CG5-GT / EQ5 SynScan What's the difference

[ajohnson]

I bought a Skywatcher 130M having got back into this and while I am very impressed with it, I have also realised I want something BIGGER.

This is not going to be a single hit upgrade so obviously the start point will be the mount. For budget reasons I am looking at going to an 8" Newtonian eventually, so I know I need a sturdy mount to kick off with. I have read a few comments here that make it reasonably clear the Syntra EQ5 is probably going to be close to capacity with such a big tube, so I am looking at the HEQ5 or Celestron CG5-GT. I have no doubt either will whirl my 130 around effortlessly but what about the planned 8". Here again I am confident the HEQ5 will handle it but am concious of a good price difference between a HEQ5 rated at 18kg load and the CG5-GT rated at around 12Kg load.

Some articles place the CG-4 as a EG5 / Vixen clone, others include the CG-5 in this list. So my question is, which is it? Is the CG5-GT little more than an EQ5 with a heavier tripod and big motors to handle a heavy payload or is the basic mount in terms of the mount bearings etc also beefed up to carry the heavier load.

[Patrice Lanteigne]

My first scope was an 8 inch newtonian. That is a large heavy scope to put on a german equatorial mount. Get the one with the biggest payload rating in your budget. I have an EQ6 (same as Atlas) and it get the shakes when the newt is on it. Add a bit a wind and it becomes rather unpleasant.

[bogg]

I had a 8 inch Newtonian on a CG5 GT although the mount would carry the weight, any wind and it just would not settle down. I would get a higher load capacity mount to improve the viewing

[KeithBC]

the HEQ5 will handle it but am concious of a good price difference between a HEQ5 rated at 18kg load and the CG5-GT rated at around 12Kg load.

I think both the price difference and the payload difference are telling you the story. There is a big difference between them.

The HEQ5 can handle my 8" Newtonian. It works well, both for visual and AP, but I have to be very weight-conscious, because I am well over the 50% of rated capacity recommendation for AP.

[MSD]

Cgem