Telescope Reviews: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8?

· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt

· Submit a Review / Article

Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums

Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User

You are not logged in. [Login]

Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online
FAQ · Calendar

Equipment Discussions >> Mounts

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | (show all)

Planemo
sage

Reged: 08/07/10

Loc: Alabama Gulf Coast

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: alpal]
#4380538 - 02/12/11 08:59 AM

Doesn't look as huge on the video where we have a person to scale it to, looks like it may be at the high end of "portable".

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

alpal
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/15/09

Loc: Melbourne Australia.

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: Planemo]
#4381796 - 02/12/11 06:14 PM

Quote:

Doesn't look as huge on the video where we have a person to scale it to, looks like it may be at the high end of "portable".

Maybe it breaks down into comfortable size pieces
for a person of resonable strength & doesn't require
2 people to assemble it?

At least we can now all see a video of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Mg6WLerTKZg#at=18

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

Ad Astra
professor emeritus

Reged: 05/12/10

Loc: Riverside Co., California

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: alpal]
#4382367 - 02/13/11 12:06 AM

Still waiting to see some more real data. Three questions remain uppermost in my mind:
1. Max load capacity - visual and photographic?
2. Pointing accuracy / periodic error?
3. Portability - can it break into pieces easily?

Oh yeah... and the cost!!!

Dan

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

Bachus
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/25/05

Loc: Nashville,TN.

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: Ad Astra]
#4382942 - 02/13/11 09:53 AM

It sure has a AP900 look to it. The fact in the video he mentions it'll work with EQMOD is enough to perk my interest. Sooner it hits and gets some reviews and testing the better.

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

Jeff55
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/14/05

Loc: Boston MA

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: alpal]
#4383766 - 02/13/11 03:41 PM

Gee wonder if it's to soon to considering selling my CGEM...would Celestron sell a version of this...would this fill the hole between the CGEM and CGE PRO? I can't tell.

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

bardo
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 09/13/09

Loc: US

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: Jeff55]
#4383842 - 02/13/11 04:22 PM

i think its meant to compete with the pro.

i hate to be this guy but for 5k i think id rather buy a G11 and save the money. yeah it has 10 maybe 15lbs more realistic photgraphic load but at [likely] quite a bit cheaper chinese level quality. if they were roughly the same price then it would be an interesting choice... bulk v. quality. that would actually revolutionize the market like the atlas did. for AP one could buy an AO unit with money saved and use the same OTA's on a losmandy and still probablly come out ahead results wise.

basically, this mount and the CGE-Pro cost more per pound of payload than a G11 but with lesser over-all machining quality. so then whats the point in having anything made in china now if they're just going to charge more for the cheaper build? lets not even get into this mount is using the same synscan GOTO that all their other mounts use, so basically the cost of production is simply a bit bigger gears and housings for a 350% retail price increase over an atlas.

but whatever, thats just me. obviously it will likely sell anyway.

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

alpal
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/15/09

Loc: Melbourne Australia.

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: bardo]
#4383903 - 02/13/11 04:52 PM

I am hoping it will have good quality bearings compared to the EQ6.
e.g. I heard that the AP 900 & AP 1200 have tapered roller
bearings on the DEC & RA shaft.(one each end of each shaft)
The EQ6 has only ball bearings & the interent is
full of replacement kits of other better ball bearings.

I don't know about others but unless this mount could give
me pin point stars on 10 minute sub frames I wouldn't buy it -
(that is if you hook up a long Newt. to it. - mine is 1220 mm FL
& I'd want it to handle a 12" Newt)

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

alpal
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/15/09

Loc: Melbourne Australia.

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: alpal]
#4492502 - 04/03/11 12:24 AM

So what happened to the EQ8?
I am still waiting for it to be released.

By the way my EQ6 Pro is not good enough.
I just had to replace the lower declination adjustment bolt.
The bolt had bent when I had 18Kg loaded on the mount.
I now have only 12Kgs & we'll see how it goes.

