EQ6Pro vs GM8 vs G11

[Terry B]

I use an EQ6 pro with EQMOD. On it is a VC200L and a 127mm APO refractor that doubles as a guidescope with a QHY5 guider.
The EQ6 copes very well with this combination. I'm sure that the G11 would also cope and may be better but it is vastly more expensive. I can achieve guiding well within 2 arcsecs over a 10 min exposure at 1800mm fl. Anything longer is limited by flexing between the scopes. Using the internal guider on my SBIG camera essentially gives me limitless exposure time.
Getting a more expensive mount would be nice but bang for buck the EQ6 copes well with my setup.
Note that the VC200L is much lighter than an 8" SCT so that option might be a different story.

[koputai (Jason)]

Hmm.
This thread (and the expectations of fellow IIS'ers of my spending capacity) has grown
somewhat out of proportion.
The EQ6 Pro is $2k AUD new. I'd be really stretching my budget buying a G11S for $3850 AUD new.
All those super mounts suggested are going on Astromart for around $10k US used. Then add
shipping and insurance we're looking at $14k AUD for a used mount. AINT GUNNA HAPPEN!!!
Unless miraculaously some astro-dood in Aus gets desperate and wants to drop his super mount
for under $5k AUD, I'll be getting either an EQ6 Pro or a G11, so pro's and cons of those two
beasties would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Jason.

[AlexN]

If your intentions are to use a 132mm refractor and possibly a VC200L for imaging, I would go straight for the G11S if you can afford it.. The 132mm APO will be fine on an EQ6, although you're stretching its capabilities for smooth stable tracking when you load up the VC200L and try to image at 1900mm F/L. Yes, it can be done. No, it won't be easy...

As has been said in this thread already... Your mount is THE - SINGLE - MOST - IMPORTANT - PURCHASE in any astro photography setup...

Lets say you buy the best optics on the planet, with the best most sensitive camera availiable, and you plonk it on a cheapo mount that can not track accurately for more than 2 minutes.. No matter how good your optics and camera are, your mount will destroy all of the gears potential with tracking errors.

If on the other hand, you buy the best mount you can afford, and put a cheap 2nd hand 80mm ED doublet on it with a modified Canon 350D. Guaranteed, you'll get nice images, round stars, long exposures, no tracking errors.

Simple as that. You get what you pay for.. A $3800 G11 is better than a $2000 EQ6 Pro.

G11 Pro's:
Better construction.
More accurate gears.
More teeth on the RA gear, equaling better tracking.
Easier polar adjustment knobs.
the bubble level on the mount is accurate and works.
elevation scale is laser ingraved into the polar axis of the mount and is quite accurate.
the tripod would hold the G11 + a school bus. its very sturdy.
Instrument capacity rating is somewhat conservative.

Cons :
Gemini GOTO takes some getting used to.
Its more expensive than an EQ6.
Its heavy to cart around to star parties.
If you kick the tripod leg while you're imaging, your image will be fine, but your toe will be broken.

EQ6 Pros:
Easy to setup.
Value for money.
very user friendly hand controller.

Cons:
quality of tracking is inconsistant from unit to unit.. some are fantastic out of the box, some are not.
Peak to peak PE is not great. PEC can help but only to a point.
vixen style dovetails are not the most sturdy option available.
the 2" tripod seems big when you first see it. but its not.
bubble level in the head is grossly inaccurate.
elevation scale on the head is inaccurate.
polarscope out of the box required collimation (in my unit..)
Instrument weight capacity is somewhat exadurated.

Yes - You can take great images on an EQ6 Pro mount. I'm not saying you cant. Many people do.

No - You cant expect the world from a budget mount.

Yes - its your money, Spend it however you like.

Yes - If you buy the EQ6 now, You will want to buy the G11 eventually. Save yourself the effort, and the money.. and buy the best mount you can first time around.

I hope this has helped.

[Peter Ward]

Sometimes fashion outweighs solid engineering.

If...and that's a big *if* you can get a Losmandy GM100, and *precision* astro-imaging is your goal: buy it!

Best bang for buck Scott Losmandy ever made...sure non-GoTo..but an Argo Navis will sort that out...but, sub pixel guiding with an SBIG and zero backlash in Dec. I mean Zero. Nada. Zilch.

I'm sorry I sold mine.

[koputai (Jason)]

Fantastic post Alex, thanks heaps, and Terry too.
I'd only be one of the above scopes on at a time, plus a smaller
guide scope, not a reflector plus 130mm refractor at once, so
payload isn't intended to be huge.
The lure of a nice mount like the G11 is very great, but so is the
initial value of the EQ6 Pro.........

Cheers,
Jason.

[White Rabbit]

I'll be upgrading my mount mount from an heq5. I'm thinking the G11s, can you upgrade with the gemine goto system later if you want? It would make the price more digestable. I'm assuming you can hook these mounts up to a pc and do the goto from there, no??? If thats the case what is the point of the gemin?

Thanks
sandy

[JohnG (John)]

Originally Posted by White Rabbit

I'll be upgrading my mount mount from an heq5. I'm thinking the G11s, can you upgrade with the gemine goto system later if you want? It would make the price more digestable. I'm assuming you can hook these mounts up to a pc and do the goto from there, no??? If thats the case what is the point of the gemin?

Thanks
sandy

Yes you can update to the Gemini system later and yes, the mount will interface with a PC using the Gemini.

The standard G-11 comes with a Digital Drive and Stepper Motors, you can interface with a PC using a system like the Argo Navis and Digital Setting Circles, whilst that system is not GOTO, it is Push To.

