Help Me Choose Mount for AP!

[AstroNikkor (Enzo)]

Hi, long time lurker, first time poster! I would like some advise as to what mount EQ mount to get for my journey into AP. I currently have the Celestron 6SE which I love for it's ease of use and setup for visual but I know I will need a decent EQ mount as I plan on doing long exposure AP with DSO. I would like to use the 6SE OTA for prime focus with my Nikon D90/Olympus E-P5 as well as mounting the Nikon together with some with lenses with 24 to 200mm focal ranges. Imaging will mainly be done in light polluted suburbia with occasional foray into remoter locations. My price limit is around 1200-1300. The mounts I have been looking at include the Ioptron ZEQ25 and Skywatcher EQ5 Pro. Does anybody have experience with these 2 mounts and their pros and cons?

[Logieberra (Logan)]

Enzo, I'd hold out for a nice, used NEQ6 Pro from Skywatcher. They come up often in the classifieds. It will last years, and may be the only mount you ever need. I had one and loved it.

[raymo]

I'll just add my 2c worth. Whenever the size of mount crops up, I like to point out that there is the lighter alternative to the NEQ-6, the HEQ5.
If you decide what is the largest scope you are ever likely to buy, and decide that an 8" Newt, or a 9.25" SCT would be the biggest, then the lighter and cheaper HEQ5 would cope admirably. If you decide that you might go to a 10 or 12" Newt, or a 10" or larger SCT, then you will definitely need the NEQ-6. If weight could be a problem, remember that the NEQ-6 is quite a lot heavier than the HEQ5. Sorry to ramble, but I figure more info is better than less.
raymo

[AstroNikkor (Enzo)]

Thanks for the inputs. I have picked up a iEQ30 and I think that it will more than suffice as I don't think I will be going more than a 8" SCT as storage space is a problem. Transporting the iEQ30 is also less of a problem if I ever venture out.