Sky-Watcher 200 PDS with HEQ5

Hi Diego!
I used this setup in the past…and still sometimes using it. The answer depends on your targets I would say. For long-exposure deep-sky imaging: It's working yes (see my profile) but your guiding will most likely be not good. Also depending on the additional gear you will have attached and the wind strength (high surface area of the 200 PDS). Due to the (most probably) bad guiding or keeping the target in center of the field of view in general you will also lose sub frames…and thereby precious imaging time. So I would really not recommend it for that purpose. I would rather buy (at least) a EQ6-R Pro for the 200 PDS instead. For planetary imaging I personally would do that as a beginner and on a budget because you are anyways using high frame-rate planetary cameras (or e.g. fast DSLR shutter speeds). I don't know about your personal situation. As a beginner you may don't know if you want to stick to the hobby in the future…so maybe I wouldn't spend a fortune on the gear (and you could still perfectly use your HEQ5 with a smaller refractor for example). On the other side: If you already know that you want to stick to AP and also want to extend your gear in the future I would always consider (if in your budget) to buy gear (especially mount!) wich is "extendable" so I would choose a mount with a higher weight limit although you don't need it at the moment. I hope that helps a little. All the best and clear skies!

Hello Diego,
I started in Oktober with this Setup you mentioned. It is good for beginning, but you can expect that 30-50% of Images you take are trash, because of the inadequate Mount. It is working and you can take nice looking pictures.
My recommendation is, that you chose another mount. If you are slightly mobile with the setup (so if you don’t have an observatory where the Teleskope can stand 24/7) my advise is to NOT chose an EQ6 or similar. The HEQ5 is heavy (15 kg Mount + 15kg Counterweights). I guess the EQ6 even more.
i chose a harmonic mount, wich was nearly as expensive as the HEQ5 but can carry 20kg. At only 5 kg for the mount and 5kg counterweight.

There is a website or Discordserver from Proxisky where you can buy (if you feel confident go for the discordserver). Don’t buy the UMi17 lite for your 200PDS. I have an UMi17

greetings

Hi everyone,
Thanks for all of your answers, I now have a better idea of this setup. Given the fact that I’m only 16 I have a quite tight budget.
After seeing what images some of you have in their profile, I think that a least for the start, I will try this combination. Also giving me the time to learn everything I need to know in this passion. I would probably take the NEQ6 or EQ6 mount later, when it would be really necessary.
Thank you all again for your answers and clear skies to everyone !

Hi Diego,

I started with the same combination of 200PDS and HEQ5 aiming for astrofotography from the beginning.

It did work, BUT
- my first HEQ5 went straight back and I got an exchange as the mount drive would stop working with no clear pattern (so apparently there are good and bad new ones)
- supplying a 7 Amp power supply really was essential - at full slew speed it needs all the amps
- the power plug tends to drop too easliy out of the socket, especially when there is the slightest tension on the wire - really sucks as you start over entirely 
- over time with growing image trains weight did become more of an issue and I kept adding weights which then overload the mount, especially with long newtonians
- the moving RA + Dec parts tend to get loose and need to be retightened once in a while. If you overtighten it makes horrible noises killing its gears
- overall the mount and hand control appears a bit aged and looks like from the 90s/00s - but is sturdy & solid 

Bottom line: I did get a solid work horse for good money - but I have wished more than once I would have gone straight to the EQ6 - if you have the money, it is well spend on a mount which is ahead of your ambition. But if you want to find out how deep ou want to go, the combi is a great and proven starting point.

Arny