Best goto mount under £600

[wild robin]

I was looking at EQ3 or a star adventurer gti.

[ruby violet]

i mean if you are up to it you could onstep something like an eq5, that would be around £350 in total. Would be better than an eq3 and a swsa gti i think

[wild robin]

thats not a tracking mount

[ruby violet]

onstep adds tracking and goto

[wild robin]

what is onstep

[ruby violet]

with onstep you add motors, and get a package thing (i dont know much about it) where it adds goto and things

requires a bit of DIY though

if you are interested ask someone like miko/zegery

[wild robin]

hm, i think ill stick with not doing diy

[ruby violet]

yeah that is fine, its not much work.

[wild robin]

how much focal length couldi use on an eq3

is that a good choice?

[ruby violet]

not sure how good of a choice it is, but i think the biggest thing you could put on is like a 130pds. i could be wrong though

[wild robin]

how much focal length

if im getting a telescope, its going to be a refractor

maybe a 72ed

at 400mm

if not what are other good mount choices

[potent herald]

Id suggest looking for a used EQ 5 or EQM 35 or above youll definitely find one in that range

Ill see if i can find one

@wild robin would you be willing to pay a extra 80gbp for a HEQ 5 pro with rowan belt? that is a absolute bargain! I use a HEQ 5 without the rowan belt and it is amazing! if you can definitely get this! https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=199992

[flat grove]

EQ5 PRO^

[wild robin]

i would be looking around 400mm

heq5 are like £1000

[potent herald]

The link i sent is 680gbp

Its slightly more for a huge boost in performance and flexibility with scopes you can use in the future

[wild robin]

oh wow ok, would that still be suitable for 400mm

[potent herald]

Any focal length youd really like tbh! someone uses it with 135mm lens and i use it with a 2032mm SCT lol so its a good flexibility mount

[wild robin]

but i dont want to spend unncessary money, just something that can handle 400mm i wont be going abobe that

420mm precisely

[potent herald]

Well it isnt unnecessary lol the performance will still be wayyy better than the other mounts for that price tbh dont get me wrong the other mounts arent bad at all but the HEQ 5 is really gooard compared

[flat grove]

Eq5 pro or eqm35 is a very good option... might be at 600 or a bit more but it's good.

If you don't want to spend extra.

[wild robin]

what do you mean by performance

[potent herald]

Tracking accuracy, Goto accuracy, payload etc

[potent herald]

The link i sent is a Rowan belt HEQ 5 pro for 680 👀

[flat grove]

Oh damn

Yes used you'll get good deals

[wild robin]

but i just need to be able to do 30secs or higher at 400mm

[potent herald]

Youd be able to do 180s plus unguided

without a doubt

[wild robin]

thats too much

[flat grove]

I would actually get the heq5 pro lol. 80£ more. Performance is 100% worth it. (If it works like it should)

[potent herald]

When your shooting something faint its very helpful lol

No such thing as too much

[flat grove]

Bortle 9

[potent herald]

Ehh filters exist right XD

[flat grove]

True xd

Anyways if the heq5 works well like it should i would get that

[potent herald]

If i didnt have mine rn id be on that XD

[wild robin]

i just dont want to spend my life saving

i was going to get a star adventuret 2i but then goto seemed really usefull, then i was going to get a gti or eq3 then now its like suuuper expensive stuf

can i do 400mm with a eq3 or gti

[potent herald]

Lets just say compared to a 2i and GTI and EQ3 the HEQ 5 can do sooo much more better

[potent herald]

Yes but youd need guiding and maybe tuning

[flat grove]

Well you did say under 600, so 599. Add 81£ to that for a lot better performance.

[wild robin]

so what is the cheapest mount i can do 400mm at

if needed i would totally save up

[potent herald]

Lol you can go with a GTI or EQ 3 but the point is the mount is the most expensive part for a reason, the HEQ 5 pro will make setting up so much easier and there shouldnt be any troubles where the GTI and EQ 3 will need some adjusting/tuning and guiding

Plus 680gbp for a HEQ 5 pro with a rowan belt upgrade doesnt come around all the time

[wild robin]

what is the rowan belt upgrade

[potent herald]

Instead of using gears it uses a belt (makes tracking alot smoother/better)

[wild robin]

ooh

well i would need to save to get that

what about an eq5

pro

[potent herald]

Yeah thats pretty good! it definitely will do fine with 400mm focal length

Itd be one of the other things id get if that HEQ 5 pro sells

[wild robin]

or eq35

[potent herald]

next to a EQM 35 pro

The EQ 5 pro and EQM 35 pro are very identical but i always here the EQM 35 has smaller gears which causes worse tracking so id have to go with EQ 5 pro

Over the EQM 35

[wild robin]

ok ill save up for that

not like im gonna get it but how do an eq3 and gti compare, they are the same price

[potent herald]

Uhh if im honest i have no idea XD theyd both need tuning and guiding to work good with 400mm tho