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Advice me for next equipment plan

Sky-Watcher AZ-EQ6 GT Equipment Buying Advice
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Which option do you prefer to go with?
Single choice poll 13 votes
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Tareq Abdulla avatar
Tareq Abdulla avatar
I want to plan wisely for a serious next purchase so i don't regret and i can calm down and stop buying more for a while, so i am not sure how it should be if it was you.

Let's assume you have about $5000 maximum, which one of the following plans you prefer to take? I do both, planetary and DSO, also both, visual and imaging

1. 102mm f/7 refractor [APO or ED] + 0.6x reducer + IMX571 color <<< (As third setup with two 90mm f/6 + 0.8x + IMX571 [OSC + Mono]) + EQ mount up to $1500 + accessories [such as two autofocusers, filters, ASIAir, ….etc] = DSO

2. Third 90mm f/6 + 0.8x + IMX571 color + EQ mount up to $1500 + two autofocusers = DSO

3. Petzval/Quint focal length 350mm + 294 color + Harmonic EQ mount + 3 Autofocusers + 1 filter = DSO

4. 20" Dobsonian + one good eyepiece = Planetary + DSO

5. 120mm f/5 achromatic + 0.7x reducer + IMX571 mono + harmonic EQ mount + 2 autofocusers = DSO

6. 0.7x reducer if i will use my 6" f/4 Newt + imx571 color + harmonic EQ mount + 3 autofocusers + 3 filters = DSO

7. 150mm Achromatic + 102mm f/7 achro + 0.6x reducer + IMX571 color + harmonic EQ mount = DSO + Solar


Above are the most items in my mind as i want to getting close to finalize my setup which i kept working on collecting since 3 years ago and not done, i am not in rush for imaging because my sky is clear, only light pollution is the issue which is making me to buy more stuff actually.

I won't list my gear all of it for now as i have many, but if that can help i can post it later if you ask me, but i can post some as guide to help for above options.

- As scopes i have mainly 10" RC for galaxies, two 90mm triplets which i need a third setup to match it, two 60mm doublets and Mak and two Newts and ST80.

- As cameras i have 5 cooled cameras including two IMX571 sensor one is mono and one is color so a third is a plan, and 6 non cooled cameras [planetary and solar], one additional non cooled for guiding only.

- As mount i only have Skywatcher AZ-EQ6GT.

- As filters, mainly will be Astrodon Ha 5nm and Chroma OIII/SII 3nm all at 1.25", Antlia Ha 3nm 2", Optolong SII 3nm 2", UV/IR cut 2", so it is either dual band filter such as Optolong L-Ultimate 3nm better than extreme, or just OIII 3nm free halo and this will force me to buy a mono IMX571 then [not interested in to use one mono cam for 3 NB filters together], not sure if i should buy L-Pro or similar LP filters, i have IDAS D2 and i am not much happy with it.

- As controlling and connection i bought a mini PC, Pegasus PB Advanced, Skywatcher Wifi adapter or EQMOD instead, and not sure if i should add ASIAir, i have only one autofocuser which is Pegasus Focus Cube v2, will buy a second one indeed for second 90mm scope, but i want to buy ZWO EAF for my Askar FRA400 which i didn't mention.

In my area and with light pollution B8/9 i found out that i either use very very fast optics such as SCT Hyperstar or RASA which are out of my plan/mind, or using many imaging setup to cut out time, i decided the latter one as i already bought more gear by the time, and my main setup is 90mm to be honest, for galaxies and clusters or even planetary nebulae i don't think i need more than two setup, if i will use my Newt or RC then i just need to add another one and i am done, but that means i must buy a strong mount, in fact i have to buy a better mount than my AZ-EQ6 to carry RC, but getting a mount for like 70-100LB will mostly eat that budget anyway, so i delayed this plan to 2024, i am thinking about a new model/brand for mount so i will give them time until it is more tested and reviewed maybe [secret] then i can decide if that will be my choice, for that reason i keep thinking about not getting any other EQ mount now unless something small very affordable to be used with only 60mm or FRA400 and so portable, what do you think.

I am open to ideas and discussions more, not into canceling things or replacing such as [Buy RASA, don't go for 20" but go for 14", don't get 102 but get Tak 106,…etc], i chose above options for reasons, i can replace models but not numbers because it is all about numbers [focal length, aperture, FOV,…etc].
Tareq Abdulla avatar
Tareq Abdulla avatar
Still no answer, difficult?
andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli avatar
With all your gear I'd buy a larger 2nd mount as to have two rigs to run. Personally the 20" dob would be my favorite, if you manage to mod it to add go-to and tracking (plus rotator for the camera). Not an easy task…
Tareq Abdulla avatar
Tareq Abdulla avatar
andrea tasselli:
With all your gear I'd buy a larger 2nd mount as to have two rigs to run. Personally the 20" dob would be my favorite, if you manage to mod it to add go-to and tracking (plus rotator for the camera). Not an easy task...

