German equatorial mount weight capacity

When comparing the weight bearing capacity of equatorial mounts, do you use the combined instrument and counterweights, or just go by the instrument weight alone ??

The rating for a given mount does not include the counterweights. However, be aware that it includes more than the optical tube. You will also be putting finders, diagonals, and maybe a camera on it. They count as the load also. Secondly, the manufacturers get to make up their own numbers. WHat they rate the mount as may be liberal or conservative. (It will rarely be less than the mount can actually hold.) At any rate, there is no standard for what the rating is, and therefore the buyer must beware when comparing measurements from one manufacturer to another. And Finally, your demands may not be the same as their rating system. A mount that is to be used for astrophotography should have "excess capacity."

Alex