Skywatcher EQ8 Mount.

[MrB (Simon)]

Originally Posted by Astro_Bot

From what I've read, the EQ7 design was an alternative to the EQ8 but it was canned by Synta .... something about the engineers not being able to make it production ready. The EQ8 is a different design, although it looked similar - there aren't many pictures of an EQ8 yet, so it's not that easy to tell the difference.

True, but there are a few design similarities, to me it looks like the worm wheels and the encoders are very similar if not identical.
Shame they didn't keep the Alt/Az adjustment setup tho, looks way better on the EQ7.

Sorry, silv, it looks like you can have any colour you want, as long as it's black.

Nope, the first video is the EQ8 and it is white.... whether the production version is white or black... we will have to wait and see.
Not that it really matters, specs/performance is where it's at

[Astro_Bot]

It's the same design in both videos. It was called both an EQ7 and EQ8 prototype at the time (and the guy in the second video says similar at 1:23).

There's doesn't ever seem to be much info coming out of Synta, so it's not surprising, and for all we know, the design might have simply evolved from what the videos show into the final design, rather than being a parallel but similar design (although I've heard of parallel designs within companies before).

The point is moot, though - the released EQ8 design is what's going to be available.

[silv (Annette)]

specs/performance is where it's at

and the specs on that announcement page say it's black.

The point is moot

tse, says who? a it's major point for me! :p

since the color is even listed in the specs it must be of serious concern to the manufacturer, too.

but I'll pass on this one.
I have just put butterfly stickers on mine - with glitter!

[rider]

Hey,
I can put the 12 inch newt, the vc200 vixen, the 110 vixen, the 130 neut, and the 110 Long-pergn on all at the same time!!!

[MrB (Simon)]

Originally Posted by Astro_Bot

It's the same design in both videos.

My apologies, had a closer look at the first video and you are absolutely correct.

[Astro_Bot]

No worries. I had the advantage of watching those videos many times over the last few months.

[Capricorn1(Tom)]

The valve looks good the specs look good as per my previous comments---i will buy when they are landed.

[MLyons (Martin)]

It's basically a CGE Pro without the funny frilly cosmetics with Synscan software according to our local importer.

[Astro_Bot]

I wouldn't be surprised at similarities, since Synta owns Celestron.

[2stroke (Jay)]

Originally Posted by Astro_Bot

I wouldn't be surprised at similarities, since Synta owns Celestron.

I thought Tasco owned Celestron?

[Sarge (Rod)]

Originally Posted by silv

I thought that's why it's called "pier" mount? You'd put it into your ob and never move it?

What makes this mount quite unique is that it has been designed as a moveable, relocatable or portable pier mount. The stability and rigidness of a pier with the advantage of a tripod portability. But it is quite a heavy unit, hence my reference to "portable".

Clear skies

Rod

[Astro_Bot]

Originally Posted by 2stroke

I thought Tasco owned Celestron?

From: http://www.celestron.com/portal/about-celestron ("Celestron Origins" tab):

In April of 2005, SW Technology Corporation, current owner acquired the company. Celestron was provided access to a supply chain network with state of the art technology and many years of technical and manufacturing experiences. Backed with these competitive advantages, Celestron is now able to concentrate its resources towards offering an unprecedented level of customer satisfaction and a wide range of products to the market place.

SW Technology Corporation is the US subsidiary of Synta:
http://investing.businessweek.com/re...capId=25009505

There are plenty of threads/pages about the acquisition online. This one is useful:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/celestron_...connection.htm

Here's a copy of the original news release, in case you're interested:
http://www.astronomyforum.net/celest...ade-synta.html

From what I can figure out: Tasco bought Celestron in 1998, but went into liquiduation in 2002. Bushnell's parent bought Tasco, except for the Celestron assets, which were bought by three of Celestron's managers. That lasted three years until the Synta sale.

[g__day (Matthew)]

I note the size of the gear wheels - around 8 inches - sounds significant; now if there are just milled really well and matched to appropriate encoders things would be off to a flying start.

[brown_rb (Robert)]

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPd7bXRv2QGeMAKHZvG1PsA

Cheers
Robert

[White Rabbit]

Thanks for the review Robert.

I was tossing up between the G11 and the EQ8 but the EQ8 still had a few months to go before release so I went with the G11. Kind of wish I'd waited as I hear good things about the mount. The pointing accuracy in your video was quite impressive for a very rough polar alignment.

Thanks again

Perhaps you should start your own thread for this review, the work you put in deserves it.

Well done

[White Rabbit]

I never noticed this was your first post, welcome to the form Robert.