271 replies to this topic

[Hilmi]

I could take more pictures tomorrow if you guys want specific angles 

[entilza]

Searching the net and found this:  https://www.facebook...799148336799278

 

So that knob is for securing the head.

 

This thing makes the HEQ5 look big.

[Starman81]

Searching the net and found this:  https://www.facebook...799148336799278
 
So that knob is for securing the head.
 
This thing makes the HEQ5 look big.

 
That store's webpage shows that it is in stock, price: 929.00 GBP = ~$1400 US given today's exchange rate. This is in the UK though, things are usually more expensive there from what I have seen but the AZ-EQ6 GT goes for 1319.00 GBP at the same store = ~$1983, very close to the $1999 that Orion Telescopes in the US charges for their version, the Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G. So that could be the price once it reaches the western hemisphere...Not bad considering the earlier reports had it around ~$1700. 

[skyward_eyes]

The AZEQ-5 will be available here in the US. It will be on display at NEAF for those who want to see it in person. We are still running some tests through it and looking at pricing. I will know more as we get closer to NEAF. 

[vdb]

I could take more pictures tomorrow if you guys want specific angles 

Oh Yes,

- angle from where you normally look trough polarscope,

- picture of the connections, so we can determine if we can use our standard eqdir adaptor ...

 

come to mind, but the more the better ...

 

Thanks,

Yves

[Hilmi]

I'll take as many as the shop will allow me to take.

[vdb]

Cool, can you ask where the optional polasrscope goes?

 

Tx

[entilza]

Not sure where the optional polarscope goes.  Looks like they are focusing on a more electronic way of doing the polar alignment like ASPA.

 

Here is a youtube with actual usage.  Check out that funky green colour:  https://www.youtube....h?v=wKpaGEfRPRw

[Hilmi]

Polar scope goes here. Attachment is under development. My mount was ready so I sort of forgot to take more pictures 

Attached Thumbnails

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[boandpokey]

where can u buy SW mounts in America??  the good old US of A??

[vdb]

So it's external ... hmmm ... 

 

/Yves

[skyward_eyes]

Yes, the polar scope is external. 

Attached Thumbnails

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Edited by skyward_eyes, 03 February 2015 - 02:03 PM.

[vdb]

Thanks!

How do you connect it to a computer?

Via USB?

I seem to have seen the HC is not connect anymore via the old school serial like connector ...

I use eqmod ... on mu avalon, and really like it, I use a USB to eqdir cable.

 

/Yves

[entilza]

Wow, now that's external!  I wonder how well it comes calibrated also don't bump into it.  Hopefully it won't be necessary.  Thanks for sharing.

 

The USB port looks like a printer port connection.  Hopefully it will be durable...  

 

I'm not sure if eqmod will release something to be compatible with this method, it's a direct connection to the mount so it should be one less step for conversion.  

[Whichwayisnorth]

Has to be external.  Really cool.   

[johnpd]

where can u buy SW mounts in America??  the good old US of A??

 Supposedly the AZ-EQ5 will be available from Skywatcher USA. That is what Kevin from Skywatcher USA has said here. Other Skywatcher mounts (such as the AZ-EQ6) are typically not available in the USA except that Orion sells their branded copies of them. I don't know if Orion will have a copy of the AZ-EQ5 as well.

 

JohnD

Edited by johnpd, 04 February 2015 - 06:31 AM.

[Starman81]

The AZEQ-5 will be available here in the US. It will be on display at NEAF for those who want to see it in person. We are still running some tests through it and looking at pricing. I will know more as we get closer to NEAF. 

 

Kevin, will do the dual-encoder technology ('Freedom find') allow you to push the scope manually in Alt-Az without losing position and tracking still engaged? If so, that would be great. I don't know of any other mount that can do that, but then again I am not on expert on mounts. 

Here is what was written on the Tring Astro product page for the mount: 

 

A great feature of the AZ-EQ5GT is the patented ‘Freedom-Find’ dual-encoder technology. This allows the telescope to be moved manually in either axis without the mount losing its positional information. This gives the user enormous freedom, convenience and flexibility during observational sessions.

