I should have mentioned in my previous post that I have a Losmandy G11 with Gemini goto for my 10" SCT. The reason I purchased an HEQ5-Pro mount was the following:-
I wanted a more portable mount that would enable goto as well as DSLR and autoguided CCD work at home (light polluted) or if a wanted to take it to a dark site. Also had to run of a portable battery. I had an 8" SCT that I wanted to put on this mount. The toss up was a Losmandy G8 with Gemini or HEQ5-Pro or a Vixen GPdx with goto. The obvious answer was the HEQ5-Pro from the cost point of view. When I got the mount, I tested goto, backlash, guiding etc and I knew I had made to correct choice irrespective of the cost factor.
Also the best mount/scope combination is the one you use most often. In my case its the HEQ5-Pro and 8", not the G11-Gemini and 10". But I'll never sell either after having many refractors and SCTs I have finally found what suits me visually as well as functionally.
Regards, Allan Gould
Seems to me that you have made up your mind , all I will say is that ALL mounts have issues, you just got to learn to deal with them to get the best out of them. I'm afraid I agree with Striker, I will await that post.
Any way just enjoy.
If this were to be your only mount then I would suggest the EQ6 rather than the HEQ5 as aperture fever always strikes. The HEQ5 would NOT take the weight of a 10" SCT or 8" newtonian for astrophotos. An 8" SCT would be the limit for guiding astrophotos in native form, better with DSLR or f6.3 reducer. I may have been very lucky as my HEQ5 has v. low PE and smooth motors.
Regards, Allan Gould
I took the advice from all you guys so i decided to keep the EQ6! guessss what now? rang up the guy to cancel the order and he told me it is on the way!
He said he will try to cancel the order if he can and will call me back.
<TABLE class=tborder cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR title="Post 94445" vAlign=top><TD class=alt2>EQ6 it is! and you wont see that post in a few months time might go the 10" or 12 " SCT later on down the track i guess.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=thead colSpan=2>Today 02:48 PM</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
You made the right choice, see, aperture fever has already set in.
I'm like Allan. I have 3 Eq mounts. G11 at home loaded to the hilt, GM8 (HEQ5 size) for travelling photography and visual and an Eq3 for quick pickup and go. Just need a 16" Dob now and my quiver will be complete.
lol, well the guy hasn't call back yet so i guess maybe the order has been cancelled . phew! just one mount Tony just one
Thats a good idea Jonathan. The only thing is i have to take the mount down/up 4 steps of stairs which would be quite hard. maybe i make one out of a safeway trolley
ACE, no problems mounting a dob to an EQ mount. Just get the OTA rings for it and dovetail and Ving no, if you want it you have to pay for it
Thanks for your support and opinions all. really helped this confused guy out.
I wouldn't worry too much about carrying it around Ezy. It won't be long before you have at least a pier in the back yard, if not a roll off roof observatory
Ezy, Now that you have the EQ6 I would love to hear how you get on with it - first impressions, surprises, problems, solutions etc - because I'm thinking about one too.
Great thread guys - I own a HEQ5 and have a 10 inch f/5 newt and a 4.7 inch f/5 refractor, piggybacked - no problem with three 5kg counterweights. The first thing I did when I purchased the mount was to extend the length of the counterweight shaft (had a local engineer turn one out for me that screws into the bottom of the factory shaft giving me an extra 250mm length).
Does the job nicely and I use it for imaging, probably at the limit, but still sturdy. Having said that - I too would still get the EQ6 (or keep it in your case ezy) - really not that much heavier! (is it?)
From a 'portability' point of view, I move the mount attached to the tripod around all the time - not very heavy, but a little awkward...and then put the counterweights on when the mount is in situ.
Ezy, Now that you have the EQ6 I would love to hear how you get on with it - first impressions, surprises, problems, solutions etc - because I'm thinking about one too.
EQ6 for sure now.
- Very easy to setup and sturdy mount which will take upto 10-12inch scope.
- Polar alignment scope will be better off if it is luminated.
- The Skyscan 'goto' feature is not that accurate (unless im doing something wrong ).
- Heavy mount making it awkward to carry around
- Instruction manual is very limited. Have to really learn how to use it on your own
- when skewing fast then a sudden stop, the sound the motors make doesn't sound too good
- Value for money for such a sturdy mount with goto
Havent really encountered any issues with it ... 'yet'
and you wont see that post in a few months time 
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