ST80 on an EQ1

[Black Knight]

I've been toying with the idea of buying an ST80 on an EQ1 as per First Light Optics - Skywatcher Startravel 80 (EQ1). The idea is it would double as both a travel scope and a guidescope (at the moment I'm using my ED80 as a guidescope .... bit of a waste really ).

I know that when you buy an ST80 OTA it comes with a standard Vixen dovetail. Does anyone know if the ST80 on the EQ1 uses a standard Vixen dovetail? Or some other horrible concoction?!

[Earl]

The ST80 with the EQ 1 does not have a dovetail, the tube rings bolt onto the mount head.

[Carbon Brush]

You can of course buy a cheap bit of dovetail bar and bolt the rings to this. I have various bits of the cheap SnS stuff with pre drilled holes for playing with different scopes, cameras, etc.

[Black Knight]

Yeah, that's a possibility. Do you know if a normal dovetail would fit an EQ1?

[JamesF]

It doesn't have saddle, just the mount head with fittings for the rings, so it won't take a dovetail directly.

James

[Black Knight]

Gah! I had a sneaky suspicion that was going to be the case. Ah well, back to the drawing board! . Does an EQ3 use a normal dovetail?

[Black Knight]

Gah! I had a sneaky suspicion that was going to be the case. Ah well, back to the drawing board! . Does an EQ3 use a normal dovetail?

(sorry Earl, I missed your earlier post, I was using my phone )

[JamesF]

Depends on how old it is, I think. Mine doesn't, so I bought one and made up a mounting plate for it.

James

[garethmob]

my eq3 had a saddle for a dovetail to be fitted and it was fairly old, it was a black one

[Black Knight]

Ok guys, thanks very much, you've been a great help