Quote:
Originally Posted by cadman342001
Thanks for all the advice so far.
Regarding EQ3/5/6 mounts, how much do they go for used? I'm pretty funds limited, the $599 for the Star Adventurer kit is about the max.
So can I get that kinda deal on a used EQ5 ? (not including a car starter battery pack to power it)
$300 for the Polemaster (which I know I will need either way !!!)
What worries me about the Star Adventurer is the fact that you have to set up the Polar Alignment and THEN mount the camera / lens which may mess it up. I think this is also true of the iOptron and the Vixen Polarie (?) but not the AstroTrac
Not a problem using an EQ mount I presume.
Andy
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EQ3, 5, and 6 mounts are all very different from each other, both in size/weight and function/ability. (there's also the HEQ5 which is smaller than, but similar to, an EQ6)
An EQ5 would be fine for what you want to do but it's not as portable as a Star Adventurer.
I think the issue you mention with the Star Adventurer only applies if you're going to use the polar scope to align. If you're going to get a Polemaster you shouldn't need to worry about that as I think the Polemaster can be mounted at the same time as your camera (if you use the right angle dovetail plate thing which comes with the Astro package - which you should as it's
much better than just attaching a head directly to the mount)
Personally I've never used the polar scope and I generally drift align if I'm going to do anything serious with it and I've never had a problem detaching my guide scope, which I use to drift align, and attaching my scope+camera or camera+lens.
If you can get a cheap deal on an EQ5 then that's probably better, especially if it's got the goto controller as that has it's own alignment and polar alignment software I think. Just know that the EQ5 is bigger and heavier and you'll need 12v to power it (unlike the SA which is powered by either 4AAs or a 5v usb pack)
Accuracy wise I don't think the EQ5 is any more accurate than the SA when properly polar aligned, at least in my experience, but then the EQ5 does have tracking on both RA and DEC whereas the SA tracks only on RA.
Also the SA can be used as a pan head for timelapses too, bonus!