Is anyone going for Vixen GEM?
In my own experience, EQ-6 Pro and Sphinx SX has about equally good tracking, afterall it is just tracking!!
EQ-6 Pro Goto is better than Sphinx SX simply because the star alignment algorithmn is more complex in EQ-6 and take care for more intitial errors. The worst feature of Sphinx (Starbook) is that the direction buttons don't stop immediately after releasing. i.e. the mount still move a bit after releasing the button. Of course you can use the zoom feature to slow down the motors. But just for centering an object you zoom in and zoom out, is simply not to my taste, too complex and not in other GOTO systems.
PS: Skysensor is for GP series, leave it out of the thread.
EQ-6 Pro Goto is better than Sphinx SX simply because the star alignment algorithmn is more complex in EQ-6 and take care for more intitial errors. The worst feature of Sphinx (Starbook) is that the direction buttons don't stop immediately after releasing. i.e. the mount still move a bit after releasing the button. Of course you can use the zoom feature to slow down the motors. But just for centering an object you zoom in and zoom out, is simply not to my taste, too complex and not in other GOTO systems.
PS: Skysensor is for GP series, leave it out of the thread.
Photo Album:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14113965@N03/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14113965@N03/
Ok. I see your point of view.
Actually, I have both. And I tend to use my Sphinx more because it is 'lighter'. As for the problems you mentioned, I agree with you - that's why I use high power when I slew manually.
Cheers!
Actually, I have both. And I tend to use my Sphinx more because it is 'lighter'. As for the problems you mentioned, I agree with you - that's why I use high power when I slew manually.
Cheers!
[80% Steve, 20% Alfred] ------- Probability of Clear Skies = (Age of newest equipment in days) / [(Number of observers) * (Total Aperture of all telescopes present in mm)]
I havent tested out the autoguiding response of Sphinx, so I cannot say for sure whether it is a good mount for astrophotography.
You may think of it as, mounting a C8 or C9.25 and then do a 5-star alignment and the object only lands 1/4 near the centre of the finder cross hairs, then try to centre the object using the Starbook (Chart mode to Scope mode, zoom in then slew). If you cannot see the object in the finder, then all the best
Its compactness is really its quality for sure.
EQ-6 is a monster, the head is already 14kg I think. Very tough to move it around.
You may think of it as, mounting a C8 or C9.25 and then do a 5-star alignment and the object only lands 1/4 near the centre of the finder cross hairs, then try to centre the object using the Starbook (Chart mode to Scope mode, zoom in then slew). If you cannot see the object in the finder, then all the best
Its compactness is really its quality for sure.
EQ-6 is a monster, the head is already 14kg I think. Very tough to move it around.
Photo Album:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14113965@N03/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14113965@N03/
I can get a HEQ-5 Pro at RMB4500 which is more or less SGD1000. Doesn't it sound cool?
The pointing accuracy of Sphinx is that bad? I was thinking that with the Starbook, I can just playing with it and it should be right there.
I think 14kg is ok. My 8"LX90 is around 20kg. Maybe it's the design that make it hard to haul around.
The pointing accuracy of Sphinx is that bad? I was thinking that with the Starbook, I can just playing with it and it should be right there.
I think 14kg is ok. My 8"LX90 is around 20kg. Maybe it's the design that make it hard to haul around.
Clear skies,
Robin.
Cyclops Optics - QHYCCD, William Optics, Televue, STC & Optolong filters
Free shipping for purchases above SG$250
Robin.
Cyclops Optics - QHYCCD, William Optics, Televue, STC & Optolong filters
Free shipping for purchases above SG$250
For HEQ-5, you have to be aware of the issue that you can't use it at our latitude until you do a small modification to the mount.
14kg is only the head, tripod is about 5kg, counterweights is about 10 kg and OTA is about 6-7kg then no accessories are carried yet.
You can improve Sphinx accuracy by polar aligning very carefully, i.e using drift alignment, so that adds 30-45 mins to its setup.
14kg is only the head, tripod is about 5kg, counterweights is about 10 kg and OTA is about 6-7kg then no accessories are carried yet.
You can improve Sphinx accuracy by polar aligning very carefully, i.e using drift alignment, so that adds 30-45 mins to its setup.
Photo Album:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14113965@N03/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14113965@N03/
Hmm... initially I had difficulty with pointing (my first equatorial mount.. heh) but after lots of help from guys here, I managed to get it working. Now I have no problems with pointing accuracy (in fact, I periodically test by slewing off to another star and then slew it back again) with just a 2-star alignment.
Tracking with just a 2-star alignment is another matter...
Tracking with just a 2-star alignment is another matter...
[80% Steve, 20% Alfred] ------- Probability of Clear Skies = (Age of newest equipment in days) / [(Number of observers) * (Total Aperture of all telescopes present in mm)]