When I got my Telescope it came with an EQ2 mount, to which I added one of the motors for longer exposures. I am getting frustrated with some 'features' that I can't seem to overcome.
First, and the one that bugs me the most, is the location of the motor and by virtue of that, the cables. I want to image the Carina nebula, but to point the telescope at it, the scope fouls the motor and power cable. No matter how I try, I cannot seem to overcome that.
Secondly, for the motor to actually rotate, the tension on the ra axis must be quite loose... and the thing flops around and is quite hard to get pointed where I want. To add to that, the gear on the motor and the gear on the mount don't always play nice and they sometimes don't mesh properly. It makes for arty pictures, but that's not what I am after.
so..
I want to upgrade. The mount has only a few 'must haves''.
One is it must be portable in a car and a short carry as I can't envisage myself backpacking anywhere that the car (4wd) won't get to anyway. Set up and take down in a night basically.
Two is it must not piss me off by being over complicated or having design 'features' that limit its function.
Three is that I will top out at $1500ish. I see portable stuff that look quite good( iOptron etc) but I am worried about the payload. The payload requirement is, (at the moment), a Saxon 900mm focal length refractor, which only weighs a few kilos on it's own with a camera, but who knows what tomorrow brings.
A GoTo mount would be nice as I have close to zero knowledge of astronomy at the moment and struggle to find stuff to take pictures of (other than Orion and Carina nebulas). I have a dedicated W10 laptop for my astro stuff.
Whilst I know that my budget is quite low, but I want to get something decent to take me though for some time.
WOW, sounds this HEQ5 is truly a fine mount then, i am in a plan for either two new completely small scopes cheap or a second scope that i have, but i started to look at some scopes that are coming with a mount as a kit, including few with HEQ5, but i wasn't sure about this mount, but sounds people are voting for it which means it is a great deal, so i may think about this option for the scope, thanks.
The HEQ5 mount is a proven performer, Ive has mine for nearly 4 years
If your imaging keep your payload under 9 kg and it will guide beautifully for you
When they slew they sound like a meat grinder but that normal , unless you by a 2nd hand belt modded one
