Can it cope with it?

[Hairycamel]

I have an 8" Meade SCT currently on an EQ5 Pro Synscan, and I also hang a Nikon D3100 hanging off the business end. Thoughts of autoguiding have ocurred to me with a view to getting an ST-80 for the purpose. I already have a ADM mini dovetail on my SCT and some 100mm rings with long mounting screws, but my question is will my OTA, camera, guidscope and big Baader EP's / flip mirrors etc overload the poor old EQ5?

[Merlin66]

Maybe....

A HEQ5pro would be much better....you can only try it and see...

[Hairycamel]

Unfortunately funds dictate that I stick with the EQ5 at the moment so I just wondered if anyone was applying the same load to the same mount.

[brantuk]

So long as it's well balanced in both axes this will give you your best bet. But it's not ideal - a beefier mount is the preferred solution. You may want to get an extra counterweight for the balance bar as a cheap interim measure.

[Whippy]

I think trying long exposure imaging with that setup is asking for trouble, it's far too much weight on the mount. I've just been out with my EQ5 and my Skymax 180 and it's just about alright for visual and a bit of high framerate imaging.

Tony..

[Hairycamel]

Without the mount falling apart, how would I know if I was overtaxing it? Would the motors make nasty noises etc?

[Merlin66]

Could be.. but more likely an unstable feeling..more vibration than you'd like to see, poor tracking, etc would be the obvious things....

[jgs001]

I think the EQ5 is gonna struggle with the 8" SCT for imaging, the weight and, the long focal length add up to push the mount harder. If you're wanting to do some deep sky long exposure, then why not use the camera and lenses for some widefield ? My HEQ5 can deliver me 5 minute unguided exposures with a 50mm prime on my SLR.

[Hairycamel]

I will be trying just that when my remote shutter release arrives from Fleabay.

[jgs001]

... excellent, look forward to the results