Still need answer on mount sufficiency

Posted earlier, but no response... please somebody! I am trying to soon purchase a Meade 395 (90mm, 1000mm f.l.) from an Astromarter and have a Celestron CG-3 mount. I have no experience with much of this stuff and want to know if the mount is sufficient for such a scope. Can anybody offer any advice for me????

Thanks

I'm thinking you'll be fine. The CG-3 is an EQ-2, is it not?

Hi Mark.

I would expect the CG3 to manage the 395 fairly well, though not with the greatest of rock-solid ease. The CG-3 is standard with Celestron's Firstcope 80EQ, which is comparable in weight/mass to the 395. Orion also equips several of their telescopes with the EQ-2, which is the CG-3's twin. The AstroView 90 EQ, both 130mm SpaceProbe reflectors, and the Starmax 102 EQ -- all come with the EQ-2.

I myself would prefer something a little stronger, such as the CG-4 or Orion's AstroView mount, but it's not necessary. The CG-3 should do the job quite nicely. You can always get a stronger mount in the future, if you feel the need.

Best wishes and luck.
Dan

Mark,
I think a 90/1000 will be undermounted on a G3. I got my son a SpaceProbe 130 on that mount and soon traded him up to a G4. I took the G3 for an FS 80 scope with a Coronado 60 mm. filter, and even with a lot of modifications to the mount and tripod it's spindly. The Coronado filter adds a couple of pounds to the OTA, but still, it should be more solid. There always seems to be one more thing you have to do to get it to settle down.
Even the CG 4 requires some mod's for serviceability, and I, personally, find it inconvenient to use. I kind of think that if I had it to do over, I'd plan the scope around the mount, making sure it was rock-solid. To me, there's nothing more annoying than trying to view, or even focus, with an object jiggling all over the place.