Telescope Reviews: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25

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Astronewb
sage

Reged: 09/19/11

Loc: Connecticut

Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25
#5705778 - 02/28/13 05:22 PM

Thought it might be a good idea to start a thread with links to my YouTube videos.

Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-kN_FFjxMA&feature=youtu.be

Part Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey50RMnwEj4

Happy viewing, caution, videos contain graphic images of me, parental discretion is advised

Paul

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zjc26138
Loved By All

Reged: 02/24/05

Loc: Mingo Junction, Ohio

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: Astronewb]
#5705838 - 02/28/13 05:46 PM

Excellent review and videos Paul!

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Astronewb
sage

Reged: 09/19/11

Loc: Connecticut

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: zjc26138]
#5705842 - 02/28/13 05:48 PM

Quote:

Excellent review and videos Paul!

Thanks so much..that was my screen premier. Can't wait for the Oscars now...lol.

Best,

Paul

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zjc26138
Loved By All

Reged: 02/24/05

Loc: Mingo Junction, Ohio

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: Astronewb]
#5705873 - 02/28/13 06:00 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Excellent review and videos Paul!

Thanks so much..that was my screen premier. Can't wait for the Oscars now...lol.

Best,

Paul

If I could vote for the Oscars, you'd have my vote.

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Ricky
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/09/03

Loc: Nor Cal

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: zjc26138]
#5705896 - 02/28/13 06:13 PM

Im really impressed with the free flowing movement of the dec and ra...looks like balancing is a breeze.

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Astronewb
sage

Reged: 09/19/11

Loc: Connecticut

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: Ricky]
#5705924 - 02/28/13 06:29 PM

I'm really impressed too Ricky..the first time I moved the mount in RA and DEC, I had to do it again just to make sure I was seeing it right.

There are no traditional clamp locks, so there is NO drag whatsoever in the RA and DEC axes. I had the RA so finely balanced at one point, that when I released the OTA, it just swung back and forth like a pendulum for about a minute.

Clear skies,

Paul

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Midnight Dan
Postmaster

Reged: 01/23/08

Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl...

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: Astronewb]
#5705963 - 02/28/13 06:49 PM

Nice vids! Thanks for the review.

-Dna

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Bluejay08
member

Reged: 09/29/09

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: Midnight Dan]
#5706305 - 02/28/13 10:12 PM

Thanks for the videos!

Jay

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geminijk
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/03/08

Loc: TN

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: Bluejay08]
#5707902 - 03/01/13 10:22 PM

great videos Paul. was wondering if you had any larger scopes that you plan on using with this mount?

John

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Darrenlh
journeyman

Reged: 09/08/10

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: geminijk]
#5708528 - 03/02/13 10:47 AM

Thanks for the video. You did mention play on the declination axis in video number one. Did you adjust this at all later on? I don't remember you mentioning it. I am on the verge of buying a smaller mount for travel this year, and this one is on my radar, along with the Celestron VX.

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ghataa
professor emeritus

Reged: 06/20/11

Loc: Central, NJ

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: Darrenlh]
#5708742 - 03/02/13 12:36 PM

Hi Paul,

Excellent videos! Would love to see one for the SmartEQ Pro!

Best,

George

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Astronewb
sage

Reged: 09/19/11

Loc: Connecticut

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: ghataa]
#5708890 - 03/02/13 02:05 PM

Quote:

Hi Paul,

Excellent videos! Would love to see one for the SmartEQ Pro!

Best,

George

Hi George, thanks. I'll see what I can do regarding that mount also.

Clear skies amigo,

Paul

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Wembley2000
super member

Reged: 01/07/12

Loc: NW Ohio

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: Astronewb]
#5709027 - 03/02/13 03:45 PM

Hello Paul, do they use the same style planetary gear boxes as the ieq45? Those caused me quite a bit of high order pe and dec backlash in my ieq45.

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Astronewb
sage

Reged: 09/19/11

Loc: Connecticut

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: Wembley2000]
#5709072 - 03/02/13 04:12 PM

Quote:

Hello Paul, do they use the same style planetary gear boxes as the ieq45? Those caused me quite a bit of high order pe and dec backlash in my ieq45.

I'm not sure, but I think the gear boxes are quite similar to the iEQ30. Much smaller than the iEQ45 set.

I haven't run into any PE issues, but I've only had about 2 hours of clear sky since I received the mount..

Once the skys stay clear long enough, I want to see how low I can get the PE value and try PEC training as well. Big list of to-do's...not enough clear nights.

