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artcarter
member
Reged: 08/22/12
Loc: Olympia, WA
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Purchase of iOptron iEQ30 - good vs bad
#5539322 - 11/25/12 07:43 PM
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I'm contemplating the purchase of iOptron iEQ30 along with a C6 OTA.
Here's my dilemma. I had a stroke a few years a ago and I'm limited on what I can lift and manipulate. I'd like to get an iEQ45 w/ a C8 but I'm not sure I can handle that size. Would like to do some planetary & DSO AP.
Anyone have any thoughts on this mount?
TIA
Art
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MikeBOKC
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/10/10
Loc: Oklahoma City, OK
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Re: Purchase of iOptron iEQ30 - good vs bad
[Re: artcarter]
#5539365 - 11/25/12 08:18 PM
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I do not have this mount but I have seen one set up and it looks to be a very compact and easily managed package to me. I imagine the heaviest component would not be more than 10-12 pounds.
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Midnight Dan
Postmaster
Reged: 01/23/08
Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl...
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Re: Purchase of iOptron iEQ30 - good vs bad
[Re: MikeBOKC]
#5539380 - 11/25/12 08:30 PM
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Hi Art:
Are you thinking about astrophotography, or just visual? If you're looking at visual alone, you might be better off getting something like the NexStar 6SE. Celestron is having a sale on them now, so they are $80 cheaper than normal.
-Dan
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artcarter
member
Reged: 08/22/12
Loc: Olympia, WA
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Re: Purchase of iOptron iEQ30 - good vs bad
[Re: Midnight Dan]
#5539423 - 11/25/12 09:12 PM
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I plan on doing AP.
Art
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psandelle
sage
Reged: 06/18/08
Loc: Los Angeles
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Re: Purchase of iOptron iEQ30 - good vs bad
[Re: artcarter]
#5539543 - 11/25/12 10:35 PM
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I've had the iEQ30 since it came out (one of the first). Great mount. I can one-hand the mount head easily (granted, I'm 6'2" and in good shape...but a bad back even things out, so I don't really want to push it by "weightlifting").
I'm using a 6" "Baby" PowerNewt, Borg guidescope, etc (about 15 lbs, altogether) and am just getting the AP gear "debugged," but it go-to's well (even with an ES 152mm achro that I use for visual) and tracks well. Mine doesn't play nice with TheSkyX and had to give that software up...but everything else (MaxIm DL, Sky Safari, etc.) all work well. It has a very nice controller (though, at the moment, the latest two-star alignment firmware they have is messed up, and they're fixing it), and the polarscope is not quite Tak accurate, but not far off...plus it's plain simple. The built-in GPS is nice as well. The customer service is excellent.
I'm using the pier, which is a bit bulky to transport, but is easy and light to set up - never used the tripod.
If you have any particular questions, PM me, or ask away here.
Paul
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Midnight Dan
Postmaster
Reged: 01/23/08
Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl...
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Re: Purchase of iOptron iEQ30 - good vs bad
[Re: artcarter]
#5539603 - 11/25/12 11:16 PM
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Quote:
I plan on doing AP.
Art
In that case I think the iEQ30 would be a good choice and a good match for the C6. I have the iEQ45, and 30 is just a smaller version. I love it and especially love the light weight for its carrying capacity. The 30 should be quite a bit lighter and should be easy for you to handle.
-Dan
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Mkofski
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/19/11
Loc: Greenfield, Indiana, USA
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Re: Purchase of iOptron iEQ30 - good vs bad
[Re: artcarter]
#5539644 - 11/25/12 11:45 PM
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Quote:
I'm contemplating the purchase of iOptron iEQ30 along with a C6 OTA.
Here's my dilemma. I had a stroke a few years a ago and I'm limited on what I can lift and manipulate. I'd like to get an iEQ45 w/ a C8 but I'm not sure I can handle that size. Would like to do some planetary & DSO AP.
Anyone have any thoughts on this mount?
TIA
Art
I don't have the 30 or 45 but plan to get a small AP mount in 2013. The IEQ 30 is the one I'm mainly interested in. It will be used with a pair of 80mm refractors for AP. I have an LX80 and even if it works out for beginning AP, it is just too heavy for me and my arthritic hips and knees.
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Jim langley
super member
Reged: 07/02/11
Loc: New Holland, PA
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Re: Purchase of iOptron iEQ30 - good vs bad
[Re: Mkofski]
#5542948 - 11/27/12 10:15 PM
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I have been researching information on this mount for my c8 and AP. I wonder if the mount can handle this tube and associated AP equipment, (DSLR, guidescope, etc)?
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psandelle
sage
Reged: 06/18/08
Loc: Los Angeles
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Re: Purchase of iOptron iEQ30 - good vs bad
[Re: Jim langley]
#5543066 - 11/27/12 11:28 PM
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Jim - you going to use a guidescope or OAG? The DSLR is kinda heavy, so it'll be right on the edge for the iEQ30, would be my guess. Might make a difference on what you use to guide.
Paul
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Midnight Dan
Postmaster
Reged: 01/23/08
Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl...
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Re: Purchase of iOptron iEQ30 - good vs bad
[Re: psandelle]
#5543078 - 11/27/12 11:38 PM
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Jim:
I think an 8" SCT would be ok on this mount for visual use. For AP, you have to add a lot of weight with the camera, guide scope, autoguider, mounting hardware, etc. By the time you add it all up, you're probably pushing 20-25 pounds or so. For a mount that's rated at 30 pounds load, you should really only load it at 1/2 to 2/3 of that for AP use. So the iEQ30 should be at about 15-20 pounds or less for good AP performance.
Seems like you could make it work for AP with the 8" SCT, but it might be a bit on the edge. I know people who are imaging with an 8" SCT on a CG-5 and can get some reasonable results. But it will cause more frustration and you'll be throwing out more subs than if you had a higher capacity mount like the iEQ45.
-Dan
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