SkyView EQ Deluxe GEM

Good Day,

I recently purchased an, Orion SkyView EQ Deluxe GEM. However, it did not come equipped with a dual-axis RA and DEC drive system or controller. The OEM version is no longer available, so I am considering a suitable replacement. Celestron makes a drive system for its CG-5 mount that appears compatible and I recently heard that with some modifications, the Meade LXD75 drive will work as well. My end-goal is obtain high-precision control over my GEM for astrophotography. Does anyone on this forum have shared experiences on this subject?

Best Regards,
Keith

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Keith Woodard said:
My end-goal is obtain high-precision control over my GEM for astrophotography. Does anyone on this forum have shared experiences on this subject?

Hello Keith!

Well, I don't want to burst your bubble, but...

I used to own one of these mounts, which are more like a CG-3.
As much as I loved it for visual use, it has a ton of limitations.

The gear system is very coarse, the mount won't support much weight (and for Astrophotography you have to stay away from the maximum load to begin with), and the legs on the tripod are not sturdy at all.

For Astrophotography, THE MOUNT IS the most important part of the equation, it has to be HEAVY & STURDY (ROCK SOLID), not memtioning that it should also be smoother on its movements. The SkyView EQ-DLX does not have any of these features...

Even if you were able to adapt a CG-5 set of motors/controls, you still won't be able to use it for AP..., it is simply NOT designed for such a heavy duty task.

In my humble opinion, if you want to PLAY with Astrophotography, start with something like a Celestron ASGT mount. But in all reality, if you want to do it SERIOUSLY, you'll be looking into an Orion Sirius or Atlas as your STARTING point.

Please, don't get me wrong, it is nice to see people's enthusiasm for Astronomy and photography, but if you start the wrong way, you'll have much frustration and no enjoyment... so thats why I much rather make it clear and say it like it is.


Clear skies to you,