10 Must-Know answers about Telescope Mounts for Astrophotographers!

[@HeavenlyBackyardAstronomy]

Hi Wildo, Very good video that every beginner and intermediate astrophotographer or Astro-sky viewer needs to watch. Lots of great information

[@AstroForumSpace]

Thanks!

[@sbkarajan]

Something new to the telescope is Harmonic Drive Mounts... They are usually AZ + EQ capable, and super compact, nearly invisible.... Currently, there are two main players in the market and I'd love to see your reviews on Rainbow Astro RST-135 and Hobym Crux 140... These two weigh about 7 lb, but the max capacity is about 30+ lb.... There are bigger versions too, 110 lb capacity, I think, from a mount so tiny.... They seem to be the future of all mounts...

[@AstroForumSpace]

They were always very expensive but I see there are some new mounts on the market. Interesting indeed, thanks for this suggestion, I'll look into it.

[@seanmolony-redstickastro238]

This was a very well thought out and delivered video. It is full of a lot of great information. All of which I agree to. I world like to see a part two to this video and give maybe your top five EQ mounts you like. I have had many in the past, including the EQ6 that you show here. Ioptron has a number of center balanced mounts that are great that I have tried also. I wanted a Paramount but it was to expensive so I have settled on the Losmandy G11g which has been wonderful. There are several small EQ mounts out there as well that are good for travel from Ioptron as well. For polar alignment I use Polemaster but have the Ipolar on my small CEM25p mount. Great job. Sean

[@AstroForumSpace]

Hi Sean, thanks! I've made a video about a year ago about different mounts that can support up to15 kg (33lbs) - so called beginner mounts. Since (unfortunately) prices and delivery times have changed quite a bit since COVID-19, I'll consider making another video, thanks for your suggestion! Here's a link to my older video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/boSxdX6ElKyniKM

[@seanmolony-redstickastro238]

Great thanks. I should have checked. I thought about that later on lol. Anyway I thought you did a great job. Sean

[@aldodelmonterodriguez6877]

I think this has been the most complete and educational video that I’ve seen about everything about telescopes and mounts and guiding and cameras and astronomical stuff!! Thanks !!!

[@AstroForumSpace]

Thanks so much!

[@leotexas3485]

I'm glad I saw this video! With my limited knowledge of telescopes, I originally wanted the NexStar Evolution 8 Edge HD SCT and would get the Wedge for astrophotography. After seeing this video and having the limitations of the Wedge vs. a dedicated EQ mount brought to my attention, I am now leaning more towards the Advanced VX 8 EdgeHD for beginner to intermediate astrophotography. Thank you for this!

[@AstroForumSpace]

Thanks so much!

[@catchingphotons]

Hey Wido! Thanks for producing this cool video! Funny that we did a video about mounts simultaneously... 😉👍 I'm looking forward to using my mount IF IT'S NOT RAINING ANYMORE!! Clear skies my friend! -Chris

[@AstroForumSpace]

Hey Chris, ah I see it now, great video! We should work together more often 🙂 Yes, neverending clouds in western Europe, hang in there!

[@catchingphotons]

@@AstroForumSpace That would be super cool! 😎 Gonna contact you if anything comes to my mind. Clear skies!!

[@GaryPClark]

Thank you, was considering getting a mount soon, certainly involves more than going to the telescope shop.

[@AstroForumSpace]

Hope I didn't make things more complicated for you Gary...

[@5219spark]

Wonderful video, thank you for sharing. I'm just in the infant state of getting involved with astrophotography. I'm still trying to decide on what mount to purchase. I’ll be using a Nikon z9 with a 17 to 28 f/2.8 and my 180 to 600 f/6.3 lenses with the mount I choose. The mounts I’m currently considering are iOptron SkyGuider Pro and the Sky watcher star GTi or wait an save for the EQM-35. With the iOptron SkyGuider do I need to purchase the ipolar or can I purchase a Autoguide setup. Also read there’s issues with the wedge on the. Sky Guider.

[@cliveslack4698]

Excellent video and explanation

[@jiffijoff9780]

Excellent video, Wido. Regarding Ascom it's very important to (somehow) check if the Ascom driver of your mount supports all major control functions. I'm my case the Ascom driver of the Bresser Exos2 Mount only supporty the Goto function. But proper remote control needs more than plain Goto. Very important are: sync, feedback, tracking rate, park/unpark and MoveAxis on both axis. I ended up buying and installing a different controller and stepper motors from Astro Gadget with full Eqmod/Ascom support. As a bonus the system is now belt driven with less back lash. The only drawback is the rather loud singing of the stepper motors - which I can personally live with. Clear skies from the distant neighborhood in the east 🙂🍻

[@AstroForumSpace]

Thanks! Yes, some mounts may not be fully compatible, thanks for pointing that out. I've heard that the Meade LX-85 also had ASCOM driver issues when the mount was launched. The distant neighbourhood...hmmm, maybe Germany or all the way to China :-)? Clear skies!

