I might also add that we have a stedicam system, the sort you see at the football on the side line or on a movie set etc.....
Now I have to tell you that balance is the biggest factor with this system and if balanced , quite large heavy cameras can be moved with this slightest effort.
If it is out of balance the smallest amount the effort required is multiplied by huge amounts.
My point is the mounts carrying capacity is in relationship to the direct force on the centre line of the rotating surfaces, and asumes that the weight is balanced with precision.
It the weight is not balanced, it is not the mount that is dealing with the load, but the gear train in the mounts drive system.....this is bad.
So to sum up, the size of the scope does not dictate the size of the mount, its total weight does.
The size of the OTA only effects the torque loading against the gears in say the wind or in an unbalanced situation.
So who was it that said "give me a lever long enough , and I can lift the earth" , well same thing appies here , I recon I could break an EQ6 with an eyepiece it it was out of balance far enough
cheers
