claudevh wrote:

Hello All,

Celestron has anounced the "AllView Mount"
http://www.celestron.com/c3/product.php … ProdID=742
[url]http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=439-277-16243[/url]

Thnk-you Sotero !

Thank you for the heads-up.
Interesting that they mention panoramic photography.

seems that it has its own tripod.
Not sure if it`s possible to mount it on an other tripod.
Are there standard threads UNC 1/4-20 or UNC 3/8-16?
Are the original pods removable without the use of tools?

For panoramic photography it would be particularly advantageous to keep the base as small as possible.
The smaller the base the less retouch is required (place battery packs into invisible pitch-unit)

Last edited by Undertable (2011-02-15 06:56:10)

Bigs problems will be :

- Global weight : 21 lbs (9.53 kg)
- External batteries
- Probably the price (will be sold with Goto Hand controler and has "new features" like double encoders")
- Foot print quite huge ...

More to come !

Most probably the "good old Merlin" will stay on the catalog !!! I hope really so ...

If some of you have more info's or have seen prototypes or "preserie" PLEASE SHARE !!!

10kg own weight and only 4.8kg payload sound like that the same motors are used...
Georg

*** Edited by Rob - Oct 2012 - The head when separated from the tripod weighs about 4.8 Kg and may be mounted on a different tripod if you wish, it has a center screw hole location for this.  The encoders and clutch mechanisms are heavier duty than the Merlin and the clutch may be disengaged allowing free manual rotation while the encoders still track the position.  The stepper motors support an upper rate of 1000x which is faster than the Merlin which I believe is 800x ***

Last edited by gkaefer (2011-02-15 12:45:55)

I wonder how much of the overall 10kg is represented by that steel tripod?

sorry...forgot: I'm a new one of you!
Hello every body!
360º photo is a wonderfull hobby! I'm waiting for my Merlin that must arrive this week.
my presentation: www.360cities.net/profile/sotero-ferreira
my first equipement: Canon 400D + Sigma 8mm 3,5 + agno's mrotator Tcpshort.
my equipment:Canon 5DmkII + shaved Tokina 10-17+ canon 55-200+ old canon 30-80
and Canon 550D+sigma 18-200 and canon 18-55
software:Hugin, Ptgui, AutoPano pro, P2vr, Krpano. on Mac and Windows.
I'm portuguese living near Tomar and working as architect at Convento de Cristo (you must visit this history book with 800 years).

krtekcz2000 wrote:

The site says: Preorder - shipping March, 2012 (more than a year after the announcement)
User manual available here in the SUPPORT section:
http://www.celestron.com/astronomy/moun … mount.html
or directly here.
http://www.celestron.com/c3/support3/in … itemid=732
I wonder whether it will comnpatible with the current BT dongle and where there will be any reasons for an upgrade.

Good luck with it, the preversion I have seen two years ago at Photokina were bulky and so heavy !! All the more it doesn't include battery or anything, it's outside and linked to head with a cable !
For bluetooth Module, difficult to know for now, I think we'll need to wait someone gets an unit in hands !

Vincèn

*** Edited by Rob - Oct 2012- BT module from Claude and Papywizard works fine with the AllView head - The AllView has a battery compartment taking AA rechargeable cells, plus it has a power socket and can be driven from a 12V external Li-Ion CCTV power pack (about 25 Euros)  or from a 12v DC 1 A power adapter (about 12 Euros) ***

Note : we have a prototype of this head here and it does work perfectly with papywizard.

AlexandreJ wrote:

Note : we have a prototype of this head here and it does work perfectly with papywizard.

but prototype doesn't mean final version will be the same so long final release is not avalaible, no way to know what to expect !

klausesser wrote:

Do you have any informations about the price?

399.- $

Hey guys - sorry, been away from the forum for a bit - been busy with my Dynamic Perception rig.  Was actually in Celestron a few months back and had the op to ak some questions on this mount and the Skywatcher (aka Merlin or Orion Accuter).  It is official - the MERLIN is offically discontinued by Celestron .

I thought I'd repost this here for all:

Ok... I don't see this as good news for us here, but according to Celestrons Website the new All View mount is available for sale this March (http://www.celestron.com/portal/skywatc ... mount.html) at a whooping $399.

The mount DOES NOT detach from the tripod? Website says "Motorized head detaches for use with most prosumertripods using 3/8” thread" but FAQ says it DOES NOT detach from tripod  Manual says nothing.

It does connect to a computer via a cable from the attached hand controller. It DOES have a built in panoramic and time lapse mode in the hand controller. It looks bigger and heavier (manual states 9 lbs) then the Merlin that has been discontinued.

Not sure about it's ability to interface with the MX2. There is a manual online to cover setup and use details (the manual looks like a draft copy).

The time lapse mode looks interesting thought the hand controller interface might be a bit confusing. Basically set the mount to the start point, move it to the end point, set the interval and exposure info and let it go - least that's how I read it.

Many mounting options for the camera. Comes with a cable for Canon EOS Rebel camera (?)

Anyone willing to risk the cash to test this out - am sure many are curious to see your results.
_________________
Mike Lanfor
www.airplayphoto.com
US Army Retired

Hello Mike,

Kolor seems to have tested this Allview mount and have reported that Papywizard can work with this mount.
Anyway, as said in the post for Androïd, Skywatcher have published the "Skywatcher API" who is common for most mount of skywatcher and "affiliates" like Celestron.

I my opinion the "Allview mount" is NOT WELL adapted for Panoramic usage ! (too heavy, HUGE base, off-set dimensions for NPP etc ...)

The rumor that Skywatcher will stop the Merlin mount production isn't correct, Celestron will discontinue the commercialisation is true ...

Those are "un-official" informations.