baileys2611
06-10-2012, 08:43 PM
Interesting journey so far: Started with an 8" Meade LX200R, then moved on to a C9.25 on an HEQ5 Pro, now I have an Ioptron IEQ45 and am calculating what to do next. :)
I'm setting up my obs in a shed, using insulshed + floating floor and a skillion hinged roof (whatever works really) and want to load up my home-made pier and next mount with about 30kg of scopes and photo equipment. I want to work on some deep space photography and enjoy visual at the same time, so I'm using a side by side with a William Optics GT-81 and my C9.25. Eventually I might go larger but am holding at that for now.
I've familiarised myself with a lot of software and have pulled the equipment (mounts, not scopes) apart, put them back together and have had some good experience with them :thumbsup:. Haven't taken a photo because it takes a too much time to set up, align correctly, then get started :(. By the time I'm set up I inevitably look around at the night's best sights and then need to pack up because I don't like the idea of leaving the equipment in the weather. Now I think I'm ready for a permanent set-up as that will give me more scope time, protect the equipment and want to delve into making my own screen savers and nice pictures, but I have to plan this well and wonder if anyone has some advice :question:.
I wanted to keep my side by side set-up because I want to be able to photograph at the same time as looking at something. I understand the two experiences are different, but to be able to use the permanent setup for both is my goal as far as the viewing experience goes. I live in a rural setting so light pollution is not a problem. The shed is just to cut down my setup time.
To cater for the weight goal (30kg and future-proof for the next few years), I need a new mount. I could sell the IEQ45 for something around $1 - $1.2K (I've bought some accessories that will make it good value) and the HEQ5 Pro for probably close to that also (again, have accessories that make the mount a good package) - then use that to contribute to something that will handle the weight.
My budget is about $4k, so with the sale of my IEQ45 and HEQ5 I could probably see a budget of about $6k. Losmandy Titan looks nice (I can get one from the states shipped here for that), but so does the yet to be released Skywatcher EQ8 - which will handle the weight but isn't due until likely March 2013. I can probably wait as realistically, I will work slowly getting the obs setup - slowly for me is probably 3 to 4 months.
Does anyone have any wisdom to offer here on what has worked well for them with the same goals in mind and for a similar budget? Feel free to tell me to stop being lazy, cope with the IEQ45 and swap scopes if I want a different experience on the night - but it does seem a waste not to use the side by side as it's a nifty piece of kit...
I'm setting up my obs in a shed, using insulshed + floating floor and a skillion hinged roof (whatever works really) and want to load up my home-made pier and next mount with about 30kg of scopes and photo equipment. I want to work on some deep space photography and enjoy visual at the same time, so I'm using a side by side with a William Optics GT-81 and my C9.25. Eventually I might go larger but am holding at that for now.
I've familiarised myself with a lot of software and have pulled the equipment (mounts, not scopes) apart, put them back together and have had some good experience with them :thumbsup:. Haven't taken a photo because it takes a too much time to set up, align correctly, then get started :(. By the time I'm set up I inevitably look around at the night's best sights and then need to pack up because I don't like the idea of leaving the equipment in the weather. Now I think I'm ready for a permanent set-up as that will give me more scope time, protect the equipment and want to delve into making my own screen savers and nice pictures, but I have to plan this well and wonder if anyone has some advice :question:.
I wanted to keep my side by side set-up because I want to be able to photograph at the same time as looking at something. I understand the two experiences are different, but to be able to use the permanent setup for both is my goal as far as the viewing experience goes. I live in a rural setting so light pollution is not a problem. The shed is just to cut down my setup time.
To cater for the weight goal (30kg and future-proof for the next few years), I need a new mount. I could sell the IEQ45 for something around $1 - $1.2K (I've bought some accessories that will make it good value) and the HEQ5 Pro for probably close to that also (again, have accessories that make the mount a good package) - then use that to contribute to something that will handle the weight.
My budget is about $4k, so with the sale of my IEQ45 and HEQ5 I could probably see a budget of about $6k. Losmandy Titan looks nice (I can get one from the states shipped here for that), but so does the yet to be released Skywatcher EQ8 - which will handle the weight but isn't due until likely March 2013. I can probably wait as realistically, I will work slowly getting the obs setup - slowly for me is probably 3 to 4 months.
Does anyone have any wisdom to offer here on what has worked well for them with the same goals in mind and for a similar budget? Feel free to tell me to stop being lazy, cope with the IEQ45 and swap scopes if I want a different experience on the night - but it does seem a waste not to use the side by side as it's a nifty piece of kit...