The new Skywatcher CQ350 PRO

[Paul M]

44 minutes ago, Nigella Bryant said:

 

 

That's just NUTS!! 🤣

But seriously, I love this mount. My trigger finger has hovered over one of these a few times over the last year. Unfortunately the number of nights I get to actually do something is so low these days, I just really can't justify the spend. FLO currently have a mount and tripod on offer as a package but, I just can't right now.

My NEQ6 Pro soldiers on like a good 'un, carrying my quite beastly 10" RC + accessories. But I'd like to retire it to the countryside, where it would only carry my 127 Mak. 

So I'm looking forward to your considered opinion of the CQ350's performance. If only to keep my lust alive!!!

 

 

[Nigella Bryant]

8 hours ago, Paul M said:

That's just NUTS!! 🤣

The NUTS are going this weekend 😆 

[Paul M]

5 hours ago, Nigella Bryant said:

The NUTS are going this weekend 😆 

Further to the broader subject of mounting...

We've currently got the MIL's fully intact French Bulldog while she's in hospital. He's not a good match with our dopey but neutered Labradoodle ladies.

We keep telling him that if he doesn't calm down, the nuts are going this weekend... 🙊 🤣

[Nigella Bryant]

More progress with raising the hight of the pillar. Are these rod's to long, lol 😆 

Got to fill up with concrete tomorrow. 

[Nigella Bryant]

Cut off the protruding bit's of rod on top.

[Nigella Bryant]

More progress, cemented the internal rod area and putting new flooring down today. Hopefully back up and running next week with the new mount. 

[saac]

There is a very complementary review of the CQ350 in this month's edition of BBC Sky at Night magazine. 

Jim

[dark knight]

Looking really good Nigella, really looking forward to hearing more of how you get on with this mount, in particular cable management and guiding performance. I may well end up with one of these too!

[Nigella Bryant]

Well, almost done, looking forward to using the mount for my triple scope solar RoR. Will probably do a different post regarding how the mount performs at a later stage. New flooring all put down. 

Edited January 20 by Nigella Bryant
Another pic added

[Nigella Bryant]

I'm happy to announce my zwo asi 178mm cameras work through the mount usb3 hub. Has to be powered via a 5v power adapter. Just having to order two shorter USB cables. 

[Nigella Bryant]

Used the new mount for some solar yesterday. It's an amazing mount. Tracking the sun even at f20 in HA and Cak. No drifting and responsive in both RA and Dec. Smooth buttery movements while balancing the scopes. I must say I'm impressed. 

[Craig Shriever]

Got mine a few weeks ago. So far really liking it! Tracks very well and I just got my camera and OAG setup. 

First image with only 1.5 hrs of data. I did not have a guide camera setup yet so short exposures only

30x120

30x60

 

[Nigella Bryant]

9 minutes ago, Craig Shriever said:

Got mine a few weeks ago. So far really liking it! Tracks very well and I just got my camera and OAG setup. 

First image with only 1.5 hrs of data. I did not have a guide camera setup yet so short exposures only

30x120

30x60

 

 

Brilliant Craig, they are brilliant even unguided. Great image of the whirlpool galaxy using the mount. 

Thanks for sharing. 

Nigella 

[Alan White]

As a visual observer, these mounts are outside my area of knowledge, but
I must say it looks like SW have upped the game with bigger and even smaller mounts.

Nice to see you Solar Imaging Nigella with the new mount.

So is your night mount the EQ8 SW still?

All of interest, but all very much outside of my knowledge area.

 

[Nigella Bryant]

27 minutes ago, Alan White said:

As a visual observer, these mounts are outside my area of knowledge, but
I must say it looks like SW have upped the game with bigger and even smaller mounts.

Nice to see you Solar Imaging Nigella with the new mount.

So is your night mount the EQ8 SW still?

All of interest, but all very much outside of my knowledge area.

 

Hiya Alan, yes my night time mount is an EQ8-R Pro. 

[JeremyS]

7 hours ago, Nigella Bryant said:

Hiya Alan, yes my night time mount is an EQ8-R Pro. 

I like the concept of night and day mounts, Nigella. All sounds very chic 🤣

[Nigella Bryant]

51 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

I like the concept of night and day mounts, Nigella. All sounds very chic 🤣

Thanks Jeremy,  Yeah, they're both permanent setups. In the pic is the dome and the RoR in the background. The dome is night's and the RoR day's, lol.

[Nigella Bryant]

All three scopes now on the Cq350. Taking them with a breeze, no sweat. 

[skybadger]

That's a nice setup. Clearly need some larger scopes. 

[Nigella Bryant]

3 hours ago, skybadger said:

That's a nice setup. Clearly need some larger scopes. 

I know, lol. The new mount could take it, I'm only running at 20kg and the mount can take 35kg, lol. Room for some serious upgrades in a few years time, lol. Although I'd have to extend the RoR too, lol.