|
The axiom for imaging weight limits is 3/4 the rated limit. Now that depends on what the manufacturer states - Chinese makes seem to list the weight limit as an absolute limit, whereas the Japanese manufacturer's apparently list the IMAGING weight as the limit. APPARENTLY (though having owned predominately Japanese mounts, I feel this is correct).
I use a Vixen SXD right now. It has a stated load rating at 15kg. I load it to 6.4kg, so no issues regardless. I can generally get 7 minute unguided with it quite easily (have not even tried it guided yet!). I ran a PEC run recently - 7 minutes - and using a 4mm reticle EP, did NOT touch the hand controller to make a correction even once. I find that impressive enough. Plus I can do as many alignment points as I like so I can refine pointing remarkably well - last time out, I ran 16 alignment points for just the N through SW sky.
I also ran a Vixen GPD2 for several years with a Sw Synscan GOTO kit. VERY accurate, trcked wonderfully well. THOROUGHLY recommend it for lighter rigs - it has a 10kg stated load. Unfortunately discontinued, so any would be old stock or second hand. VERY portable - one handed grab and go.
I have had both NEQ6's and HEQ5's. Each NEQ6 I had had issues - some major - 2 were second hand, 2 were new. Each HEQ5 I had were good (apart from 1 Dec motor failing after several months). I also had an AZ-EQ6, and apart from it's bulk (not just mass), I found it quite good - definitely a step above the NEQ6.
|