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If your intentions are to use a 132mm refractor and possibly a VC200L for imaging, I would go straight for the G11S if you can afford it.. The 132mm APO will be fine on an EQ6, although you're stretching its capabilities for smooth stable tracking when you load up the VC200L and try to image at 1900mm F/L. Yes, it can be done. No, it won't be easy...
As has been said in this thread already... Your mount is THE - SINGLE - MOST - IMPORTANT - PURCHASE in any astro photography setup...
Lets say you buy the best optics on the planet, with the best most sensitive camera availiable, and you plonk it on a cheapo mount that can not track accurately for more than 2 minutes.. No matter how good your optics and camera are, your mount will destroy all of the gears potential with tracking errors.
If on the other hand, you buy the best mount you can afford, and put a cheap 2nd hand 80mm ED doublet on it with a modified Canon 350D. Guaranteed, you'll get nice images, round stars, long exposures, no tracking errors.
Simple as that. You get what you pay for.. A $3800 G11 is better than a $2000 EQ6 Pro.
G11 Pro's:
Better construction.
More accurate gears.
More teeth on the RA gear, equaling better tracking.
Easier polar adjustment knobs.
the bubble level on the mount is accurate and works.
elevation scale is laser ingraved into the polar axis of the mount and is quite accurate.
the tripod would hold the G11 + a school bus. its very sturdy.
Instrument capacity rating is somewhat conservative.
Cons :
Gemini GOTO takes some getting used to.
Its more expensive than an EQ6.
Its heavy to cart around to star parties.
If you kick the tripod leg while you're imaging, your image will be fine, but your toe will be broken.
EQ6 Pros:
Easy to setup.
Value for money.
very user friendly hand controller.
Cons:
quality of tracking is inconsistant from unit to unit.. some are fantastic out of the box, some are not.
Peak to peak PE is not great. PEC can help but only to a point.
vixen style dovetails are not the most sturdy option available.
the 2" tripod seems big when you first see it. but its not.
bubble level in the head is grossly inaccurate.
elevation scale on the head is inaccurate.
polarscope out of the box required collimation (in my unit..)
Instrument weight capacity is somewhat exadurated.
Yes - You can take great images on an EQ6 Pro mount. I'm not saying you cant. Many people do.
No - You cant expect the world from a budget mount.
Yes - its your money, Spend it however you like.
Yes - If you buy the EQ6 now, You will want to buy the G11 eventually. Save yourself the effort, and the money.. and buy the best mount you can first time around.
I hope this has helped.
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