TheSkySearchers

https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Orion-E ... 137323.uts
https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Orion-E ... 137898.uts

It seems that Orion is slowly filling the holes in their beginner mount offerings.
A new EQ-3 (EQ-13), and the EQ-26 (EQ-5) with the workhorse SVP (EQ-4) in the middle.
It will be interesting to see how the reviews are.

That's interesting. The 13 is a light payload manual mount that is motor capable for tracking only. The EQ-26 has the motors (Dec & R.A.) but is not goto capable so it is unlikely to be auto-guidable which would have put it in the same class as the Celestron AVX or the iOtron CEM-25

What niche are they trying to fill?

Not everyone needs a EQ-6 or larger
Hardly anyone is making mounts for small/ mid-sized telescopes without goto which not everyone want.
There is a possibility that the EQ-26 may get a add -on goto kit in the future.

A solid manual mount with a tracking motor is a great platform for visual.

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 7:13 pm Not everyone needs a EQ-6 or larger
Hardly anyone is making mounts for small/ mid-sized telescopes without goto which not everyone want.
There is a possibility that the EQ-26 may get a add -on goto kit in the future.

A solid manual mount with a tracking motor is a great platform for visual.

~

I concur. I was just looking at this mount as a replacement for my aging non-goto CG-5, as sidereal tracking is all I need.
Price is considerably higher than I paid, once upon a time, but what hasn't gone up?!




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Setting circles appear to be etched, which is good. I wonder how readable they are in the field. Might be nice not to have to rely on Safari (Yes, I'm old school - I learned to use RA & Dec setting circles decades ago.)

Have to check how the 13 payload compares to the Exos Nano.

pakarinen wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 2:39 pmHave to check how the 13 payload compares to the Exos Nano.

The Exos Nano EQ3 payload capacity is rated at 15lbs.

From the images on the website the castings look very clean so may be better than the average EQ-3 if they have done some decent QC on it.