Can anyone tell me what this mount is?

[RyHead]

Hi. I have recently joined the forum and have been reading absoutley loads of the posts. So much info, its great!! It has answered several questions I had and raised many more! 

Having said that, I now know AP is going to be a distant goal, so for now I'm keen to focus on visual astronomy. I have seen a Skywatcher 200p for sale on what looks like a SW eq5 mount. It has a motorized handset attached but the seller isnt sure of the make or model of the mount.

Can anyone tell me from the pictures what mount it actually is?

And, if you do recognise it, is adding a goto system to this set up possible?

 

Thank you.

[John]

That is a Skywatcher EQ5 fitted with a dual axis drive system. There is a GOTO system that can be fitted to it:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-mount-accessories/synscan-pro-goto-version-3-upgrade-kit-for-eq5.html

 

[Dr_Ju_ju]

It looks like an EQ5, and yes you could make it fully goto by replacing the handset (and maybe motors) with an AstroEQ device from Tom Carpenter (https://astroeq.co.uk/tutorials.php) its how I drive mine.... 

[RyHead]

1 minute ago, John said:

That is a Skywatcher EQ5 fitted with a dual axis drive system. There is a GOTO system that can be fitted to it:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-mount-accessories/synscan-pro-goto-version-3-upgrade-kit-for-eq5.html

 

Thank you very much John. The scope and mount are up for £450 locally, so looks like a decent price for the kit. Being able to add the goto is something I'd like to do but not straight away. Good to know i can do it though.

[RyHead]

2 minutes ago, Dr_Ju_ju said:

It looks like an EQ5, and yes you could make it fully goto by replacing the handset (and maybe motors) with an AstroEQ device from Tom Carpenter (https://astroeq.co.uk/tutorials.php) its how I drive mine.... 

Lovely thanks very much!

[Cosmic Geoff]

I don't know how keen you are on the 200p/ EQ5 combo, but I had this configuration for a while and I didn't like it.  The mount seemed adequate for visual use, but with the legs fully extended the eyepiece was too high at zenith (around 7ft!) and got into awkward positions, and with the legs retracted it would not see low objects over a 6ft fence.  I found it very difficult to find anything with it and felt it really needed a GoTo, but was not willing to spend that much on it. But the few DSO's I managed to find looked great through the 200P.

£450 does not seem cheap - there is a brand new 200p/EQ5 on Ebay for £519.

I have since disposed of the OTA (for a very low price 😦), and have upgraded the EQ5 with a Synscan kit at a cost of around £300 for another project, but have not tried it outdoors yet for various reasons.

[John]

On 04/05/2020 at 14:41, RyHead said:

Thank you very much John. The scope and mount are up for £450 locally, so looks like a decent price for the kit. Being able to add the goto is something I'd like to do but not straight away. Good to know i can do it though.

I tend to agree with Cosmic Geoff here, that is quite expensive. Used gear goes for around 60%of the new cost so I would be trying to get that for about £100 less than that.

 

[RyHead]

12 hours ago, Cosmic Geoff said:

I don't know how keen you are on the 200p/ EQ5 combo, but I had this configuration for a while and I didn't like it.  The mount seemed adequate for visual use, but with the legs fully extended the eyepiece was too high at zenith (around 7ft!) and got into awkward positions, and with the legs retracted it would not see low objects over a 6ft fence.  I found it very difficult to find anything with it and felt it really needed a GoTo, but was not willing to spend that much on it. But the few DSO's I managed to find looked great through the 200P.

£450 does not seem cheap - there is a brand new 200p/EQ5 on Ebay for £519.

I have since disposed of the OTA (for a very low price 😦), and have upgraded the EQ5 with a Synscan kit at a cost of around £300 for another project, but have not tried it outdoors yet for various reasons.

Thanks for the info. I have been looking into it since reading your reply and see what you mean cost wise. The go to upgrade is £300 so that’s £750 total. I noticed on FLO’a site there is the SW150P-DS with either the new EQM 35 pro mount for £784 only £34 more. Or the same scope and EQ5 pro for £778. Slightly smaller scope so easier to handle than the 200.

Probably worth saving a bit more and buying brand new. But more peace of mind over a FB purchase. 
Out of interest apart from the weight difference what’s the general view on the 2 mounts? Is there much between them?