Cheers

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by White Rabbit

I'll be upgrading my mount mount from an heq5. I'm thinking the G11s, can you upgrade with the gemine goto system later if you want? It would make the price more digestable. I'm assuming you can hook these mounts up to a pc and do the goto from there, no??? If thats the case what is the point of the gemin?

Thanks
sandy

The Gemini is the GOTO system. Without it there is none - using its internal model, it controls the servos and provides the object database. A computer can drive the Gemini like any other GOTO. The standard Digital Drive just allows you to track and guide - that's it - it won't even slew. I prefer it this way because I prefer an ArgoNavis attached to my G-11 to provide me with push-to rather than GOTO.

[gregbradley]

This one would be close to AUD$3800 give or take a little and its an AP mount:


http://www.astromart.com/classifieds...fied_id=642098

I know he says US only but they often say that. You just reassure them that sending to Aussie is as simple as sending to another US state and they are usually fine especially if noone from the US is wanting it which is likely at the moment.


Greg.

Originally Posted by koputai

Hmm.
This thread (and the expectations of fellow IIS'ers of my spending capacity) has grown
somewhat out of proportion.
The EQ6 Pro is $2k AUD new. I'd be really stretching my budget buying a G11S for $3850 AUD new.
All those super mounts suggested are going on Astromart for around $10k US used. Then add
shipping and insurance we're looking at $14k AUD for a used mount. AINT GUNNA HAPPEN!!!
Unless miraculaously some astro-dood in Aus gets desperate and wants to drop his super mount
for under $5k AUD, I'll be getting either an EQ6 Pro or a G11, so pro's and cons of those two
beasties would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Jason.

[AlexN]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

This one would be close to AUD$3800 give or take a little and its an AP mount:


http://www.astromart.com/classifieds...fied_id=642098

I know he says US only but they often say that. You just reassure them that sending to Aussie is as simple as sending to another US state and they are usually fine especially if noone from the US is wanting it which is likely at the moment.


Greg.

Jason - Send this guy an email ASAP! That is a bargain, and will do everything you want and more!

[marki]

Alex it's CONUS only. Might be able to twist his arm if you are quick. What kind of load will it carry???

Mark

[AlexN]

CONUS means "sweet talk me and offer me an extra $200 USD and I'll send it anywhere."

I dont have the cash right now, and besides, on the wait list for the Mach1 GTO...

[marki]

Originally Posted by AlexN

CONUS means "sweet talk me and offer me an extra $200 USD and I'll send it anywhere."

Thats what I meant by the arm twisting . Do you have any idea of it's load capacity? Can't seem to find much anywhere. I still think with the rate you go through equipment a 900GTO would be a better then the Mach 1 GTO. Plus when you put it up for sale I would be waiting .

Mark

[Hans Tucker (Hans)]

Originally Posted by marki

What kind of load will it carry???

Mark

Frome the Astro-physics website: Capacity of AP 400:
"Approximately 18 lbs. (8.2 kg) scope and accessories, depending on length. Will accommodate many refractors up to 5" f8;, reflectors to 6", Cassegrains to 8"
Note: Some telescopes are very heavy for their size and will require a larger mount."

I myself was interested in this mount, I need something lighter than the NJP and I thought this would be ideal for my FSQ but it said CONUS only so I also didn't bother.

[AlexN]

I had my name on the AP1200 list untill a few months ago.. unless something really drastic happens a 1200 is off the menu for me, and really, the capacity of the 900GTO is overkill for anything in my future plans... After owning this high quality triplet APO for just one week now, I can FAIRLY safely say I wont be going to a reflector until I can afford a PME + 17" CDK or 14.25" RCOS... The Mach1 GTO will easily hold my ZS70, TMB 80 and AP130EDF with no issues what so ever... Overmounting is key.. even if I load the all 3 of those APO's at once, im looking at 51% of the Mach 1's capacity.. Should be sweet!

[koputai (Jason)]

Originally Posted by AlexN

Jason - Send this guy an email ASAP! That is a bargain, and will do everything you want and more!

Yeah I'd seen that one before. I'm sure it's a nicely built mount, but it's
specs aren't that great.

Load Capacity: 8.2 Kg
Worm wheel: 76mm, 192 teeth

Thanks for looking out for me though!

Cheers,
Jason.

[AlexN]

total capacity is a little low.. but despite its teeth and worm wheel size it would be an incredible mount for something along the lines of an AP130EDF + self guided SBIG camera...

[marki]

Yeah the PME would be nice for sure been thinking of getting one for a while but would only do it if I set up a permenment observatory. Must say I like the chronos mounts better with no worms or weights. 8.2kg is a bit too light for my needs and doesn't allow much room for growth even as a portable mount.

Mark

[JohnH]

Originally Posted by marki

Why not go that little bit further and get a AP Mach1 GTO. Similar capacity to the others, max PE of +/- 3.5 arc sec or less and only a couple grand (US) dearer then the G11.

Mark

Or you can add the Ovision high precision worm to the G11 and get the same performance range as AP for USD500....

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by AlexN

I had my name on the AP1200 list untill a few months ago.. unless something really drastic happens a 1200 is off the menu for me, and really, the capacity of the 900GTO is overkill for anything in my future plans... After owning this high quality triplet APO for just one week now, I can FAIRLY safely say I wont be going to a reflector until I can afford a PME + 17" CDK or 14.25" RCOS... The Mach1 GTO will easily hold my ZS70, TMB 80 and AP130EDF with no issues what so ever... Overmounting is key.. even if I load the all 3 of those APO's at once, im looking at 51% of the Mach 1's capacity.. Should be sweet!

Alex,

There are 2 AP1200 mounts for sale on Astromart right now. One is new in box.

Greg.