I can't decided!!!

[Cola (Australia)]

I am interested in getting myself AZEQ5 goto which has a freedom find or should I get myself EQ5 or 6 goto mount (Sky Watcher brand) What I want to do is take photos of galaxies.. maybe one planet or two.. I want something that is easy to set up, like the alignment.. without a pc, can I do it by mobile.. like put in the detail and set and go.. I don't like the idea of setting the thing up to look at the polar alignment every single night.. as I have been doing with my Star Adv Tracker.. it wasted an hour of my time.. (this does have a alignment port.. still don't know how.. contact Sky Watcher team.. no help from them) so which is the best.. as I know there's a new one.. AZEQ6.. as I am thinking AZEQ5.. I have been told these models don't have polar scope.. where's the EQ 6 does.. ?? my head it like AHHHHHlol thanks


I guess the AZ mounts isn't suitable for astrophotography, like long exposure.. suppose EQ might be my choice to go???

[Eden (Brett)]

I am I correct in assuming that you're going to be putting an ED80 on whichever mount you choose?

If so, the AZEQ5 would be fine, it handles up to 15kg (in equatorial mode) and given that it weighs less than the EQ6, it would be easier to set up in the regard.

It really depends on whether you can see yourself buying a heavier telescope in the near future, in which case the AZEQ6 would be the better choice.

[Cola (Australia)]

Yes I have ED80 scope.. I was thinking of 900mm or 1200mm would be nice.. but I guess a barlow would help double that??? I am very happy with the ED80, as sick of trying to align my tracker at night.. so if the goto will help me with less time of setting up the polar alignment.. as I said.. without a computer... but something mobile or wireless that I can prog it to focus on one thing and track it!

[Eden (Brett)]

Yes, adding a barlow lens would increase your focal length. I haven't done any long exposure imaging with a barlow yet, so I can't really comment on that.

The mounts you are looking at are definitely capable of giving you decent guiding at 1200mm, though. They also have all of the necessary functions needed to do a star alignment and polar alignment.

If you want to do long exposure imaging without a laptop etc., there are some standalone auto-guiding solutions out there. The only one I am familiar with is the Celestron offering. I know QHY-CCD had one in the works but it appears that it hasn't left the stable yet.

Information on the Celestron NexGuide unit can be found here:

http://www.celestron.com/browse-shop...ide-autoguider

I've never used one personally but perhaps some other members can offer their testimonials or suggest alternatives.

[killswitch (Edison)]

Polar scope is quite difficult to use for the southern pole as the stars are dim.

Mounts with synscan units have a Polar Align feature which makes aligning much easier.

[glend (Glen)]

I have an ED80 Triplet and it can easily see Octans with a 20mm EP. So yes you can see the Octans alignment targets outside of cities so should not be a problem at Victor Harbour.

[Cola (Australia)]

Originally Posted by killswitch

Polar scope is quite difficult to use for the southern pole as the stars are dim.

Mounts with synscan units have a Polar Align feature which makes aligning much easier.

oh.. the Sky Watchers with the synscan units have polar align features.. that's great.. I have trees in my road.. which makes it difficult, too many streets lights too.. I have only one little spot that I can only do.. if only the neighbor can turn off their upper bedroom lights off.. I will go for the goto mount with a synscan.. that would help me a lot!

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Originally Posted by Cola

Yes I have ED80 scope.. I was thinking of 900mm or 1200mm would be nice.. but I guess a barlow would help double that??? I am very happy with the ED80, as sick of trying to align my tracker at night.. so if the goto will help me with less time of setting up the polar alignment.. as I said.. without a computer... but something mobile or wireless that I can prog it to focus on one thing and track it!

The ED80 is good for a wide FOV, because of its short focal length, but the problem with using a Barlow is that as it increases the focal leh it also increases the focal ratio, which determines how quickly your images show up on the sensor. At its native focal length, there's still a never ending source of targets

In an ideal world, we'd all use large aperture scopes with very "fast" (low numbered) focal ratios. In practice, these exist but are very expensive.

For more of a zoomed in view, you'd be better off with something like a 8" or 10" f/5 imaging newt. In which case, you'd want the AZ-EQ6 with the extra payload capability.