fintwin2

I was debating on doing that but I have a little extra money to maybe upgrade to an equatorial so I thought I would skip that step if I could. I may still get one in the future just to keep using the AZ SE mount when I want quick deployment and not wanting to do long exposures. My eventual goal is to do long exposure photography and I want a mount that can handle the 8 OTA, cameras and guide scope. Wanting to get the best bang for the buck that would allow me to do that as that means I could use that mount for 8 OTA deep space photography or even just a camera with a good lens if I don't plan on using the OTA that day.

That a cool setup! I haven't heard of the Vixen before. You think the EQ5 then should be more then capable so I wouldn't need to go to the EQ6 Pro for example? Have you heard anything about the CGE mount? There is a local store in my area selling an old version of the CGE mount I posted the link to for $999. I don't know the shape of the gears nor do I know what software its running, if it needs to be updated in some way or if that is possible. Plus, I think it would need an inverter to be used with a battery pack and it is quite a heavy guy. https://www.celestron.com/products/cge-pro-mount

I appreciate all the feedback. I do think the AZ is fine for visual but I have to keep the legs at the lowest setting as any touch or breeze makes things really shaky and doesnt stop for a while and is just a little annoying. Not a major issue for visual really but definitely an issue for any exposure longer then 10 seconds as they are hit and miss. As for my Thousand Oaks filter, I am using a film type as that is all I could get my hands on. Its been working fine so far and I did recently check it for any pinholes but didnt see any. I will definitely double check before trying to look at the eclipse which will be the next time I pull that out. Just really looking for a good Equatorial for when I want to set it up for a long night or to take some photos for fun. Just a life improvement want and a need for trying out long exposure. I would like to eventually add on a guide scope so the equatorial will have to account for the weight of the C8 OTA, any camera mounting and guide scope weight.

I am new to the Astronomy game but have always been an avid lover of space. I have an 8SE and the Alt AZ mount it comes with leaves much to be desired due to how unstable it is. I have been on the market looking around to get things really stable so I can try perhaps some planet photography but mainly I want to get rid of constant wobbling with the slightest touch or breeze. I would love to add the Hyperstar in the future to do more deep space photography just for fun so would love to be as accurate and smooth as possible. I have been seeing a lot about the Starwatcher EQ6 Pro but was wondering if anyone has suggestions. I can only find a single store in my city that does anything with Telescopes and they have an old GCE Mount for $999, originally like a 5K mount, but I think it is a little too robust and heavy, plus, I am needing to travel a bit to see any good skies. I think I would also need an inverter to use the GCE out and about whereas I think my current battery I am using with my Alt AZ mount will work with the Skywatcher EQ6 Pro. Any guidance or suggestions would be appreciated. As a bonus question, I have a white light filter (Thousand Oaks) for solar viewing but really would love to get into H Alpha as I would love to see prominences and such. I think it would be cool to get the zoom of the 8SE with an H Alpha but I am having trouble finding anything about it or if it is even possible/recommended. I am guessing its quite expensive and intensive to do as I am supposing it would need a filter or mirror adjustment due to looking at the sun as well as the H Alpha eye piece to do any sun viewing. If that isn't feasible, or just to costly/intensive, what would be a good Solar scope to see Prominences? Note, I do know that the 8SE isnt the best option for deep space photography and things like that, I just really want to mess with this thing to see what all I can get out of it besides good planet viewing.