Telescope Reviews: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200

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hectar
member

Reged: 12/24/12

Loc: Ontario, Canada

Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

#5612789 - 01/08/13 09:55 PM

Hello All,
I have been thinking about buying this mount for AP with zenithStar and a dslr. Is it worth 500 bucks? Has any one had auto guided it to improve 0.5 arc second resolution?
Following are the advertised specs:

• 1.25" German equatorial mount
• Payload: 11 lb (5 kg) (excluding counterweight)
• Mount weight: 6.2 lb (2.8 kg)
• Dual-axis servomotor with optical encoder
• Drive motor with 9-speed setting for precise tracking
• Resolution: 0.5 arc second
• Go2NovaTM 8408 controller with Advanced GOTONOVA® GoTo Technology
• Over 59,000 celestial objects
• Low power consumption (8 AA batteries for 16 hours consecutive tracking)
• Vixen-type dovetail saddle
• 2 lb. counterweight included
• 3/8" threads to fit on camera mount
• Standard 1.25 inch heavy-duty stainless steel tripod
• Metal worm & gears
• Guiding Port
• Polar Scope included!

Thanks .

Post Extras:

orlyandico
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/10/09

Loc: Singapore

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

[Re: hectar]
#5612797 - 01/08/13 10:05 PM

the 0.5 arcsecond is some fake specification. it is the resolution per tic of the motor encoder. no relation at all to its real performance.

IMHO the celestron CG5 ASGT for a very similar price is a safer choice for AP with a short refractor. unless the weight of the CG5 is a big issue..

Post Extras:

Astronewb
sage

Reged: 09/19/11

Loc: Connecticut

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

[Re: orlyandico]
#5613481 - 01/09/13 10:48 AM

Hi, this is a nice little mount capable of imaging with lighter loads. (About 8-9 pounds) Here's a link to another forum thread with guided image 10 minutes long. The poster stated he did 15 minutes as well.

http://www.astronomyforum.net/telescope-mounts-forum/149013-smarteq-will-do-4...

Hope the info helps. Note that the mount will have to be modded a bit in the tripod area to eliminate flex..there are threads referring to that as well.

Clear skies,

Paul

Post Extras:

andysea
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/03/10

Loc: Seattle, WA

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

[Re: Astronewb]
#5614806 - 01/10/13 01:21 AM

I've been looking at the SmartEq for DSLR imaging. Seems like a good portable solution, it would be interesting to see more AP results. The Skymemo is probably more a accurate tracker but it does not have goto or a dec motor.

Post Extras:

hectar
member

Reged: 12/24/12

Loc: Ontario, Canada

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

[Re: andysea]
#5625414 - 01/15/13 11:04 PM

Thanks for the replies guys.
Paul, I wonder if you could post more images here??.. It would sure help. Thanks

Post Extras:

Astronewb
sage

Reged: 09/19/11

Loc: Connecticut

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

[Re: hectar]
#5625927 - 01/16/13 10:21 AM

Quote:

Thanks for the replies guys.
Paul, I wonder if you could post more images here??.. It would sure help. Thanks

Sure, here's an image of the California Nebula taken with 120 sec subs:

California Nebula by Astronewb2011, on Flickr

Here's M101 at 120 secs:

M101..Borg 60mm by Astronewb2011, on Flickr

David_Wood has a stunning image of M42, 4, 10 minute subs, on the AF forum. I'll see if I can get his permission to post it up here for you.

Cheers,

Paul

Post Extras:

hectar
member

Reged: 12/24/12

Loc: Ontario, Canada

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

[Re: Astronewb]
#5627247 - 01/16/13 11:50 PM

They look wonderful!
Thanks for posting them!

Post Extras:

Astronewb
sage

Reged: 09/19/11

Loc: Connecticut

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

[Re: hectar]
#5627758 - 01/17/13 10:19 AM

Quote:

They look wonderful!
Thanks for posting them!

Your welcome, and here's the single 10 minute image taken by David Wood and posted here with his permission:

Dave Woods M42 by Astronewb2011, on Flickr

Just an indication of what the little mount is capable of.

Clear skies,

Paul

Post Extras:

hectar
member

Reged: 12/24/12

Loc: Ontario, Canada

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

[Re: Astronewb]
#5628842 - 01/17/13 08:37 PM

Mount sure did the great job. Amazing picture and thanks for posting it!.

Post Extras:

lakeorion
professor emeritus

Reged: 08/03/10

Loc: Lake Orion MI

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

[Re: hectar]
#5666063 - 02/06/13 09:33 PM

I just pushed the button on one. I plan on focusing (no pun intended) on wide angle DSLR shots and hope this is the ticket.

Post Extras:

lakeorion
professor emeritus

Reged: 08/03/10

Loc: Lake Orion MI

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

[Re: lakeorion]
#5669882 - 02/08/13 10:17 PM

AAARRRGGGHHH!

Backordered.

Post Extras:

Raginar
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/19/10

Loc: Rapid CIty, SD

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 [Re: lakeorion]
#5669901 - 02/08/13 10:27 PM

Post Extras:

PaulN
member

Reged: 10/12/08

Loc: Massachusetts

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

[Re: Raginar]
#5760614 - 03/27/13 03:31 PM

Any know how long the back order may be?

Thanks

Paul

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ourobouros2k2
sage

Reged: 11/10/11

Loc: okc area, oklahoma

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

[Re: PaulN]
#5760712 - 03/27/13 04:17 PM

I have the non-pro version of the SmartEQ and I love it! It's light weight and portability have really put the fun back into astronomy for me. I use it with a coronado PST and an Orion short tube 80. Great tracking with rough polar alignment. Lots and I mean lots of fun to use! Looking forward to the handset update that has an ASPA equivalent alignment routine.

Post Extras:

S.Boerner
super member

Reged: 04/29/10

Loc: Eastern Missouri

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

[Re: ourobouros2k2]
#5760990 - 03/27/13 06:19 PM

From iOptron: They won't be getting a new shipment until the middle of April.

Post Extras:

PaulN
member

Reged: 10/12/08

Loc: Massachusetts

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

[Re: S.Boerner]
#5762579 - 03/28/13 03:16 PM

I know the Pro can use Vixen-style dovetails, but any suggestions as to what brand e,g. Astro-Tech? I want to mount a Canon DSLR. Thanks

Post Extras:

Astronewb
sage

Reged: 09/19/11

Loc: Connecticut

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

[Re: PaulN]
#5762681 - 03/28/13 04:33 PM

Quote:

I know the Pro can use Vixen-style dovetails, but any suggestions as to what brand e,g. Astro-Tech? I want to mount a Canon DSLR. Thanks

For the most part...all Vixen dovetails will work, but you should choose a length to suit the camera/lens combo you are using. If you have a very long telephoto lens, a 7" may allow you to balance better than a 3" for example.

ADM makes a versatile dovetail, with slots and hole spacing to suit almost any setup.

http://admaccessories.com/V_Series_Universal.htm

Hope the info helps and clear skies..

Paul

Post Extras:

PaulN
member

Reged: 10/12/08

Loc: Massachusetts

Re: Ioptron SmartEQ PRO Portable GOTO GEM #3200 new

[Re: Astronewb]
#5764879 - 03/29/13 02:31 PM

Paul - thank you...that's a good link... I have just have to wait until the mount is shipped. Thanks again.

Post Extras:

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