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Old 25-04-2014, 10:29 AM
glend (Glen)
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glend is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Lake Macquarie
Posts: 7,121
Mount Recommendation?

I am in the market for a Goto mount for my 127mm iStar refractor build project. The OTA (tube frame, objective, and Moonlight focuser) looks like coming in at a weight of around 8.5kg and I still need to allow for the 2" diagonal, EPs, and the finderscope. Bearing in mind the folk lore that you should not run a mount at more that 2/3s of its rated capacity, I suppose I need at least 12-14kg of payload weight handling. This is for primarily visual use now, but I do plan on getting into imaging in the future. I think I will need PEC. The obvious local supplier choices are the HEQ5 (at around $1200) or maybe the NEQ6, which both seen to have the capacity I will need (or more). I like the iOptron ZE25GT which is available now at $1399 but seems to be abit payload limited for this scope. I have an iOptron Smartstar G goto mount that I like (now that I have mod'ed the Alt bearing and clutch) so I am familiar with the Goto Nova system. I would like a mount that I can drive using Sky Safari Plus or Pro, which I currently use for my big dob pushto system.
Also as the 127mm iStar has a fl of 1500mm I want a mount that can control (and damp) a long scope (which while well balanced) does have some of the heavy bits on either end.

Ideally it should be as light as possible as I go out to dark sites often, and don't have an observatory, etc.

Any advice? Other mounts to consider?
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