Can an EQ5 mount be converted into a motorised mount?

[murrak]

Hi all,

I'm relatively new to the game, and I'm starting to consider getting into the astro-photography area. I own a SW 200/1000 reflector with an EQ5 mount ( not motorised), and also have a Canon DSLR camera. I understand that I need a T-Ring to connect the 2 items together for taking a decent photo, and these are available for around 20 Euro (not too bad an investment to give it a try).

I will be starting off with shots of the Moon, so a motorised mount shouldn't be an issue yet, but if I progress into deep space I assume that a motorised mount becomes a necessity for long exposures.

Can anyone tell me if I can upgrade/retro-fit a motor onto an EQ5 mount that will give me decent shots? I have a limited budget at the moment but don't want to waste money buying something that won't give good results.

Any help would be appreciated,

Kieron

[Damo636]

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/dual-axis-dc-motor-drive-for-eq5.html

This should be fine for planetary/ lunar pics.

[starnut]

Here you go I think this is what you need

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/dual-axis-dc-motor-drive-for-eq5.html

[Cornelius Varley]

There a three options for converting a non-motorised EQ5

1. single axis (RA) drive http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p396_Skywatcher-Quartz-controlled-single-axis-tracking-motor-for-EQ5.html

2. Dual axis drive http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p399_Skywatcher-Dual-Axis-Stepper-Motor-Drive-for-EQ5.html or http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p434_Dual-axis-motor-drive-for-GP-EQ5-mounts-and-equivalent.html

3. Full goto http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p415_Skywatcher-SynScan-GoTo-upgrade-kit-for-GP---EQ-mounts.html.

The first option will only give you tracking in right ascension and has limited use for photography. The second option (dual axis drives) gives you more control of the mount and the third option gives you full goto control and allows the mount to be connected to a laptop for control or autoguiding.

You may find that the EQ5 may not be totally suitable for deep sky photography with the 200P, most DSO imagers prefer to keep the weight of the telescope plus photographic equipment to about half the total payload capacity of the mount.

[murrak]

Thanks very much for the prompt replies and links to the relevant items. The goto option that Cornelius shows is what I'd like to get (not considering the budget, lol), but I'm concerned about the weight to mount ratio that was mentioned. It's something I had not considered, but I've read up on it in the forum, and now I'm wondering if I'd be better off waiting for a bit and buying a stronger mount.

I'd hate to waste the money on an upgrade kit to find out it won't do what I'd like it to, as I'm sure everyone is. Perhaps a secondhand mount would be an option, but I'm not sure.