[@jiffijoff9780]

@@AstroForumSpace it's funny you mention that. If I recall correctly the initial design and handbox of the Bresser Exos was based on the Meade LX-85. Sounds to me the Ascom issues are the _same_... 🙈🙂 Yeah, Northern Germany, not too far. I think I'm within the area of the Dutch cloud/weather website you occasionally use and show 🤔🙂

[@AstroForumSpace]

Ah, you're in the same weather boat, hehe.

[@EmeraldHillsSkies]

Wow - great work, Wido!!!

[@EmeraldHillsSkies]

If you like, you could add Sharpcap to the imaging tools which platesolve.

[@AstroForumSpace]

Hey, I didn't know that, thanks!

[@EmeraldHillsSkies]

@@AstroForumSpace Thank YOU!

[@philfastmike3496]

Excellent as usual! Thankssssssssssssss

[@AstroForumSpace]

yyyyyyyou're welcome, lol.

[@MrMartgolf]

Hi Wido, A great vlog again, lots of information for us beginners, Just 1 question, I have the Celestron 8 inch had, what guidescope do you use please? Thank you

[@AstroForumSpace]

I have an old 50/162 orion guidescope with asi120mc-s. I'd go for a 60mm id i had to replace this one. Here's my blog on guidescopes: astroforumspace.com/selecting-a-guide-scope-and-autoguiding-camera-for-astrophotography/

[@Ronbo765]

Hi Wido! When you use SharpCap to polar align, do you use the guide camera or the main camera? Seems to me the main camera would be most accurate.

[@AstroForumSpace]

Up to a focal length of 1400mm I always use my main camera. At superlong focal lengths (2000mm or higher) I use the guidescope.

[@Ronbo765]

@@AstroForumSpace I assume that if using the guide scope, it must be accurately aligned to the main scope, like a traditional finder scope?

[@perry3928]

Hi Wido. Excellent video as always. I have the Celestron 8se with alt az mount. Can you recommend a zwo cam in the 3 to 4 hundred dollar range for luner, planetary, and some dso objects? I know I'm limited to 30 seconds or less but it's a start. Thanks. Clear skies!

[@GalileoUAS]

ZWO 183 mc

[@ma-fi1nu]

I 2nd the zwo183mc

[@AstroForumSpace]

Hi Perry, if you're going to do lucky imaging (short exposures with alt-az) and lunar/planetary, I would go for a camera that has a fast FPS (framerate per second) for video recordings of the moon and planets, and a camera that also has decent resolution as the celestron 8SE has a long focal length...Maybe I'd go for the ASI 178MC - I'm using that one myself for lunar and planetary with my 8" Edge HD and I'm quite happy with that camera. I have a blog on the subject of planetary and deep-sky cameras here: astroforumspace.com/best-zwo-cameras-for-planetary-imaging-and-deep-sky-dso-astrophotography/

[@perry3928]

Thanks Wido and Mario.

[@michaelklemm-abraham7298]

Hi Wido, Good video as always but as always in astronomy, everybody has different opinions. One thing I need to mention is: please don't make planetary imagers mad. They also are astrophotographers but as you correctly mentioned, they have completely different needs than us guys doing DSO imaging. One other thing that is on my mind is about EQ mounts. Some mounts that are still good astrophotography mounts like the EQ5 type mounts (EQ5, EXOS2, AVX, CG5 and many others) are not always best if you use the original Goto Motors. Today you can make great Goto Systems for these mounts (Onstep) and I just made one myself as well as buying EQStar Goto kits (like asterion). They do have often stronger or better motors than the original Goto kits as well as belt drives (I did my own belt mod on an original EQ5 goto kit and it is possible, but keeping correct gear ratios and working with an existing housing sometimes make things a little harder than you might expect). The thing is: if you are new and on a budget, an EQ5 with EQStar type Goto drive can lead to better results than the original motors. Also, buying an EQ5 and EQStar type kit usually is cheaper than upgrading your EQ5 mount with original goto motors as well as if you buy the EQ5 Goto directly from a dealer (Last time someone asked the EQ5 was around 400€; the EQStar kit was around 300€ and the EQ5 Goto was around 800€). Sorry if this came in like a rant. I think it is just an additional bit of information but for some, it might be helpful. Clear Skies.

