Posts: 16
Threads: 7
Joined: Dec 2013
I tested the new Synta/Sky-Watcher All-View mount for SkyNews magazine in Canada and the review is now available on line at http://www.skynews.ca/review-allview-mount/ This mount is the much more solid replacement for the Synta mount that sold as the Orion TeleTrack or Merlin.
In brief - The All-View mount can serve as an inexpensive two-axis motion controller for time lapse work, and as a solid GoTo mount for telescopes. While it certainly has its limitations for time-lapse shooting (no speed ramping and no 3-point moves) it's a good way to get into 2-axis motion control shots for not a lot of money. Even if you graduate to something fancier later on, like an eMotimo, you'll still have a very good GoTo mount for astronomy to use yourself or to sell to amateur astronomers. However, I've talked to Synta engineers and they have noted my comments on the need for ramping and multi-point moves so I would not be surprised to see new features added via firmware upgrades in the future. They seem very interested in serving the time-lapse market.
In brief - The All-View mount can serve as an inexpensive two-axis motion controller for time lapse work, and as a solid GoTo mount for telescopes. While it certainly has its limitations for time-lapse shooting (no speed ramping and no 3-point moves) it's a good way to get into 2-axis motion control shots for not a lot of money. Even if you graduate to something fancier later on, like an eMotimo, you'll still have a very good GoTo mount for astronomy to use yourself or to sell to amateur astronomers. However, I've talked to Synta engineers and they have noted my comments on the need for ramping and multi-point moves so I would not be surprised to see new features added via firmware upgrades in the future. They seem very interested in serving the time-lapse market.