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Old 11-05-2010, 07:05 AM
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[1ponders] (Paul)
Retired, damn no pension

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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Obi Obi, Qld
Posts: 18,778
sorry to disappoint you Joel, but I have the same mount and it is not stable enough for astrophotography with that size scope. Maybe webcam imaging of the moon and planets but that is about it. Mine is flat out getting a half decent image with a 70mm scope and small guidescope. It can be done with it but it is a challenge to say the least. If you are wanting to start in AP then the absolute minimum I would suggest, and this is the absolute minimum for shooting through a telescope, and that would be an EQ5. HEQ5 would be better. Especially if you are considering a scope of that size.

The issues with this EQ3 mount is lack of stability in the legs, the periodic error in the RA can be considerable, the little RA motors (I have one as well) do not always track at a constant rate (depends on a number of things) to start with the big issues. Also you would really need a motor on the Dec as well, but with patience you could get away with the standard slow motion controls.

As a visual mount its an ok performer once its been tuned up a bit. When I got mine, it was a bit sticky, but a regrease and a bit of an adjustment to the RA and DEC worms was all that was needed. I have seen some truly horrible mounts that others have bought. The QA in the workshop seems a bit hit and miss.

My suggestion is to save your money and if you want to get into AP consider an EQ5 with at least tracking in both RA (automatic) and dec (manual at the push of a button) a small scope as a guide scope and a DSLR with a good quality lens or another small good quality imaging scope. A long 6" scope will only cause you frustration initially.

JMO
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