[Shiraz (Ray)]

another EQ8 result FWIW.

Has been a bit too windy to get a stable PE curve, but the RA was keeping quite tidily within a +- 2 arc sec band between gusts. The curve (such as it was) showed one region/cycle with relatively high rate of change, but it guided out effectively at 1sec update rates. Lots of backlash in both axes, but there are workarounds for that (and I don't feel happy trying to adjust it when Skywatcher provides no advice on how to do it - in fact the SW attitude seems to be "we sold it, you bought it - and that's that"). However, the thing feels unbreakable - hardly notices a 22kg load.

Overall, it has exceptional PE and guiding performance, excellent load capability but much more backlash than my EQ6. Worth the money? - no doubt. Could it be better? - with a bit of work it could be up there with the best, but it isn't there yet. Even so, it can be made to work very well as is.

attached a single sub (stretched a bit) showing typical guiding in average/good seeing with 0.91 arcsec sampling.