dslr mount

[NCC-2893 (John)]

Hi all. Loving the new camera,and having heaps of fun stacking milky way shots,but now need to progress to the next step. Budget is only good for maybe 1500 bucks so would something like a goto eq3 do me for shooting nebs? I don't mind shooting lots of short exposures if needs be,'cause I cant afford those super flash tracking jobs.. Any advise,please.

[maxwolfie (Greg)]

Hi mate,

I'm in the same boat. $1500 will get you something decent though, like a Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro GOTO mount ($1250ish). This is the mount I am going to buy.

[NCC-2893 (John)]

Cheers greg. I looked it up and you're right, that does look good,but over here it's 2000 bucks. Prices suck here mate. Maybe a eq3. I'll check.

[NCC-2893 (John)]

Alright. EQ3 fully computerized goto for 1600 bucks, or a manual EQ3 mount and equipe it with dual axis drives. Total of 950 bucks. Am I wrong or do you still need to guide the drives somehow.

[JB80 (Jarrod)]

A goto eq3 or 3-2 would be fine, I have seen a couple of guys with that same setup for dslr imaging and all you would really need is a short dovetail to mount it on and a ball head.
Plus it would double up as a good visual mount for a medium size scope if you wanted.

[MrB (Simon)]

Perhaps it's worth ringing Andrews to get a quote for freight to NZ?
Not sure if they will send across the ditch.. but worth asking.
EQ5 Pro is $999
HEQ5 Pro $1199
NEQ6 Pro $1699

[NCC-2893 (John)]

Cheers for that.Feel I'm getting some were . I just realised also that the motor drives you bolt on to the mount are already to go in so far as tracking is concerned arn't they, So the only difference between a mount plus dual axis drives and a goto mount is with the first you have to manually find your object. If thats the case, It would be a lot cheaper forgetting about the goto. Fair comment?

[NCC-2893 (John)]

Wow ,good suggestion. At those prices it will be worth finding out. (edit) Looked at Andrews site, and it seems they do mail overseas.I also see they have a ed80 scope on eq5 goto for the same price as just the mount over here. man am I in the wrong country.
(edit) Just got an e-mail back from Andrews. Unfortunately, large items like mounts can cost 600 bucks for air freight. Such is life.

[JB80 (Jarrod)]

Originally Posted by NCC-2893

Cheers for that.Feel I'm getting some were . I just realised also that the motor drives you bolt on to the mount are already to go in so far as tracking is concerned arn't they, So the only difference between a mount plus dual axis drives and a goto mount is with the first you have to manually find your object. If thats the case, It would be a lot cheaper forgetting about the goto. Fair comment?

Pretty much yeah, I have just the dual axis drives on mine and once you are aligned it's just a matter of finding the target yourself which is easier to do manually first and then locking the motors on after you have found your target.

[MrB (Simon)]

Originally Posted by NCC-2893

...
(edit) Just got an e-mail back from Andrews. Unfortunately, large items like mounts can cost 600 bucks for air freight. Such is life.

NZ sourced EQ3 goto for NZ$1600
Andrews EQ5 Pro for AU$999 + $600 freight
I know which one I would go for.... except the currency conversion is going to be the killer. Would end up ~$2100-ish

Is there not a sea-going freight option ?

[NCC-2893 (John)]

Yes ,It's the currency rate as you say. No, he only mentioned air freight. Still, If I equip a eq3 with motors for 1000 bucks, that will do for a camera. And as Jarrod said use it for a small scope as well.