Celestron Astro-FI 6-inch vs Nexstar SLT 6 inch - which one?

[ProfHippo]

Hi! I'd be really grateful for advice comparing these two GoTo scopes:

Celestron Astro-FI 6 inch vs Nexstar SLT 6 inch. 

I've read a number of reviews for these online, and compared the specs. I'm not fussed about any price difference - and from shopping around, the price difference is minimal from some suppliers. 

The main differences that I can see are: 

- Eyepiece: 25mm + 9mm with AstroFi; 25mm and 10mm with Nexstar SLT (but over time I will have more eyepieces. While 9mm gives more mag, I know seeing and shakiness is more important than mere mag power so this is a minor difference, right?)

- Control:  Nexstar SLT has no Wifi connectivity to the smartphone unless you pay £100 more,; instead it has a handset. Astro-FI has wifi connectivity and relies on an app on your phone/tablet. 

- Weight: 
a) OTA weight: SLT is 3.4-3.6kg;  Astro-FI is 4.54kg?? 
b) Total kit weight: SLT is 8.2kg on one site, unknown on manufacturer website; AstroFI is 6.71kg? 
Overall, diff websites say diff things about weight of these scopes, so it's hard for me to know whose OTA + mount/tripod is heavier than the other for transport purposes. Different stats all seem to contradict each other. Tripod weight is 2.3kg for both; one review said SLT 6 inch could be shaky on the tripod?         

Otherwise both have F10, same basic focal ratio, same alumimium OTA, same OTA length, both have Starbright XLT coatings.

My queries are around comparing these two so I can pick one: 

1) Smartphone v handset: I don't mind which I use, I'll go with whatever is best. What's the advantage to a handset - is it less buggy than wifi + phone? 
If all else is same, no handset = less weight to carry given that I would be carrying a smartphone + battery back for the smartphone anyway when I go out?

2) Does anyone know which of these is more stable on the mount?

3)  Weight-wise/transportation-wise, which is better? SLT has a handset whereas other one doesn't. SLT has ?lighter OTA though I'm sceptical about all these different weights quoted everywhere. Kit weight I'm not sure which is lighter overall. Does anyone know of the relative weights of both scopes/tripods for transportation purposes?

I should say I'm aware of the pro's and con's of GOTO scopes vs non-GOTOs, and want to go down a GOTO scope route here. I have previously used non-GOTO reflectors and binos so have had some experience in amateur astronomy. I have no desire to do astrophotography. 

Thank you for your help

[Cosmic Geoff]

To be frank, I would not buy either.  Both are mounted on lightweight mounts and I would prefer something more substantial. I have the SLT mount and thought it on the wobbly side with a 127mm Mak, so got a more robust equatorial mount and then built a wood tripod for the SLT mount head.  I have stuck with handsets rather than have the complication of wifi.  With the wifi model, you are in effect providing a wifi connected handset instead of the manufacturer.   I once worked in a lab where wifi would not work on our laptops because of the electrrical interference.

There has been discussion about those OTAs and their weight, but they are probably identical.  The same OTA can be had with various other mounts of a more substantial nature, at more substantial prices, or as just the OTA.  You may have noticed that one of the budget outfits costs the same as the OTA (= a free wobbly mount).

You will probably have to upgrade the 9/10mm eyepiece regardless. Kit eyepieces are notoriously poor - they are included to get you started but the manufacturer wants to keep the kit price down.

 

[ProfHippo]

Thanks Geoff, that's very helpful. 

I'm not keen on a mount being shakey or wobbly, so I'm now thinking the Celestron 6SE may be better as it's much more widespread in its use without having people complaining about the mount. 

I'm not fussed about wifi vs handset - other than that, is the Celestron 6SE "too old" or likely to become unsupported in terms of future accessories or firmware updates etc, or is it reasonable to buy a 6SE in 2020? I realize it's been out for over a decade, I think? Just want to make sure I don't buy something that is really on its way out? 

 

 

[Cosmic Geoff]

I can't answer your question, but there have been cases of people taking a 40 year old C8 off its patently obsolete fork mount and mounting it on a new GoTo mount.