Orion Min-EQ Tabletop Equatorial Mount

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Orion Min-EQ Tabletop Equatorial Mount
Fanatastic value for the money. Detached the table top tripod and used a heavy duty aluminium tripod instead. Added optional RA motor drive with handset (see photo).
Used it for long exposure astrophotos, with an SLR and 135mm telephoto lens. Very pleased with results.
Also mounted a Celestron 80WA F5 refractor on the mount and this works very well as a grab & go setup.
As a small lightweight setup, with a lightweight telescope, this works very well. Makes a terrific camera platform for wide angle to medium telephoto astrophotos.

Overall Rating: 9
Performance:8 Ease of Use:8 Value:10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=130000

Orion Min-EQ Tabletop Equatorial Mount
I am very pleased with the performance of the EQ-1 tabletop. I use it with a 100mm astro-rubinar that, with a red dot pointer and diagonal and eyepiece, weighs in at 6 pounds which is a pound more than the advertised maximum. Even at the fullest extension of the counterweight, the weight of the rubinar overwhelms the counterweight. However, when the locking bolt is tightened, the mount easily handles all motions needed. A single axis EQ-1M electric drive easily and smoothly drives the overweight rubinar. The declination bolt has a nice variable tension. The right ascension bolt allows only slight variation in tension.

Overall Rating: 9
Performance:9 Ease of Use:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=160959

Orion Min-EQ Tabletop Equatorial Mount
This is identical to the SkyWatcher eq1, and it performs OK with a small 80mm-90mm refractor. The motions are a bit tough and stickey, looks like it is full of the black glue Synta uses for grease.

It is very portable and offers quick setup for mobile use.

Overall Rating: 7
Performance:7 Ease of Use:4 Value:6
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=234699

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