NEQ6 or iEQ45?

[vignesh1230 (Vig)]

Alright, so im about 2-3 months from buying the equipment for an observatory (Should start on it at the end of this year). I'm kind of stuck between the mount now. A little portability would be nice too haha.

The equipment I buy now, I wont change for years haha. The telescope is decided to be a GSO RC8. Going to be imaging with a DSLR for now.

Ive heard really good stuff about the NEQ6 and reviews about the iEQ45 with the modified DEC clutch seem very good too.

Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro GoTo Mount ~ $1799 Bintel / $1699 Andrews(Free Freight)
iEQ45 ~ $1799 Andrews (Not Sure If Free Freight)

RC8 + NEQ6 + Shoestring + QHY5-II + Mini Orion FinderScope = $3256
RC8 + NEQ6 + Shoestring + QHY5-II + ProStar 60mm = $3336
RC8 + IEQ45 + QHY5-II + ProStar 60mm = $3378 ~ $3450(+Postage)

I really cant decide

[stanlite (Grady)]

have you considered the AZ-EQ6 for and extra $600 it have the ability to go equatorial or Azimuth and is belt driven ...eg much smoother on the PE(so i have been told) just a thought if you are after an imaging setup.

[vignesh1230 (Vig)]

From the images of the ieq45 Dissasembly, the ieq45 is belt driven and the PE after PEC:

http://www.thewilmslowobservatory.or...EC_enabled.jpg

Im not sure which will give me the best performance. $3500 is already pusing my budget already and i dont actually see much point in Alt-AZ mode if im going to be imaging most of the time

[stanlite (Grady)]

the other thing you will need to consider is possibly flatteners or correctors for the RC otherwise if the IEQ 45 is belt driven that is superior PE wise to the EQ6 mine averaged +-17 arcseconds pec and that is after tuning lol

[Tandum (Robin)]

Haven't seen too many ieq45's in here Vignesh.
Maybe do a search to see what you can find.

[vignesh1230 (Vig)]

So far the images taken with the ieq45 seem to be on par with the neq6... Not that i know much about image quality and tracking errors.

Seems that most people who buy the ieq45 like the mount alot, but the same can be said for the NEQ6 too right?

IMHO the iEQ45 is a winner, one of the best I’ve used in its price range.

The more i read the more i want to go with the ieq45, but seeing as so many people here use the NEQ6, i want to go the fully tried and tested route haha.

Also, on looks i think the ieq45 Wins