will this mount fit my scope

[daniel-lloydw]

As some will know I have a sky watcher 127 super trac

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/maksutov/skywatcher-skymax-127-supatrak.html

but I was unlucky not to get a tripod and mount with it. I know some one selling a EQ-7 mount with a telescope for about £50

telescope is not so great but I could sell for about £40 so im just after the mount really.

but will the mount fit my scope?

[Cornelius Varley]

Do you have a link to the EQ7 mount ? Not all manufacturers use the same numbers for their mounts so it gets a bit confusing without knowing the mount.

Peter

[daniel-lloydw]

no all he can tell me is that its a eq7 mount on a optus reflector 76mm 700m

[Cornelius Varley]

If the mount looks like this one http://www.hioptic.c...-mounts/EQ7.htm or this one http://www.ebay.co.u...=item51a0f8e294 I would say no. The Skymax needs at least an EQ3-2 / CG4 mount to stop it from being unstable.

Peter

[John]

The mount from that scope is the equivalent of a Skywatcher EQ1 at best - not suitable for your 127mm maksutov.

An EQ2 would be just about OK at a push but the EQ3-2 much better. There are lower cost alt-azimuth alternatives for just visual use - an AZ-3 would cope with the scope.

You can buy the Supertrak mounts for less than £100 on the used market. Even they are a bit marginal for the 127mm mak, in my opinion - very spindly aluminum legs !.

[daniel-lloydw]

he sent me this....

[daniel-lloydw]

when i asked for a shot of it i was not expecting that lol

[Cornelius Varley]

It's the equivalent of the Skywatcher EQ2,

Peter

[astrofox]

I agree with Peter. CG4 or EQ3-2 at least. But before you choose think about the future, are you likely to buy something bigger is so consider a CG5/ EQ5 they are much easier to convert to Goto if you choose that road.

[John]

Thats an EQ1 class mount (I've got one at the moment so I can compare it directly). Really not up to much, to be honest.

[daniel-lloydw]

Im trying to keep costs low at the moment..... so just looking for something that will hold it steady so I can start star gazing and upgrade later.

[daniel-lloydw]

I just cant spend £140 on a mount right now, I have a decorator in.... a new sofa to buy and just paid £200 on school uniform for the kids. hence looking for something cheap just to get me going

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Even the little Lunt 35mm I have is wobbly on a mount like that (EQ1 or EQ2), so I run it off my Great Polaris (similar to EQ5, over-mounting is not a problem, under-mounting is). Go for a better EQ mount, or for an alt-az if you want to keep it cheap.

[daniel-lloydw]

ok then... the message seems clear. get a good mount or I will be sorry.

wheres a good place to find a nice mount at affordable prices and when I look for a mount whats the key words I should use. Every time I google mount and tripod I get the scope as well...

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Try http://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/ for secondhand stuff. Once you have 50 posts, you can access the Classifieds here.

[brantuk]

Look for a second hand manual EQ5 or CG5 mount - depending on age/condition it should be around the £100 mark if you can stretch to that

[daniel-lloydw]

ok now im lost..... The mount I have been offered is listed as a EQ-7 and the higher the number the better right??? but you guys are saying its a EQ 1 or maybe 2, So i am a wee bit baffeled

[John]

The EQ numbers 1, 2 etc, etc only apply to Skywatcher mounts. With that brand the higher the number the heavier duty the mount is.

Any other brand can use any name they like for a mount - EQ-25, EQ-1000 for example. It does not mean anything "official". The photo you posted of the mount that is an "EQ-7" is virtually identical to the Skywatcher EQ-1 - it's probably a copy of it in fact. If you compare, say, a Skywatcher EQ5 to the mount in your photo it would be much, much more substantial in every respect.

It is confusing though I agree.

[daniel-lloydw]

WAIT !!! so if i go out and spend £100s on a EQ 5 I could end up with a pile of junk that's as much use a solar powered telescope.... o im so confused

[John]

WAIT !!! so if i go out and spend £100s on a EQ 5 I could end up with a pile of junk that's as much use a solar powered telescope.... o im so confused

Not at all - just make sure it's a Skywatcher EQ5. The seller should know what they are selling. Post a link here if you have any doubts and I'm sure folks will let you know if it's a decent mount.

A low capacity mount looks very different from the heavier duty versions.