so, a 15kg OTA, 2 min subs unguided, wind gusts .. and still got great results; seems impressive so far. Thanks for the video. Clear Skies!

Oh WOW ! This is exactly what i want ! I'm seling my old setup (AZ-EQ6 GT) + 81 WO ... and going to improve to 150esprit .... and i had a big dilema with mount. But thanks for the video now i know what should i buy 😉

Good honest review, Steven. To me, Skywatcher have not thought about the issue of cables moving around. I wouldn't buy a CQ350 for that reason. It's the same reason that puts me off an EQ8 mount. I own 2 CGXL mounts and although they're not perfect, I do love the cable management on them. The power lead, the hand controller lead, and the computer USB cables all remain completely static (as you know, as you have one too :) )

@StevenMorrisPhotography

Жыл бұрын

I couldn’t agree more with what you said, the CQ350 and EQ8 are solid mounts that’s for sure, however it’s just the cable management side of things.

Cool looking scope. I've been following it for a couple of years now.. good to see that it's finally out. Will be interested in seeing how well it guides.

@StevenMorrisPhotography

Жыл бұрын

I’m looking forward to that too :)

Nice review! That is a beast of a mount! I never seen a Skywatcher mount that had cables setup like that. That looks like a bad design choice on their part as that is snag city! Maybe they are trying a new concept? Either way cables should be coming out back not the front! Hopefully it's guiding performance makes up for the engineering pitfalls. Enjoy your "Beast Mount"! Oh and nice image of Orion! CS!

I just recently purchased a Losmandy G11G or else Id really be looking at this mount pretty hard. It looks likes a great inbetweener of the EQ6 and EQ8 for sure, but that's why I looked at Losmandy.

That's a usb3 type b port next to the aux ports and a USB 2 type b on the front.

Hey Steve - Good to see that Skywatcher have filled this gap, this is a mount I've been interested in so will be good to see how it goes. Those front ports are a little puzzling 🤔.

@StevenMorrisPhotography

Жыл бұрын

I agree, they have filled the gap in their line up that’s for sure and it’s a very solid mount. Just not sure about the cable management side of things.

Very interesting! Cool stuff. 👍🏼cs

Looks a lot like the CEM70. That tripod looks huge also.

@StevenMorrisPhotography

Жыл бұрын

The tripod is a beast, it might even support the EQ8

Nice looking mount but I'm very disappointed at the placement of the hub. They should have placed it at the back bottom of the mount head like iOptron does with the CEM70. Sure you can still cable manage well with a little bit of effort but it seems like an oversight for a mount at this price point.

It's a pity the mount have a few serious short comings. With the Hand controller, what were they thinking?m with cables in the front? At least on the skywatch EQ6 PRO, the Gsnd controller plug is on the side, so less of an issue. I don't use a hand controller now, use the wifi module. A beefy tripod

Hello, is your Esprit 150 blocks on tripod legs while pointing high zenith altitudes?

It looks a beast pf a mount Steve but I don't like the USB power hub on the front of it, look forward to seeing more though.

@StevenMorrisPhotography

Жыл бұрын

Yeah I haven’t had the chance to test out the usb hub. I’m a bit like you, I think the hub should be on the back of the saddle not the front, doesn’t make much sense unless they wanted RASA’s on the mount then it makes total sense lol.

They need a longer knob. But overall a nice mount and review😍

@StevenMorrisPhotography

Жыл бұрын

It’s all about that knob lol, thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

Looking good! Do you already have some guiding RMS numbers?

@StevenMorrisPhotography

Жыл бұрын

Not yet mate, shouldn’t be far away. I’ve purchased some guiding equipment for the zwo architecture and that should be arriving within days.

Nice run through Steven. Looks like a solidly built mount. But what were they thinking about putting the cable inputs in the front!! There looks to be huge potential for snagging cables with this rather bizarre design.

@StevenMorrisPhotography

Жыл бұрын

I do agree mate, unless there is a way to turn the head around for the usb connections to sit out the back. Other than that it’s a great mount, very solid.

Leg spreading, your knob and central shaft.. you can talk some Steve.. and dont be sticking your fingers in. I`ll be playing around with it a little bit tonight! 🥒

Looks meaty for sure, I’d like to know the size of the worm set, and whether it’s got permanent PEC out of the box? Re the handset as it’s a serious Astrophotography mount most will choose to run without the handset I’d imagine. I certainly don’t know anyone in this game that still uses a handset or does a star align, so it shouldn’t be a deal breaker for most

@neilsmith5883

Жыл бұрын

I do lol. I dunno why I think it’s nostalgia😂

Why oh why did they put the ports of the FRONT of the DEC mount again. That was my biggest bug bear with the EQ8 R pro. This thing just looks like a remix. Anything better in your opinion Steve?

@StevenMorrisPhotography

Жыл бұрын

Honestly I can’t say at this stage, I will have to keep playing with it to make a solid opinion. I feel it fits a whole in the skywatcher mount lineup but I do wish there are less moving cables and better cable management

@alexanderthegreat3106

Жыл бұрын

I have the zwo am5 harmomic mount was thinking of getting this as my second mount making it my permanent one but that cable interface is horrible …

The mount - does it have a power supply in the package?

@StevenMorrisPhotography

Жыл бұрын

Do you mean a cigarettes style power supply to the mount? If so then it should come with a power cable. As for the auxiliary power supply I’m not sure.

@neilsmith5883

Жыл бұрын

Yeah good question, it makes my blood boil that you pay all that money and they don’t give you a power brick

I was very excited to see this mount until I've seen this cable management NIGHTMARE! What on earth was SW thinking by putting all the cable inputs in front above the polar axis? And even worse, the USB/Power hub on the DEC axis is in front so you'll have to plan on longer cables to reach the back where everything needs to be. I seriously had to look at a calendar real quick to see if it was April 1st. because this is a joke.

@StevenMorrisPhotography

Жыл бұрын

Yeah it’s definitely a love hate relationship with this mount. It fills the gap in their lineup but the cable management needs a revision I feel.

@OnceShy_TwiceBitten

2 ай бұрын

For the price, there are much much better options tbh. I would never get this mount.

You should write cue cards instead of saying "uhh" half the time.

Is this Skywatcher? Looks like iOptron. Probably the same manufacturer for both. By the way, reviewing Sky-Watcher, IOptron and any Chinese mount and any equipment is meaningless; because of massive variations in quality from mount to mount. You can have brilliant mount, I can buy sheeit relying on your review. Many people have been there.