Bintel drops the price of the HEQ5 Pro to $1095

[PCH (Paul)]

Postage for the HEQ5Pro from Star Optics is 'free'. Doesn't come come better than that hey ?

Cheers,

[Karls48 (Karl)]

Can one anyone please can give me their opinion on the difference between EQ5 and HQE5 mounts based on their experience with those mounts. I was using SV1 (GS version of EQ3) modified to work with Meade Autostar until recently when Alt gear seized and striped the gear. I’m still using the mount manually but I would like to have Goto again. The mount is used on pier for imagining with short FL tube refractors up to 136mm aperture, with exposure times up to 30 sec. I can modify EQ5 to use Autostar Goto. The difference in price of EQ5 and HQE5 is around $700. I also have StarPatch GPS for the Autostar setup. What is the advantage in spending extra $700 on HQE5 and additional $$ to get GPS working with it?

[DJDD]

BTW:
New prices at Andrews for ED80 and HEQ5Pro, both the kits and individual parts.
(I wonder if anyone will reduce the price for the EQ6Pro.)

[koputai (Jason)]

When I was in Bintel Sydney last week I asked them when the EQ6Pro would be on sale like the HEQ5 was at the time. Their response "When they start selling them cheaper to us."
I too am hanging out. If the EQ6Pro goes on sale I'll buy one, if not I have other options to ponder.

Cheers,
Jason.

Originally Posted by DJDD

BTW:
New prices at Andrews for ED80 and HEQ5Pro, both the kits and individual parts.
(I wonder if anyone will reduce the price for the EQ6Pro.)

[davewaldo]

It was my understanding that the EQ6 went "on sale" before the HEQ5.

Several months ago the EQ6 price came down considerably to $1950. The HEQ5 then seemed very expensive in comparison, so I guess thats why not many sold, which led to the HEQ5 being discounted now.

I wouldn't be hanging out for the EQ6 to get heaps cheaper. But I hope it does!

[Matty P (Matt)]

I also am waiting for the price of the EQ6 to drop.

I have been watching the prices very closely but it seems like it is not going to get cheaper for a while.

All we can do is wait.

[DJDD]

Originally Posted by davewaldo

It was my understanding that the EQ6 went "on sale" before the HEQ5.

thanks for the reminder- that seems like so long ago.

[Luke]

Great that this thread came up as ive been thinking about getting an ed80 pro on a HEQ5pro. Does anyone have experiance using this set up for photogaphy with a DSLR?
What kind of exposure time can you expect to get ot of that mount. Do you think its would be satretch to get 5 minutes or so {with a ood polar ilignment}?
I had a meade lx90 for a year and a half with a deep sky imager. Feel like trying my hand at some wide field stuff. Would the above setup be a good combo {maybe with a canon 400d} ?
Thanks all.

[davewaldo]

Shouldn't have any trouble going to 5 mins if you have good polar alignment AND guiding. This is exactly what I'm hoping to do with my HEQ5

[allan gould]

HEQ5 Pro can easily guide an 8" SCT for 10 min (havnt tried longer) with a dslr. Have gone longer with an ST7 and autoguiding (30min+).
Its a great mount if you treat it with care and look after it.