[entilza]

So this mount is on pre-order at canadiantelescopes.com  http://www.canadiant...ml#.VNKJ8fnF-s1

 

~$1700 matching the price from the Canadian version of skywatcher -> http://ca.skywatcher...tail.php?sid=69

 

So for price comparisions we have

 

HEQ5: ~ $1200 CAD   (~955 USD)

AZ-EQ5 ~ $1700  CAD (~1350 USD)

AZ-EQ6 ~ $2200 CAD ( ~1751 USD)

 

I'm not sure about the different colour availability it's all just too unsure at the moment.

 

EDIT:  Just heard from them, April 2015 no word on colours.

Edited by entilza, 04 February 2015 - 04:56 PM.

[Whichwayisnorth]

So this mount is on pre-order at canadiantelescopes.com  http://www.canadiant...ml#.VNKJ8fnF-s1

 

~$1700 matching the price from the Canadian version of skywatcher -> http://ca.skywatcher...tail.php?sid=69

 

So for price comparisions we have

 

HEQ5: ~ $1200 CAD   (~955 USD)

AZ-EQ5 ~ $1700  CAD (~1350 USD)

AZ-EQ6 ~ $2200 CAD ( ~1751 USD)

 

I'm not sure about the different colour availability it's all just too unsure at the moment.

 

EDIT:  Just heard from them, April 2015 no word on colours.

 

Cool beans.  I have no problem ordering though the Canadian store but I've never heard of or used this specific vendor.  Any one have any experience with them?  Canadiantelescopes.com

Edited by Whichwayisnorth, 04 February 2015 - 07:43 PM.

[GShaffer]

No direct experience but I have two friends who bought Duo-T mounts from them back when they still sold them. Both were pleased with the service they got......

Edit: Well that was interesting.... I just looked at the listing on CanadianTelescopes and the 1st time I looked it showed a price of $1732 CDN.....I surfed away and did a conversion to US dollars (which was just under $1400.....then went back to read the rest of the ad and the price was GONE lol....Guess they jumped the gun and got called on it by someone

Edit: LOL nope the price is back on it at $1732....

Not bad considering the exchange rate.

Edited by GShaffer, 04 February 2015 - 09:17 PM.

[ylin]

Nice price, good timing to me too. But I may still wait for the reviews.

[skyward_eyes]

We will have the AZEQ-5 here in the states. We are finishing up something here to finalize it, most likely it will be launched at NEAF but not 100% sure. We do have a lot of surprises coming at NEAF! 

 

The AZEQ-5 has dual encoders just like the larger AZEQ-6. It does give you the ability to use the Freedom Find technology. You can do your alignment and then manually move it around the sky without the loss of alignment.  

 

The AZEQ-5 can be used on its low profile tripod that you have been seeing or the typical EQ5 tripod that has been out for sometime. The low profile tripod does have an extra dedicated pier extension for those who need it. Another cool feature is the AZEQ-5 can trigger two DSLR cameras from the hand controller. So for those doing DSLR imaging you no longer need a computer or trigger to set you sequences, it can all be done from the controller. The mount will ship with two Canon trigger cables. 

 

For the US we only plan to have the white color scheme. I believe there is a red color available from the factory but we didn't like the over all finish. 

 

We will also most likely be providing the AZEQ-5 as a kit with our popular ED doublets as well as some new things coming at NEAF. 

[dr.who]

Should do one with your Esprit 80 and 100 refractor's Kevin! Then it would truly be AP out of the box, just add DSLR!

[dotnet]

The AZEQ-5 can be used on its low profile tripod that you have been seeing or the typical EQ5 tripod that has been out for sometime.

 

So the mount will fit on top of the current HEQ5 Pro tripod, or pier plates made for the HEQ5 Pro?

 

Cheers

Steffen.

[skyward_eyes]

Yes, correct.