A few years ago I bought (second-hand) a Saxon Hyperion 1021EQ3 refractor - a very nice instrument; highly portable, and good for grab-and-go viewing. Its main problem is the mount and tripod, which are only
just stable. If I want a good view of, say, Saturn, then the lightest touch on the scope will cause enough of a wobble to ruin the view. I thus have to be careful to use the eyepiece without touching it.
The solution is of course a better mount and tripod, and it seems that the way up would be to an HEQ5 (or maybe EQ5). The trouble with this is: it's goto, which I don't want; and it's expensive: about $2000 new (well, expensive for me; I know that's cheap in astronomical terms), which seems overkill when the OTA is only worth about $400.
Or maybe I should keep the mount and get a stronger tripod ... ?
Note that I'm not interested in astrophotography (other than snapshots using my mobile phone and a phone holding thingie) - visual only.
What do you recommend? I know that a better mount and tripod will add weight, thus compromising the portability, but that's astronomy for you.
Thanks!
Alasdair
Here's the scope:
https://www.saxon.com.au/media/catal...u213101_5_.jpg