Good Mount for Viewing

Discuss deep sky objects.
Post Reply
User avatar
Baskevo
Orion Spur Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 829
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2019 8:47 am
4
Location: Orange County, California
Status:
Offline

TSS Photo of the Day

Good Mount for Viewing

#1

Post by Baskevo »


Hi Guys! Long time no chat!

I just moved, and my new spot is completely covered, so I do not have any room for AP. However! I am planning a trip with my family and an RV up to the redwoods in about a month or so, and I'm hoping to get some shots along the way. Also, sometime before then, I plan to make a trip up to the dark site to try and get some shots for the first time.

I also have a second telescope that I would like to get a mount for, so my family can look through it while I take pictures. It is an explore scientific 80mm FCD100 triplet refractor.

My question is: Does anyone have a recommendation for a good, inexpensive, go-to mount to use for viewing with this telescope? Also, I'm using some inexpensive celestron eye pieces--will those be good enough for viewing as well (They came in the Celestron accessory kit with the nice box)? Any tips and tricks are welcome, too!

Thanks y'all :)
-James W.

Telescope: Explore Scientific 80mm FCD100 Triplet APO Refractor
Mount: EQ6-R Pro
Cameras: ZWO ASI1600mm Pro (Cooled) | Canon DSLR EOS T7i
Auto-guiding: ZWO ASI120mm-Mini + Astromania 50mm Guidescope

Filters: ZWO 31mm Ha/Oiii/Sii 7nm + LRGB | Orion 2" Skyglow Filter
Accessories: Explore Scientific 2" Field Flattener, ZWO EFW 8 Position
Software: APT, SharpCap Pro, PHD2, CPWI | PixInsight, DeepSkyStacker, Photoshop

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/gp/186194203@N06/18B629
User avatar
JayTee United States of America
Universal Ambassador
Articles: 2
Offline
Posts: 5619
Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2019 3:23 am
4
Location: Idaho, USA
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: Good Mount for Viewing

#2

Post by JayTee »


Hi James,

By inexpensive, how inexpensive? What's your budget?

JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."

Image
User avatar
Baskevo
Orion Spur Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 829
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2019 8:47 am
4
Location: Orange County, California
Status:
Offline

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: Good Mount for Viewing

#3

Post by Baskevo »


JayTee wrote: Wed Jun 17, 2020 12:16 am Hi James,

By inexpensive, how inexpensive? What's your budget?

JT
Hey JT! I was hoping for around $300-400, but no more expensive than the AVX. I don't need anything fancy for AP. I just want the go-to function and something that will support the weight of my ES80 FCD100.

P.S. I hope your new gear came and is treating you well!
-James W.

Telescope: Explore Scientific 80mm FCD100 Triplet APO Refractor
Mount: EQ6-R Pro
Cameras: ZWO ASI1600mm Pro (Cooled) | Canon DSLR EOS T7i
Auto-guiding: ZWO ASI120mm-Mini + Astromania 50mm Guidescope

Filters: ZWO 31mm Ha/Oiii/Sii 7nm + LRGB | Orion 2" Skyglow Filter
Accessories: Explore Scientific 2" Field Flattener, ZWO EFW 8 Position
Software: APT, SharpCap Pro, PHD2, CPWI | PixInsight, DeepSkyStacker, Photoshop

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/gp/186194203@N06/18B629
User avatar
Lady Fraktor Slovakia
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 9863
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
4
Location: Slovakia
Status:
Offline

Re: Good Mount for Viewing

#4

Post by Lady Fraktor »


The Skywatcher EQ-3 Pro would be a good minimal goto mount for your telescope.

Depending on how wide a FOV you want, a set of decent Plossl would be a step up from the Celestron kit eyepieces.
The GSO are a low price for good quality. I prefer the Vixen offerings though for a step up in quality.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
Image
User avatar
Baskevo
Orion Spur Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 829
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2019 8:47 am
4
Location: Orange County, California
Status:
Offline

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: Good Mount for Viewing

#5

Post by Baskevo »


Lady Fraktor wrote: Wed Jun 17, 2020 9:41 am The Skywatcher EQ-3 Pro would be a good minimal goto mount for your telescope.

Depending on how wide a FOV you want, a set of decent Plossl would be a step up from the Celestron kit eyepieces.
The GSO are a low price for good quality. I prefer the Vixen offerings though for a step up in quality.
Thanks Lady! Is there another name for the name? I can't seem to find it.

How about the iOptron SmartEQ Pro+ Equatorial Mount?
-James W.

Telescope: Explore Scientific 80mm FCD100 Triplet APO Refractor
Mount: EQ6-R Pro
Cameras: ZWO ASI1600mm Pro (Cooled) | Canon DSLR EOS T7i
Auto-guiding: ZWO ASI120mm-Mini + Astromania 50mm Guidescope

Filters: ZWO 31mm Ha/Oiii/Sii 7nm + LRGB | Orion 2" Skyglow Filter
Accessories: Explore Scientific 2" Field Flattener, ZWO EFW 8 Position
Software: APT, SharpCap Pro, PHD2, CPWI | PixInsight, DeepSkyStacker, Photoshop

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/gp/186194203@N06/18B629
User avatar
Lady Fraktor Slovakia
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 9863
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
4
Location: Slovakia
Status:
Offline

Re: Good Mount for Viewing

#6

Post by Lady Fraktor »


http://skywatcher.com/product/eq3-synscan/
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywat ... -goto.html

It seems it has been replaced by the EQM-35 which is twice the price. I am not sure if it is worth that increase thought.

I have not used the iOptron mount so cannot give any meaningful feedback on it.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
Image
Post Reply

Create an account or sign in to join the discussion

You need to be a member in order to post a reply

Create an account

Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute

Register

Sign in

Return to “Deep sky”