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

skybsd
Post Laureate

Reged: 02/01/08

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: alpal]
#4492797 - 04/03/11 06:09 AM

One or two shops - at least in EMEA and AP are already listing the mount on their websites with the obligatory "Call for pricing".

If I were interested in getting one, I'd simply contact my local Skywatcher / Synta / Celestron distributor and ask

Regards,

skybsd

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

alpal
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/15/09

Loc: Melbourne Australia.

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: skybsd]
#4492957 - 04/03/11 08:54 AM

Quote:

One or two shops - at least in EMEA and AP are already listing the mount on their websites with the obligatory "Call for pricing".

If I were interested in getting one, I'd simply contact my local Skywatcher / Synta / Celestron distributor and ask

Regards,

skybsd

Thanks for those 2 links - no advertised price yet.
I want someone else to buy one first.

The EQ6 has a number of shortcomings - I am hoping that
this stronger model will be much better.
When you hear that higher end mounts are so good that they can do
10 minute subframes without guiding & obtain pinpoint stars
then I just wonder what this Skywatcher can really do?

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

skybsd
Post Laureate

Reged: 02/01/08

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: alpal]
#4493112 - 04/03/11 10:14 AM

Hello,
Actually - I just noticed your location in your signature..,

I'm sure I read on one of the AUS forums that there are folks out in Oz and "Far East" that were supposed to be road-testing the mount - have a word with the AUS distributor for Skywatcher if you wish..,

Regards,

skybsd

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

Bachus
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/25/05

Loc: Nashville,TN.

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: skybsd]
#4493237 - 04/03/11 11:07 AM

I think if you look at the weight capacity range this is going for , no doubt it's target for the "Celestron CGE Pro and Vixen Atlux" people. It's obvious they opted not to make a jump up to the 65lb range and go for a more drastic and heavier weight load.

With both the CGE Pro and Atlux in the $5K US dollar range I wouldn't be surprised if this new EQ8 comes in around 10%-15% less. I sure don't see it selling for for more.

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

Kchula-Rrit
super member

Reged: 10/17/07

Loc: The Matriarchy of Kzin

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: Twilight]
#4494556 - 04/03/11 10:05 PM

Quote:

How do you get to the 14 floor if there is no 13th? Serious question.

I assume that they just skip the number. I stayed in a thirteen-floor apartment building in Chicago, US and the top floor was labeled "14", not "13". The floor below it was labeled "12".

K-R.

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

alpal
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/15/09

Loc: Melbourne Australia.

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: skybsd]
#4495102 - 04/04/11 05:29 AM

Quote:

Hello,
Actually - I just noticed your location in your signature..,

I'm sure I read on one of the AUS forums that there are folks out in Oz and "Far East" that were supposed to be road-testing the mount - have a word with the AUS distributor for Skywatcher if you wish..,

Regards,

skybsd

I have had a word with my Skywatcher supplier
& they know nothing about it.
In fact they appreciated that video I posted of it.

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

skybsd
Post Laureate

Reged: 02/01/08

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: alpal]
#4495261 - 04/04/11 08:33 AM

Hello,

Quote:

Quote:

Hello,
Actually - I just noticed your location in your signature..,

I'm sure I read on one of the AUS forums that there are folks out in Oz and "Far East" that were supposed to be road-testing the mount - have a word with the AUS distributor for Skywatcher if you wish..,

Regards,

skybsd

I have had a word with my Skywatcher supplier
& they know nothing about it.
In fact they appreciated that video I posted of it.

I notice you said you contacted your local "supplier".

Just so I'm sure we're both on the same page - I did use the term "distributor" previously - that is, not a retailer, reseller or dealer.

The distributor is the single entity in any given country or region (NA/SA/EU/AP) that has the import and distribution rights for a (foreign or local) company's product(s). for instance, in the UK, most distributors do not sell direct to consumers, and if contacted, they will offer to supply a list of shops that carry the product in their dealership / reseller network.

