822 (2015)
      • Propeller Nebula
      • Pickering's Triangle
      • Omega Nebula
      • Elephant's Trunk Nebula
      • M108 & M97
      • IC 2177
      • Cone & Christmas Tree
      • Monkey Head Nebula
      • Bubble Nebula & M52 (Open Cluster)
      • The Rosette
      • Jellyfish Nebula
    • 2014 Images >
      • Crab Nebula (2014)
      • The Horsehead & Flame
      • The Rosette Nebula
      • Thor's Helmet
      • Leo Triplet
      • Sombrero Galaxy
      • Pinwheel Galaxy
      • Eagle Nebula
      • Lagoon Nebula
      • Pelican Nebula
      • Veil Nebula
      • Great Orion Nebula
    • 2013 Images
    • ....and before!
  • Putting in the Observatory
    • Observatory
    • Foundation Area
    • Foundation 1
    • Foundation 2
    • Building the Pier
    • Pier Completed
    • All wired up.
    • Ready for a nights work!
    • Observatory arrives
    • Neatly packed on the pallet
    • Construction underway
    • Ready to bolt the base to the concrete
    • Dome ready to go on.
    • Ready for side panel
    • Side panel fitted.
    • A look inside.
    • Solar Panel Power
    • Observatory 2
  • My Astro Imaging Gear
    • List of Hardware & Software
    • Connection Diagram - Electrical
    • Connection Diagrams - Hardware
    • Equatorial Mounts >
      • Takahashi EM 400 Temma 2
      • Takahashi EM200 Temma 2
    • Telescopes >
      • Takahashi FSQ130ED
      • Tak FSQ 106 ED
      • Tak FS 60 CB
      • Meade LX200R
    • Cameras >
      • QSI 6120i
      • QHY 5 II
      • Atik 460 EX
    • Other Equipment >
      • Filter Wheel & Filters
      • Other Gear
  • Information & Links
  • On a more personal note...