Az-eq6

[Slawomir]

Dear fellow space-explorers,

Just sharing good news; bought AZ-EQ6 today. Have been using HEQ5 with EQMOD for over two years and although the mount allowed for taking pretty good images, my gear grew to over 10kg, so time has come to get a stronger mount. For some time I was seriously considering G11, but in the end settled for cheaper AZ-EQ6.

So far everything works well, EQMOD works with the mount out of the box, no drivers nor any software issues. CdC works, the mount also slews quieter than my HEQ5 and with more 'confidence'. PHD also recognised the mount with no issues. In summary, so far so good.

Looking forward testing the mount tonight.

Thank you for reading :)

Slawomir

[Amaranthus]

It's a great mount. I've been extremely happy with mine, both for precise AP and for Alt-Az visual (with two telescopes attached).

[photosinferno]

Sounds like your very happy with your choice :)
Just curious as to what 'Influenced' youaway from the G11 to the AZ-EQ6 ?
As I too use EQ mod CDC etc.....

John

[Slawomir]

Hi John,

In short, I picked AZEQ6 not because it is a better mount than G11, but after reading several reviews it seemed that it will by sufficient for my needs (shooting with a 100mm refractor at 1.34 arcsec per pixel), and the fact that I could just connect it to my laptop and work right away with CdC without making any changes was also a nice bonus.

Also, got a brand new AZEQ6 for $2100, while new G11 currently costs over $5500...


P.S. I have noticed you also have HEQ5...honestly, I liked my HEQ5 but my AZEQ6 tracks MUCH smoother...

[traveller]

What I don't get is that an az eq6 retails $2700 and an orion atlas az eq (same mount retails for $2300. Is white paint that much more expensive? :shrug:
Bo

[The_bluester]

And wow, where did you pick up an AZEQ6 for $2100, I have not seen one under $2400 new in a long while.

[Slawomir]

I guess I was very lucky and also the gentleman who runs astronomy shop in Brissie was very kind to me as well! :)

[Chris85]

Bo, where have you seen it retail for 2.7k? Bit of a rip if you ask me. I picked mine up a few months ago for only $2100. Easily the best purchased I've made as well :-)

[The_bluester]

Just about everywhere I looked recently was around the $2700 mark, up from around $2100 a year or so ago, every time I looked over the last six months the price had jumped but time and money!

The only places I saw it significantly cheaper than that were far enough from me that freight would have eaten a lot of the difference. So I went with the Orion version for $2300 a couple of weeks ago as I could walk in off the street and buy it on the spot.

[photosinferno]

Thanks for the reply 😀
Yes the price difference is very high between the 2 , and like you the ability to just plug in Eqmod and keep going is tempting......me to the AZEQ6. Hummmm......is the G11 that much better I wonder. :question:

[traveller]

A search of all major retailers that advertise on the right hand side of IIS website will give you that answer...
I think the price hike is related the recent fall in the Aussie dollar.
Bo

[Chris85]

Bo, yes I guess it does look that way now. I guess when I purchased mine I got in just before the price hike!
Chris

[Slawomir]

Astro Pete's currently has them for $2199...

[The_bluester]

Yeah, looked at them, but by the time you freight two large and heavy boxes to the other end of the country the good price is not as good.