7 replies to this topic

[BikerJake]

Hi everyone, I’m glad to finally join Cloudy Nights after lurking for ages while researching my first proper astronomy setup.

I recently dipped my toes back into astronomy with a 'smart telescope' (SeeStar S30—sorry if that’s heresy to some!), and it’s reignited my passion enough to dive into a dedicated imaging rig. My last real stargazing stint was 20 years ago as a teen with a Dobsonian, fumbling around with no clue what I was doing . Now, I’m ready to get back into it, especially since photography is a big hobby of mine. I love capturing detail, so imaging is my main focus, with some casual visual observing on the side.

I’ve nearly finalized what I think is a solid deal on my first scope: a William Optics GT81 with a guide scope (and camera), reducer/flattener, and a ZWO ASI 294MC Pro—all for £1700. Seems like a decent combo to start with..

The missing piece is the mount, and I’m here to mull over options with people who know their stuff.

I’ve been eyeing the Skywatcher EQM-35 Pro and HEQ5 Pro, but I’m also wondering if it’s worth saving an extra month or so to jump straight to a strainwave (Harmonic drive) mount like the Skywatcher Wave 100i. That last one stretches my budget more than I’d like, though.
I live in a big city with lousy light pollution (Bortle 8, clear skies are rare), so portability is key. I want something I can toss in the car for trips to a nearby dark site. Budget-wise, I’m trying to keep costs down where I can.

For reference, I’ve found a second-hand EQ5 Pro for around £500, an EQM 35 Pro for £400, while the Wave 100i runs closer to £1200 which is a big jump.
I know asking about mounts is like tossing a grenade into the room, but given my possible future setup and goals, which option do you think suits best? Is the EQM 35 Pro enough to start, or should I stretch for something beefier like the HEQ5 or even the Wave 100i? Any advice or warnings for a newbie jumping into this?

 

Much appreciated! 
J 

[reglogge]

You raise very good questions and seem to have done your homework regarding the pros and cons of the various options. My 2ct below:
- It seems that budget is important to you, so I would seriously consider buying second hand. When getting a second hand mount, try to find a seller that lets you inspect it before buying or that seems otherwise trustworthy. 

- Strain wave mounts are rare in the used market and there really is only one reason for getting one and that is the significantly lower weight. Guiding performance, features and capabilities are the same for "traditional" mounts. If the places you want to go to for imaging are accessible by car then the weight advantage of a strain wave mount is not so significant.

- When choosing between mounts, you really can't oversize them. So get the beefiest mount that fits in your budget. The beefier the mount, the better guiding you will get with a little wind and that can make the difference between throwing out 10% or 50% of your subs from a breezy night.
- I have owned the HEQ5 you mention for a long time and it is very reliable. To me it's the Toyota of mounts. It's not sexy but it gets the job done, they are usually available second hand, you can get service and spare parts if needed.There's also plenty of YouTube Videos showing how you can service it yourself. I've upgraded mine with a Rowan belt drive kit and I get excellent guiding with it with a 115mm refractor.

[BikerJake]

You raise very good questions and seem to have done your homework regarding the pros and cons of the various options. My 2ct below:
- It seems that budget is important to you, so I would seriously consider buying second hand. When getting a second hand mount, try to find a seller that lets you inspect it before buying or that seems otherwise trustworthy. 

- Strain wave mounts are rare in the used market and there really is only one reason for getting one and that is the significantly lower weight. Guiding performance, features and capabilities are the same for "traditional" mounts. If the places you want to go to for imaging are accessible by car then the weight advantage of a strain wave mount is not so significant.

- When choosing between mounts, you really can't oversize them. So get the beefiest mount that fits in your budget. The beefier the mount, the better guiding you will get with a little wind and that can make the difference between throwing out 10% or 50% of your subs from a breezy night.
- I have owned the HEQ5 you mention for a long time and it is very reliable. To me it's the Toyota of mounts. It's not sexy but it gets the job done, they are usually available second hand, you can get service and spare parts if needed.There's also plenty of YouTube Videos showing how you can service it yourself. I've upgraded mine with a Rowan belt drive kit and I get excellent guiding with it with a 115mm refractor.

Hey reglogge, thanks for the thoughtful reply! Honestly, this has been the best kind of homework, no complaints here, though the info overload has been **** high at times   

You’ve made some great points that have me rethinking things after digging deeper. I’m super tempted by the Wave 100i, mostly for its lower weight and the 'newer tech' guiding approach. But your comment about wind is very relevant here in the UK. A lightweight strainwave mount on a carbon fiber tripod feels like it could be a disaster on breezy nights, and like you said losing 50% of my subs to shaky guiding would be a PITA.

That got me into my photography mindset when I’m shooting landscapes, I hang a bag or weights under my tripod to dampen wind turbulence. I wonder if that trick could stabilize the 100i enough to make it viable? Still, you’ve got me leaning back toward the 'traditional' mounts too, the HEQ5 especially. The idea of a 'Toyota of mounts' is reassuring being reliable / serviceable, with spare parts and YouTube tutorials etc. The Rowan belt upgrade sounds good too, I have seen some listed with this, I’ll have to look into that.
Now I’m somewhat torn, stick with portability and 'new tech', or go beefier with the tested over time tank of a mount... What do you (or anyone else) think about weighting a 100i setup vs. just grabbing an HEQ5?

[72Nova]

My 2 cents is to save up and get a harmonic mount but there is nothing wrong with cutting your teeth with something less expensive.  Just know that this hobby is a money pit.

 

I started imaging in 2020 with a little AZGTi mount, 60mm refractor, and DSLR.  Got my first real mount (EQ6R Pro) three years ago and it’s been excellent, but it’s HEAVY.  Two weeks ago I got an AM5 and regret not getting one when they first came out.  Unless I’m imaging with multiple scopes on a given night, the EQ6R Pro probably won’t get used often.

 

I understand budget constraints so if you can get a used EQ5 at a fraction of the cost of a new harmonic, it should hold you over for a couple of years. 

 

Good luck with your decision.

Edited by 72Nova, 17 March 2025 - 08:23 PM.

[prsnikt]

@BikerJake   I recently started a thread so new-to-modern-stuff people (like me) could do some lurking:

 

https://www.cloudyni...ds-strainwaves/

Do drop by! 

[BikerJake]

@BikerJake   I recently started a thread so new-to-modern-stuff people (like me) could do some lurking:

 

https://www.cloudyni...ds-strainwaves/

Do drop by! 

I will certainly take a look! 

[BikerJake]

So to finish this post up, the Skywatcher 100i won the decision. I am sure I will have more posts to follow in the future once the setup is all put together  .
 

Now to just add a ASIAIR and I think (my wallet hopes) it's all good to start imaging. Super excited!!
 

I also plan on filming my journey with this as a total newbie and adding to YouTube. More for my own memories, but if it can help / inspire others I am all for that.

Cheers!

[reglogge]

I looove it when people document their journey and put it on Youtube. So looking forward to your experiences. Good luck and clear skies!