Recomendations...This or That or Something Else

[Kerry C.]

Recommendations…This or That or Something Else?
I currently have Celestrons Nexstar 8SE. I want to start taking longer exposures and for now I will continue to use the 8SE as my scope, but I will eventually get a refractor scope such as Williams Optics RedCat 51 or up to an 80mm type of scope.
Because I want to take longer exposures I need a better/different mount and still stay within my limited budget.

Option 1; Celestron Advanced VX Mount with Dual Saddle Plate &amp Polar Axis Finder. $800.00US
https://www.highpointscientific.com/cel ... 6iEALw_wcB
This would accommodate my current 8SE and I believe would allow me to expand with future scopes and tracking/guiding equipment, etc.

Option 2; Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro Pack $400.00US
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... DUEALw_wcB
I would need to purchase a tripod for this setup. I was thinking along the lines of the Manfrotto 055 Aluminum 3-Section Tripod @$180.00US.

This setup would not accommodate my 8SE but I would be able to use my existing camera and lenses as well as my future afore mentioned scope acquisitions. Because I have to set up each night for my viewing and capturing both options I think are equal unless one or the other is easier to polar align...I don't know the answer to that. The Sky-Watcher would be more portable for camping.

Option 3; Something Else?

For each one I know I will eventually want/need finder scopes and tracking/guiding equipment and all that goes with that.
So, This, That, or Something Else?
Thanks,
Kerry

[Star Dad]

My personal opinion - I think #1 would be far better than #2. I may be wrong but it looks to me that the Sky-Watcher is an alt/az with a wedge. Yes, you could use it, but if you can afford the VX mount, I think it would serve better in the long run. Neither scope you are talking about is heavy. But I'd be leery of putting your 8SE on the Sky-Watcher - for AP you'll be way past the overload weight for the mount. Remember- 50% of the weight is all a mount is good for for AP. I made the mistake and bought an underrated mount - not by much - but the mount just could not handle my scope for AP.

[yobbo89]

I vote for the first option, it would be more suitable for your 8" f10.

The scope weighs 12.5 lb

The vx mount capicty is 30 lb

The skywatcher adventure pro capacity is 11 lb

Adventure pro would be more suitable for small refractors most likely at the 400-500 mm fl range and dslr lenses

[JayTee]

Speaking from experience, the AVX mount will not perform well enough with your 8" SCT plus all the other AP gear you will need to put on it. You will wind up throwing out anywhere from 10 - 40% of the images you shoot due to elongated stars and or other anomalies caused by the weight of that OTA (+ AP gear) on that mount.

if you are set on using your SCT for imaging then you should seriously consider a mount whose payload capacity is in the 40 lb range.

Cheers,
JT

[Kerry C.]

Speaking from experience, the AVX mount will not perform well enough with your 8" SCT plus all the other AP gear you will need to put on it. You will wind up throwing out anywhere from 10 - 40% of the images you shoot due to elongated stars and or other anomalies caused by the weight of that OTA (+ AP gear) on that mount.

if you are set on using your SCT for imaging then you should seriously consider a mount whose payload capacity is in the 40 lb range.

Cheers,
JT

So, no, the 8" SCT will not be my primary scope when all is said and done, it is just what I have now to work with, plus my existing camera lenses. I will eventually (some time down the road) be acquiring the proper imaging scopes to which I was hoping that the 30lb weight limit on the AVX would support. However what I think I am finding out is that, as you said, I need a mount that has a
40-45lb capacity, which now doubles the price. Something like the Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro.
It is looking like my retirement is getting pushed out a little longer than I had hoped. There is always winning the lottery...right?
Kerry