[@AstroForumSpace]

Hey, I'm doing planetary imaging myself, it's a lot of fun😂. Check my videos here is you're interested: kzbin.info/aero/PLrfMN3RZZNHd4mHF9F2BWWmbKxtUcgbK1

[@mrdjango2171]

Hi Wido, again a beautiful video in these cloudy days and nights.👍💪👍 I’m a big fan of N.I.N.A. and is for me the program to use in the future. I made a pier for my EQ6R pro but the distance between my mount and pc is 12 à 15meters. What would you do to connect them both? Use a powered USB-cable or a UTP cat6-cable? Any other ideas 💡. Thanks in advance Grtz Mr.Django 😎

[@AstroForumSpace]

Thanks! I always use a powered usb. And I've also experimented with a mini pc close to the mount with a WiFi connection and TeamViewer or splashtop software. Hope this helps!

[@mrdjango2171]

@@AstroForumSpace Many thanks and I’ll try it 👍

[@raphnhat]

Hello Wido! My AZEQ6 payload is 20 kg. Mean my telescope max is 10kg (approximately 130mm)!!! :(

[@AstroForumSpace]

No man, it's only an unwritten rule and it depends on your mount. I've put up to 10kg on my EQ6R pro and tracking was fine.

[@raphnhat]

@@AstroForumSpace Thanks Wido! I think so too 😀 10 kg and even more a bit should be no problem for EQ6R or AZEQ6R. The sky here is not good in last month. I hope it will better in next couple days 😆 Clear skies!!

[@tjsastrophotography125]

Does the counterweight need to be figured into the scope weight.

[@AstroForumSpace]

No, the counterweight is not part of the payload, it is a counterweight for the payload as the name suggests, to keep it balanced.

[@jurgenvandemaele2896]

Hallo ik heb de ioptron gem 28 gekocht en is gewoon super

[@AstroForumSpace]

Mooi, goed om te horen!

[@stewartlife]

Hello, can I know what’s the difference with these computerized goto mounts versus star trackers?

[@faridhasanov4983]

Goto mount when alignment can automatically go to tje target tracker much u need to point at the object

[@AstroForumSpace]

Hi there. Trackers are made for DSLR cameras, you can use them to extend your exposure time to make wide field pictures of the night sky. Computerized go-to mounts are used to track the sky with a telescope/camera combination.

[@danbrown586]

In addition to the other comments, star trackers often are only motorized in one axis. You manually point your camera at whatever you want to photograph, then engage the tracker, which will (mostly) keep the object centered.

[@AstroForumSpace]

Yep, good point!

[@stewartlife]

Thank you for the explanation! Is there any preferred one over the other? If I have both DSLR and telescope.

[@donaldkasper8346]

If you want an EQ mount...then pans image of what, about a $3000 mount? Maybe I was off and this is a $5000 mount. You think of astrophotography as astrophotography. I see it used as high resolution CMOS cameras to enhance modest telescopes without huge mounts and to track to get enough light to see structures not visible to the naked eye. That is images not as the direct goal, but as an addon to the telescope for more detailed imaging. Yes, you can do it all real remote and lazy for just about what, $10,000? Do you think that is your average astronomy buff budget?

[@AstroForumSpace]

Check kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaDSfXxuoqp-aKs

[@donaldkasper8346]

@@AstroForumSpace If you want stability or have an OTA over 40 pounds, you mount it to a concrete post in the ground.

[@notitamar126]

Can i still track even if my polar alignment is 2 degrees of?

[@AstroForumSpace]

You'd better improve your polar alignment, lol. PHD2 should be able to correct but at a certain point, the error will be too large to correct.

[@hugopritchard8455]

Thanks for posting this. I know this stuff already, but I wish this video was a available years ago.

[@rabgemini2025]

Hi Wido Thanks fot your awesome video. Could you suggest me a good binoculars mount for my zhumell 25X100 that is afffordable? I am not into Astro Photography . Thanks in advance.

[@AstroForumSpace]

Hi, I don't have a Zhumell, but from the pictures it looks like it has a standard tripod connection, so any tripod will probably do fine.

[@tomjones2121]

Price of mounts just went up 20% in the last month ....

[@AstroForumSpace]

COVID and fuel costs... Hope there will be brighter days ahead!

[@paganphil100]

@1.07......latitude, not longitude.

[@Astrofrank]

The star is not called Octantis, it is called *Sigma* Octantis.

[@AstroForumSpace]

Mea Maxima culpa

[@Astrofrank]

@@AstroForumSpace Just a small one - it is just a dim star people on the Northern Hemisphere only know from polar finder scopes. ;-)