Re the iEQ45, high DEC backlash is usually caused by an incorrectly adjusted hinge set (too much side to side play). The other thing that can cause that issue is a DEC worm that has excessive side to side play as well. Both can be corrected with a minimal amount of dis-assembly if those causes are present.

Cheers,

Paul

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gramaglia
member

Reged: 04/02/12

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: Astronewb]
#5723181 - 03/09/13 11:31 PM

First of all thank you for providing the videos. What do you think is the practical max load for astrophotography on this new mount? I'm looking to buy a new mount for AP that will not need a subscription to a chiropractor; therefore, no CGEM atlas types and was leaning towards the new celestron VX till I saw your videos on this mount. I have a couple of additional questions?
Does the Ioptron have permanent periodic error correction or does the PEC need to be redone each imaging session.
SInce you seem to be the only owner of of this new mount that posted on the forum could you provide an image you took with it along with the weight of the equipment you used. If it can track accurately with 18-20 lbs for 10 to 20 minutes subs it would an amazing good price excluding the money saved by not visiting the chiropractor!!!
Thanks,
Luca

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Astronewb
sage

Reged: 09/19/11

Loc: Connecticut

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: gramaglia]
#5723241 - 03/10/13 12:19 AM

Quote:

SInce you seem to be the only owner of of this new mount that posted on the forum could you provide an image you took with it along with the weight of the equipment you used. If it can track accurately with 18-20 lbs for 10 to 20 minutes subs it would an amazing good price excluding the money saved by not visiting the chiropractor!!!

Hi Lucas, I'm pretty sure the standard 2/3ds rule applies, so about 18-20 pounds should be cozy on the mount.

The PEC is permanent, it records the PEC, You have to turn the playback on while tracking. The mount has a record on/off menu settng.

The only image I have to date with the mount is from last night, I braved the cold and wind to get in a couple hours testing the tracking and autoguiding. Had the 90mm Stellarvue, Borg 50/SSAG, Nikon and AT2F on the mount, so probably about 12-14 pounds? I imaged M51 while I was playing with PHD and settings and did a quick process to post it up on Flickr. Found the mount can do 2 and 1/2 minute unguided without trailing and a simple polar align and One Star Align. This autoguided image is 11, four minute lights, 44 minutes, 8 darks and 8 bias, no flats.

M51_ZEQ25ps by Astronewb2011, on Flickr

I didn't image any longer than four minutes because there is no excellent 2-star align routine with resulting polar offset figures to dial it in perfectly. There are now 4 alignment routines, but the important one, Polar Align...using a combo of mount adjustments and HC adjustments is not working properly with the initial firmware it shipped with. And I'm not about drift aligning at all...:)

Clear skies Lucas..

Paul

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gramaglia
member

Reged: 04/02/12

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: Astronewb]
#5723275 - 03/10/13 12:46 AM

Thanks Paul,
The image looks great and the tracking is also pretty damn good. I'm assuming by simple polar alignment you mean using the polar scope "clock face" with time and spacing indicated by the mount controler. The pointing accuracy for 1 star alignment seems amazingly accurate as well M51 pretty much dead center of your image. For 850$ you can't ask for anything more: accurate pointing, good tracking and very light weight mount in the 30 lbs load category.

Thanks again for the information you provided.
Luca

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Astronewb
sage

Reged: 09/19/11

Loc: Connecticut

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: gramaglia]
#5724177 - 03/10/13 04:11 PM

Quote:

The image looks great and the tracking is also pretty damn good. I'm assuming by simple polar alignment you mean using the polar scope "clock face" with time and spacing indicated by the mount controler. The pointing accuracy for 1 star alignment seems amazingly accurate as well M51 pretty much dead center of your image.

You're exactly right..just positioning Polaris in the right place on the reticle, and then doing a simple One-Star align. After the One Star align, I returned the mount to the 'zero position', and started from there, just to see if it would put the target in the FOV of the camera/scope. (2.25 x 1.6 degrees)

Clear skies,

Paul

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Pinbout
Post Laureate

Reged: 02/22/10

Loc: Montclair

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: Astronewb]
#5724237 - 03/10/13 04:34 PM

iOptron really tries. just wish they would make a right angle polar scope, my knees can't take being on the ground anymore.

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Phil Cowell
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 05/24/07

Loc: Southern Tier NY

Re: Links to YouTube videos..iOptron ZEQ25 new

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[Re: Pinbout]
#5724435 - 03/10/13 06:22 PM

Yeah a right angle polar scope is the way to go. Hope someone is listening.

Phil

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