NEW Sky-Watcher CQ350 PRO Astronomy Mount

[FLO]

Sky-Watcher has released a new belt-driven equatorial astronomy mount with a centre-balanced design and a claimed 35kg payload for astrophotography, excluding counterweights. 

Sky-Watcher CQ350 PRO Astronomy Mount

This new mount is compatible with the EQ8 tripod but they have also released a new tripod. (Will add tripod to website soon). 

 

[FLO]

18 minutes ago, FLO said:

Will add tripod to website soon. 

 

Tripod 2.75" for Sky-Watcher CQ350 PRO

 

[FLO]

Sky-Watcher Polar Alignment Scope for CQ350 PRO

 

[FLO]

That's all for tonight. 

I don't think other UK retailers have added this new mount to their website yet but I am sure they will before end of tomorrow. We will then compare prices 😇 

Currently, all three items are available so can be dispatched in 2-4x working days. 

Steve 

[tomato]

Interesting, have the SW design department been thumbing through an Ioptron catalogue by any chance?😉

[Freddie]

I don’t get the cable routing. Looks like the inputs are all on the moving part of the RA axis.

[Owmuchonomy]

Hmmm.. aside from other features I'm not familiar with yet I can't accept that a 35kg payload constitutes a 'Pro' label.

[FLO]

This new mount has the same hole patterns as the EQ8 mount so can be used with an Astro Essentials pier mounting plate. 

Astro Essentials Pulsar Pier Adaptor for EQ8/CQ350/CEM120/MyT Mounts

 

[Stuart1971]

1 hour ago, Freddie said:

I don’t get the cable routing. Looks like the inputs are all on the moving part of the RA axis.

They are, it’s a poor copy of the ioptron CEM70…

[nfotis]

Quite intriguing.

The head weight is almost the same as the EQ6-R, but with quite higher payload.

It's a direct competitor for the iOptron CEM70, for sure. Everyone will start making notes and comparisons between them.

The implementation details will make or break this mount. As it's the first Skywatcher mount using this design, I wouldn't expect them to have it perfected at first try (it will be a pleasant surprise if it performs well and reliably)

N.F.

 

[FLO]

IOptron dominates the centre-balanced mount market and their CEM60 / CEM70 has been especially popular. So we are not surprised to see Sky-Watcher release this competing product.

The CQ350 PRO is Sky-Watcher's first centre-balanced mount. It will be interesting to watch its progress. 

Never a dull moment 🙂 

[nfotis]

It seems that the first announcements of this mount date back to spring 2019.

It sure took a long time to gestate, let's hope that the pandemic-induced delay will lead a well-engineered mount.

N.F.

 

[FLO]

For scale, here's one carrying a Sky-Watcher 10" Quattro f/4 Newtonian. 

 

 

[nfotis]

In SCT terms, I suppose that the maximum realistic size would be a C11 for astrophotography, correct?

What would be the suggested load factor for long exposure DSOs? Approximately 50% to 60%, I guess?

N.F.

 

[Sp@ce_d]

Been away from astro for a while.. catching up. This looks interesting.. the claimed imaging payload of 35kg is significant against a Cem70's recommended imaging payload of 2/3rds (~21kg) of the max 31.8kg!