Quote:
Originally Posted by Matty P
How does the Losmandy GM8 and the Skywatcher EQ6 Pro compare to each other?
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The GM8 will give you better tracking but not hold as much weight.
You probably don't want to put more than a 8" SCT on a GM8. But it will hold large refractors (WO FLT110 for example) so is still very flexible.
$2000 is a tall ask for something up to 12", I would say close to impossible (depending on how much perseverance you have).
I haven't used an EQ5/6 or anything like that, but I have a GM8.
I wouldn't want to use a scope for astrophotography that doesn't have PEC and PC interface to allow autoguiding. I'm guessing to get a GM8 under $4,000 you need to get it just with steppers, no Gemini unit included, which would (I think) greatly hamper your astrophotography success.
For that reason, for under $2000 I would be considering the cheaper chinese stuff like the EQ's more than the Losmandy type stuff.
I used to do all of my astrophotography on a old EQ2 comparative mount ($300 ish). It was wobbly as anything. I got good shots, but it took a lot of perserverance to get there, and the attitude of "use what you have to the max". So you can do stuff with cheaper mounts, and smaller mounts, and similarly you could probably overload the Losmandy GM8 somewhat, but it just makes it all harder.
I do'nt have enough experience with other mounts to really comment much more sorry.