SCT/Mak on a good mount?

[AWR]

I've finally realised that we're not going to leave London any time soon and I need to change my scope to something more suitable (London skied are too yellow for galaxies and the like).  I'll probably put the big dob up for sale soon.

Anyway, I'm looking to get a 6" or 8" SCT/Mak on an electronic mount.  I'd be tempted by something like the Nexstar Evolution (but noisy?).  My wish list:

• Easy to align mount
• Easy to power
• Quiet(ish)
• Planets, moon, clusters
• Visual (maybe planetary imaging) - Alt Az OK

I'm happy to spend to meet these criteria.

Any advice gratefully received.

Andrew

[DaveS]

180 Mak-Cass on HEQ5?

[recceranger]

Agree with Dave. I have a MAK 150 on an HEQ5 as a portable set up. Well impressed but I imagine the 180 MAK would also sit comfortably on an HEQ5.

There was a guy on classified selling an HEQ5 plus PowerTank for around £400!

[DaveS]

It does. Been a while since I did visual but may have another go tomorrow when it's clear but I won't be able to image due to my patio being trashed.

[dweller25]

Consider the 7"! Intes Micro Mak - not too heavy, excellent optical and build quality and a superb cooling system that works.......

[alan potts]

I have a 180mm Mak and I had it on a HEQ5 pro, it was fine but it is much better and quiter on the EQ-AZ-6 and I believe a new 5 version is either out or due out. It will be a nice set-up.

I also don't know where "Maks are for doubles and Planets" came from but they do so much more than just that. Only real downside is cooldown so I keep it outside with all the others.. Dew can also be a pest but easy to remedy.

Alan

[damnut]

I have a 150mm mak and it is a great compromise. But as above it does like dew! and a dewshield & heater are a must.

[AWR]

I've got my 127 Mak which is good - I'm just looking for an upgrade in aperture.  I'm happy with the cool-down constraints but do want a mount which is easy to align.

I must admit that I am tempted by the Intes Micro scopes.  Are they worth the step up in price from a Skywatcher Mak / Celestron SCT?

Any mount improvements over the HEQ5?

Andrew

[Chris]

I can see why you're looking at the Evolution series as they have internal batteries, I would be a little worried about going too big in aperture with a single arm mount but that's probably just me.

This is what I opted for as my obsy setup and I've been really pleased with it, especially on the planets I've been really wowed by it.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/advanced-vx-goto/celestron-c8-edge-hd-vx-goto.html

I formally tried the standard C8 xlt but they are just not as sharp as the Edge HD variant in my opinion. I did find info to back up that the Edge is both sharper on and off axis compared to the standard C8 but I need to re-dig it out as it does come in handy to show people  

The AVX mount is great, I really like both it's performance and it's styling. They are a bit noisy to begin with but this is solved by programming the slew rate a touch slower, this took me a couple of minutes to do and it's almost twice as quiet now. 

If bought as a package it represents quite a saving, seperately the ota is 1200 and the mount getting on for 800, but the package is less than 1500! Still alot of money but it's a great combo and not too heavy either.

Worth considering if you ask me

[Highburymark]

Hi Andrew, I have the same yearnings to sell the London house and find a nice old farmhouse somewhere dark - like the outer Hebrides for example, but it might make the daily commute to Westminster a little tiring.

Can recommend the nexstar evo range, even though have barely had chance to use mine in what has been the cloudiest spring for years.

[AWR]

All food for thought.

There's nowhere here to build an observatory (nor much point - we're too close to Heathrow).  How easy is it to align an AVX out in the field?  The Evolution is tempting because of its battery and because it should be easier to set-up.  The down-side is the noise.  Is there a quieter EQ mount which is easy to align?

Thanks for all advice so far.

Andrew

[alan potts]

I have to admit wanting an Inter before I got the SW 180mm, they do cost a good deal more and I feel the build quality will be there. The 180 for me was let dowm by the poor visual back and bits in the box. I kept only the scope and finder and either gave the rest away or binned it. I believe the visual back has now been updated.

I have read the optically quality on the SW 180mm Pro is better than the standard Intes quality, which came as a bit of a shock, I do not if this is correct. For the optics to be noticeably better it will have to go some, I have some nice scopes and the optics on this are very good and it holds collimation for ages.

Mount, The EQ AZ 6 is very easy to set up as long as you can see the pole star, long time since I was in London I guess it hasn't got smaller. My thinking is the 5 version of mine will just be smaller and as such just as easy to align. The nice thing is I can unlock mine and move it to where ever and it still works with goto.

Alan

[kalasinman]

All food for thought.

There's nowhere here to build an observatory (nor much point - we're too close to Heathrow).  How easy is it to align an AVX out in the field?  The Evolution is tempting because of its battery and because it should be easier to set-up.  The down-side is the noise.  Is there a quieter EQ mount which is easy to align?

Thanks for all advice so far.

Andrew

The ZEQ25GT is extremely quiet, and the always visible illuminated Polar scope makes PA simple.

[dweller25]

I have to admit wanting an Inter before I got the SW 180mm, they do cost a good deal more and I feel the build quality will be there. The 180 for me was let dowm by the poor visual back and bits in the box. I kept only the scope and finder and either gave the rest away or binned it. I believe the visual back has now been updated.

I have read the optically quality on the SW 180mm Pro is better than the standard Intes quality, which came as a bit of a shock, I do not if this is correct. For the optics to be noticeably better it will have to go some, I have some nice scopes and the optics on this are very good and it holds collimation for ages.

Mount, The EQ AZ 6 is very easy to set up as long as you can see the pole star, long time since I was in London I guess it hasn't got smaller. My thinking is the 5 version of mine will just be smaller and as such just as easy to align. The nice thing is I can unlock mine and move it to where ever and it still works with goto.

Alan

I have had both the SW 180 Mak and the IM715 standard Mak - the SW180 was moved on as it came nowhere near the optical performance or cooling ability of the Intes.

[AWR]

The ZEQ25GT is extremely quiet, and the always visible illuminated Polar scope makes PA simple.

Interesting. 

An Intes Mak on an ioptron could be good!

Andrew