CG5 mount capacity

[jollyjack]

Have a C6S on a CG5, very happy so far. Am thinking of a bigger Newtonian, maybe 10". Thought about a Dob, but have a rock steady mount already, so qestion is, will the CG5 be able to accommodate a 10" comfortably? It's a rock steady 2" steel legged tripod with very little vibration on grass. Will the mount perform and balance properly with a 10" OTA onboard. Anyone with experience in this field?

[philsail1]

Hello "jollyjack!"

I have the motor driven 2" leg version of the CG5. It holds my "TAL100RS" Refractor OK.

I'll try my Skywatcher 8" Reflector (weighs about 20lbs) on it tonight and let you know how the mount handles it.

Regards,

philsail1

[russ]

My CG5 works really well with an 8" f5-6 newt. But i've seen the CG5 with the Celestron C10-N (10" f5 newt) and boy was it wobbly. I wouldn't be entirely happy with a heavy 10" Newt on a HEQ5.

Russ

[ottUp]

Sorry, no direct experience, but some data. I would say "maybe for visual" but "probably not for photo".

I had a CG5 that came with a 9.25" SCT. It was useable visually, but definitely on the limit of stability. Quite jiggly focusing at moderate powers, and long damping time if bumped. With a 4" refractor, the CG5 was rock-solid and excellent. (That's the 4" on the CG5 in the avatar photo to the left.) (The 9.25 is now comfortable and stable on a Losmandy G11.)

I would imagine your 10" Newtonian would be both as heavy as my 9.25" SCT was, and quite a bit longer, adding additional moment-arm stress to the mount, so I imagine it would be slightly less stable. Maybe still useable, but probably near the limits.

- Richard

[jollyjack]

Thanks for the replies. Bit of a quandry here. If I had a 10" Newt to mount on the CG5, I would probably like to try some imaging, otherwise a Dob would be more than adequate for visual, am reasonable at star hopping using my SCT so a large Dobsonian appeals. Sounds like an OTA that size will need a bigger Equatorial mount.

Now not sure whether to get a 10/12" Dob for visual, an 8" reflector for my existing mount or another complete OTA/10" mount!.... Good job I'm off to sea next year for a chance to save up some money!

[russ]

Having just switched to a large dob, i can safely say it's a far better visual experience than a large newt on an EQ. So much easier. And not just to setup but in use too. The large EQ Newt is an awkward beast.

Russ

[GazOC]

I used to have a 10" f5 Newt on a EQ6 (the HEQ5 would also take OKish) and I can safely say "never again". Nice views but it was far too awkward for me to use comfortably, I've now got a 8" f5 on a HEQ5 and thats the biggest Newt I find usuable when EQ mounted, anything bigger and I'd look at an EQ mounted SCT/ Big Dob combination.

[haitch]

I'm sure Steve at FLO will have comments as he sells 10 inchers on them...

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=C10N-GT&cat=25

(Albeit the goto version of the CG5)

[mahone1978]

I agree with those who are saying a 10" newt on EQ mount is a royal pain in the watsit! I had a refractor then thought i`d upgrade to a large reflector... What a joke it was! Forever turning the ota in the tube rings and contorting myself to move the thing around. Ive now gone back to a refractor and what a joy it is sitting on my lil camping stool to view near the zenith. Not perfect i admit but so much easier and whilst the AR6 doesn`t have the light grasp of my old Orion Optics 10" newt, the ease of use out ways this loss of photons! I would like a 12" dob though!

My tuppance worth,

Regards

John