xcy
super member
Reged: 05/15/06
Posts: 102
Loc: Europe
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Is the Orion Sirius EQ-G non GoTo mount (Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Syntrek) a much better mount than the CG-5/EQ5 to justify the higher price? What are the main differences?
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ccs_hello
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/03/04
Posts: 2700
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Hi XCY,
The numbering scheme really confuses you, isn't it  ?
At one time,
CG3 = EQ2
CG4 = EQ3 (or EQ3-2)
CG5 = EQ4
This did not play too well, since few people compare mounts capacity just by numbers .
So later EQ4 magically morphed into EQ5 with minor changes (e.g., tripod leg size). I.e., EQ5 roughly equals to EQ4. But the mount head came from the same heritage.
After the successful CG5/EQ5 product, a new product line was introduced: EQ6/Atlas.
Then a new mount was produced somewhere in between EQ5 and EQ6 (closer to EQ6 than to EQ5). Now there is a problem, what should we call it? EQ5.5, baby-EQ6, EQ6-jr, EQ5-sr, NEQ5, LEQ6, ... . Now you can guess what it called today.
HEQ5 shares a lot of EQ6 design but is smaller.
EQ-G non-GOTO version of the HEQ5 still has the same intelligent motor controller, hybrid stepper-motors, and is EQMOD ready.
Clear Skies!
ccs_hello
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doug76
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 1714
Loc: 30.8N 90.0W
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The rating of the Sirius mount is about the same as the CG-5, but as it uses the same motors and gears as the Atlas, you know it will be quieter and I wouldn't doubt, somewhat stronger. Is the cost difference justified? I can't say, but you never seem to here it mentioned as an alternative to or upgrade from the CG-5. Generally it seems people move right up from the CG-5 and it's Meade equivalent LXD-75 to the Atlas. Kind of the orphan child, is the Sirius/HEQ-5.
Doug
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Truck Driving Astro-Fisherman
(I'm so confused!)
Meade 12" Lightbridge with Dob Driver II
Celestron C6S OTA
Celestron C6R OTA
Celestron Omni XLT150 OTA
Celestron Omni XLT127 OTA
Celestron CG5-ASGT mount
Celestron Omni CG-4 mount
Celestron (large) Nexstar SE2 mount
Celestron (small) Nexstar SE1 mount
Meade SWA 34mm
Televue Panoptic 24mm
Pentax XW 10mm, 7mm
Televue Plossl 32mm
BO/TMB Planetary 9mm, 5mm, 4mm, 3.2mm, 2.5mm
Astro-Tech diagonals
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w orchid
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/23/07
Posts: 570
Loc: Tampa, Fl
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The mount is an upgrade to the CG5.
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Celestron C8 orange tube circa 1982
Stellarvue SV102ED
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doug76
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 1714
Loc: 30.8N 90.0W
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Barely, I would say, and not worth the major increase in price. I figure a lot of people must think so, as like I said, most upgrade to the Atlas from the CG-5 and the like.
Although I do like the idea of quieter slewing motors!
Doug
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w orchid
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/23/07
Posts: 570
Loc: Tampa, Fl
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The noise or lack of it justifies the increase in price.
--------------------
Celestron C8 orange tube circa 1982
Stellarvue SV102ED
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doug76
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 1714
Loc: 30.8N 90.0W
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Not where I live. No one to bug!
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ccs_hello
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/03/04
Posts: 2700
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HEQ5 is an EQ6 shrink down. It has no link to CG5/EQ4/EQ5 design.
EQ6 IMHO has quite a few design advantages over CG5/EQ4/EQ5.
The junior is a scaled version of EQ6 to make it lighter (some like this easier grab-n-go idea) but with less load carrying capability.
I think HEQ5's tripod steel tube diameter might be too small, which does not go together with the name HEQ5. Hopefully factory will correct it.
P.S. price is dependent to product volume.
My statement is based on technical merit, not price/performance consumer-report style scoring.
Clear Skies!
ccs_hello
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stevecoe
"The Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Posts: 2035
Loc: Arizona, USA
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I am very happy with my Sirius mount, it supports the 6" f/8 refractor quite well, for visual only. When I want to take images, I put on the ED80 that I bought it with. It traks very well indeed. I have taken several 135mm shots with no guiding at all. I walked over and looked through a friend's scope while it was tracking. Then back over to my scope and the guide star was at the edge of the box in the 12mm guiding eyepiece. Great stuff.
One difference between mine and a "stock" setup. I had a Meade Field Tripod that had a machinest friend make an adaptor plate so the head fits that tripod. I am happy with the set up. Yes, it twangs a little when you touch it to focus with a 6mm eyepiece, but it calms down in 5-8 seconds. I can live with that.
Clear skies to us all;
Steve Coe
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150mm 6" f/8 Celestron Refractor on Sirius Mount
80mmED 3" f/7.5 Orion Refractor
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
New Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
Edited by stevecoe (07/20/08 05:21 PM)
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xcy
super member
Reged: 05/15/06
Posts: 102
Loc: Europe
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How easily can the non-GOTO version of the HEQ5 be upgraded to GOTO compared to CG-5/EQ5?
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doug76
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 1714
Loc: 30.8N 90.0W
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In these new versions, probably like the Atlas. Just add the Goto hand control.
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xcy
super member
Reged: 05/15/06
Posts: 102
Loc: Europe
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If the non-GOTO version of the HEQ5 has the same controller and motors as the EQ6, why it should not make a major upgrade from the CG-5/EQ5?
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doug76
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 1714
Loc: 30.8N 90.0W
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Weight rating difference 5lbs, that's why.
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xcy
super member
Reged: 05/15/06
Posts: 102
Loc: Europe
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The price difference between the HEQ5 Syntrek and the EQ5 (with dual motors) is around $300. Is it worth paying this amount to get the HEQ5 instead of the EQ5?
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xcy
super member
Reged: 05/15/06
Posts: 102
Loc: Europe
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I am interested in unguided piggyback photography using a long telephoto lens. Is the RA motor drive of the HEQ5 any better than the one for the EQ5?
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