So, was it the local distributor (as described above) with whom you were in contact? If it was, then I'm at a loss, really..,

Regards,

skybsd

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

Richard Turner
super member

Reged: 01/25/09

Loc: NC

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: alpal]
#4495263 - 04/04/11 08:33 AM

True story: Years ago some young people decided that one of them would bungee jump from a building. The building was something like 20 stories high. They calculated the height of the building based on the number of stories and rigged a bungee cord of what they thought was the appropriate length for a safe jump. What they did not know is that the building had no 13th floor, so their bungee cord was too long. The guy jumped and hit the ground, killing him.

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

alpal
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/15/09

Loc: Melbourne Australia.

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: skybsd]
#4496277 - 04/04/11 05:01 PM

Quote:

Hello,

Quote:

Quote:

Hello,
Actually - I just noticed your location in your signature..,

I'm sure I read on one of the AUS forums that there are folks out in Oz and "Far East" that were supposed to be road-testing the mount - have a word with the AUS distributor for Skywatcher if you wish..,

Regards,

skybsd

I have had a word with my Skywatcher supplier
& they know nothing about it.
In fact they appreciated that video I posted of it.

I notice you said you contacted your local "supplier".

Just so I'm sure we're both on the same page - I did use the term "distributor" previously - that is, not a retailer, reseller or dealer.

The distributor is the single entity in any given country or region (NA/SA/EU/AP) that has the import and distribution rights for a (foreign or local) company's product(s). for instance, in the UK, most distributors do not sell direct to consumers, and if contacted, they will offer to supply a list of shops that carry the product in their dealership / reseller network.

So, was it the local distributor (as described above) with whom you were in contact? If it was, then I'm at a loss, really..,

Regards,

skybsd

I have no idea who the "distributer" is.
As far as I know the supplier I spoke to imports
directly from overseas & not through a local distributer.

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan

Reged: 02/28/06

Loc: Petaluma, CA

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: Ad Astra]
#4496983 - 04/04/11 11:19 PM

My bet - look at the CGE Pro and you have your price and specs. It looks like a CGE Pro made-up to look vaguely akin to an AP900.

The gear size, altitude adjustment and split "forked" lower assembly look to be pure CGE Pro.

- Jim

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

RogerRZ
Whatta you lookin' at?

Reged: 01/09/06

Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: alpal]
#4497789 - 04/05/11 10:39 AM

Quote:

[
When you hear that higher end mounts are so good that they can do
10 minute subframes without guiding & obtain pinpoint stars
then I just wonder what this Skywatcher can really do?

What focal length would you like to image at?

Even high end mounts (Tak, AP) need guiding when using longer focal lenghts.

What those mounts permit are less aggressive autoguider settings due to their smaller (much smaller in some cases, but still there nonetheless) PE, and smoother, predictable PE curves.

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

jmiele
Patron Saint?

Reged: 12/04/10

Re: EQ7 is dead, Long Live EQ-8? new

new

[Re: RogerRZ]
#4498036 - 04/05/11 12:35 PM

There are many ways around not having an AP or ME mount. I'm a believer in the "you can make anything work" school of thought - if you spend the time to understand your equp and it's capabilities.

Over the years I had had terrible equp with huge PE and unstable mounts. By using the equp and praticing you WILL be able to do excellent things. Also, technology like SBIGs AO-7/8/etc... can turn a lower end mount into a high end performer. An AO device will even help overcome some issues in seeing stability.

By using what you have and the exp of folks hear you will be able to do great things should you choose to apply yourself.

Now you may say "fine" thats great comming from someone with an TOA-150 and an AP900. I spend many a night with ankle weights hanging off a meade LX3 looking through an OAG at 12 degrees manually guiding a picture of M42. I had just as much fun then as I do now - maybe more. TBH, I get confused with all this tech today. It's like looking under the hood of my Benz, I can't even fined the dipstick anymore

Good luck...

FWIW... Joe

Post Extras:

Print Post

Remind Me!

Notify Moderator

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | (show all)

Extra information

28 registered and 20 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator: Bowmoreman, bilgebay, iceblaze

Print Thread

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Thread views: 10062

Jump to

Cloudy Nights LLC
Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics