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In-house competition: AL55i?

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi
5 replies•173 views
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The AL55i is just a little heavier, I was wondering if it is genuinely stronger, more reliable when placed on the same tripod?
Payload claimed to be higher for the AL55i, but that might be due to the weaker tripod of the SA GTi…
andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli avatar
There is one on offer (customer return) from FLO. You might want to jump on it (and report back)?
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andrea tasselli:
There is one on offer (customer return) from FLO. You might want to jump on it (and report back)?

I know, still a bit pricey for a practically EQ5 pro without handset. Also looking at second hand AZ-EQ5 options for some more stability: we've non-stop winds up here
andrea tasselli avatar
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You'll still need a pier extension for any standard eq. mount though…
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Some are coming with one (AZEQ5) while iOptron CEM's and the ZEQ25 are natively OK.

What makes me worry a bit, at very low Latitudes this seems to be quite unbalanced (same story for the SA GTi btw):
andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli avatar
You need to spread the legs wide and it'll be all right. HD mounts are even worse than that, yet they work.