I am sure if i will afford the 20" dob in future then i will try all my best to get an EQ platform for it, that can track nicely for planetary and not bad much for DSO, i might do lucky imaging then, but this only will happen if i get and saved that much amount of budget, and i can't be sure it will happen any soon, the only way is that i have to wait until July or August, if that happened then nice, if not then i think this 20" option should be out and i look at the other options very soon better.
Joe Linington avatar
Joe Linington avatar
I would buy, second EQ6 class mount, Second mono IMX 571 with wheel and filters, an EAF for your matching scopes, looks like 6 in total and run a dual mono rig with 60mm, 90mm and 6" Newts.
Tareq Abdulla avatar
Tareq Abdulla avatar
Joe Linington:
I would buy, second EQ6 class mount, Second mono IMX 571 with wheel and filters, an EAF for your matching scopes, looks like 6 in total and run a dual mono rig with 60mm, 90mm and 6" Newts.

Still many things to think about, because i still not preferring too many filters to be used, for stars i think about using a color camera rather than mono + RGB, but for NB it is 3 filters i have to use or sometimes two, now if three with two mono cameras there is one filter will be less used maybe if i need to use two filters at once for same time, that is why i decided to go with dual band filter with OSC so i can shoot for 3-5 hours for two bands rather than 1-2 one filter and another 2-3 another filter.

EAF will be in my list very soon i hope for my FRA400, but i will buy Pegasus focus motor for my second 90mm, but i don't know what to buy from both my Newt and my RC.

I am not thinking about another EQ6 class mount, either smaller one for 60mm or FRA400 or much bigger to carry more such as my 10" RC and another scope maybe two 90mm together with it, something like 70-100LB class mount, and definitely my AZ-EQ6 will be in use as backup or bonus, this way i will make sure i can put more than two or three scopes at once, and then i can image in one year that i can image in 3 years with one setup only,
Howard Richard avatar
Howard Richard avatar
The most important thing is the mount. The EQ-6 is not really up to the task of the 10 inch RC. Since you have the short focal length covered, and you have a collection of telescopes…. CQ350 Pro Mount with Heavy Duty Field Tripod…
Tareq Abdulla avatar
Tareq Abdulla avatar
The most important thing is the mount. The EQ-6 is not really up to the task of the 10 inch RC. Since you have the short focal length covered, and you have a collection of telescopes.... CQ350 Pro Mount with Heavy Duty Field Tripod...

^^^ This, or another mount of same rate or even more, i thought about that, but kind of it will take much longer time than i can think about, most mounts of that rates are over $3000 anyway, so even if i get over $3000 i feel like i want more gadgets before i can decide on the mount, because i never know what i buy next, maybe 12" or 16" scope who knows, also don't forget that i don't have observatory or pier so getting a bigger or heavier mount for portable won't be best idea, but if i buy a smaller cheaper mount then at least i can carry and use more that with smaller setup.

I waited long, and every time i wait there is something coming out in my way, in the past i never thought about 10" RC, and now there is CQ350 mount and also 3nm NB or dual NB filters, every time i think about settling my plan then suddenly something new changing it, sometimes i need to think about using one or two setup first before i use 10 setup all together, and every time i add a task or target in my plan, such as solar imaging/visual since last year so i focused on solar gear too and standby DSO/Planetary gear for a while.
Nick Grundy avatar
Nick Grundy avatar
Tareq Abdulla:
In my area and with light pollution B8/9 i found out that i either use very very fast optics such as SCT Hyperstar or RASA which are out of my plan/mind, or using many imaging setup to cut out time, i decided the latter one as i already bought more gear by the time, and my main setup is 90mm to be honest, for galaxies and clusters or even planetary nebulae i don't think i need more than two setup, if i will use my Newt or RC then i just need to add another one and i am done, but that means i must buy a strong mount, in fact i have to buy a better mount than my AZ-EQ6 to carry RC, but getting a mount for like 70-100LB will mostly eat that budget anyway, so i delayed this plan to 2024, i am thinking about a new model/brand for mount so i will give them time until it is more tested and reviewed maybe [secret] then i can decide if that will be my choice, for that reason i keep thinking about not getting any other EQ mount now unless something small very affordable to be used with only 60mm or FRA400 and so portable, what do you think.


How often do you image away from home? You mention no more EQ mounts. If you don't need to travel or move it a lot, I would get a nice heavy mount (maybe cem120 or some equivalent). You can't go wrong with a mount since it improves everything you put on it. 

