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Mount question
- Razz
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Mount question
https://agenaastro.com/ioptron-skyhunte ... sheqa.html
Mounts: Skywatcher AZ-GTe, EQ6-R Pro
EPs: Baader Q turret with 32mm Classic Plossl and 18mm, 10mm, 6mm Classic Orthos and Q Turret barlow 2.25x
Baader Hyperion Mark IV 8-24mm zoom, Hyperion zoom barlow 2.25x
Filters: Celestron Variable Polarizing, SvBony F9131A UHC, Baader O III 10nm, Classic Lumicon O III, homemade solar filter with Baader OD 5.0 film, Optolong UV/IR cut
Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i, ASI 224 mc
Guiding: iOptron iGuider 30mm scope/camera
Binoculars: Celestron Upclose G2 10x50
Bill
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Re: Mount question
If you don't want to do the upgrade your mount periodically game, then you need to start with a mount that costs more than $1,500.
∞ 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 EQ6R, 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 ∞ AP Gear: ZWO EAF and mini EFW and the Optolong L-eXteme filter
∞ 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."
- Razz
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Re: Mount question
Mounts: Skywatcher AZ-GTe, EQ6-R Pro
EPs: Baader Q turret with 32mm Classic Plossl and 18mm, 10mm, 6mm Classic Orthos and Q Turret barlow 2.25x
Baader Hyperion Mark IV 8-24mm zoom, Hyperion zoom barlow 2.25x
Filters: Celestron Variable Polarizing, SvBony F9131A UHC, Baader O III 10nm, Classic Lumicon O III, homemade solar filter with Baader OD 5.0 film, Optolong UV/IR cut
Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i, ASI 224 mc
Guiding: iOptron iGuider 30mm scope/camera
Binoculars: Celestron Upclose G2 10x50
Bill
- JayTee
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Re: Mount question
Do your research, all mounts priced over $1500 are high-quality mounts that won't need an upgrade for many years to come. The HEQ 5, the iOptron iEQ 30, and several others come to mind!
Reference this post and the attached spreadsheet.
viewtopic.php?t=1041
∞ 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 EQ6R, 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 ∞ AP Gear: ZWO EAF and mini EFW and the Optolong L-eXteme filter
∞ 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."
- Lady Fraktor
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Re: Mount question
Most people who are doing serious
For something that will grow with you mounts of the
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- Juno16
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Re: Mount question
I agree with JT and Gabrielle completely.
I started with an AVX and it did very well for me (to start with). Most mounts in the price range of the AVX are mass produced in China and there is quite a bit of "difference" between copies. In other words, it's the luck of the draw. Some perform much better than others out of the box.
I moved to a Skywatcher HEQ5-Pro. Mi HEQ5 was not much better performing out of the box than the AVX, but I have found that the HEQ5 is much easier to work on (improve) if need be.
There are many things that you can do to "improve" an HEQ5 that you cannot do with the AVX. You can easily bypass the hand controller and use software like EQMOD or GreenSwampServer to control the mount in the background with a direct cable from the pc to the mount.
Adjusting the mount (such as the worm gears) seems to be much easier with the HEQ5. The Rowan belt kit can be added DIY for a small price and will very much improve the mounts tracking/guiding by eliminating gear backlash.
I would have gone with the
I know nothing about the Ioptron mounts, but have heard very good things about them.
If you are planning for a mount for
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), ZWO OAG, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
- Razz
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Re: Mount question
Mounts: Skywatcher AZ-GTe, EQ6-R Pro
EPs: Baader Q turret with 32mm Classic Plossl and 18mm, 10mm, 6mm Classic Orthos and Q Turret barlow 2.25x
Baader Hyperion Mark IV 8-24mm zoom, Hyperion zoom barlow 2.25x
Filters: Celestron Variable Polarizing, SvBony F9131A UHC, Baader O III 10nm, Classic Lumicon O III, homemade solar filter with Baader OD 5.0 film, Optolong UV/IR cut
Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i, ASI 224 mc
Guiding: iOptron iGuider 30mm scope/camera
Binoculars: Celestron Upclose G2 10x50
Bill
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Re: Mount question
Take the max load rating of the mount and reduce that by 50% and that is the best load handling capacity for
However, there are certain aspects of a mount that may or may not make it suitable for
You can cover most objects with a Sky-Watcher Evostar 76 which is reasonably priced and reasonably well-corrected. Once reduced to 0.8 and flattened has a lovely field of view, depending on sensor size. The point being, a scope of that size with a guide scope, camera, filter wheels, and auto focuser will still sit comfortably on an HEQ5 Pro or the equivalent. If you want to image with a 200mm Newtonian and all the paraphernalia, or a 130mm frac and all the paraphernalia then you'll need an EQ6R pro or an older EQ6.
For most amateur APers an EQ6R or the equivalent is more than enough, and for many, an HEQ5 pro is enough. I use an HEQ5 Pro and on days with little wind, and well-balanced, I have no problem with my 200mm astrograph and all the gear. Although, I prefer my Evostar 76 as it's easy to transport, set up and image with.
The HEQ5 means that I'm lugging around about 20kg in weight for the mount, tripod and counterweight. Then add all the gear. As the mount gets bigger it also gets heavier, which is a major factor if you have to travel with your gear. For me, the HEQ5 meets my needs and has done for a while now. I can throw it, and all my gear, in the car, travel, set up and break down without too much trouble.
Upgrading? Well, to be honest, if you think you are going to upgrade in the future, definitely plan for it now. You really don't want to buy three mounts. If you really think you can go that deep into the rabbit hole then plan for it and buy an EQ6R pro or equivalent and don't look back. But, that's more money!
If you'll be satisfied with imaging with a lighter rig then an HEQ5 or equivalent will suffice. Typically the HEQ5 pro and its equivalents are about the minimum requirements for long-term and long-exposure imaging.
I've been using my HEQ5 pro for about 6 years now in all manner of places. I've modified it with a belt drive upgrade and guiding at 1 to 1 I never have a problem, even with a fairly dodgy polar alignment.
Hope that helps
Telescopes: Sky-Watcher ED72II, Sky-Watcher PDS130, Sky-Explorer SN F4 200mm astrograph and Vixen F11.1 90mm
Cameras: Nikon D5300 modded, Canon Kiss X8i modded, Cooled Canon kiss X4 modded, Atik 16IC and 383 colour, ASI120MC, QHY5LII
Mount: Sky-Explorer HEQ 5 belt driven
- Juno16
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Re: Mount question
I’ve heard you mention guiding at 1 to 1 before.
Do you mean image scale to total rms error?
Thanks buddy
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), ZWO OAG, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
- Razz
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Re: Mount question
Mounts: Skywatcher AZ-GTe, EQ6-R Pro
EPs: Baader Q turret with 32mm Classic Plossl and 18mm, 10mm, 6mm Classic Orthos and Q Turret barlow 2.25x
Baader Hyperion Mark IV 8-24mm zoom, Hyperion zoom barlow 2.25x
Filters: Celestron Variable Polarizing, SvBony F9131A UHC, Baader O III 10nm, Classic Lumicon O III, homemade solar filter with Baader OD 5.0 film, Optolong UV/IR cut
Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i, ASI 224 mc
Guiding: iOptron iGuider 30mm scope/camera
Binoculars: Celestron Upclose G2 10x50
Bill
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