Hi Kevin,
I have enjoyed my QHY9 mono.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/247194...in/photostream
I've had no time to use it for more than 1 year but
I will get back to it when time allows.
Yes - it's a bit of a learning curve for taking pictures
as well as processing but in my honest opinion
if you're going to be up all night taking pictures
then you might as well get a mono & take the best data possible.
A 10" f4 on a wobbly HEQ5 Pro is a boy on a man's errand.
Even with my modified EQ6 pro
https://www.flickr.com/photos/247194...in/photostream
the image has to be stopped about 1
in every 10 to 20 frames & started again due to the guide graph
going more than 1 pixel out.
I need more time to get some great pictures & the mono
will really give me the best possible results.
Maybe my best pic is here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/247194...in/photostream
with my 10" f4 ONTC mirror carbon fiber Telescope with motorised focuser from TS in Germany.
https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop...oducts_id/5647
A 10" f4 is an ideal size for taking pics as long as it's collimated correctly
which took me a while to learn how to do.
So - you need a better mount & a mono camera
& you'll be amazed at what your results will be.
You may be able to pick it all up second hand which
could save you a lot of money.
cheers
Allan