Though if you want some mobility (i recently went this path to use with my FRA400 and Edge8) I tried the HEM27, HEM44EC, and NYX-101 recently. I wanted a "leave it full setup and carry it out and put it away the next morning rig". Let me know if you go down that path and happy to provide more info
Helpful Engaging Supportive
Tareq Abdulla avatar
Tareq Abdulla avatar
Nick Grundy:
Tareq Abdulla:
In my area and with light pollution B8/9 i found out that i either use very very fast optics such as SCT Hyperstar or RASA which are out of my plan/mind, or using many imaging setup to cut out time, i decided the latter one as i already bought more gear by the time, and my main setup is 90mm to be honest, for galaxies and clusters or even planetary nebulae i don't think i need more than two setup, if i will use my Newt or RC then i just need to add another one and i am done, but that means i must buy a strong mount, in fact i have to buy a better mount than my AZ-EQ6 to carry RC, but getting a mount for like 70-100LB will mostly eat that budget anyway, so i delayed this plan to 2024, i am thinking about a new model/brand for mount so i will give them time until it is more tested and reviewed maybe [secret] then i can decide if that will be my choice, for that reason i keep thinking about not getting any other EQ mount now unless something small very affordable to be used with only 60mm or FRA400 and so portable, what do you think.


How often do you image away from home? You mention no more EQ mounts. If you don't need to travel or move it a lot, I would get a nice heavy mount (maybe cem120 or some equivalent). You can't go wrong with a mount since it improves everything you put on it. 

Though if you want some mobility (i recently went this path to use with my FRA400 and Edge8) I tried the HEM27, HEM44EC, and NYX-101 recently. I wanted a "leave it full setup and carry it out and put it away the next morning rig". Let me know if you go down that path and happy to provide more info

Kind of both, i mean i only do it from home, but i always leave my mount assembled and i carry it all the time for imaging and then back in, it is bloody heavy even without counterweight and setup on it, so that definitely stopping me to take it out a lot, and no spot to make a permanent observatory anyway, so i will keep using my mount, but i need another either heavier for better carry payload for my larger scopes, or smaller portable for my smaller scopes so i can carry it out a lot, it is all about to do imaging more rather than do it better way, so with heavy mount i will do imaging like 10 times per year at best i can, but with portable mount and setup i can make this 10 times per month.
Nadir Astro avatar
Nadir Astro avatar
Big dobson for the win ! smile I had 16" and regret selling it (had to because of the relocation). Also planning to get 20" in the future.
Tareq Abdulla avatar
Tareq Abdulla avatar
Nadir Astro:
Big dobson for the win !  I had 16" and regret selling it (had to because of the relocation). Also planning to get 20" in the future.

That was my plan in 2019, but something bad happened to me so i changed it to 14" dob, my eyes was on one site only to get that 14", nearly the end of year 2020 i got shocked as that site doesn't ship to my country, so then i forgot about dobsonian and planetary and just bought more refractors and cooled cameras, now i am back to dobsonian plan with 20", or small mount, or complete my dual imaging 90mm setup with third one, or save to have enough money for something else rather than 20" dob or better mount, time patience plans are all scrambling by time passing anyway.
Nadir Astro avatar
Nadir Astro avatar
Yeah, time is passing and light pollution gets worse. Not to mention our eyes as they are aging.
So if you like visual astronomy - a big Dob is something you must have, rather than another imaging rig that you already have.
mackiedlm avatar
mackiedlm avatar
I'd honestly say that with the gear you have listed here and in your CN signature, you dont NEED any more gear right now. You would benefit  much more from getting and using some of the gear you already have and take some DSO images.
Concise
Tareq Abdulla avatar
Tareq Abdulla avatar
Nadir Astro:
Yeah, time is passing and light pollution gets worse. Not to mention our eyes as they are aging.
So if you like visual astronomy - a big Dob is something you must have, rather than another imaging rig that you already have.

I think you are perfectly right, so i will try to focus my plan towards a dobsonian more this time, i hope so.
Tareq Abdulla avatar
Tareq Abdulla avatar
I'd honestly say that with the gear you have listed here and in your CN signature, you dont NEED any more gear right now. You would benefit  much more from getting and using some of the gear you already have and take some DSO images.

The thing is that i was using the gear i am already having and i had issues, main issue is the lack of time for taking more and more data and frames, and i always wished to have more gear to finish quicker, they didn't make fast scopes for nothing then, so when i got more then things got easier but i wasn't done yet, so that i keep looking for more and also for another items adding [visual, solar,....etc], using my current gear doesn't change the fact i need more, and i am using them already but i still can't get enough data unless i spend more extra nights to finish which is not in my mind actually, under light pollution B8/9 most targets i need to have minimum 10-20 hours per target, which translates into like 3-6 nights under my skies.