Ioptron ZEQ25GT mount?

Post by **VinSnr** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 4:08 pm

Anyone here has tried the Ioptron ZEQ25GT mount?

Saw many good reviews on the tracking accuracy and most importantly, this is probably the first mount I heard that is design for 0 degrees latitude, so no pier is needed.

The mount head weighs only 4.7kg, but can take a payload of 12.3kg, a 2.6 ratio! Could easily handle a 9.25" SCT (9.07kg) if the payload is correct.

Anyone has experience with this mount?

Davegn · Post by **Davegn** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 5:22 pm

Hi VinSnr,

I m currently using this mount.

All photos were shot with a 500mm f6.3 Unguided.

Overall I m impressive with the mount. Fairly potable.

However, there are some drawbacks too.

No permanent PEC (you need to record every time you start out)
Note that my photos above. None of the PEC was turn on.

Can be shaky in strong wind.

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 6:05 pm

Beautiful photos! Shot in Singapore somemore! [smilie=good-job.gif]

Great job by an AP beginner. Not THAT beginner. [smilie=embarrassed3.gif]

Post by **VinSnr** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 6:51 pm

Dave,

Those are great photos! How many minutes were the exposure of those photos? And what is the AP setup that you use?

For a 4.7kg mount head, that is pretty impressive.

Davegn · Post by **Davegn** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:28 am

VinSnr wrote:Dave,

Those are great photos! How many minutes were the exposure of those photos? And what is the AP setup that you use?

For a 4.7kg mount head, that is pretty impressive.

Hi VinSnr

Taken with a pentax K30 via a celestron 80mm Ed doublet:

M27 18 x 1min with CLS filter.
M51 25 x 30 sec.
M42 41x 30 sec.

K30 with a 150mm x1.5 TC lens:
M31 58 x 30 sec.

All photos were unguided.
All photos PEC were turn off for testing purpose.

Photo of the setup.

orly_andico · Post by **orly_andico** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 9:23 am

There's a guy on CN forum (cotts) who's done 20 minute subs (guided of course) with this mount. Enough said. [smilie=admire.gif]

Frankly I have been looking for a portable mount and have been fruitlessly searching for a well-priced Tak P2Z or EM10/EM11, but this one is darn cheap, has GoTo, and the mount head only weighs 11 pounds.

Davegn · Post by **Davegn** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 10:28 am

Hi Orly,

Thanks for sharing.

Here is a full report by others on CN:
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/ ... in/5704125

it very impressive for a portable mount. [smilie=admire.gif]

anat · Post by **anat** » Fri Sep 20, 2013 6:23 pm

Hello,

I am interested in this mount also. It seems the support for iOS Skysafari is coming.

Best regards,
Anat

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 6:34 pm

According to the table of contents, this mount is reviewed in October 2013 issue of Sky At Night Magazine:
http://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/issue/october-2013

beginner · Post by **beginner** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 10:22 pm

Dave,

Thanks for sharing your experience with the mount.
Nice photo too considering that you took from a terribly light polluted area.

Vinsnr, Orly and Anat have you guys bought this mount.
Currently this is the lightest mount (with goto) in the market.

Orly, you don't seem to be fan of China make stuff, since you are still waiting for the Jap ones.

SingAstro