New and weird IOptron ZEQ25 pic (+ AZ iEQ45)

[E621Keith]

Just saw some pictures of the IOptron ZEQ25 in this Chinese forum. It's an EQ mount, but clearly not a clone of anything. In fact it's debatable whether you can still call this contraption a German equatorial mount. When Altair told me there is going to be a smaller iEQ mount at Astrofest, I just assumed it would be a down scaled iEQ30. I didn't expect the designers would start with a blank sheet and come up with something this weird.

http://bbs.astron.ac...-88682-1-1.html

Aside from that there are also some picture of an AZ-iEQ45 here

http://bbs.astron.ac...-88681-1-1.html

[ronin]

Looks like you would need a few weights to compensate for the scope as the lengths do not seem to give any advantage to the counter weights with regards to length for leverage.

Pretty obvious where the polar scope goes and even look half accessable.

Will be interesting to see how it is received.

As much interested in the tie up between WO and iOptron.

[Dunkster]

Wow, that makes for a very light host for a C8 wonder how much one of those will cost?

[Daniel-K]

......

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Weird. I wonder if the scope is not more inclined to foul the mount or tripod in this configuration.

[Jessun]

Why the 'wide' design? Get that dec assembly back where it belongs, and get the OTA real close to the centre of gravity!

/Jesper

[badgerchap]

That looks good for visual - to me it looks like it would be more intuitive than a normal GEM. Might struggle to balance if any kind of camera was to be attached though. I'd be interested to have a tinker with on of these.

[E621Keith]

I am more worried about using this at higher latitude. Having the dec head mounted at the lower side of RA will reduce base clearance and maximum elevation.

I wonder if they went for this configuration to stop the Dec motor fouling the RA motor

Apparently someone in the US has already got their hand on one and posted a video review on youtube

http://www.cloudynig.../Number/5705838

I'm surprise how easy the dec spins around, but the 2-3 deg wobble when it's locked worries me. They did not use a conventional clutch to lock down the axis.

[Jessun]

Paul is a really great guy, and for sure a keen iOptron user. Some of his mods are brilliant btw!

/Jesper