Sky-Watcher CQ350 Pro Mount with Heavy Duty Tripod
A Next-Level Equatorial Platform for Demanding Astrophotographers and Observers
The Sky-Watcher CQ350 Pro is a professional-grade, center-balanced equatorial mount engineered to meet the precise demands of deep-sky astrophotography and visual astronomy with large, high-performance telescopes. Whether you're running a fully-loaded refractor imaging train with mono cameras and filter wheels or a heavy Newtonian for visual observation, the CQ350 Pro offers the stability, tracking accuracy, and connectivity to support your goals. This is a mount built for the serious amateur astronomer who wants observatory-level performance in a package that can still be transported and assembled in the field.
Purpose-Built for Modern Imaging Setups
Astrophotography has evolved—imaging payloads are heavier, guiding expectations are higher, and software integration is essential. The CQ350 Pro is designed from the ground up to meet these challenges head-on. Its center-balanced architecture helps reduce flexure and uneven loading, leading to more consistent guiding performance, especially when imaging at longer focal lengths.
Unlike traditional German equatorials that rely on large counterweights to offset the telescope mass, the center-balanced design minimizes torque on the RA axis. This results in a more efficient and mechanically forgiving system that is easier to balance, slews more smoothly, and maintains greater stability under heavy loads.
High-Capacity Performance Without Compromise
With a maximum imaging payload of 77 pounds (35 kg), the CQ350 Pro easily accommodates large refractors, Ritchey-Chrétiens, Newtonians, or complex astrograph rigs with multiple accessories. Cameras, filter wheels, off-axis guiders, electronic focusers, and dew control systems are no problem for this mount.
Despite its substantial capacity, the mount head weighs just 33 pounds (15 kg), making it manageable for transport and field setup by a single person. The included heavy-duty tripod weighs 34.5 pounds (15.6 kg) and is built to match the mount’s strength with thick steel legs, high-tension locks, and a wide footprint for maximum stability. Together, they form an incredibly solid platform that resists vibration and handles wind gusts far better than lighter-duty mounts.
To balance heavy payloads, Sky-Watcher includes two 22-pound (10 kg) counterweights, giving you 44 pounds of counterweight capacity right out of the box—no need to immediately buy extras for typical imaging loads.
Precision Engineering for Rock-Solid Tracking
Smooth tracking is the cornerstone of successful long-exposure astrophotography, and the CQ350 Pro delivers. Its drive system uses precision-machined 292-tooth worm gears on the right ascension axis and 216-tooth gears on the declination axis. Coupled with high-torque stepper motors and a belt-drive transmission, the result is a mechanical system that minimizes backlash and reduces gear noise to virtually nothing.
Seamless Integration with Software and Accessories
The CQ350 Pro is built for modern astrophotographers who rely on software automation. It includes the trusted SynScan hand controller, pre-loaded with over 42,000 celestial objects and featuring fast GoTo slewing and user-friendly alignment routines.
Prefer to run your imaging sessions from a laptop or mini PC? No problem. The mount offers native USB and serial communication, and is fully compatible with EQMod, ASCOM, and popular imaging platforms like NINA, PHD2, and Sequence Generator Pro. The CQ350 also includes an ST-4 autoguider port, making it plug-and-play ready for most guide cameras and software.
Tracking rates include sidereal, lunar, and solar, and the system supports advanced functions like periodic error correction (PEC), backlash compensation, and custom slew limits—giving you total control over every aspect of mount performance.
Designed for Field Use and Observatories Alike
Whether you're operating from a permanent pier or setting up under dark skies at a remote site, the CQ350 Pro is built to perform. Assembly and disassembly are straightforward thanks to ergonomic handles, quick-lock fasteners, and a streamlined mount profile. Cable management is simplified with dedicated routing channels, reducing the risk of snags and tangles during long imaging sessions.
The included polar scope mounting bracket accepts Sky-Watcher’s optional polar scope, allowing for fast and accurate polar alignment without resorting to third-party tools. Alternatively, you can use software-assisted polar alignment through tools like Sharpcap or NINA, taking full advantage of the mount’s precise mechanical alignment.
Power is provided through a standard 12V DC input (4 amps max), making it compatible with most field battery packs and observatory power setups. The mount includes a status LED and overcurrent protection to safeguard your electronics during operation.
What's in the Box:
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Sky-Watcher CQ350 Pro equatorial mount head (33 lbs)
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Heavy-duty steel tripod with spreader tray (34.5 lbs)
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Two 22 lb (10 kg) counterweights (44 lbs total)
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Stainless steel counterweight shaft with safety stop
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SynScan GoTo hand controller with cable
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USB-A to USB-B communication cable
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12V DC power cable
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Mounting hardware and accessory bolts
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Instruction manual
Technical Specifications:
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Mount Type: Center-balanced German Equatorial
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Imaging Payload Capacity: 77 lbs (35 kg)
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Mount Head Weight: 33 lbs (15 kg)
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Tripod Weight: 34.5 lbs (15.6 kg)
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Counterweights Included: 2 x 22 lbs (44 lbs total)
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RA Gear: 292-tooth precision worm gear
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DEC Gear: 216-tooth precision worm gear
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Drive System: Belt-driven, backlash-reducing
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Motors: High-torque stepper motors
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Power Requirements: 12V DC, 4A max
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Autoguider Port: ST-4 compatible
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Connectivity: USB, serial, EQMod compatible
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Hand Controller: SynScan GoTo included
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Tracking Rates: Sidereal, Solar, Lunar
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Polar Scope Bracket: Included (polar scope sold separately)
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Software Compatibility: ASCOM, NINA, PHD2, EQMod, SGP, etc.
Ideal Users:
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Advanced astrophotographers with large payloads
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Visual observers using heavy-duty refractors or Newtonians
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Remote imagers needing transportable, high-capacity mounts
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Observatory builders looking for a high-performance equatorial platform
Final Thoughts
If your imaging or observing setup has outgrown lighter mounts, or you're building a new rig from the ground up and want a platform that won’t need replacing down the road, the Sky-Watcher CQ350 Pro with its heavy-duty tripod is a standout choice. It delivers serious capacity, high-precision tracking, modern software compatibility, and quiet, reliable performance in the field or observatory.
Sky-Watcher has designed the CQ350 Pro to be the mount you can grow into, not out of—and for serious imagers, that’s exactly the kind of investment worth making.
