2nd Mount for grab and go.

[Chris M48]

I have a Celestron CG5 goto mounted on a homemade pier close to a control centre in my shed.

I’m so happy with the setup that I don’t want to dismantle each time when playing away. I have  2 tripods available 1 from an ex HEQ5 and the other from the CG5. Ideally I’d like to get either an EQ5 or CG5 goto (head only) but like Hens teeth it seems. I really don’t need another tripod. I was very disappointed with the AVX that I had for a while so am reluctant to take that option.

It appears that both Sywatcher and Celestron want to force you to include a tripod and counter-weights with each sale despite this being half the weight and packaging.

why can’t I purchase a head only mount if that’s what I want?

Can we get back to the notion of customer first if it ever was so?

 

[Saturnalia]

Teleskop-Express list the EQ5 head-only for €261 (around £232) here: https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p424_Skywatcher-NEQ5-equatorial-mount-with-tripod---to-10kg.html

Alternatively, FLO sell the EQ5 Deluxe (with tripod) for £245 so you could sell the tripod on: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/skywatcher-eq5-deluxe.html

The only other way I can think of is to be patient and keep an eye on the second-hand listings here at SGL and on ABS and Feebay.

Good luck

 

[Cosmic Geoff]

Keep an eye on Astroboot. They have various Sky-watcher mount bits but not the ones you want ATM.