Hello all: I am thinking about upgrading my mount. I do not want to go crazy with the price, and I am looking at the following: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro $1,595 here in the US. Other possibility the Celestron CGM II $1,499. Also looking at the iOptron IEQ 30 PRO $1,298. I would appreciate any feedback and direct experience with any of these mounts from the group. Specifically with regard to solar observing and imaging, as I do not do deep sky. Any other good mount suggestions are appreciated, within this price range.
Thank you,
Franco
Thinking about a mount upgrade - questions
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Re: Thinking about a mount upgrade - questions
Hi Franco.
I've been using a HEQ6 for over 10 years now and have been pleased with it, always copes with the weight when I load it up for outreach. I've got through a few handsets as these seem quite fragile (especially when dropped!), several handset cables and also needed a new PCB. But apart from that i'm happy. It's only ever really been used for solar, and night stuff only a few times. I might get it sent off this winter to a company here in the UK who hyper tunes them - new gears, regrease, backlash etc.
Mark
I've been using a HEQ6 for over 10 years now and have been pleased with it, always copes with the weight when I load it up for outreach. I've got through a few handsets as these seem quite fragile (especially when dropped!), several handset cables and also needed a new PCB. But apart from that i'm happy. It's only ever really been used for solar, and night stuff only a few times. I might get it sent off this winter to a company here in the UK who hyper tunes them - new gears, regrease, backlash etc.
Mark
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Re: Thinking about a mount upgrade - questions
Hi Franco, choose a white mount, not a black one that under the Sun makes the tube hot. That said there are lot of mounts you can consider as an upgrade. I am currently using a Vixen SXD2 but I understand is beyond your price range. Had experience with older HEQ5 and EQ6, all fine for solar observing. Unfortunately most mounts are now sold complete with Go-To systems that are useless for solar but that must be paid anyway.
Raf
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Re: Thinking about a mount upgrade - questions
Hi Franco, as mentioned earlier I was doing the same a couple of months ago. For me there were two things on top of the list:
- The payload, the 9 inch Rumak is really heavy.
- The weight of the mount itself, I have to build everything up and down in the garden and can't really use a dolly.
I switched between the CEM60 and the EQ6-R Pro (is in fact a hyper tuned version of the "normal" EQ6). Because of the weight of the mount itself I bought the CEM60. Of the three mounts you mention, I would go for the EQ6-R Pro.
- The payload, the 9 inch Rumak is really heavy.
- The weight of the mount itself, I have to build everything up and down in the garden and can't really use a dolly.
I switched between the CEM60 and the EQ6-R Pro (is in fact a hyper tuned version of the "normal" EQ6). Because of the weight of the mount itself I bought the CEM60. Of the three mounts you mention, I would go for the EQ6-R Pro.
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Re: Thinking about a mount upgrade - questions
Thank you very much Mark, Raf and Bart for your input. Greatly appreciated.
Franco
Franco
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Re: Thinking about a mount upgrade - questions
Hi Franco...
Of the mounts you have listed, I like the EQ6 the most for features though it has a lot more packed into it for what you describe for your needs (GOTO). You might consider a used Losmandy GM8 if you can find one, without the Gemini GOTO pricing should be attractive too.
Just a thought,
Brian
Of the mounts you have listed, I like the EQ6 the most for features though it has a lot more packed into it for what you describe for your needs (GOTO). You might consider a used Losmandy GM8 if you can find one, without the Gemini GOTO pricing should be attractive too.
Just a thought,
Brian
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Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums
10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM
2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
Orion EON 130ED, f7 OTA for Day & Night Use
Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM
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