GM8 vs EQ6

[that_guy (Tony)]

Heyy all, my bdays coming up and i was wandering which mount performs better when it comes to light weight photography. I have an ED80 with Canon 30D. I may be getting an OAG with a Meade DSI for guiding. Question is, i already have a HEQ5 Non pro, but id like autoguiding function as well as goto. which would make my life awesome... Which would be better? I heard GM8 motors and tracking is better than Synta mounts but EQ6 has higher payload and price seems similar when it comes to second hand. Advice anyone?

cheers
tony

[suma126 (Shane)]

go with neg6. i sold gm8 and now own a neq6 and love it

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I have the GM8 but with stepper motors. Even with the gemini I'd still recommend the NEQ6 simply for its increased load.

Mind you I wouldn't sell my 8 as its a great little grab and go light image mount

[hotspur (Chris)]

There has been a couple of GM8's for sale on IIS,try and get one-they are very good,vastly better to the E6 mounts,I had a E6 mount it was not very good.had it for over a year,and the best thing I did with it-was sell it.Just my personal opinion.

[garymck (Gary)]

I second Chris,

I struggled with an eq6 for several years and performed every mod known to man to try to fix it. Never again will I buy a Chinese mount. That doesn't mean some people haven't got good ones, perhaps even most, but it's a crap shoot, and I lost, do you want to take the risk? Bought a GPD2 and it was the best move I ever made. Buy the GM8.

cheers
Gary

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

I have a TV Systems mount very similar to the early GM8 - it uses the same drive gear motor and controller I also have the HEQ5pro and the NEQ6pro.....
IMHO bang per buck the NEQ6pro is one of the best mountings I use.
Never had an issue with it, solid as a rock and it just does its job...thats what you want!
I now use it for spectroscopy with a C9.25 and I'm very happy.
Just my 2c

[that_guy (Tony)]

thanks all for your response! it seems to be neck to neck atm, so ill specify what im looking for.
im looking at portability, ease of use and setup and also, its performance. payload isnt much since ill be using my ed80 and canon 30d camera with a dsi for guiding...

cheers
tony

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Why not just upgrade your HEQ5 to the full HEQ5pro Synscan version???

[Logieberra (Logan)]

See Roger's review: http://www.rogergroom.com/astronomy/review_losmandy_gm8

I faced a similar dilema one year ago - NEQ6 Pro or GM8?

Of all the advice that I sought (suppliers, forum members, users of the mounts) - this one piece of advice really resonated with me:

'the EQ6 will be a mount that you use, enjoy, but eventually sell; while the GM8 is one that you're likely to keep for a long time as a high quality, highly portable imaging rig'.

Having just sold my NEQ6 Pro... his advice was right

I think that that GM8 would be a fantasic quick-grab-&-go imaging rig as Paul describes.

And with the Skywatcher EQ8 coming out (eventually), chances are you'll look to upgrade again.

It's a slippery path...

Logie.