Mounts and yet more mounts!

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

I am researching an imaging setup. The bit I am finding difficult to understand is what the terminology for the various mounts means. For example what is the diff between an EQ5, a HEQ5 and a HEQ5 Pro? Apart from cost and what does the extra money buy me?
I ultimately want to have an ED refractor and guidescope setup and the confusion over mounts is making it hard to plan.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Here's going to add even more confusion....do you want your imaging setup permanently mounted or portable?? And, if you're looking at a refractor, here's something that'll throw a spanner in the works even more..... Achro vs Apo, D & G Optical. But if you want a good apo, with excellent colour correction, get a triplet lens system. Although the semi apo's like the SWED80's and such are good scopes and are better than the run of the mill achro's you can buy. But for medium sized scopes they can get expensive....especially for triplets. As far as mounts go, you want something that's rock steady (or near to it) for good astropics. Once you've added a guidescope and such to a mount, even with a small scope like a SWED80, you've got a fair bit of weight hanging off the scope. I wouldn't go for anything under a EQ6Pro....with one of them you're getting goto capability built in plus the benefits of a sturdy mount. The HEQ5Pro is an excellent mount, but probably a little light on for long exposure astrophotography.

[DENMONKEY (Brett)]

To answer the mount question, the EQ5 is the basic model, HEQ5 is the heavy duty and the pro has the additional go-to system installed.
I believe the EQ, HEQ and pro related to all the models.
Higher the number the heavier the mount and the more weight it can support e.g 6 can support more weight than the 5

Still new to this whole thing so maybe someone can give you the specs etc of each mount if required.

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

Ill pitch in here,

A ED 80 is a good starter, though has very little light grab hence this limits your viewing power. as far as refractors go, ED's are the best beginner setup. though 80mm are generally used for guiding.

a Dobsonian mounted with rings on a GEM German equatorial mount is one of the cheapest and best preforming setups, a 200mm (8") will give you a great scope to image with and keep you going for a fair while in regards to light grab.

In regards to telescope mounts, buy the best you can afford. For instance my telescope was brought for 600 dollars, my mount was 1500, I brought a EQ6Pro, which gives you a rated loading of 25kgs I find the mount great for guiding/goto/ and has a good payload.

I always look at it like this having a decent telescope, you can use it to show people things plus when your trying to find a faint galaxy the bigger telescope you can get allows you to find it with ease.

If you have any other questions just shoot them at me.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Thanks for the feedback. I was gaining the impression that EQ6 Pro is the way to go, but nice to have confirmation.
Brendan, the 8" newt idea sounds attractive. I had the idea that newts were not suitable for imaging with a DSLR as they had trouble getting the focus on the CCD? Is that correct, or can they be modified to make them work.
I have a little 130mm newt at the moment, If i went silly and grabbed an EQ6 Pro, would it be possible to mount the newt on it while I saved for a decent apo refractor.

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

depens on what newt it is and where the focal point of the newt is. I know for a fact that a cannon eos 350d comes to focus with the skywatcher equipment in a 8" and 10" skywatcher scope, easiest way though is to crack out the ruler and measure or try and get focus.

the other good thing with your 120mm newt you can turn it into a guide scope later down the track. this is exactly what i have done. My old blue 114mm dick smith scope i rebuilt with some hardware that i brought off the forum it now sits proudly up on the back of the 10"er on the eq6 and does a wonderful job of spotting guide stars with the meade DSI.

so as soon as i get a Digital SLR I will be ready to go!!!

In the eq6 box when you buy it comes a standard dovetail bar, you should be able to mount this directly to the rings of your 120mm newt (assuming you have it on a GEM already) if not you can purchase rings that will suite the outer diameter of your telescope without to much hassel at all.

[dannat (Daniel)]

Malcolm, some newts don't reach focus with a d-slr - you need to move the mirror up the tube usually .. soe cut the tube & shorten it, I have seen someone install different & esp long colliamtin screws which pushes the mirror up the tube - depends how much extra you need

[rmcpb (Rob)]

Malcolm,

If the reflector does not achieve focus with the DSLR you can easily shorten the tube so it works with the camera then get an extension tube for your focuser for visual use.

Cheers

[BerrieK]

Originally Posted by barx1963

what is the diff between an EQ5, a HEQ5 and a HEQ5 Pro?

Just a wee bit more info for you... the EQ5 is rated to carry a 10kg load, the HEQ5 13kgs. It has been firmly suggested that you try to limit you load to 2/3 load capacity when doing photography by some of the fine wise ones on this forum (I am NOT a wise one but a reader of the wise ones' posts). Likewise if you search the threads regarding this, some note that they have a rather heavy load on their mounts just fine.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Thanks for all the advice guys. Has definately clarified some issues. As the newt I have at the moment was a birthday present from SWMBO (she who must be obeyed) may not go down well if I attack it too enthusiasticlly to allow imaging with the Canon!