New Mount advice

[Dinglem]

Looking to buy a new mount to replace my EQ5 with goto upgrade, I've started to get interested in astrophography and realise my mount just isn't upto the task in hand. My lovely wife has said I'm allowed to spend some money to treat myself. Reading all the advice on here and "Make every photon count" I realise I need to get the best mount possible within my budget, I am torn between the AZ EQ6-GT (which gets good reviews) and the EQ6-R Pro, but as it's new I've not seen many reviews of it yet. The long term plan is to buy a good quality imaging scope and probably an obsy, so would then use the 200p and eq5 for visual so wouldn't really use the AZ mode of the AZ EQ6. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[LightBucket]

EQ6-R pro,  it's pretty much the same as the much proven EQ6 pro, with power socket mod and belt drive upgrade....that's where my money would go without a doubt.... 

[gnomus]

6 minutes ago, LightBucket said:

EQ6-R pro,  it's pretty much the same as the much proven EQ6 pro, with power socket mod and belt drive upgrade....that's where my money would go without a doubt.... 

I am certainly happy with mine.  The next level up is big bucks.

[steppenwolf]

I have no direct experience of the new EQ6-R Pro but I do have experience of the AZ EQ-GT and without doubt it is a good step up from the original NEQ6 with more refined engineering. Although you would perhaps be paying for extra features (the AZ components), this would be my preferred choice but do bear in mind that I haven't been near an EQ6-R yet!!

[TareqPhoto]

This one no doubt

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/skywatcher-az-eq6-mount.html

 

"The Sky-Watcher AZ-EQ6GT is an exciting evolutionary development of the hugely successful NEQ6 PRO." nuf well said.

[Dinglem]

Thanks all, will have to wait until they are back in stock, by then hopefully will have made my mind up and the prices may have dropped

[laudropb]

I had the chance to use an AZ EQ-6 recently and was very impressed with it. Alignment was simple and the Go To was spot on. I only do visual, but I also saw it being used for AP and it worked very well.

[Dinglem]

Looks like I will be waiting a while been told end of June is likely to be earliest possible date of availability, not to worry wouldn't get to play with it anyway due to short nights and lack of clear nights. Unless I see something of similar quality/price.

[Waldemar]

Thought about an iOPtron iEQ45Pro?

I can highly recommend it

[Dinglem]

On 01/06/2017 at 18:28, Waldemar said:

Thought about an iOPtron iEQ45Pro?

I can highly recommend it

Thanks Waldemar, it looks ideal on paper, weight to carrying capacity is very impresive, apart from the price which is a bit more than I was hoping tp spend.

[spillage]

Are you using eqdirect and a guide scope with you mount. It might be worth buying a 130pds and guide scope as you may find this gives your existing mount a new lease of life. I had the eq5 pro but sold it before using eqdirect and now realise this would have really helped me get more out of it.

[iapa]

I have Celestron CGEM-DX with similar c 50 lb visual payloadand swear at by it.

The tripod alone weighs 45 lb vs the 15 lb of the AZ-EQ6GT and the head is also a bit heavier, which gives a better (more rigid) base for imaging.

An f5 reflector with 80mm f5 refractor, cameras, filter wheel are well within 55% of payload of either mount.

I've not had 1st hand experience of the Skywatcher but from what I have seen it's adjustment bolts are not as good, but it does get a polarscope. 

EQMod seems to be a deciding factor for many people deciding between Skywatcher or Celestron, as does budget.

I was looking for the most stable thing I could get for my budget at the time.

You need to be very careful comparing as not all vendor sites provide like for like details. E.G the AZ-EQ6GT has a max visual payload of 25Kg (55lb) as does the NEQ6. The EQ6-Pro spec is 22Kg more payload for imaging

EDIT. I image rather than observe. Also, the CGEM-DX has recently been superseded by the CGX. Which is £200 more that the CGEM-DX was and an imaging payload of 55 lbs. Lighter tripod tho, but wider spread which may improve stability?

 

 

 

[MattJenko]

I have the AzEQ6 and think it is very capable, but in your situation, I would be tempted to go EQ6-Pro and get the specialist version, as opposed to one with features you won't use (although having 2 scopes in AzMode for visual is awesome  ). You wouldn't be making a mistake either way.

[Dinglem]

Bit the bullet yesterday and placed order for EQ6-R Pro with FLO, arrived today at about 11.00, what great service. Took about 30 minutes to put together it's a lot more substantial than my old eq5 pro and weighs quite a bit more, it will give me a workout moving it around. Just need some clear night to play with it.