EQ3-2 Mount - how much can it take?

Hi all,

I plan to get a refractor in a few months (this one - www.stellarvue.com/sv80lorder.html ) but am hoping not to have to buy a mount, as I have an EQ3-2 mount (came with the Helios 6" Newtonian that I have) - thing is, is the mount good enough for the scope?

Obviously, if I had the money, I'd getting a Losmandy of some sort without bothering about the EQ3-2, but I'd really prefer not to have spend any more money - the scope itself will be expensive enough!!

Cheers,
Tom

Tom - there's absolutely no info out there on the payload capacity of the EQ3-2!

The closest I got was 'will easily carry up to a 5" refractor' - but then a triplet APO is not just an ordinary OTA... Even with an 80mm APO, there's no knowing if the mount will carry it.

If you are only going to do visual observing, the EQ3 will probably be fine. If you are considering astrophotography, the reviews I've seen of the EQ3 are not the best. But it can be done - just don't expect too much.

If astrophotography is a goal, I think the 80S would be a better choice than the 80L It'll be more forgiving of the mount.

Foir visual though, the 80L is a nice scope. The Stellarvue APO's ususlaly get good reviews and I'm sure you'll be happy with the OTA. You can always upgrade the mount later on when your bank balance has recovered

Hope this helps...

Cheers

Dave McD

Hi Dave,

Yeah, I've been tearing my hair out looking for decent specs for how much load the EQ3-2 will take, and there's nothing out there!

I'm going for the 80L because it's geared for visual viewing - I do have an interest in astrophotography, but only with a mounted camera, not prime focus, and even then, only on minor work taking pictures of constellations. I'm not concerned, or I'd have gone for the 80S, which is geared for photo work.

I suppose I could flog the EQ3-2 and put the proceeds to something heavier....hmmm. Ah well, have plenty of time to decide

Cheers,
Tom