Takahashi EM-200 Temma 2 Equatorial Mount

Full review

The Takahashi EM-200 stands as one of the most respected German equatorial mounts ever produced for serious amateur and semi-professional astronomers. Engineered in Japan by Takahashi, a company renowned for its precision optics and mechanical craftsmanship, the EM-200 has earned a reputation among astrophotographers and visual observers alike for its exceptional tracking accuracy and mechanical rigidity. Built to support telescopes in the mid-range aperture class, this mount is often paired with refractors and compact reflectors used for deep-sky imaging, where even the smallest tracking error can ruin a long exposure. Its worm gear system is manufactured to extremely tight tolerances, resulting in smooth, consistent sidereal tracking that minimizes the need for aggressive autoguiding corrections.

Constructed from high-grade cast aluminum alloy, the EM-200 balances a relatively compact and portable footprint with a payload capacity that rivals much larger mounts, comfortably supporting several kilograms of imaging equipment including cameras, guide scopes, and filter wheels without introducing flexure or vibration. The polar axis and declination axis are fitted with precision bearings that reduce backlash to near-negligible levels, a feature especially prized by long-exposure astrophotographers who require pinpoint stars across the entire imaging session. Takahashi's attention to thermal stability and metal fatigue resistance means the mount performs consistently whether used in the humid conditions of a coastal observatory or the dry cold of a high-altitude dark-sky site. The mount's polar scope, integrated into the right ascension axis, allows for fast and accurate polar alignment, a critical step for any successful astrophotography session.

Compatible with a range of Takahashi's own control systems as well as third-party GoTo computerized controllers, the EM-200 can be configured for both manual guided observation and fully automated deep-sky surveys. Its tripod and pier interface options allow astronomers to adapt the mount to permanent observatory installations or portable field setups, making it a versatile choice for those who travel to remote observing locations. Over the decades since its introduction, the EM-200 has become something of a benchmark mount within the astrophotography community, frequently recommended for imagers transitioning from beginner equipment to a mount capable of supporting long-term, high-precision astronomical work. Its enduring popularity reflects Takahashi's broader philosophy of building instruments meant to last a lifetime of observing.