Skywatcher EQ3 or EQ5 for Lunt LS60

[pragmatist]

Don't know if the EQ5 would be overkill. It would be used for imaging purposes with the sun also.

Thanks,

Matt

[ronin]

EQ5 will not be overkill, many will suggest the HEQ5.

If that is the simple choice then forget the 3-2, it does not compare for stability.

The EQ5 is a nicely sized mount.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

For SOLAR imaging the EQ3-2 may well be good enough, but the EQ5 certainly is. I have the similar Vixen Great Polaris mount, and it holds both my SolarMax-II 60mm and the 80mm APM with Solar Spectrum setup well enough for really high res imaging.  It is even fine for lunar and planetary imaging with a C8. An HEQ5 is complete overkill for solar (it is better for DSOs). I am considering a lightweight EQ mount for travel purposes, and the EQ3-2 is certainly on the list of options.

[pragmatist]

Cheers fellas, will have a think?

[brantuk]

I'd forget the eq3-2 for anything other than lighter starter scopes. The lunt60 with double stack and camera gear is a considerable weight demanding a minimum eq5 mount imho.

[ollypenrice]

Not convinced. Fast frame imaging does not require much from the mount. Exposure times in fast frame cameras are in fractions of a second so this is not deep sky imaging. Deep sky imaging requires 'in sub' tracking but fast frame does not. 'Tracking' is done afterwards, if you like, in the stacking/aligning software.

Olly

[Steve Ward]

EQ3-2 carries my Tal100rs + DSLR easily so will handle the Lunt with no problems .

No Solar tracking rate but just requires a tweak to recentre every now and again .

[Gazabone]

Personally I would say go for the heaviest one you can handle reasonably but I have to say I do like the Eq3-2 with RA motor. I did a pleasing photo of Jupiter a few weeks ago using a C8 (yes you did read that right) on a Eq3-2. Admittedly there wasn't a breath of wind but I'm really pleased with the shot.

[ollypenrice]

While using very accurately aligned DS mounts for solar imaging I find that the difference between solar and sidereal rates is insignificant. This won't be a worry.

Olly

[Zakalwe]

While using very accurately aligned DS mounts for solar imaging I find that the difference between solar and sidereal rates is insignificant. This won't be a worry.

Olly

I think that its about 3%?

I wouldn't underestimate the mount for solar work. The Lunt is a heavy little beast and as soon as you start adding barlow lenses you will soon get fed up of drift.  if you start doing animations then you will curse a wobbly mount that can't keep the solar feature in question centred.

[ollypenrice]

Good point about animations. I haven't tried that.

Olly

[pragmatist]

It seems like the EQ5 is the way to go then. I had the AZ EQ6 GT when I had my C11 and it was a damn beast of a mount. I hope the 5 is considerably lighter.

[Alien 13]

Both the EQ3 and EQ5 are now available with the enhanced motor kits which allow for sidereal/lunar and solar tracking, I would say that the EQ5 is quite a bit heavier than the EQ3 which might be an issue if cloud dodging. http://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/enhanced-dual-axis-dc-motor-drive-for-eq3-2.html

Alan