JMI Split Ring Equatorial


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Brand and Model:JMI Split Ring Equatorial
Price ($USD):$5000
Type:Newtonian
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:318mm (12.5")
f Ratio:f/4.5
Focal Length:1425mm
Finder:
Electric Power:
Mount:
Tripod:
Weight (lbs):160lbs lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):56x25x30
Description:

Vote Highlights Vote
JMI Split Ring Equatorial
Report of vibration problems are exaggerated, as are the reports of great
support from JMI. The rotating nose GREATLY increases the difficulty of
collimation, and the manufacturing techniques employed really cannot
make the design work well. One person can handle it, but it is near the
limit of weight and wieldiness for any non-athletic person, even with wheels
and handle. Some parts did not fit as delivered (optional wheel handle, CCD counterweight). Still waiting for complete order after more than four
months. Nova optics are excellent, the 9 rating is due to the secondary
holder, which is not finely adjustable enough for a rotating nose, and the
primary "cell", which is three bolts glued to the bottom of the full-thickness
mirror. There are balance problems with larger 2" eyepieces, and the
rotating nose can move by itself under the load. Fine
azimuth adjustment is poor. You must remove the wheels to use the
base, or shore it up with blocks of wood or some other filler. NGC Max
is a nice computer, encoders are amazingly accurate. RA tracking is
smooth and solid; declination motion, on a tangent arm, is oddly
erratic and slower than RA. Limited support. Still, it is a portable,
tracking, 12.5" aperture instrument will good basic optics. Your call.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:9 Mount:8 Ease of Use:7 Value:8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=135677


JMI Split Ring Equatorial
I am very pleased with this telescope. I have yet to see any vibration problems and it gets pretty windy near Chicago. The mechanics are a work of art and the optics are superb. Side by side tests with an 15" Obsession and an 17.5" Discovery show it to be as good or better in star tests, pin point focusing and detail. I will admit that the collimation with the rotating ring takes some time and practice but once set stays forever if handled with the least amount of care. The Max computer once set will stay dead on and the drives will track for at least an hour in F.O.V. The wheely bars make it easy to move on the ground but it takes a little effort to load it into the back of an SUV.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39321


JMI Split Ring Equatorial
Well constructed scope with the exception of the rotating nose ring. It is possible to get the collimation very close throughout its rotation range, but it takes some time. Once collimated, however, it holds very well. I got fair star test results (about 1/4 wave) with a mediocre collimation. This scope is quite heavy, but the wheely bars make it ridiculously easy to move around.

I've not seen the vibration problems others mentioned unless the winds were pretty high. The instrument feels very dob-like during use with the happy exception that it tracks which allows the use of much higher powers than are reasonsable for a non-tracking dob.

Overall, I'm very happy with the scope and would have given it an 8.5 if possible. The nose-ring collimation issue and the fact that so many things I regard as necessary (light baffle, shroud, etc.) are options cause it to get a couple points knocked off.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39320


JMI Split Ring Equatorial
Optically WONDERFUL...great features, but really REALLY bad with vibrations. GREAT visual scope, not very good for astrophotography.

Overall Rating: 7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39319


JMI Split Ring Equatorial
Knocks my socks off just to stand there and look at it. Extremely stable equatorial mount. Very good optics (Nova with enhanced coatings). Excellent star test performer. Amazing how it maintains collimation through repeated usage. Rotating ring assembly works well visually but could use a means of locking in place so heavy accessories won't accidently rotate the ring by their own weight. I tighten that Panoptic 35mm real good! Optional large wheels and handle allow me to set it up quickly and often. Small complaint, but it's difficult to get the optional shroud on and off over the accessories on the ring assembly.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39318


JMI Split Ring Equatorial
This is an exceptional quality telescope and gets great support from JMI

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39317

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