Interesting journey so far: Started with an 8" Meade LX200R, then moved on to a C9.25 on an HEQ5 Pro, now I have an Ioptron IEQ45 and am calculating what to do next.
I'm setting up my obs in a shed, using insulshed + floating floor and a skillion hinged roof (whatever works really) and want to load up my home-made pier and next mount with about 30kg of scopes and photo equipment. I want to work on some deep space photography and enjoy visual at the same time, so I'm using a side by side with a William Optics GT-81 and my C9.25. Eventually I might go larger but am holding at that for now.
I've familiarised myself with a lot of software and have pulled the equipment (mounts, not scopes) apart, put them back together and have had some good experience with them
. Haven't taken a photo because it takes a too much time to set up, align correctly, then get started
. By the time I'm set up I inevitably look around at the night's best sights and then need to pack up because I don't like the idea of leaving the equipment in the weather. Now I think I'm ready for a permanent set-up as that will give me more scope time, protect the equipment and want to delve into making my own screen savers and nice pictures, but I have to plan this well and wonder if anyone has some advice
.
I wanted to keep my side by side set-up because I want to be able to photograph at the same time as looking at something. I understand the two experiences are different, but to be able to use the permanent setup for both is my goal as far as the viewing experience goes. I live in a rural setting so light pollution is not a problem. The shed is just to cut down my setup time.
To cater for the weight goal (30kg and future-proof for the next few years), I need a new mount. I could sell the IEQ45 for something around $1 - $1.2K (I've bought some accessories that will make it good value) and the HEQ5 Pro for probably close to that also (again, have accessories that make the mount a good package) - then use that to contribute to something that will handle the weight.
My budget is about $4k, so with the sale of my IEQ45 and HEQ5 I could probably see a budget of about $6k. Losmandy Titan looks nice (I can get one from the states shipped here for that), but so does the yet to be released Skywatcher EQ8 - which will handle the weight but isn't due until likely March 2013. I can probably wait as realistically, I will work slowly getting the obs setup - slowly for me is probably 3 to 4 months.
Does anyone have any wisdom to offer here on what has worked well for them with the same goals in mind and for a similar budget? Feel free to tell me to stop being lazy, cope with the IEQ45 and swap scopes if I want a different experience on the night - but it does seem a waste not to use the side by side as it's a nifty piece of kit...
, in the Titan/EQ8 price range and carrying capacity with better tracking , a beast as well .. Sorry Matt to give you some more food for thought .. but hey as Matt said sell the lot and you will be in the hunt for either of these 3 beautiful mounts , 
, there are more ....but hey if I had 7k to spend ....
Sounds like a visit to the optical doctor is needed, a bad case of Upgrade Itis your suffering from there baileys2611! Consolidate and liquidate still I reckon and then get the mount of your dreams.
Not sure Simon , but you could try either Andrews Communations or Astronomy and Electronics Center , they both have most Ioptron products including the IEQ45 , so they may be able to help .
