Anyone using the EQM-35 mount?

[gregbradley]

This seems like a fairly interesting lightweight mount. Could do double duty for lens or short refractor imaging and some visual.

Anyone used one? They are similar in price to a HEQ5 Pro but a lot lighter.

Greg.

[DeWynter]

I've got EQM-35 Pro (with GoTo) mount. Using it with either my Nikon D800 + lens or with SW BD 100ED. Works quite well and quite stable with light load.

No, it's not similar price as HEQ5 Pro. HEQ5 Pro is certainly from a different class, price range, as well as payload (6kg for EQM-35 vs 13.5kg HEQ5 Pro). EQM-35 has 10kg payload only in Alt-Az mode which itself is very tricky to get to. I gave up with trying to convert it to Alt-Az mode.

[gregbradley]

EQM 35 is a german equatorial mount I did not think it was Alt Az. Are you sure? The Dec unit detaches.

Cost of EQM-35 is $1199 and HEQ5 Pro is $1299.

I suppose it depends on your main use of the mount and any possible future use. Portability versus higher payload capacity.

Greg.

[Russj]

Greg, if you look around you can buy an EQ35 for $933 not sure what the diffence is between an EQM and an EQ but specs look similar, the EQ has the large RA gear.

[DeWynter]

SW position it as a combo GEM-AltAz mount. As specified on SW website: "Combination German Equatorial Mount, Alt-Az Mount and portable DSLR tracker." Converting to Alt-Az mode have some similarities with AZEQ6. I had a long discussion with Earl from SW Australia and with SW USA about that. Unfortunately our Chinese friends at Synta forgot to made some adjustments to the altitude section and therefore some metal work is required. Not much, but still needs to be done. I was just too lazy to do that. :D However I supplied all instructions and diagrams to them on what needs to be modified so hopefully they would make these changes in the next version.

I bought mine from AstroAnarchy for less than $1K.

Correct. I bought mine because I also want to do wide field astrophotography with just a camera and lens instead of a scope. Based on my current experience if someone needs AltAz mount then I'd recommend something else. But if you need a lightweight GEM for wide field asptophoto or light scope - this one is a good alternative.

[gregbradley]

Thanks Ilya.

Greg.