knobby Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Hi I've a Celestron 4se and tried upgrading the ota to a SW 127, well it worked a bit but not too well.Its a bit too much for the mount and to balance it it is too far back to allow any more than about 75 degrees alt.What would be my best bet?sell the complete 4se to part fund an EQ3 goto or hang on a bit and save for an EQ5 goto?is the 3 man enough?I might... Dabble in piccies, might!cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan46 Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 You know the rules knobby. Always get the biggest you can afford and handle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobby Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 That's how I got in this mess... Wanted that extra inch Suppose I should clarify a bit, I have a 10" manual dob, the 4se was a quick small scope to take camping last year but I kind of liked it and use it quite a bit. I like playing with the goto! But felt the 127 would be ... Just that bit better, which it is ! Hut its a hit wobbly now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I use the 127 Mak for planetary imaging on an aging EQ3-2 with aftermarket motors. It's a bit wobbly when you move the focuser, but otherwise not too bad. For visual use I'm sure it would be ok. For imaging a motorised focuser really helps.James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobby Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 Cheers James, I still want to try keeping it as a grab n go so the EQ3 would he my preference, just wanted some help deciding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkster Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 How about a mount from a 6SE/8SE? That should be man enough Don't recall the last time I saw one for sale though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobby Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 Good idea but as you say... Don't see them for sale,any other ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bingo Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Hi Knobby, i have the SW 127 on the EQ3 and find its great for planetary and luna stuff but it's quite susceptible to vibrations. not sure if it's the mount or the focuser on the scope or a combination of the pair. mine is push and point at the moment, maybe i'll put the RA and DEC motors on later this year and see if it makes a difference hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobby Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 CheersOn the Skywatcher site it has steel tubular tripod legs, but on FLO Rother etc. it shows box ally legs, are they old pictures or is the SW site wrong ?any ideas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I think the standard EQ3-2 has box section aluminium legs and the Pro GOTO has the steel tube legs. Not 100% sure though.James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobby Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 Cheers James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BargeGazer Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 I have my 127 Mak on An EQ3-2 Pro GoTo and it is a great little General Purpose scope. My scope came with Aluminium legs.Wobble is not really a problem as long as you are light fingered on the focus control. The very high winds as we get in the South of France can be a bit of a problem but the the air is so torn up that viewing is poor anyway!David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobby Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 Thanks David...Does the EQ3 need polar aligning or can it just be pointed north and wedged up to the correct latitude?thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stem1989 Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 I use the 127 Mak for planetary imaging on an aging EQ3-2 with aftermarket motors. It's a bit wobbly when you move the focuser, but otherwise not too bad. For visual use I'm sure it would be ok. For imaging a motorised focuser really helps.JamesI agree, I use a 127 on an EQ3-2 it does the job but could be better, if you can get an eq5 I would do. The motorised focuser is a life saver with the mak 127 unless you want your image to swing side to side for seconds on end >.< good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobby Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 so, in summary then ...The 127 SW does work on a Celestron 4se mount, but not too well !I cant justify the expense of an EQ5 but if anyone can tell me if the EQ3 needs to be polar aligned or works with just a 2 or 3 star alignment, then I guess i'll be saving for an EQ3 !(but only if it has steel tubular legs)cheers all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bingo Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Hi again Knobby, if your gonna be doing A P you'll probably be better off saving for the EQ5 or even a HEQ5 with the motors,rule of thumb seems to be the bigger and more solid the mount the better when it comes to the photography side of things .If your set on getting the EQ3 then try to find one with synscan already on it, this would be the EQ3 pro at around £390.And thats the aluminium box section mount.Another mod that seems popular for the mac 127 is the motor on the focuser, i'm sure iv'e seen a review on here or the astronomy shed site showing how it's done.Hope this helps you make your mind up mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobby Posted January 12, 2013 Author Share Posted January 12, 2013 Cheers BingoWhen I mentioned photography I just meant slapping the DSLR on the mount unguided for 10 to 20 seconds aimed at Orion etc. No fancy stuff.Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toilandtrouble123 Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Why don't you look for an EQ5 second hand or ex-display? That's what I've done, since I know at some point I am going to try taking shots of nebulae, (most particularly the Orion nebula as it's my favourite), and so an EQ5 will be my best friend nat xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobby Posted January 12, 2013 Author Share Posted January 12, 2013 Cheers Nat... It started as a bung in a bag camping scope project and its spiralling horribly out of control Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toilandtrouble123 Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Haha, aperture fever's a b*tch on the bank account, hence this time around, I've scoured astrobuysell, ebay, amazon and preloved for the best bargain I could find. Just roll on payday Nat xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobby Posted January 12, 2013 Author Share Posted January 12, 2013 Hahaha, Nat... Its not aperture fever, I've got a 10" dob for that, I've got the slightly less common side effect known as 'mount fever' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toilandtrouble123 Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 LOL! Not heard that one before. Try and bag a EQ5 or an HEQ5 second hand, even if it comes with a scope, and sell the tube on as a separate item maybe??Nat xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marki Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Good idea but as you say... Don't see them for sale,any other ideas?FLO do the se go-to mounthttp://www.firstlightoptics.com/celestron-mounts/celestron-nexstar-se-mount-tripod.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobby Posted January 12, 2013 Author Share Posted January 12, 2013 Appreciate the answer Marki but £478 for a alt az when an eq5 syncscan is £525 I don't think so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan46 Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 you've just missed one on astrobuy sell but they do come up fairly regularly about the 250 mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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