Analysis Paralysis on first GEQ Mount

[-Joe_]

Hi,

Just getting started on imaging, but been zooming around on my nexstar 6SE for 6 months now.

 

bit of background: BSc in astrophysics, retired AI/software engineer, ex-photographer with experience in focus stacking for macro, had a cheapo refractor when 16 and used to drool over the SCT ads in the astronomy magazines - hence the nexstar 🐵

Ive been doing the research, read Make Every Photon Count, etc and come up with a game plan:

Ive got £5k sitting in a savings account as my Astro budget for the next 4 years. I plan to start with a GEQ, add the 6SE onto that, learn as much as I can, buy the next bit, rinse and repeat. I plan on controlling all this through kstars/ekos. Sound sensible?

I aim to end up with the mount, refractor, guidance, focussing, filters, ccd, guide camera (also use this for planetary). The 6SE will end up back on nexstar mount for playing with by eye. Obviously I’m prepared for this to change as I learn (a lot) more.

I cant seem to get past the first hurdle though. Ive settled down on a skywatcher mount. HEQ5, NEQ5, EQ6-R Pro... etc. But can’t figure which.. I reckon I’ve got £1500 to spend on the mount, should I just get the top one I can afford, or will this be overkill? Would an EQ5 at just over £500 be just as good for me for the next few years?

I want to buy new, because warranty, beginner, etc, but also because I’m in far west Wales, and can only see used ones in excess of 5 hrs away...

Now, I always remember the maxim: spend half the budget on the mount, but I guess it’s less with imaging given the extras needed?

 TL;DR: Which Sky-watcher Mount should I get?

 

thanks

joe

 

[upahill]

Im not sure about spending half the budget on the mount, but spending as much as you can afford on it would make sense. Its probably the most critical peice of equipment for imaging. You can get a good image with sub optimal scope on a great mount, but its a lot harder to get a good image with a great scope on a naf mount imo. Over spec now and it will last you a long while through your changing setup.

I have an EQ6 Pro, im glad I went to this instead of the EQ5's - much better capacity and a lot more solid than the EQ5 I had for visual. I can't speak for the EQ6-R but im sure someone will.  One nice feature with the EQ6-R is that its belt driven so no need to do a seperate mod on the mount :)

iOptron do a range of mounts that ive been reading good things about, maybe worth researching those too.

[vlaiv]

Yes indeed, have a look at CEM60 (non EC version) if you can budget for it.

[steppenwolf]

2 hours ago, -Joe_ said:

Would an EQ5 at just over £500 be just as good for me for the next few years?

No, don't do this!! Buy the best mount you can afford - for imaging, the mount is the single most important component - everything else hangs on it!

[-Joe_]

Looks like the eq6-r it is then...

Thanks!

 

(the CEM60 looks to be outside my budget, especially after adding a tripod)

 

[toxic]

why not go for the SW AZ EQ6 gt at £1,379 if you have 1500 to spend on a mount it is a superb mount.

[-Joe_]

I did consider the AZ EQ6, but stabilised on the EQ6-R.

Ordered from FLO and it arrived today...  what a beast. Feels solid, easy to assemble, hard to move...

Can't wait to get it into action... just the weather holding me up.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[daemon]

Congratulations on choosing the EQ6-R-Pro! Same choice as I made with a similar budget. I spent as much as I could considering I also needed other items.

I have had mine for 6 months now and I am very happy with it. I have had some pretty good results even just with the mount tracking and no guiding (I am still getting to grips with PHD2).

I also subsequently bought another mount (for a set-up I have in Spain) and I went with the HEQ-5. I have not used this as much yet but it seems okay. But not nearly as robust as the EQ6-R.

Enjoy! Clear skies!

Daemon

[-Joe_]

Thanks @daemon,

EQ DIR cable arrived today and spent a few hours geting it working with KStars/Ekos. But looking good for the first clear night.

The EQ Dir cable didnt like being plugged directly in my MacBookPro, but going through a USB3 Hub is just fine...

[steppenwolf]

On 12/06/2019 at 20:50, -Joe_ said:

I did consider the AZ EQ6, but stabilised on the EQ6-R.

Good choice, firm foundation - you are on a winner!