can I up upgrade my EQ 5 to take a heavier load

[oldpink]

as the title says, or do I need to to go to a HEQ 5 or 6
I think I'll be over the 9kg limit with a DSLR on the scope

[ronin]

If you are imaging then you really need the HEQ5, the EQ5 is rated at max 9Kg but for imaging most stick to between 1/2 and 2/3 of that. Would mean 5-6Kg for imaging on the EQ5.

With that then the HEQ5 would be a good improvemnt, or should be a good improvement.

[nightfisher]

If using the 200p for AP you would be better with an HEQ5 or NEQ6 but how about getting a smaller scope for AP

[GuillermoBarrancos]

If you think about long exposure DSO imaging with the 200p Newt, then even a HEQ5 Pro will struggle tho. Especially with our nice average European "windy" weather. :-/

Large newts are wind sails.

PS. That´s why I myself bit the bullet and ordered the NEQ6 Pro today. So I am not limited in scope choice down the road.

[oldpink]

thanks for the replys
I really wanted a better mount to start with but with a £1000 budget that included a camera for planets the HEQ was just too much
so I went for the EQ5 to get me started (It has that) figuring I could sell it and upgrade at a later date as the Synscan was compatable

A smaller scope may be an option I hadn't thought of, just for AP

[jonathan]

For less than the price of an NEQ6 Pro (and the weight) you could certainly get a decent small refractor, might still prefer to have the HEQ5 Pro for its upgraded gears and motors though.

[oldpink]

looking into it more I feel I may need to upgrade to a 6 (wondering if the Mrs notices the difference)
as I really need a glide scope as well (the 9kg load isn't going to cut it)
looks like I may have to upgrade and sell my EQ5

on a side note I hate my finder scope (the mount in particular) I'd love to upgrade from the standard Skywatcher to a better mount and one able to use my ASI120 as an autoglide

any thoughts on that

may as well [removed word] the bank manager right off in one go

[oldpink]

does anyone know where you can buy the NEQ6 mount without the synscan
I'm assuming I can use my current unit on the NEQ6 mount

[m37]

I got the HEQ5 Syntrek which was £110 less than the full Synscan version. I use my existing handset with the mount and sold the Syntrek on the forum here.

I have not seen the Skywatcher mounts with no controller at all though.

cheers

[oldpink]

yeah seems you can't buy the mount on its own, you need to buy the Synscan or syntrek with it
may just go for the syntrek and then sell my EQ5 with it and recover some of the cost