If this were to be your only mount then I would suggest the EQ6 rather than the HEQ5 as aperture fever always strikes. The HEQ5 would NOT take the weight of a 10" SCT or 8" newtonian for astrophotos. An 8" SCT would be the limit for guiding astrophotos in native form, better with DSLR or f6.3 reducer. I may have been very lucky as my HEQ5 has v. low PE and smooth motors.
Regards, Allan Gould
