Portable Goto mount

[loki78]

Looking for a portable goto i can use which will also be suitable for my lunt solar scope when imaging. Obviously the EQ6pro is not exactly portable, but with that in mind, i don't want something that's close enough to that which i already have its pointless. Also, i dont want to spent the roof. So... Any suggestions? I have read what I can on the various iOptron cubes and I see wildly mixed reviews.

[blink138]

my brother got a celestron advanced gt (cg5?) from the US for under $800 australian delivered
it seems like a very capable mount with very good accuracy and a good payload capability
pat

[loki78]

The cheapest I could see the CG5 was about $650US with shipping $300-$400 :/

[pmrid]

If you're solar imaging through the Lunt, you won't need guiding capability or, for that matter, goto functionality. So, what is wrong with a simple AltAz mount with hand controls? If you're doing solar visually, simple hand controls will suffice also.

Even a stable camera tropod would work.

Peter

[andrew2008]

How did he manage this? I'd be all over it.

[loki78]

Yeah I was thinking that too

[loki78]

Mainly so it ends up being useful for other things and I'm not limiting myself by spending money on a mount that I can only or will only use when solar imaging (which won't be a huge chunk of my time)

[Poita]

I have a little cube if you want to borrow it to see what you think of them.

-P

[loki78]

Thanks for the kind offer Peter, I may at some point take you up on it. Can I ask which cube model do you have? Also, what have you typically used it with in the past and what sort of limitations have you found?

[loki78]

Or if anyone else can offer an answer to that question before i contemplate getting one?

[rolls05]

Astrotrack? Brothers got one .Dead accurate. Folds up about the size of your forearm. Holds about 15 kilo I believe. Sturdy tripod and good to go. Not cheap . Vixen polarie is a lot cheaper but nowhere near the weight Carrying ability. Just saying. Go the Breakers.