Skywatcher EQ8 Mount.

brightstar · #1 16-07-2012, 12:47 PM

Skywatcher have announced the specifications and release date, price etc for the EQ 8 Mount. These specs. etc can be viewed on the Sirius Optics web site at:
http://www.sirius-optics.com.au/whatsnew.html

silv (Annette) · #2 16-07-2012, 12:54 PM

uuuh, it's going to be black. nah, not interested.
but thanks for the info

MrB (Simon) · #3 16-07-2012, 12:59 PM

Yay it's going to be black

I didn't like the white EQ6's.

Seriously tho, colour means fa, looking forward to reading some reviews about this mount.

Astro_Bot · #4 16-07-2012, 01:26 PM

Black? It's camouflaged so no-one can see you and your very expensive mount!

OK, so it's a two-man lift, but that's one heck of a mount for a semi-decent price ... assuming it gets discounted eventually.

50kg? Even if it's a more realistic 35kg, that's still an impressive working payload. You could put a 16" SCT on this thing no problem. Plus direct drive means no backlash (apparently).

If it has dual optical encoders, though, why do RA and Dec reset when powered on? Shouldn't it know where the home position is? (I've yet to own a mount with optical encoders, so I may be showing my ignorance here).

h0ughy (David) · #5 16-07-2012, 02:07 PM

well i know that i will be upgrading the eq6 with this one - that means i can leave the titan on the observatory mount and have a travel setup with this one and the meade 14" ota. if this pans out it will indeed be bang for bucks - and payload

OICURMT · #6 16-07-2012, 02:15 PM

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/...belastbar.html

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/...en/eq8/eq8.jpg

silv (Annette) · #7 16-07-2012, 02:48 PM

Quote:

a travel setup with this one and the meade 14 ota.

sorry, the whole of my 5'2" body is shaking with giggles

MrB (Simon) · #8 16-07-2012, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astro_Bot

If it has dual optical encoders, though, why do RA and Dec reset when powered on? Shouldn't it know where the home position is? (I've yet to own a mount with optical encoders, so I may be showing my ignorance here).

It will be using incremental encoders. Absolute encoders are considerably more expensive.

Astro_Bot · #9 16-07-2012, 03:00 PM

Thanks, Simon.

---------

Two guys on weight machines at a gym ...
"Hey, good reps, man. So how long have you been into body building?"
"Body building? Hell no, I'm an astronomer."

whzzz28 (Nathan) · #10 17-07-2012, 08:36 PM

Bintel have it up on their site, for pre-order ofcourse.

Shipping: March 2013.
Cost: $4449 (ouch)

But, 50kg capacity...

http://www.bintel.com.au/Mounts---Tr...oductview.aspx

MrB (Simon) · #11 19-07-2012, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silv

uuuh, it's going to be black. nah, not interested.
but thanks for the info

This one is white

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg6WLerTKZg

Here is another older but much better vid: (Titled the EQ7)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rrUwe3Se3Q

silv (Annette) · #12 20-07-2012, 06:40 AM

now I got something to save my coffee money for

White Rabbit · #13 20-07-2012, 07:20 AM

Mmm, that is interesting. I was going to buy a losmandy g11 in november, but this is the same price....Question is can I wait that long? Should I wait that long?

silv (Annette) · #14 20-07-2012, 07:52 AM

you could reason: a new product often rides a bumpy road, at first.
I wouldn't want to be the first one, finding out about the bugs but wait for the second batch. Or get one whose bugs are well reported and work arounds known, already.

White Rabbit · #15 20-07-2012, 08:57 AM

Yeah, that's why I haven't pulled the trigger on the G11. It's had some pretty major software issues.

Paul Haese · #16 20-07-2012, 09:27 AM

Nothing wrong with being a beta tester or early adopter. Done it several times myself and never regretted.

Now to the mount. Still vapour ware at this I reckon and release dates are never on time. However, looks like good value. Very beefy with a good triod, but it appears to still have the crap alt and az adjustment screws. Just imagine having a full load on it and trying to move either of those. It is hard enough with the EQ6, let alone this monster fully loaded.

Potentially a good mount, and time will tell.

I am looking for a good second hand EQ6 Pro for our trip to Cairns if anyone is selling to get one of these.

Sarge (Rod) · #17 20-07-2012, 10:46 AM

Looks fantastic. The early reports before release were concerned about the weight.

Tripod / Pier Weight: 31kg
EQ Head Weight: 28.5kg

Does limit the term "portable"

Clear skies

Rod

silv (Annette) · #18 20-07-2012, 11:23 AM

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

Astro_Bot · #19 20-07-2012, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrB

This one is white

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg6WLerTKZg

Here is another older but much better vid: (Titled the EQ7)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rrUwe3Se3Q

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.

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

Astro_Bot · #20 20-07-2012, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Nothing wrong with being a beta tester

If only we could buy it with beta dollars!